Coming into focus…

Prologue

      “So you’re going home for a few days?” Tommy asked Lance as he closed up the last suitcase. The hotel room in the middle of Vancouver was going to be missed with its dark drapes and high ceilings. That suite had been Lance’s home for the past two days.

     Which was a happy change to the chaos that was his life. “Yeah, three weeks before I have to be back at work. Ya know I haven’t been home in about seven months.” He picked up the other two bags and put them on the cart. “Well as soon as I get you on that plane, I’m gonna bounce.” It would be a welcome homecoming, if only Lance knew the drama that awaited him.

     The morning was young and the dew still fresh when the blue trailblazer pulled into the driveway. Sliding out of the high seat the short brunette rounded the truck stopping to retrieve two cloth grocery bags from the back. Walking up stone sidewalk to the house she was barely noticed. Jim opened the white door about the time she made it up the stairs. “Good morning Ken, want anything for breakfast? I’m on a coffee run.” He greeted her politely. She smiled as they pasted and turned in the doorway to face him. “No thanks I ate earlier, but cappuccino sounds good.” He spun his keys around his finger and made a shooting sound. “You got it.” She laughed as he walked away and she made her way into the brightly lit kitchen.

     “Kendal. Thanks heavens you’re here, I have so much to do today. Lance will be home before we know it. I have to go to the store, clean up, and cook something he’ll eat. You know how picky he is.” Diane was about to pull her hair out. Her khakis were creased and her oxford shirt was embroidered with small apples around the hem. She looked like a teacher even in the dead of summer. She always had as far back as Kendal could remember. “Ok, take a deep breath.” Kendal laughed. “I went to the store, I’m sure you can turn all this into something Jimmy will eat. Stacy called me last night. Ford has an appointment to take care of, but they should be over by noon.” Diane looked down at the small hands waving in the air like a magic wand with every wave, she seemed to dissolve another worry.

     “How can you do that?” She smiled softly and wished that Kendal, and her son were closer. “Do what?” The question seemed to throw her for a loop. “Make everything seem so easy and simple.” She said as she put her hands around her face. Kendal smiled dropped her head. “I learn from the best.” Diane began to speak when the phone rang. The moment was lost, they would have that conversation when the time was right. After Kendal had lost her parents she had been taking in by their family. Like she was the missing piece. Her Aunt never minded her being away from home everyday. She was heart broken by her brother’s death and saw him every time Kendal smiled.

      While Diane was on the phone she went up stairs to make the beds and put out fresh towels for Lance. His room was just as she remembered. She busied herself with changing the sheets and dusting the shelves. The baseball trophies and Attaché’ pictures covered the room. Her mind drifted off to the night he first left. He had been home a hundred times since then, but not to see her. She was away at school, and he… He fell for Tricia. Her alligator tears, and blonde hair fooled him into the palm of her hand. Now she had him, she had the dream guy that everyone in Clinton wanted. Girls around the world wanted him. Kendal could never compete with them, she never wanted to. Things were fine, just the way they were. Never mind the burn in her heart whenever she saw him or heard his name.

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      The day was hot and the house was a mirage in his grasp as the silver four-runner slid into the open spot. The motor court was starting to spill over with cars. He recognized his parent’s cars and then Ford’s SUV, but it was the red Le Baron that made him tingle inside. Tricia was there, when he called her to say he was coming home she sounded so distant. He thought maybe she had grown tired of his fasted-paced lifestyle. Still she was here, the prom queen of his class was inside waiting on him to come home.

     “There he is.” Ford opened the door with his baby girl in his other arm. All the girls in the house seemed to scream at the same time. Diane, Stacy, and Tricia all rushed to the front door. Lance was covered in loving arms around his neck and shoulders. He kissed them all before hugging his dad. “Wow now that is a welcome home.” They all moved into the large living room covered with paintings and family pictures. Tricia sat down in his lap giggling and kissing his face. Diane cleared her throat with a warning stare in her direction, this was not the time to do that sort of thing. “What did I do?” Tricia pouted when Lance scooted over putting her on the couch.

