Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) (29 page)

The thought tore at his heart. Lara was gone, but would never be forgotten. And his teammates were rallying around him and Laney and his mother because they wanted to help.

“Wow. I don’t know what to say?” Laney was truly awestruck. “Y’all are doing exactly what Lara wanted … turning this day into a party. She would be so happy.”

“That’s what family does.” Devon let her go, but kept his arm around her. “These guys are my family and Lara is my family … now you’re family.”

Laney looked so pleased to be included. He’d never given it much thought, but her family kind of sucked. Of course she would want to be part of a loving family. At camp, she’d been so curious about his family and had loved listening to stories about all the things they’d done together.

“I can’t believe y’all can put this together so quickly.” Laney shook her head.

“Are you kidding? Summer, Grace, and Sweet Louise could run the world blindfolded and with one hand tied behind their backs. If those three ever turned evil, the world would be in serious trouble.” Coach Robbins kissed her cheek. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” Laney nodded.

“Even though it’s October, my sons, Cart and HW, have already started decorating all of the trees in our backyard with Christmas ornaments so that Lara can see them from heaven.” Coach Robbins smiled sadly. “Apparently when Grace took them to meet her, they promised that she would be able to see them from heaven.”

“That’s so nice. Lara would love it.” One corner of Laney’s mouth turned up. “She loved all things sparkly.”

“Me too.” Devon turned around to find Warren Daviner, team owner. “I’m a sucker for all things sparkly.”

“Not something you hear very often coming from a man.” Coach Robbins clapped Daniver on the back.

“I’m not your everyday guy.” He grinned. Since Grace had walked into Coach’s life, Daniver had become more than just the man in charge, he’d become a friend. “Grace called and told me everything.”

He turned to Laney and held out his hand. “Warren Daniver.”

“Laney Nixon.” She shook his hand once and then dropped it.

“I missed you the other night. I was late to movie night.” Daniver shoved his hands into his front trouser pockets. “Sweet Louise told me all about Lara and the Lone Stars would like to help. I heard Lara wanted to have a circus themed funeral. I propose we do it on Halloween. I think we should make it an annual thing. I’ve contacted Ringling Brothers, and they’ve agreed to host. The Lone Stars would be happy to pick up the tab.”

Laney’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t know what to say … thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”

He shrugged. “I am in awe of what you chose to do for a living. My little sister, Leah, died at the age of nine from leukemia. The fact that you’ve chosen to help sick children makes you an angel. Whatever you need, I’m here.”

Laney hugged Daniver. The gesture seemed to take him by surprise. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I bet Leah was a joy.”

Daniver’s eyes filled with tears. “She was a handful.”

Laney let him go and stepped back. “I think a yearly circus is the perfect way to remember Lara. Thank you very much.”

“I hear we’re tailgating at the hospital. There’s talk of Grace’s cinnamon bread.” Daniver closed his eyes and savored the thought of cinnamon bread.

Grace’s cinnamon bread was savor worthy. “Wait until you taste it. If heaven had a taste, that would be it.”

Laney still looked a little overwhelmed. “Here I was thinking that this evening would be one of the hardest of my life and y’all swoop in and make me smile. I don’t know what to say.”

Coach Robbins hugged her. “You’re family.”

Devon could tell that Laney was warming to the idea of a big, loud football family.

“That’s right, Laney.” Keshaun pointed to Devon. “If he doesn’t treat you right, it will be my pleasure to beat the crap out of him.”

“Nope, I’ll do it.” Big Billy Gains who’d finally accepted that Laney could out eat him, stepped up.

“Y’all will have to get behind me.” Clint held up his hand.

“Please, I could whoop all y’all without even breaking a sweat.” Devon pulled Laney closer. “Don’t listen to them. They’re all crazy. I’m a great guy. Just ask my mom.”

Clint threw back his head and laughed. “Your mother is a bigger threat than all of us put together. Remember what she did to Debra?”

“Who’s Debra?” Laney glanced at Devon.

How did he call her the team whore without making it sound really bad? “She … um … well—”

“She’s my ex–girlfriend—sort of, and while I didn’t know this at the time, she tried to sleep with everyone on the team.” Coach Robbins scratched the back of his neck and didn’t make eye contact. “She’s kind of a groupie.”

