In Search of Lucy: A Novel
Page 25
“I know I’m probably the last person you want to see right now.”
“It’s okay, come in.” Lucy knew it was inevitable and just wanted to get it over with. She wasn’t about to get upset now.
Linda walked in timidly and sat in a chair teetering on the edge of it. She was holding a large manila envelope and set it down on a small table next to the bed. “I’m not here to upset you, Lucy. I just want to say a few things and then I’ll leave. In fact…” Linda looked away to avoid eye contact, “…you don’t have to see me ever again.”
Okay, so what was Lucy supposed to say to that one? So she just waited.
“Lucy, the only reason I came was to make sure you and your sister were okay. You probably won’t believe me, but I’m trying to turn things around for myself. I know I can’t do anything for you, make anything up to you, until I get help.” Linda looked straight at her daughter now. “I just wanted to tell you that before I go.”
Linda appeared relieved that Lucy let her say her piece. Before she left, she told Lucy she was staying with a friend in San Diego and had entered an AA program there. She promised to be in touch and left her information even though she knew she wouldn’t hear from Lucy anytime soon.
When Lucy hinted at being exhausted, Linda headed for the door.
“Wait,” Lucy said, stopping her just short of the door. “You forgot your envelope.” She pointed at it still resting on the table, even though she was starting to feel weak and just wanted her to leave.
Linda smiled and replied, “That’s for you, sweetheart.”
“What is it?”
“Answers,” was all she said.
Seeing her mother left her drained and wanting to rest, but she fought the urge to fall asleep. She couldn’t help but wonder if this time Linda really would turn her life around. Did it really matter at that point? Yes, it did, she thought to herself. Linda was at least trying to heal herself. And Katie—she was trying to heal herself. Everyone around her seemed to be living life and moving forward while she had been stuck in the past. There was no one forcing her to stay there. Nobody was keeping her from moving on—nobody but herself.
“My God!” she said aloud to herself. “I’m alive and I need to start living.” She couldn’t believe that it took risking her life to realize how important it actually was to her. There were so many people surrounding her…supporting her…and loving her. It would take some time, but Lucy was certain that no matter what she would find her own purpose again. But until then, she would rely on those around her to get her through, day by day.
Lucy’s last visitor of the day was the one she most wanted to see. The one she had been waiting for. Where had he been, and why hadn’t he come in yet? She faded in and out of sleep, anticipating his arrival. Her body had an eerie pain that was somehow comforting. It represented a new bond she would share with her sister, and the start of her new life. A few times she would drift off, and then snap awake to the sound of what she thought was someone in the room. She found herself staring over at the envelope Linda had left. Although she was curious, it was not a major concern for her. Another time she fell asleep and awoke to a hazy vision of a nurse doing something at her bedside. Whatever it was it didn’t matter, and she went back to sleep. The next time she opened her eyes, she felt weight on the bed and something stroked her cheek.
“Hello there, beautiful.” Kyle was smiling down on Lucy, inches from her face. He looked different than she remembered. He had a pretty good five-o’clock shadow, and his hair was disheveled. Definitely not the image that Kyle had previously portrayed to her. She liked it though. It seemed so real, so natural.
“Hi.” She touched him to see if he was real. Maybe this whole thing was just a dream. “Where were you?”
“You gave everyone such a scare, and they were so worried. I thought they needed to see you first.”
“That was nice of you, but weren’t you worried?”
“Not really. I knew you’d be fine. Plus, I figured you’d want to save the best for last.”
There was the Kyle she remembered, bursting with confidence. “Yes, I did.” In her heart she knew he was right. Kyle was the best. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she had only the best things to look forward to. Because that is what she would do from now on—look forward.
EPILOGUE
“Oh, Katie, I’ve gotta go. Alex is about to leave.” It had been almost four months since the surgery, and both Lucy and Katie were doing fine. More importantly, they were keeping in touch and had spoken on the phone almost every other day since Lucy left to go back to LA. And in less than two more months they would be reunited again when the whole Moore family would travel to California for Christmas.
Lucy clicked off her cell and went to hug Alex good-bye. She had grown fond of him, and even though the thought of living alone with Kyle was exciting, Lucy was going to miss him. After her recovery in Fort Worth, Kyle insisted Lucy move in with him and his brother. His convincing arguments along with her desire to start a new life made the decision that much easier.
“Keep in touch, little bro,” Kyle said. He handed Alex a bag full of snacks he had grabbed from the kitchen.
“I’m only eighteen miles from here.” Alex smiled and hugged Kyle.
“Yeah, but I hardly ever saw you while you were here.” Kyle gave him a light punch in the arm.
“Well now that Lucy’s here, I’ll come around more.” After one last hug for Lucy, Alex jumped into his truck and pulled away.
Back in the house, Lucy sat on the couch, legs crossed and working on her laptop. Plopping down in an adjacent chair, Kyle asked, “Almost done with your paper?”
“Getting there.” It was Lucy’s first class, and she wanted to give it her best. After going back on her deal with Amy to return to the shop, Lucy appreciated a chance to do something special with her life. Painting was still her first love, and with a teaching credential, she would be able to share and nurture that love with her students.
“Great, then maybe we can go out to dinner tonight?”
“Sounds good.”
Lucy moved the computer off her lap and onto the couch cushion. Next to her on the end table sat the large manila envelope Linda had left her in the hospital. She reached over, picked it up, and stared at it. The weekly ritual of pulling out the contents was about to end. Kyle sat up and watched as Lucy opened the envelope and removed three pieces of paper.
“You let me know when you’re done staring at those, and then we can pick a place for dinner.” Kyle got up from his chair and started to walk out of the room.
“I don’t need to stare at them anymore,” she replied.
Kyle stopped and turned. “What do you mean?”
“I called him this morning.”
“You’re kidding?” Kyle knew she would someday find the strength to call her father, but it wouldn’t be easy. How do you call someone up and tell them they have a grown daughter they didn’t know about?
Lucy nodded. “It was so strange. When I told him there was silence on the phone. I thought he was going to hang up on me.”
Kyle sat down next to Lucy and held her. “I’m so proud of you. I know how hard that was even though you’ve always wondered about your dad.”
When Lucy had finally opened the envelope in the hospital, she had a feeling about what was inside. First, there was a note from Linda explaining what Lucy had always wanted to know. It talked about how Linda was seeing a married man and got pregnant. She told him she was going to have an abortion because she knew he would never leave his wife. The envelope also held Lucy’s birth certificate, which included her father’s name: William Donovan. Maybe she was just being naïve, but Lucy felt an instant connection just by reading the name.
The third piece was a government bond. William had given Linda money that was intended to help Linda with any possible medical costs, but she’d thought it was guilt money. So she’d used the money to buy a seven-year bond, which by now had
about tripled its maturity. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, but it would be a great contribution to her education.
“Well? What did he say?”
“He was so nice. It was just like I’d always imagined, and he wants to see me.” Her voice was filled with surprise.
“Of course he wants to see you. And one day, very soon, he will love you as much as I do.”
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photograph © Doug Fairchild, 2011
Born and raised in Southern California, Lia Fairchild holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a multiple subject teaching credential. She is the author of the A Hint of Murder series, and a short story entitled “Special Delivery.” Writing is something Fairchild has thought about all her life, and she found completing In Search of Lucy truly satisfying.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
EPILOGUE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR