by L Chapman
“Hey,” Jake says, walking up behind me.
“Hi, Jake.” I smile.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
“I’m okay now, thank you. Shouldn’t you be getting some sleep?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He pauses. “I hope you don’t mind, but I picked up something for Lucy.”
“Oh, there was really no need. You have done plenty for us.”
“Here.” He passes me a little plastic bag. I take it, opening it up.
“Aww, that’s cute,” I say, pulling out a stuffed rabbit.
“It sings nursery rhymes. I thought it might help her at night, so youcan get some sleep.”
I stand, giving Jake a massive hug. “Thank you.”
“Anything to keep you all happy and safe.” He pulls me in closer.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I don’t remember much about last night. I was so tired that I crashed pretty early. I didn’t see Jenny because she went off with Warren. I still haven’t met him. I do wonder why she is keeping him from me, but I will find out why.
Luke got the travel cot from Mark’s for me. I slept with Lucy in the cot beside my bed. I kept waking up to check on her. She loves the rabbit that Jake got her. She went straight off to sleep, hugging it. It was the first time in a few days that I have been able to relax, knowing my daughter should be all right. Since we have left the hospital, she has gotten stronger and has been playing around all on her own. She is still not eating much, which worries me, but I’m sure in a few days’ time that will settle, and she will be fine. I’m more worried about myself. I’m on so many painkillers for my shoulder. I need to stop taking them soon and return to being normal. I don’t like it that they are making me drowsy and sick and more dependent upon others. I’m more of an independent person. Well, I was before Mark, and I’m going back to it now.
“Good morning, babe,” Luke says, peeking his head around the corner.
“Morning,Luke.”
“May I come in?”
“Of course.” I nod.
“How did you sleep?” he asks, standing there in loose black trousers and no shirt. I have seen him shirtless hundreds of times in all his films, so it doesn’t faze me at all.
“Okay, I went out like a light, but kept waking up to check on Lucy. She is in love with that rabbit, and she slept well, too.”
“Come on down and get some breakfast. Jenny is waiting for you,” he says, smiling at me. “And, my tattoo appointment is in an hour.”
“Let me throw on some clothes, and then I’ll be down.”
“Deal, babe.”
I jump out of bed, throwing a brush through my hair and grabbing some clean underwear from my bag. They don’t match, but hey, it’s not my house, and I don’t know if I can do washing here. I’ll have to ask because I haven’t seen any machines. I need to get some more clothes for Lucy since she doesn’t have enough. When she does eat, she spits it out, soiling her clothing.
I grab a black jumper and leggings. Right, that will do. I bend down, picking up my baby girl from her cot and quickly changing her into a pretty white dress with little pink flowers all over it. It’s one that Mark got her; she looks so lovely in it, so tiny. I need to get rid of it, though. I can’t have anything reminding me of Mark anymore.
I run down the stairs into the kitchen with Lucy bouncing up and down on my hip, giggling.
“Good morning,” I state as I walk into the room.
Luke smiles as he turns around on one of the bar stools while Jenny stays on the opposite one. There’s no sign of Jake. He will probably be sleeping for the next year after what he has done for me. I hear an unfamiliar voice behind me.
“Good morning, Megan. I’m Warren.” I turn around to see him. Wow.
“You’re from the coffee shop, right?” I ask.
“Yes, I am,” he answers.
I turn to Jenny. I trust her.
“Right, I’m going to interfere here, Megan. You need to get your breakfast because we have a date,” Luke demands.
“Date?”
“Well, a date that involves some ink.” He winks.
“Okay,” I reply as I grab a quick bite.
“Right, I’ll be in the car waiting for you,” Luke says, turning towards the door.
I make sure Jenny can babysit Lucy for me before I leave. I place a kiss on Lucy’s forehead, grab my handbag, and head out the door.
“So, what tattoo are you getting, Luke?” I ask, getting into the car. It will help to know what I’m going to watch him have done.
“‘Viva La Vie Boheme’ in a fancy script with a mask above it,” he says as he pulls out of the driveway.
“What does that mean?” I ask. “It sounds posh.”
“It’s not posh. It’s from a stage show. I was in it when I first started acting. It means 'Long Live the Bohemian Life.’”
“Oh, wow.” I smile. “Where are you getting it?”
“On my lower right side. The script will be just under my underwear band, though.” He winks impishly.
“Oh, very sexy.”
“Oh, babe, you know I do sexy,” he says confidently, taking his eyes off the road and grinning at me.
“Now behave yourself,” I say, pushing his arm gently. Luckily, Jenny was around and willing to look after Lucy for me, but I’m still worried. Both Jake and Warren are there with her, so they should be safe.
“Here we are, babe.” I look out of the car window to see a parking lot with a few cars scattered around and different shops along one side. A car place, bookstore, and a tattoo parlor are all lined in a row.
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
“We are about ten minutes early.” He points out as we step out of the car. He flops his black sunglasses down over his eyes. It’s definitely not the weather for them. It’s his celebrity side coming out.
“Luke!” a lady bellows as we walk into the shop.
“Stacey, it’s so great to see you again,” Luke says, walking towards her. “This is Megan.”