Devon noticed that the color drained from Daniver’s face and then he turned around and Devon couldn’t tell if it got worse. Maybe he wasn’t feeling well.

“I don’t understand … groupie … like teenager girls who follow rock stars around?” Laney sounded confused.

“That’s exactly it. Only she doesn’t come around anymore.” Devon still couldn’t believe what his mother had done. “My mom got her a job at Safe Place—the battered woman’s shelter. According to my mother, she’s doing really well—”

“What?” Daniver’s voice was a squeaky roar.

“Debra’s working on the hotline, taking calls and counseling victims of domestic violence. She’s doing a fantastic job.” Devon wanted to put a hand on the man’s arm to calm him, but he looked like a tiger ready to take on any challengers. So the team owner who was always calm, cool, and collected could lose it from time to time.

“No, that’s not possible.” Daniver dared Devon to dispute him.

“Yes, she’s a phone counselor and doing a great job.” Devon wanted to add that he was sorry that Debra wasn’t as skanky as they’d originally thought, but it seemed rude.

“But she’s …” Daniver’s color was coming back, but he still looked like a caged animal ready to strike.

“I can get her number from my mom, if you’d like to give her a call and see for yourself.” With his free hand, he pulled out his phone. “I’ll text my mom.”

“No, no…don’t worry. I don’t really care.” Daniver’s voice cracked telling everyone that he did care. Usually the king of cool, now he couldn’t even pull off nonchalance. “It sounds like your mother has a done a good thing.”

“Damn straight.” Keshaun nodded. “Sweet Louise gave Debra something other than the team to fixate on. Sweet Louise takes being the team mom to a whole new level.”

Daniver looked like he just couldn’t get his head around the idea that Debra was volunteering.

“Sorry the family’s a little messed up.” Devon whispered in Laney’s ear. “But we all love you.”

She looked around like a little kid on Christmas morning. “This is perfect.”

Chapter 26

Laney looked out the window of her office onto a bright and cheerful Halloween day. Ringling Brothers was setting up three huge tents. The red and white striped monstrosities were an interesting contrast to the cloudless day. Every time she happened to look out the window there seemed to be a steady stream of people holding the reins to zebras, lions, poodles, and elephants. The air around the hospital buzzed with childhood excitement that made her smile until her cheeks hurt.

“This is all for you kiddo. This is your gift to the world.” Laney said to the empty room. She could feel Lara with her—there was no explanation, but she could feel the little girl’s excitement all around her.

Yesterday, they’d laid Lara to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Dallas. Despite the fact that the cemetery bordered Central Expressway and McKinney Avenue, both traffic–laden streets, the cemetery was peaceful in a gothic sort of way. It had been a private ceremony with only Devon, Sweet Louise, and Laney in attendance. The hospital chaplain had driven up and performed the service. Laney smiled to herself. Right before the service started, a mariachi band that’d been playing at a funeral on the other side of the cemetery noticed their small party and wondered over. Seeing that the coffin was that of a child, they insisted on staying and playing until the casket was lowered into the ground. They’d refused money when Devon had offered it. The informal fiesta funeral had made every one laugh—just the way Lara wanted things. Nothing had been sad.

And today was no different. There was no way anyone could be sad with clowns running around. They’d taken over the hospital, roaming the halls, making everyone laugh.

“Yep, kiddo. This is all you.”

A knock sounded at her closed door.

She turned around. “Come in.”

The door open and there stood Helen, smiling as always. “There are some people in the waiting room who want to see you.”

Laney glanced at the clock on her computer. “I don’t understand. We don’t have any more patients to see. The last one left over and hour ago.”

A mischievous gleam twinkled in Helen’s eyes. “Still, our waiting room is overrun with folks. You need to get out there before they start rioting.”

Laney felt her brow scrunch up. “It’s not full of clowns or something?”

Because that wouldn’t be creepy.

Helen moved out of the doorway. “I’m pretty sure none of them would be offended if you called them clowns. In fact, I bet they’d all be okay with you calling them whatever you want. You’re kind of their hero.”

