by Liz Talley
At the door, paramedics arrived, rolling a yellow framed gurney inside, carrying huge medical cases.
The officer called them inside the living area.
“I’m okay,” Addy said, sitting up. “But you need to check Aunt Flora. Robbie knocked her unconscious.”
Flora looked up with a smile. “No, he didn’t. I was playing possum. I watch plenty of police shows, and I’ve read enough books to know that playing dead’s a strategy.”
Addy pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. “Only you would see watching Hawaii Five-O as preparation. I was so scared he’d hurt you.”
Flora’s bravado flickered. “I’m sorry to have scared you, Addy. But I knew he would underestimate me. I let him. And I’m sorry it took me so long to get my gun. I had to be quiet.”
“I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me. Not really.”
But Robbie had hurt Addy. Lucas had to trample the urge to stroll out into the yard and drag that asshole from the cruiser. Lucas would show him what hurt really felt like.
But Addy needed him with her.
Over the next hour Lucas marveled at the tale that unfolded—one of a brave woman standing up against her attacker, a little girl who never stayed where she was told to stay, and an older gun-toting lady who saved the day. All the while Addy sat next to him, pressed tight as if she took comfort in his presence.
In between taking statements, collecting evidence, and allowing EMT to check her over, Addy kept her composure. Lucas fielded phone calls from his parents, Michael’s friend’s parents, and finally Addy’s father who was en route.
Lucas cornered one of the officers and asked to move Addy, Flora, and Charlotte over to the house next door while the scene was processed.
So over they went. Flora made coffee, strangely looking very much unaffected by the whole event. Charlotte clung to the nearest adult, and Addy had gotten back some of her color.
With only a few moments to steal before Addy’s parents descended on them, his parents arrived, and the detective who investigated the first case showed up, Lucas pulled Addy into his arms. “Are you really okay?”
She nodded against his chest. “Oddly enough, I am. I can’t say I wasn’t scared, but I didn’t let him win. I didn’t allow him any satisfaction.”
“No, you didn’t.” He cupped her head and held her tighter. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I had no clue he was so dangerous.”
She pulled back, blinking up at him, her eyes apologetic. “I never told you about the threats he sent me. You couldn’t have understood because I didn’t let you.”
“What?”
“When we first met, I wanted to protect myself. I didn’t want you to see how much baggage I came with. I guess subconsciously I thought you’d think me not worth the trouble.”
“Never.”
“You say that now, but it’s like the divorced gal who finally finds someone to love—she doesn’t tell her new boyfriend about her crazy train ex until she has to. I didn’t want you to walk away before we started.”
“But we started,” he murmured.
“Yeah, but when things got serious between us, I didn’t tell you because you were leaving.”
“Addy,” he whispered against her hair, “don’t you know I want to know all of you? Can’t you see how much I care?”
She nodded. “I should have told you about the threats, should have shared what I knew about Robbie, about his profile and why he wasn’t going to stop. I could have protected Charlotte. I never should have let her stay here knowing Robbie was out there.”
“But you couldn’t have known he’d come tonight.”
She shook her head. “But I could have spared her the trauma. She’s going to be scared for a long time, and that breaks my heart.”
“She’s young, and she’s learned there are people who won’t let evil win. Robbie is history—they’ll put him away for a long time.”
“I hope,” she said, her voice fading.
“And if he ever gets out, I’ll kill him.”
“And how will you know? You won’t be here.” Addy pressed her mouth into a line.
“I’ll know. I love you, Addy, and if he even thinks to harm one hair on your head, he will regret ever being born.”
Lifting a trembling hand to bruised cheek, she looked away. “You love me?”
Lucas turned her face gently so her whiskey eyes met his. “I do. I didn’t expect it, and I know things aren’t ideal, but I can’t deny the way I feel. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same, but one thing I’ve learned over the past few weeks is when you have the chance to say I love you, you should take it. I’m not asking you to-”
“Shut up,” she said, jerking his head down and rising on her tiptoes so she could kiss him.
Lucas felt something inside him release as their lips met. He didn’t know if it was because his rollicking emotions had been granted reprieve or if the adrenaline high had faded or if the searing anger for the man who’d hit his Addy had been abated, but at that moment, he was content. He accepted what had been growing inside him for the past week, the knowledge he and Addy were meant to be together. And though it might be hard to figure out how their relationship would logistically work, he would make sure they stayed together.
Softly, he kissed her, cradling her face in his hands, embracing the love swelling inside.
She ended the kiss and stared up at him, her eyes velvet in the low counter light. “I love you, too, Lucas. I do. I was stupid the other night. Too scared to trust you. I’m sorry.”
“I understand. But, listen—I don’t want to waste any more time denying you were made for me, and me for you.”
For several moments they held each other. Finally, Lucas gave Addy a squeeze. “This might be both the worst and best night of my life.”
Addy reached up and brushed her hand against his face. “Weird, but true.”
“Grammy and Gramps!” Charlotte shouted from the living room where she sat with Flora.
Lucas sighed. “Miles to go before I sleep.”
“And that’s why I love you. You can bake brownies, clean up vomit, and recite Robert Frost.”
Lucas’s eyes sparked. “Who are you talking about? I’m a tough cowboy. I eat little kids for breakfast. Brownies aren’t even in my vocabulary. Maybe we better get those paramedics to come back and check your noggin ’cause you think you’re in love with Mr. Mom.”
