by April Lust
“Wow,” Lily’s awe radiates from her beautiful face. “She must have been a saint.”
“She was, and I like to think she is, up there, working her healing magic on others who need a guardian angel. She was mine.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“We should get going,” I cough. Next thing I know I’ll be sobbing like I’m at her funeral all over again. It’s the most I’ve talked about Mom since she died.
I catch myself glancing over to Lily, amazed how she managed to get me to open up. But if I had to share this vulnerable piece of me with anyone, I made a good choice with Lily.
Russ arrives on time with my car. Keith’s with him, driving Russ’ car. They ride off together, leaving me with Lily.
Chapter 18
Luke
We drive to work in our own cars since I’m planning a visit to my father later. On time, Lily’s knock steers me from my desk at noon.
We share our lunch together, and then I treat myself to dessert between her legs. When I’m through with her, she’s a sweaty, naked mess from the waist down on my desk. Her nipples push up at me through the silk of her blouse.
When I right her and help her get her undies and jeans on, I lead her to the door with my plans for the rest of the afternoon.
“He’s going to find out eventually, and I’d rather I tell him now before he starts wondering why I’m avoiding him,” I explain. I kiss away the worry clouding her features. “He’ll love you. Floyd’s not as scary as he sounds or looks.”
I kiss her again as I lock up my office and head out of the dealership to have an overdue chat with my father. On the road along the outskirts of town, my phone vibrates and my dash’s screen lights up with Russ’ number.
“Yeah?” I answer.
“Hey, it’s Dayton.” Russ thrusts me into the drama unfolding in St. Louis.
I nearly pull the car off the road, but I keep it aimed in the direction of my father’s home. “What the hell do you mean he spoke to Angelina? What did she say?”
“I have no clue,” Russ says. “I couldn’t ask without losing his tail. He was on the move. He went to talk to Maurice.”
“Where the fuck is Keith?” I snap. “There’s two of you. I want one of you talking to Angelina.”
“That’s the thing. We split up and he’s not answering my calls.”
I’m seconds away from turning the car around to head to the city and clean this mess up myself. “Russ,” I breathe, sucking in all the calming energies to get through this conversation, “Figure it out. Follow Dayton. Don’t lose him, but track Keith and get his ass on board with Angelina.”
Russ clicks off. He’ll get the job done, I know, but it’s hard to concentrate now I’m thinking on Dayton.
Bastard. I haven’t given him a square foot of my mind since Chief Isaac called to let me know he talked to Dayton and pulled him off the Derrick Smyth case.
My childhood home commands my attention, bringing me back to the reason I traveled out to the ends of Potentia’s town limits.
Ellen answers the door. She’s been mopping the white marble foyer. She draws me into a tight hug, forcibly lowering me to her short five-two. She’s even tinier than Lily by a couple inches. And despite the head of snowy white, Ellen is sprightly for her sixty-some years.
“My father?” I ask.
She gives me a long, censuring look, and then she points quietly upstairs. His study, she means.
“He misses you,” she says softly, again plowing me with the guilt. God, she’s so maternal.
It had occurred to me that there might be some romantic feelings between Ellen and Floyd; something that occurred in the absence of my mother. After all, why else would she put up with him all these years, good money aside?
Maybe Lily’s affecting me, but it wouldn’t hurt if Ellen and Floyd started seeing each other. I should suggest it. Or not.
One look at my father tells me we’re not going to be discussing his romantic life right then.
He peers up from the laptop screen; his reading glasses perched atop his head. “The prodigal son stops in.”
“Stop,” I say, smiling. “You’re starting to sound like Julie. I visit. Maybe I should be doing it more often, but I do visit.”
“Okay, okay.” Floyd tosses up his hands from his keyboards. “I got it, kid. I was joshing. Take a seat, make yourself comfortable, and tell me your troubles.”
“And you’ll make them disappear?” But I do take a seat.
I study my father. I’ve been doing it for years, almost all my thirty-three, but there’s something new to find each time.
Usually the addition of wrinkles in the afternoon light from his study’s tall, wide picture windows, but there’s also the spreading white around his temples, his dark blond hair receding further from his forehead, and the fair age spots dotting his hands and cheeks.
He’s a tall man; tall and thin to my mom’s curvy and short. It’s not unlike what Lily and I have going as a couple.
Also, I’m blond where Lily is dark-haired all over, including the adorable patch of soft pubic hair over her mound. I must be smiling at the image because Floyd calls me out.
“You’ve either hit the big lottery or you’re in love.”
My smile widens and I lean back, letting him take his guess of the two. Floyd could never let a good gamble go. He used to try to guess what mom would surprise us with for dinner.
She loved making up recipes on the fly. She said it was from her days of living off of my father’s meager salary, back before I was born.
“In love then?” He nods, knowing when he’s nailed it. “Who’s the lucky lady? Or should I say, who’s got you feeling so lucky?”
“Definitely the latter,” I laugh. “And her name is Lily Erickson. You should know her; you hired her.”
“I did?” He gives it thought. “Oh, yes, Lily. The nice administrator. She’s still working with us then.” He chuckles. “Honestly, I gave her a bit of a scare when I hired her. All that talk of working with rough, tough men all day. I didn’t think she’d stay past the three-month probationary period. She surprised me then and she’s surprising me now.”
“As long as we’re piling on the surprises…you’re going to be a grandfather.”
Floyd sobers and he gives me the same long, concerned look Ellen doled out at the front door.
“You knocked her up, you idiot?”
“I love her,” I say, realizing it’s the first time I’ve said it out loud. The first time I’ve admitted to myself, actually. “It’s mutual. We’re going to get married, she’ll have my kid, and more if I have a say in it. She won’t have to ever lift a finger again either. I’ll provide for her and our brats. It’s the picture perfect life.”
Floyd shakes his head. “You got her in the family way. Jeez-us.”
I’m annoyed he won’t let it drop. So, what? Lily’s pregnant. He knows nothing about us. When I open my mouth, he holds up a hand.
“Listen, kid, it’s great. Seriously. I’m sure Lily’s good for you. I interviewed the gal myself, didn’t I?” He touches his hand to his chest. “But raising a family takes more than gut, it takes heart. Money is great, but your mother and I made it work with love. We loved each other and we loved you.”
“I do love her. She loves me. We’ve got this.” I couldn’t be surer of my next breath. Lily and I are going to make it.
Besides, Floyd wasn’t exactly the perfect husband.
As much as I love Julie, and I wouldn’t dream of hurting her, at one point the news of her existence had hurt my mom. Floyd’s affair had shattered her. And it wouldn’t be until Julie was two, until my mom first saw her, before she forgave the child who unknowingly usurped her happiness.
I never did ask if my mother forgave Julie’s mother—Floyd’s then mistress. She took that answer to the grave with her.
But I don’t open old wounds here and now. It’s pointless, and Floyd is moving on.
“I heard from Jack Isaac,
” he says.
Chief Isaac hadn’t been kidding. Were these old men becoming a bunch of gossip-mongering biddies?
“He tells me you’re welcoming a new detective to Potentia.”
I smirk. “The chief can be so diplomatic. I wouldn’t put it like that. I’d like nothing more to send the detective packing on a one-way ticket out of town.” And before Floyd’s frown tells me what I don’t want to hear, I continue, “I’ve got it handled.”
“I hope you do. I haven’t had a problem with officers in Potentia ever.” Floyd plies me with a stern look. “Don’t make this detective think less of you.”
“I won’t, sir,” I mock-salute him, standing and changing topic. “You visited Mom.”
“I did.” Floyd smiles. That throws me. But then he says, “Ellen suggested I go. She’s right. It has been too long. She wanted to see her, too. They were close, as you know.”
Ellen? I knew it.