“Huh?” Laney walked past Helen, pushed open the door that lead to the waiting room, and stopped short. It was full to bursting. She knew these people—recognized some faces, but couldn’t put names to all of them. The woman standing right in front of her was Pam Scherrer, Teddy Scherrer’s mother. Teddy had died early last year. His face she could recall with great clarity.

Pam threw her arms around Laney and pulled her in for a tight hug. “This is a thank you party.”

She stepped back and Laney looked around trying to figure out why there was a ‘thank you’ party going on in her waiting room.

“I don’t understand.” Laney recognized the Leiman’s, Bonnie and Chuck, along with their fifteen–year–old daughter Jena whose leukemia was in remission. Jena had been a patient earlier this year.

“This is a thank you party for you because you’ve done more for our children than we could have ever expected.” Pam gestured to all of the folks milling around.

“But Teddy …” She didn’t want to say died, but it hung in the air.

Pam smiled brightly. “You gave us two more years with our sweet boy—for that, we will forever be in your debt.”

Laney didn’t know what to say. She’d always counted the losses as well … losses. She’d never seen them as a win. But more time with Lara would have been a win, a huge win.

Pam pulled her into another hug. “Helen contacted us with the idea of making you a picture Wall of Fame, but we wanted to thank you in person. Pictures didn’t seem like a big enough way of showing our appreciation.”

Laney glanced back at Helen.

Helen shook her head. “Don’t look at me. It was Devon’s idea. He would be here right now if he could, but he had practice.” She gestured to Pam. “She took over. I might have started the ball rolling, but she took it and ran with it.”

Pam grinned. “That’s right. This is the first annual Laney’s Angels reunion. We’re having one every year on Halloween to go along with the circus.” Pam grabbed Laney’s hand and pulled her further into the room. “Do you realize that you’ve saved over a thousand children? They couldn’t all be here today, but every single one has written you a letter, and most are coming to the circus tonight.”

She pointed to a huge red, metal bucket full of letters in the corner.

“I don’t know what to say.” Laney was overwhelmed by the love that she felt in this room. These people were here to thank her. She tried to tell herself that she’d only been doing her job, but deep down, she knew that wasn’t true. She’d loved every single child that had ever come through her practice … and now, they were returning the favor. It was a sea of love pulling her along.

She went from person to person, faces clicking with names, and received hugs, kisses, and sometimes tears of joy from families she’d healed. She turned to her left and almost knocking Nina over. Laney looked around. All of her teammates were here … in costume.

“Did you think we’d miss this?” Sweet Louise laughed. She was dressed as Glenda The Good Witch. “Me and the girls have been chatting about your deplorable eating habits.”

Laney hugged each lady in turn.

“I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize how bad.” Charisma shook her head. She was dressed as a boxer complete with boxing gloves. The outfit really fit her personality. “I’m going to have to do some one–on–one coaching with you. Food is important.”

“And here come the threats.” January put her arm around Laney. January’s nun’s habit was complete with huge metal crucifixion. “I’m telling you, torture in the Dark Ages was nothing compared to a one–on–one session with baby Hitler over there. I’d run away from home if I were you.”

“Don’t be such a crabby pants.” Susie was being extra Snow Whitey being that she was dressed as Snow White for Halloween.

“You would be so much more interesting if you’d cuss like a sailor while dressed as Snow White. That would be fun.” January rolled her eyes. “Instead, you feel you must act like Snow White.”

She straightened her own nun’s costume. “Thank God I haven’t taken on my costume’s characteristics.” She snorted. “I guess it’s too late.”

Charisma laughed.

“I don’t know about y’all, but I feel a little over dressed.” Nina shook the tailfin of her mermaid costume. “Someone could have mentioned that this wasn’t a costume party.”

Sweet Louise pulled her phone out of her cleavage to read a text. “Everything’s ready.”

“What’s ready?” Laney looked around. There was more.

Nina took her hand and said, “Laney’s Angels please follow us to the window. Laney’s about to get more than she ever bargained for.”

“I don’t understand.” Laney allowed Nina to lead her to the back of the waiting room—a wall of windows overlooking the hospital.

Sweet Louise pulled the brown cord and the wooden mini–blinds went up in a whoosh of dust and sunlight. “Hon, I’m going to need to speak personally with your cleaning company. They leave a lot to be desired.”