“Hi,” I say, smiling. She glares back at me with jealous green eyes. Her blonde hair cascades down around her face, and I can certainly tell she is a Luke fan.
“Alex is going to do your tattoo today,” she informs him. “Your friend can sit in the waiting area while you have it done.”
“Nope, she is with me.”
I can’t help but smile. I didn’t think he wanted me just to sit and wait. Luke reaches out for my wrist, guiding me behind him through the wide-open spaces into a room.
“Hi, mate,” a tall man says. He’s wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, and his arms are covered in tattoos.
“Hi, Alex. You know what I want, right?” Luke asks.
“I do. I have the stencil ready.” He pulls it out, showing it to Luke.
I have never been in a place like this. I will admit; I have wanted a tattoo for years. I stand there looking through Alex’s books with samples of tattoos he has done over the years. Looking up every so often, I check to see how Luke is holding up.
“Hey, chick. Are you thinking of getting one?” Alex asks.
“I have thought about it.”
“Go for it, Megan. It’s my treat.”
I shake my head. “I’m not good with pain.”
“Babe, you’ve had a child. A tattoo will be nothing.”
“Go on,” Alex pushes.
I continue flicking through the books, finding a large swirly heart with a little heart linked to the side. “I’ll take this one on my wrist.”
“Perfect, it will only take about ten minutes.” Alex smiles as he puts the finishing touches on Luke’s tattoo.
“Come sit down. I’ll hold your hand.” Luke smirks.
Feeling the needle hit my skin for the first time is scary, but not painful at all. I sit there watching him. It doesn’t take long, and once he is finished, it’s so beautiful.
“Thank you,Alex.”
“Anytime, chick,” he says, covering it with a bandage and te
lling me how to keep it clean and safe. I listen closely. I just can’t wait to see it again.
As we prepare to leave the tattoo parlor, Luke stops me. “Hey, when we get back to mine, get ready. I have a surprise for you.”
I wonder what he’s got planned.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I quickly place my hair up into a band. I don’t know what Luke has planned, but a little fresh air will do me some good. All he said was, we are off, and Lucy is coming, too. I grab my handbag since I might be able to get a few things for Lucy while we’re out.
“Are you ready, babe?” Luke asks as he stands at the bottom of the stairs dressed in a smart black and white suit, holding Lucy asleep in her car seat.
“Yeah, you look…well, smart.”
“All will be revealed.”
I follow him out of the house and into the car, letting him fasten Lucy in. I can’t help but smile, but why does he want to take me out? I wanted to spend the day talking with Jenny because I need to find out the rest of the gossip. Earlier, she had followed me upstairs so we could talk about Warren, but she didn’t tell me much about him. Well, everything has been really hectic over the last few days, and we haven’t had much time together.
I did finally find out that she had slept with him before finding out about the baby. Warren does seem nice, but I don’t know him that well yet. I plan to get to know him because I don’t want him hurting her like Rich did. She is a large part of my life.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“A café,” he says, pulling up into a small parking lot. No cars are in sight, only a few people. “Come on.” He jumps out of the car before I have a chance to ask anything else. I climb out, holding the door as he gets Lucy out.
“Hi.”
I freeze. Please tell me that’s not who I think it is. Really, no, it can’t be. What kind of game is Luke playing? I take a deep breath and slowly turn around.
“No, go away!” I bellow.
Thirty-Eight
“Megan, listen to me. We need to talk,” Mark says, grabbing hold of my wrists so I can’t move.
“Why? I need to leave you, be away from you, or I lose Lucy.”
“We can work this out,” he says, keeping a tight hold.
“No, we cant.” I pull my wrists free. “Why?” I yell at Luke.
“Babe, I need you to be happy. Just talk at least.”
“Why are you dressed up?” I ask.
“I have a meeting. Ring me if you need me,” he says, trying to give me a hug.
“Don’t you fucking touch me.” I raise my hand, and without thinking, I slap him across the face. Tears instantly roll down my face.
Luke thinks nothing of it; instead, he grabs me tightly and wraps his arms around me. “I know you’re mad at me, but you two need to talk. I’m not saying go and shag him. Just talk. I love ya. You know that. Just talk.” He lets go of me and runs around the other side of the car and jumps in.
I take hold of Lucy’s pram, seeing her lying there carefree, so unaware of what is happening and what people have done.
“Megan, can we talk?” Mark asks, placing his hand on my lower back.
“Fine.”
“Shall we go into the café?” he suggests.
“What about that bench over there? I look a mess,” I add.
“The bench is fine. You look amazing, baby, not a mess at all,” he says, moving closer towards me.
“Don’t,” I say through grated teeth. I don’t want him touching me. I start pushing Lucy to the bench with Mark following a few steps behind me.
“So, can we fix this?” he asks pleadingly.
“I shot you,” I state.
“Yes, in my shoulder. I told you to do it,” he states unemotionally.
“I aimed for your chest.”
“I’ll make sure never to give you a gun again.” He titters. “You said that you left because ofJohn.”
“Yes, it was either you or Lucy.”
“I understand that you picked Lucy, but I want us to be together.”