     “Nothing sweetheart.” Lance kissed her check before he grabbed up the only bag he bothered to bring in. It seemed he had brought gifts for everyone. “Oh thanks man.” Ford said after Stacy opened their French champagne. Diane loved the crystal fruit bowl and his father’s new silver pendulum. “Lance, this Purse is absolutely divine. Wherever did you find it? The leather alone must have cost a fortune. You really shouldn’t have gone through so much trouble, just for me.” She cocked her head over to his shoulder and purred quietly. “It’s from Italy, I knew you would like it. I’d do anything for you, I love you.” Stacy tried to change the subject when she saw her mother roll her eyes.

     “So what do you want to do with your time off?” He sat back in the couch and rubbed his chin. “Well I’d like to start it off with a big glass of sweet tea.” He cracked a smile. “Well there is a fresh pitcher in the kitchen.” Tricia said not really offering to get it as she had the contents of her old pocket book in her lap putting it in her new Italian handbag. “That’s right,” Diane agreed. “Kendal made some right before she left. I’ll get you a glass.” Lance hopped up to follow behind her. Tricia seemed to be annoyed, she knew Diane liked Kendal more than her and she was always being compared to her.

     “Ken doll was here? I haven’t seen her in about three years. How is she doing Mama?” They had made it into the quite of the kitchen. “She is great, running her own office and helping out everywhere she can. She keeps the horses, and has her own Sunday school class now with the fifth and sixth grade girls. They have done so much with VBS this year.” Lance poured the tea over the ice she had in her hand. “You make sound like she is one of your own kids.” Diane stopped and gave him a weary look. “Well she practically is.” After drinking half the glass he laughed and shook his head. “Don’t say that, that would make her my sister… Gross.” There was a grin on his face and a smirk in his mind. “Honestly I would love to see you end up…”

     “End up with whom?” Tricia’s voice was unexpected and her presence hindered the conversation. Lance put his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. “You of course, right Mom?” Lance nuzzled her neck. “Right.” Diane excused herself to help Stacy with the baby. “Why does she hate me so much? What did I ever do wrong?” Lance kissed her some more on her exposed shoulder. “Nothing baby, you did nothing wrong.” Tricia gave him her “sad eyes” look for his sympathy. “Kenny is such the golden child she is so perfect. She helps out here, and she’s a doctor and she planned the whole home coming party for you and she…” Lance put a finger on her lips. “Party?” She dropped her head again “Oh now I have ruined it. It was suppose to be a surprise. I was going to plan it, LB really I was, you believe me right?” He hugged her tightly and tried to make her forget the last ten minutes. It was all so much on her all at once and he should shield her from that. It was the least he could do after all she had been through.

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     The plan was have dinner at home after he went to his property to make sure everything was still standing and safe. Tricia had spoiled the surprise but it made it no less flattering to have all his friends and family at his parent’s house when he got there. Not that the cars parked up and down the street would have made him suspicious. The house was alive with people and his heart danced as he came in the door to see all the people he cared about welcoming him back into their lives. The owner from The Dock handed him a drink when he hugged him hello. “Damn good to have you home boy. Can we keep you?” The stocky man said from behind the loud bowling shirt. “For a minute I hope.” Lance smiled at him when Darren came to introduce his new girlfriend. “This is Tegan, I met her at work.” He spun the little redhead around like a display and she laughed as she pushed him. “Stop it, he can see just fine.” She extended her hand for a shake with her greeting. “It’s nice to meet you.” Lance was pleased with her manners switching his drink to the other hand to oblige her. “Same here Megan, how do you put up with him?” She shook her head. “It’s Tegan… and I can handle him.” She laughed as she pulled Darren in to submission. “I’m sorry,” he smiled at her and then whispered to Darren, "Red’s a real spitfire huh…” They laughed when Tricia found them Tegan made a beeline for the bar. She had nothing for Tricia and was afraid she just might let her know it. They went out to the patio to say hello to the rest of the party.