I can hear wedding bells. I keep that to myself, seeing my way to the door with a quick goodbye. I wink at Ellen on the way out, smacking a kiss on her cheek. And because I’m in such a good mood, I share the news over my shoulder. “I’ve got a girl I’d like you to meet, and I’m going to be a father.”
“Luke,” she calls for me, following me out, her face caught between bewilderment and happy anticipation. I wave at her before I head into my car. I know we’ll be talking soon enough, but I need to go home and get the house prepared for Lily. She’s coming home with me tonight, forever.
#
Russ’ call splits my attention off the road back to the heart of Potentia.
“Luke.” He hardly ever uses my first name, so I’m all ears. “I’m here. I followed Dayton back from the city.”
I know I spent some time driving to and talking to my dad, but has an hour flown by? What were they doing—shirking the road laws and hitting eighty on the drive back?
“I lost Dayton though. I think he knew I was following him.”
I try not to cling to the immediate panic that rears its ugly head. “So, where are you now exactly?”
“Standing by his car, in front of the station. And before you ask, he’s not in it.”
“I figured,” I roll my eyes. I know Russ is waiting for instructions, but I’m all out plans. I want from a high to a confusing low in a second.
Finally, I tell him, “Stick around. See if he shows up. And you’re sure he’s inside the station?”
“He went in there. Where else would he be?”
Fuck if I care. Right now I need to be sure where Dayton is. I can’t have him running around chatting up Angelina and seeing Maurice in his cell.
“Keith?” I ask.
“No clue.”
“Shit. Your boy needs a GPS collar and retractable leash.” I pause, confirming our plan. “Just stay with Dayton at the station, and I’ll see what I can dig up.” We hang up, and I push the gas, testing speed limits I shouldn’t. Glancing at my dash, now cleared of Russ’ call, I see it’s four.
Is Lily at her place now?
My gut churns with queasy intuition. Usually the idea of Lily safe at home incites peace in my mind, but I can’t squelch the flaring panic that rises up. Whatever it is, I listen and steer the car her way.
I need to know my Lily is safe.
Chapter 19
Lily
I have to move my cell from my ear at Kerry’s squeal.
“I can’t believe it,” she sings, her happiness for me oozing through the phone.
When it’s safe, I tuck the phone back between my ear and shoulder. “I’m right there with you.” I wet my hands, smoothing back the stray strands rebelling from my hair tie. Re-tying my ponytail, I open my makeup bag and touch up my lipstick. Luke’s kisses smeared them off.
Lunch had been a pleasant way to spend an hour.
My thighs clench together at the memory of Luke’s head between my legs, his fingers spreading my outer lips and his tongue thrusting in and out my opening. I’m not too bothered by ruining my panties.
Kerry’s calling me back. “Did I lose you there?”
“Yes. I was thinking about the move and planning it out in my head.” It’s a half-truth, but it’s most of what I’ve been turning over after Luke proposed I move in tonight. His words were, “Pack up whatever fits a small bag. We’ll worry about the rest and seeing your lease through later.”
I tell Kerry this.
She squeals again. “I’m sorry,” she apologizes, my ear still ringing. “It’s just this is actually happening, isn’t it? You’re moving in with Luke Hanley—you’re having his baby,” she whispers the last part because she’s at work.
I’ve pulled her out from a school testing period, so I know I only have a short time to talk to Kerry. I couldn’t hold in the news, though. I snuck off from the work I haven’t been doing since Luke left the office after our lunch break and took Kerry’s call and my news to the bathroom.
A part of me sought her out because all of this is happening so fast. What if I jump into moving in with Luke, but it doesn’t work?
“It will,” Kerry insists. “Think positively.”
“I am trying to. I just don’t want Luke to regret this.” Then I smile, remembering how he reacted when he found out about the baby. I stroke my belly, my eyes on my reflection.
“I can’t believe I’m moving in with Luke,” I gush, a little giddy now that Kerry’s helped me wash most of the doubt away. “I’m still getting used to dating him. It’s strange though how everyone at work is cool with us.”
Kerry laughs. “Well, you are a stunner. They probably had bets going as to which of the single guys would land you.”