“I can’t be with you. He will take Lucy from me.”
“No, we will get that sorted, even if it means court.”
“I can’t afford that. That’s why we have to split up.”
“Listen to me, Megan.” He pauses. “We will do it. Together.” I shake my head. I can’t have this happen. I just can’t. “Do you love me?” Mark asks.
I look him dead in the eyes, seeing the pain in them. “Yes, you know I do.”
“Then,Megan, please.”
“We can’t be a couple to the world, though, not until everything is sorted,” I admit.
“Baby, I love you so much. I can’t be without you,” he begs.
“We need to get out of the cold. I’m freezing, and I can’t have Lucy getting ill again.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
I walk into the little café, not paying any attention to where Mark is. I don’t want to spend time with him. I want to be alone. Alone so I can think and work out about mine and Lucy’s future. I can’t let him back in. I just can’t.
“Megan, what would you like to drink?” Mark asks, gently placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Mark, I can get my own. You don’t need to be here. I can look after myself,” I say, not turning to face him at all. I can’t because it hurts me to see him and hear him. Even smelling his aftershave makes me melt.
“Megan, don’t do this. We need to talk.”
“Fine,” I state.
“Tea, hot chocolate, or what?” Mark asks, moving closer to me.
“Hot chocolate, please.” I need a sugar hit.
For more room, I walk over to one of the round tables. It has three chairs and plenty of space to fit Lucy’s pram in so that she is not in the way. I make sure there is no space for Mark to sit next to me. I can’t have him that close. I’ll just want him to hold me if he is. The table is by the window that overlooks the river. I glance up, seeing Mark with his back towards me. His bum looks so perfect. He suddenly turns around, and I quickly look out of the window. I hope he didn’t catch me staring at him.
“Hey, here you go,” he says, placing a tall cup onto the table with a little matching plate holding three pink marshmallows and two white ones. He always gives me marshmallows, even if he is making me hot chocolate at home.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I place the marshmallows into my cup, watching them slowly melt into the drink.
“How is Lucy doing?” Mark asks.
“She’s fine now. Hopefully, we can go back home soon.”
“That would be good. I wish you would come to mine, though.”
“Mark, don’t do this. Please,” I beg, tilting my head down.
“Megan, listen to me. You know how I feel about you.”
“I know, and I feel the same, but we can’t.”
“Why?”
“We can’t. Just drop it,” I say, looking deep into his eyes.
I take the spoon from the plate and scoop out the melted marshmallows. I love the taste of them, but only when they are melted.
“I love how you eat them,” Mark adds.
I keep sitting there, ignoring him. I need to work out how to get to Luke’s since I don’t fully know where I am. Thankfully, I have a couple of taxi numbers programmed into my mobile. I’ll finish this cup, and then I need to get out of here. Taking a sip, I realise it is still too hot.
“Is Connor okay?” I enquire.
“Yeah, he’s fine. He goes back to work next week.”
I nod, taking another sip of my drink.
“Come outside with me,” Mark says.
“No, I need to get Lucy home.”
“Yes, Megan. Come on.” He gets up from his seat, leaving his half-drunk cup of coffee. Taking hold of my wrists, he pleads, “Please.”
I stand up slowly. Mark lets go of my wrists, taking hold of Lucy’s pram and turning her around and heading out of the door.
Why is he doing this?
Chapter Forty
I follow Mark along the side of the café and down a small path by the river. The air has a chill along here. It always does whenever you are near water. I don’t understand it, but hey. My arms are cold, causing me to worry that Lucy might be cold also.
“Stop, Mark,” I say, standing still.
“Yes, baby,” he says.
I walk over to Lucy, pulling her blanket up further. That’s better. I worry more about Lucy now than I ever did. I have to protect her from everyone.
“See, you care about others more than yourself. That’s why I love you, Megan.”
I turn around to face him, and he gives me a half-smile that I return.
“Megan, I can’t imagine my life without you. We have been through so much together as a couple. You’re my world. I want to protect you, care for you, love you.” He takes a small step back, bending his left knee. “Megan Madden, will you marry me?” He pulls out a black velvet box, slowly opening it to reveal a silver ring with a diamond in the centre. It’s elegant and not too flashy.
“No.” I grab Lucy’s pram and quickly run back along the path towards the café.
What was he thinking, really? I can’t be with him. Has he forgotten about the past few days?
“Megan, stop.” He runs in front of the pram.
“What?”
“Why did you say no?” he asks.
“John.”
“Megan, baby, we can’t let John destroy our life. I love you.”
“I love you, too. That’s why I have to go.” I try to move around him.
“No, we will sort this. Come on.”
“We can’t. I’ll lose Lucy.”
“Let me contact Connor.”
I shake my head. “I’m not listening to you, Megan. I can see this is hurting you as much as it’s hurting me.”
Mark takes hold of the pram, pushing Lucy towards the café. I follow right behind him. I can’t trust him with Lucy. I can’t trust anyone with her. He takes out his mobile, but I can’t fully hear what he is saying, so I just try to keep up. We walk straight past the café and up a small alley, stopping at a black car.