     After three hours the crowd was thinning out and Stacy was helping Lance say goodbye to his guest. The people from church and his old school were wishing him a restful visit at the same time inviting him to banquets and ceremonies. Tricia eased up to him in a slinky manner and pulled him away from the door. She almost had a clean get away when Lance stumbled at the steps, Ford laughed at him. “Been walking long?” Lance smiled as Tricia tossed her keys up to him. “Won’t you pull the Le Baron around?” Ford made a sour face when Lance nudged toward him to show he wanted to talk to him. They walked across the street to the old William’s house. “I find it better just to let her go off at the mouth sometimes.” Lance leaned on the car when they found it. Ford popped the door open and waited to speak. “She has a bit of the princess disease, no offense.” Lance laughed and nodded, rubbing him chin a little he stopped short. His chest was tight and the humid air made it hard to breath. When it fell silent his brother-in-law turned to see what he was gawking at.

     “What’s wrong?” Lance squinted his eyes a little and then looked away. “Who is that holding Leyton?” At a glance he knew who it was the knot in his stomach told him on instinct. “You don’t mean Kendal do you? Boy you’ve been gone too long if you don’t remember her.” Lance shot him a look of amazement and started off. With the car started he stepped out of the way and was waiting for Lance the move the car. “I remember her, I’ll be right back.” Lance seemed to be too distracted by his thoughts to know what Ford was doing. His plan was foiled when a car came whizzing by missing his foot by an inch. “Whoa baby, are you ok? Were you looking for me, come on let’s go before we both get smashed up by these crazy people.” Tricia was in his arms and pushing rather forcefully into the driver’s seat of the car. “Don’t worry I’ll tell everyone you said bye.” Ford tapped the roof when they pulled off and Lance sent him a look of annoyance that they both understood.

Chapter One

     The afternoon heat had taken over the humid day and the stable was the shady refuge for the horses. Kendal had arrived there at one to check on the six Philly’s that were housed in the massive structure. The oldest of the girls was her very own Sugar. The white pony was a birthday present from her father when she turned five. Before his death Kent McRae deemed it fit to spoil his only daughter with everything she could ever dream of. “His little princess would change the world, and what was a ruler without a horse?” After the accident the estate they once owned was sold and with it went their stable. Diane knew what the animal represented to Kendal, and ever since had kept Sugar with her family’s horses. Be it that she would help take care of them when she was old enough. An understanding that was never discussed but understood. Her practice allowed her to take time with them, everything seemed to fall into place.

     A streak of terror hit her spine when she made it into the stall where Sugar was kept it was empty. The gate was half open and the feedbag was on the floor. This wasn’t right. She had been there the morning before all had been in order. How could she have gotten out? Did she remember to pull the gate? Making it to the other side of the stable she saw the door had been rolled up. The horse was at the troth by the fence with her riding gear on. “Fred I asked you not to saddle Sugar up until I got here. It makes her tired!” Kendal ran the ten feet to the fence and jumped up on the post where she could see the culprit face to face. Her body was a little shaken and her hat flew off when she landed. “I’m sorry Ken doll, I just walked her for a few miles I figured she wanted to get out of that stale barn for awhile.”

     Surprisingly the face was not the one she expected. Lance stood there in his dusty faded blue jeans and white undershirt. It appeared he had just dunked his head into the troth as well. His head and shoulders were wet making the scene that much more bizarre. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her from under his wild highlighted-hair. He grabbed his dingy white cowboy hat down from the post next to where Kendal was standing. “I’, sorry I didn’t know you took her out. It’s just I went to her stall and she was gone and… I don’t know. What are you doing here?” She finally spit out of the quick ramble. He ran one hand through his hair and slid the hat on with the other one in a smooth effortless motion. He looked up at her a smiled, taking the reins so they could walk Sugar back into the stable.