“Stop.” I laugh with her though.
She promises she’ll stop over after work to help me pack. “You’re pregnant. I don’t want you carrying too much.”
Luke had said the same thing, but he looked pretty busy on his way out to see Floyd to tell his father about me...and the baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if the two men decide to enjoy dinner, father and son, and Luke meets up with me later.
Kerry and I hang up and I’m gearing up for the last couple hours of work.
“Focus,” I chant under my breath, using the mantra to clear my mind as I exit the bathroom. Though it’s unisex, I’m not prepared to run into anyone. But there’s our newest sales rep, Ian, standing at the bathroom door.
He started three weeks ago, a little after Luke and I got back together, and I got on board with the alibi. Boy, did we take our fake relationship seriously.
But, I sternly remind myself, it’s not fake anymore. Luke does want me to have this baby, and he does want me to move in—permanently.
“Sorry,” Ian blurts. He backs up, his hands in the air. Then he drops them quickly, his face and ears burning red awfully fast. “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I heard you talking in there, and I was wondering if you were all right.”
Not expecting that response, I suffer through the blabbering humiliation of being caught sneaking from work to talk to Kerry.
Ian nods, his face still glowing. He rubs the back of his neck, mumbling, “You have the key?”
Holding out the bathroom key to him, I smile and thank him again for the concern. He’s young and I’m sure he won’t care that I used the bathroom for such a reason. But I realize, looking around at my co-workers, my position here has changed. In one way I’m still the office administrator, but I’m also Luke’s girlfriend.
If I want to continue working at Hanley Auto, I have to prove I’m not using Luke for his money.
So for the next two hours I work, and I work hard. It takes more energy to wrestle my seemingly already pregnancy-addled mind, but I manage. And when it hits four o’clock, I grab my coat and purse, power down the computer, and push in my chair.
I do get a few stares then. Usually I’m not the first one out. I leave with everyone else once they finish chatting off-hours and we all file out to our cars as one big group. With a quick wave, I smile my way through
the showroom and out the side door, rounding about to the parking lot.
Every time I make this trip, I recall how it led me to Luke. Once, I wished I hadn’t worked late and I hadn’t witnessed Russ and his friend murdering Derrick Smyth.
Now I’m almost glad it threw me in Luke’s path. Me and Luke Hanley—the thought makes me laugh even now. We’re so different.
We were so different. And now we’ve made our differences work for us, and we’re having a baby.
Like Kerry, I do a little squeal myself.
I’m driving home extra carefully, aware my mind is on an overload of happiness and being pulled this way. I manage to get home safe and sound, riding up to my apartment and getting inside to have a real good look of the place since I moved in. I’m trying to soak it all in.
I wouldn’t miss the late nights alone. And I wouldn’t trade Luke and this baby for another night here. This is my old life and I’m moving on.
“Okay.” I clap my hands, saying to myself, “Let’s do this, Erickson.”
I tackle my clothes first, rummaging out a mid-sized suitcase from the back of my closet. I pack the necessities: pajamas, work clothes, and all the sexy lingerie I recently procured. Then the toiletries, cleaning out most of my bathroom’s cabinet and sink glass mantle. I find a photo album that I stored away, the only thing I have of my parents.
Sure, I talk to them every other month, but phone calls and Skype can’t replace the real thing. Now that I’m pregnant, I’d see to it they at least acknowledge they’ll be grandparents.
Fifteen minutes into exploding most of my closet, dresser, and bathroom around my bedroom, I lift my head from folding blouses when I hear something at the door.
Someone is definitely knocking, hard. When they push the buzzer, I speed up, no longer believing it’s Kerry on the other side or even Luke.
I glance through the peephole, dropping back down as the ringer buzzes loud to my left. The door seems to shift with the excessive banging. I’m not clear on how much of it is my imagination and how much is very real, but I’m not dreaming up the man on the other side.
I’d recognize him anywhere, but I haven’t seen him since he pointed a gun at me. With the intent to kill.