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Chapter 18 - Lacie
When we got back to LA, I got a notification from my bank that I’d gotten my pay check for the week. I went straight to the hospital to make the down payment, feeling hopeful that I’d be able to make the next payment. It was the first time I’d felt hopeful about anything since my mother had gotten sick.
Once that was done, I went home. When I walked into her darkened bedroom, the joy that I’d felt over the week was replaced with an underlying sense of guilt. I hated leaving her here on her own.
“Hey, Mom,” I said gently. She opened her eyes and a painful smile stretched over her lips.
“Lacie,” she breathed. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“I’m back, and I made the down payment for your treatment. We’re going to get you better.”
I sat down beside her, and a sense of calm washed over me. Even if this wedding was a crazy idea. Even if it was probably foolish and there were a thousand reasons not to do it, it felt right.
I actually had a chance to save my mom. I had hope.
My mother smiled, squeezing her hand over mine. “That’s great, Lacie. But don’t put yourself into debt over me. You need to live your life and not worry about your old mother.”
“You’re not that old, Mom. And I am living my life. I want you in it. So don’t say things like that, we’ll make it through this.”
Her eyes misted up and she nodded. “Okay, honey.”
I crept out of the room and unpacked my bags, sitting on our old couch and sighing. I looked at the peeling paint, and the TV that was older than I was, and I sighed.
It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was home.
Tomorrow, I’d go to the awards show and I’d watch The Mondays play. If their week of promos was any indication, they would do really well. Their album launch wouldn’t be tainted by any tabloid news about trashed hotel rooms or wild parties, and their careers would be back on track.
And then I’d marry one of them.
I fell asleep on the couch with a smile on my face. For the first time in a long time, things weren’t so bleak.
The day of the awards ceremony had an excited buzz to it. Everyone was running around with purpose, getting ready for the big night.
Morgan set us up in a hotel near the Staples Center, where the ceremony would be held. I prepped my supplies and waited with Veronica for the band to show up. From there, a limousine would take them to the red carpet and the show would be on. We’d meet the band backstage for their pre-show touch-ups.
“Thank God we get to watch the show from backstage,” Veronica said. “If I was stuck in this hotel room all evening I think I’d go crazy.”
“At least there’s a mini bar,” I said, cracking open a tiny bottle of whiskey. Veronica’s eyebrow arched.
“When did you turn into a little rebel?”
“We can just bill it to the band,” I laughed. “I’m about to be married to one of them, after all.”
“Is that still going down?”
I nodded, and then started laughing. “It’s so ridiculous, but Vee, it feels good.”
“Good.”
The door opened, and Maddox and Carter appeared. Vee put her hands on her hips.
“I guess I should be congratulating you, shouldn’t I?” She said to Maddox. He glanced at me and his eyes widened.
“You told her?”
I shrugged. “Something you’ll have to get used to, I guess. Veronica knows everything.”
Carter frowned. “What’s going on?”