     “It just seemed like a good morning for a ride.” He slid his free hand around her waist pulling her down from the fence post. She lost a few breaths and settled her heels into the dirt. “Welcome home, it’s good to see you.” Kendal mumbled in a soft voice so he couldn’t hear her shaky tone. He stole the moment and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for the party. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you last night, please know I tried.” He scoffed. “I almost got hit by a car.” She eased away from him and started to walk on her own. “It’s ok, I figured Trish would have drawn blood if you weren’t under her thumb.” Lance shook his head at how on target she was. Stopping only to retrieve her brown gallon hat, she dusted it off and skipped to get past them to the stable first. It made him laugh to see her so playful.

     Already in the next stall rigging up Sandy for her ride, Kendal seemed to avoid his stare. “How has she been, you know since I’ve been gone? Does she talk about me, miss me? You guys talk right.” She was un-thrilled by the turn the conversation had taken so she quickly finished the saddle and opened the gate to get out of the stall. Once she mounted Sandy she waited to answer him. He had pulled Sugar’s gear and put it on the wall. He stood next to her.

     “Yeah we talk, She tells me how stupid I am and I listen, she tells me how every move I make is wrong and I listen. And every time she says she loves you I listen, but to hear that you love her too… I can’t handle that. Trish cares about you and you career. Be careful though, because I don’t know which one she cares about more.” Lance seemed so confused by the statement, she had never said anything like this before. It was all he could do not to fall down. “Kenny…” She turned the horse and walked out of the stable. “Sorry I have to get to work now.” Sandy trotted down the road leading to the pasture where they started to gallop into her exercises. Leaving him dumbfounded.

     Lance felt sick, with the humidity making his wet t-shirt stick to his ribs he felt like he should go into the house and cool off. It looked empty and he prayed it was, interaction was not an option. The colony house was old and weathered. It had been in his family for many years and was newly refinished after he made some money in ’98. His mother rarely came out to this part of town unless she was preparing for houseguests. The stables were the main focus of interest for most of the traffic on the property. He turned on the air conditioner and found some clothes in his old room. The cool water pulsing from the showerhead felt good. Slowly he started to feel a little better. After his shower he stretched out across the bed and tried to rest his eyes for a minute.

     A minute turned into a few hours, it was dark when he woke up. He had not even realized he had fell asleep, a deep uninterrupted sleep like that was far and few in between. The house was cold and dark. Stumbling around he slid on his socks and boots to head back to his pickup. When he realized what time it was. They would send out a search party if he didn’t report soon. Locking up he saw the stable lights were on from the porch. The building seemed a hundred miles away, in a way he felt like he was still dreaming. Then the lights went out, Kendal was pulling the door closed practically hanging from the chain. He laughed to himself for a minute, before the memories of the afternoon came flooding back into his head.

     Quietly crossing the yard he surprised her by grabbing the chain and sliding the door shut. She looked disheveled and meek. “WOW you scared me! I didn’t know you were still here.” She tried to smooth her hair out and tugged at her clothes a bit. “I fell asleep in the house. What are you still doing here?” She picked up her knap sack and dusted it off. “Fred had to go to Wyatt’s they are expecting a calf and Nelly’s had the flu so, he had to go to make sure she was ok. Kelsey doesn’t really know anything about the horses and with Kevin gone to Colorado they was really no way around it. I would have gone, but I have to be at work at seven tomorrow.”

     Lance nodded his head and they started to the driveway. “I understand, I wish I had of known I could have helped you with the horses. I wasn’t feeling good so I went and laid down for a while.” He rubbed his eyes and pulled out his keys. “Yeah, it’s ok, look I’m sorry about this afternoon. Trish and I have not been getting along lately and… I just took it out on you… I…” He walked her to her blazer and opened the door for her. “It’s ok, I shouldn’t have put you in the middle.” She tossed her bag in and pulled up into the driver’s seat.

