Black Lace Read Free Page B

to your bill.”
    Drake shook his head at her wit, then wheeled her out of the room and down the hall to where Dr. Carson and the X-ray machine waited.

Two
    A short brother decked out in green scrubs and carrying a set of crutches entered the room. He was what folks in the south called “redbone.” Red hair, freckles, and a winning smile. He shook the mayor’s hand enthusiastically. “You slumming, Your Honor? We poor doctor types don’t see you around here much these days.”
    Drake laughed. “Reggie, I know you’re not calling yourself poor. You make more money than the Ford family.”
    “I wish.” Reggie then looked to Lacy and stuck out his hand. “Name’s Reggie Carson.”
    “Lacy Green.”
    “How’d you hurt your ankle?”
    “Car accident. My Escort met the mayor’s limo. The Escort lost.”
    Reggie shook his head. “You’d think His Fineness would have a better way of meeting women.”
    “You’d think,” Lacy quipped, enjoying Reggie’s sense of humor.
    The mayor rolled his eyes.
    Reggie chuckled. “Let’s see what you have here.” After a few twists and turns of her ankle, he said, “Yep. A prime candidate for my services. Denise said your neck hurts too?”
    “Yeah. Seems to be getting stiffer and stiffer.”
    He did a short, gentle inspection of her neck and shoulders, then said, “Let’s take some pictures and see what’s going on.”
    Afterward, while Lacy waited in the examination room for the mayor and Dr. Carson to return with the X-ray results, she took out her cell phone and punched up her mother, Val, in Atlanta. The call was answered on the second ring, and the familiar southern voice soothed Lacy’s frayed nerves. “Hey, Mama.”
    “Hey, baby. How are you?”
    “Had a car accident.”
    Val gasped. “Are you okay? I can hop on a plane and be there before dark.”
    Lacy smiled. “I’m okay, but I’m at the hospital having some X-rays on my neck and ankle. My car looks totaled, though.”
    “I’m sorry, but it was time to get rid of that wreck anyway.”
    Lacy laughed softly. “Leave my car alone.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
    “I’m sure. Soon as I’m done here, I’m heading home. How’s Daddy?”
    “Fine. I’m still trying to get him to retire, but you know your father. He and that mail bag will be buried together.”
    Lacy’s father, Martin, had been carrying the mail since before her birth. The postal service was his life. “He’ll retire when he’s ready.”
    “I know, I know, but the doctor says his back won’t get any better until he does.”
    “Well, give him my love and tell him I’m okay.”
    “I will, but he’ll want to hear that for himself, so call him back tonight if you get a chance.”
    “Okay.”
    “Now, tell me about the accident.”
    Lacy spent the next few minutes relating her tale of snow and woe.
    Val’s response was, “Told you not to move to that wasteland. If the Good Lord had wanted us to live in snow, She would’ve given us fur.”
    Lacy laughed. Val firmly believed the Almighty was female.
    Her mother then asked, “Do you know who hit you?”
    “Yep. The mayor’s driver.”
    For a moment there was silence on the other end, then, “Your mayor? Mayor Randolph?”
    “The one and only.”
    “Was he in the car?”
    “Yes. In fact, he’s here with me at the hospital.”
    “Well, now,” her mother said in a knowing voice. “He’s a real cutie.”
    Lacy said through her smile, “Don’t start, Mama.”
    “I’m not starting anything. Just saying you could do worse, baby.”
    “Already been there, done that. Remember?”
    “All I remember is me telling you not to get married in the first place, but you knew more than anybody back then. Remember?”
    Lacy’s smile was now tinged with embarrassment. “I remember.” Val had all but begged her daughter not to marry the much older Wilton Cox, but Lacy had dug in her heels and refused to listen.
    “Is Randolph as fine as he is in his