     “So you don’t hate me?” He pinched her leg and laughed. “Yeah I do, but it has nothing to do with this afternoon” She swatted at him and pinched his arm. “Jimmy James, you’re dead meat!” He laughed and rubbed his arm. He jumped up on the step and grabbed the luggage rack to get in her face. “Give me a hug.” Kendal complied and giggled to see him acting so silly. “Call me when you get off work, we’ll go to ABC for a drink.” She hummed on his neck when he kissed her forehead. They both peeled away from each other. “Sure, Penny will love that you’re back in town.” He shook his head in agreement, told her goodnight, and closed the door. The blazer’s taillights faded into the black highway as he followed in his pick up.

         ***************

     "Well I don't see why you couldn't at least call. I had Tessa and Brae over here for dinner and you never showed up. How do you think that makes me feel." Tricia was dancing in her dramatical performance. Lance pulled her into his arms and tried to make it better. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you had plans or I would have been here." He kissed her temple and then the tip of her nose. "You know I would have been here." She gave in after her pout and let it go. Everything he was doing seemed to be wrong he hated to disappoint her. Then on the other hand he wondered about what Kendal had said. What a mess he had made of things on only his third day home.

     It may have complicated things even more, but he took Darren to the flower shop with him. The roses were sent to Tricia with no hesitation. “That is fairly predicable." Darren scoffed at the order. "Ah yes, but the reason you are here my friend is so you can show me where these go." His friend was slowly getting the picture. The daisies on the other hand were to be hand delivered to the veterinarian's office. "I think you are asking for more trouble than you are worth. Tricia will lose her mind, you should see here when you're not here." Lance paid the older lady and scooped up the freshly wrapped stems and headed for the door. The last comment had his attention, but preferred to have that conversation outside.

     "What do you mean? When I'm not here... How does she act?" Darren climbed into the Chevy and turned over the engine as Lance got in on the other side. "She has this attitude about how she is going to get out of here. To be honest man, I think you are her ticket. Tegan can't stand her, that's for sure. She just thinks the whole town is beneath her." Lance took the words in but couldn't shake it off. "Tegan can't stand herself. Where do you get off man, if Tricia wants out of here then I'll get her out. I'll take her where ever she wants to go!" He didn't mean to go off, but all these rumors were making him sick. "Speaking of where someone wants to go, we're here." Lance looked out the side window and saw the animal hospital. "Thanks man, see ya later." Darren shook his head and pulled off in a huff before Lance could close the door. Taking a deep breath he replayed the conversation and knew why he was mad.

      Turning on his heel he made his way to the door. A little bell rang when he opened it. The small waiting room was almost empty. A little girl was holding a kitten across from a teen boy with a hungry pit. The nurse called for Cameron and "Killer" about the time the receptionist slid the glass to open the window. She stopped short when she realized who he was. He wasn't surprised at her reaction, though he wondered where she had been. He was sure everyone knew he was back in town by now. "Jimmy Bass," she stopped for a minute. "Good afternoon... Are you ok?" He asked when she seemed to zone out.

     "You don't remember me do you?" She laughed a bit before she continued. "No, I'm sorry. Do we know each other?” She dipped her head to have the upper hand and smiled. "We were lab partners the year you left school. Ms. Hobe’s class... My name is..." He cut her off. "Candy Jenkins... you had a blue note book with a He-Man sticker on the front. You had a light pink streak in your hair, your boyfriend pierced his nose with the dissecting needle." She made a face for him to remember quite so much. "An elephant never forgets. It's good to see you." She smiled. "What can I help you with? Tricia needs to be fixed?"

     He laughed it off not to make the same mistake he did with Darren. "Wow this town doesn't like her, by the way how is needle boy?" The nurse called Katie the kitten and the waiting room was empty. "Two points for the boy." Candy Laughed and stood up to get Killer squared away with his next appointment at the other window. When they were gone she came back to him. "What can I help you with?" He smiled and asked to see Kendal.

     Following the long white hall down to exam room five, he found her. She was giving Katie a shot and the little girl was crying for her. He watched from the window in the door as Kendal worked. "There, there, she didn't feel a thing and she is going to be super healthy now. Right, just like we talked about?" The little girl sobbed in a few more deep breaths and wiped her face. Like magic Kendal whipped out an orange lollipop from her white coat and the little girl smiled. She wanted a hug before she got down off the table. Kendal scooped them both up and went to the door. Lance opened it and surprised all three of them.

     "Good afternoon ladies, he bowed his head to them as they passed." Kendal and the little girl giggled to see him act so foolish. "What are you doing here?" Kendal asked when he made eye contact. "I thought we were going out?" Candy made her way down the hall and greeted them. Sarah you mama is here to pick you up. She put out her arms to be taken. Kendal transferred the two. "By Mis Ken, cee you at chuch." She smiled and waved at Sarah's mom that was at the window. "I fill in with the nursery when they need help, well I get my girls to help." The 5th and 6th graders." Lance filled in. "You know about it?" She was surprised. They walked back into the exam room so she could get Katie's folder. "Yeah, I also know... You love daisies." Lance stood behind her wrapping the bouquet in front of her. Kendal didn't know if it was the beautiful flowers that overwhelmed her or the fact that she could feel his breathe on her neck.

     Slowly turning around she composed herself. "Thank you so much, they are lovely. You didn't have to do this." He smiled and decided he'd better back away for a minute because it was getting hard to breathe. "I know, I just wanted to. To, to thank you." She picked up the file and went for the door. " No Jimmy, thank you." She grinned and went out the door. Counting to ten before he gave chase he met her at the door. Candy was dialing her cell phone as they all exited the building. "You never told me about needle boy." Lance joked picking at her. "Candy rolled her eyes and kept walking. "We broke up the day after you left Jimmy..." The statement was rather odd so he pursued. "Why?" he asked before climbing into Kendal's SUV.

     "Because, just like every other girl in Clinton, including KENDAL I thought you would come back for me."

     "Candy! Leave him alone!" Kendall scolded her. "What?" she joked from over her sunglasses, "Candy is always sweet." She drove off into traffic and was gone. Great, now he would want to talk about it. She thought to herself. Quick direct answers and everything will be ok. "They broke up because he pierced Ann's nipple with the same needle and they both ended having to get tetanus shots and Brian's parents sent him to military school." Lance laughed at the story, he knew she was trying to redirect his thoughts and he was ok with that. "So where are we going?" She asked as he turned on the radio. "Let's go to ABC, see what happens from there." Turning at the intersection she complied with the plan and headed south. When they got there she came out of her lab coat and oxford shirt. Pulling a gym bag from the back seat she ran a brush through her hair, slapped on some lipstick. "Why are you doing all that?" He asked as he examined her baby blue racer back undershirt. It fit just right on top of her white scrub pants. It had been a while since he had seen her. She was filling out in all the right places from what he could see. "I'm doing this incase I see a hot guy in there. Rule number one always be prepared." She shot him a toothy grin and grabbed her keys. "Ken Doll, baby you’re already with a the hottest guy in town." He pulled her under his arm and nuzzled her neck. She squirmed at the tickling and howled in laughter. "But your rented I have to give you back at the end of the night."

     The next day by noon, come on you know the drill." He tickled her sides some more. The parking lot horseplay had brought about an interesting spectator. "If y'all are flirting this bad before the drinks I'll have to turn the hose on you by the end of the night." Penny was coming into work. She was dressed to the nines in her kickass bartender fashion. Her blonde hair was freshly blown out and her boots made her two inches taller. "Penny!" She smiled to see him. "Lance, How the hell are you?" He stopped and went to give her a hug. "Don't touch the hair." She joked before giving in to the young man. "I'm fine honey, how are you?" Lance grabbed Kendal's hand to pull her up to him as the started to go in. "Can't complain." Penny peered down at his hand and he squeezed harder when Kendal tried to pull out. Penny knew how Kendal felt, she knew since they were five years old. She knew Lance really did love her and that Tricia was just a stand in. "How are you doing Kenny?" "It's all good Penny." They laughed at the play on names as they went inside.