“I’ll take both the guys inside of you as long as you’ll take the Addy who dresses in frumpy clothes along with the Addy who doesn’t wear underwear beneath them.”
“Fine, but I want more of the second Addy.” He took her hand and it fit like a key in a lock.
In truth, Addy Toussant had been made for him.
Addy spent the night at the Finlay house, wrapped in Lucas’s arms on the couch. Since Flora hadn’t wanted to sleep in her house alone, and Addy was unwilling to leave the protection of Lucas’s arms, her aunt went home with Addy’s parents while a still freaked out Charlotte loaded up with Lucas’s parents. That left Addy and Lucas with a not-so-surly-anymore teen and a jubilant motocross champ of the junior division. Since everyone was exhausted by the night’s drama, all crashed and slept until the doorbell woke them.
Lucas didn’t move at the insistent sound, so Addy struggled from the depths of the plush couch to answer the door. Looking out the keyhole, she found Lucas’s mother standing on the stoop holding balloons and a cake. Charlotte skipped up and down the front pavers, looking none the worse for wear. Thank God.
Kids… she wished she had their resiliency.
Opening the door, Addy ran a hand through her hair and squinted against the morning sun. She tried not to blush at being caught in the same clothes as last night with her hair knotted and her eyes swollen. She blinked and resisted the urge to wipe the sleep from her eyes. “Mrs. Finlay.”
“Good morning, dear, and call me Fran, please,” she said, pushing past Addy. Charlotte jumped up the steps, Creampie backpack slapping
a rhythm. She held her hands up to Addy.
“Good morning, Brave Charlotte,” Addy murmured into the girl’s curls. The child smelled like clean cotton and sunshine. Addy set her down so she wasn’t tempted to huff the child like some nut ball, but the clean smell of innocence was addictive.
A balloon snagged around Addy’s neck and she pulled it free, turning to see Lucas’s head emerge over the back of the sofa. Seemed a shame the first time they’d literally slept together had been platonic and on his brother’s couch, but it hadn’t seemed right to share a bed with two impressionable boys in the house. “Mom? What are you doing here? What time is it?”
“I’m preparing for your brother to come home, of course. And it’s 9:30,” Fran trilled, bypassing Lucas and heading for the kitchen.
Lucas scrambled off the couch, kicking the fluffy throw in which they’d been wrapped to the floor. He rose, clad only in his plaid boxers and a T-shirt. Stretching, he turned to her with a sleepy smile. Something wonderful fluttered in her stomach when she realized this was the first of many smiles she’d wake up to. “Morning, Addy girl.”
Addy closed the front door and tugged her T-shirt around from where it had twisted under her arms. “Morning, babe.”
She heard him sigh, and that caused another flood of warmth. For a few precious seconds, they stood beaming at one another.
And then they heard the thump, thump, thump of not-so-little feet tromping down the stairs. Michael appeared first, hair sticking up, shoulders slumped. “I smell doughnuts.”
“It’s a cake your grandmother brought.”
Chris came next, sticking his head over the bannister as he took the stairs double-time. “Mom and Dad are coming home today!”
“Yes, they are.” Fran popped her head back into the foyer. “And we all need to get ready. Your grandfather is on his way to Belle Chase to pick them up, so we need to make our beds, pick up, and tack these balloons on the porch. Lucas, get some britches on and grab the banner out of the car. Aunt Camille made it.”
Addy moved toward Fran and the kitchen. “I’ll be glad to help, but first I need to go to my house to grab a shower.”
“I better go with her,” Lucas said solemnly.
His mother gave him a blank stare… but Addy saw the twinkle in her eye before she turned around. “Forget about it. I know last night was, well, traumatic, and you two need some time together, but it will have to be later. Today, we’re focusing on Benjamin’s welcome home. Snap to it, Mister.”
Addy looked about for her flip flops and slid a glance toward where Lucas stood still stretching. “I wouldn’t mind some company on my walk over. I know it’s silly, but the thought of taking a shower alone in that house after Robbie attacked me last night gives me the willies.”
Lucas dropped his arms. “Let me grab a few things for Mom and make sure the kids are set then I’ll walk over with you. I’ll wait for you.”
Minutes later, hand in hand, they headed silently toward her house.
She pulled the damaged back door open, punched in the code for the alarm and looked at her kitchen. The police had left it as it was, chairs scattered, table shoved out of its normal spot. The pan for cookies still sat on the counter, but thankfully, someone had turned the oven off. Addy felt as if she were having an out of body experience. It was her kitchen… yet a stranger’s kitchen.
Lucas slid his hands to her shoulders and she jumped. “Hey, it’s over.”
“The rational me knows that, but I still feel quivery in my skin. The only good thing is now I have you beside me.”
He wrapped his arms around her and calmed her soul. It had been that way from the beginning—Lucas soothing her fears with his touch, his smile, his very presence. She should have trusted that instinct.
Turning, she laid her head against his broad chest, whispering a prayer of thanks. “It’s over for me, but what about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ben and Courtney will be here in a few hours.”
He pulled away and glanced out the back window. “Yeah, there’s that.”
“You want to tell me about what really happened? The non-kid version?”
He shrugged those massive shoulders, his head tilting forward enough to give him vulnerability in the morning light slanting inside the café curtain. “Just a major screw up.”
Addy didn’t say anything, just hooked her foot around the same chair she’d crashed into the night before and pulled it to her. She sat… and waited.
“Courtney was my best friend, first girlfriend, first lover and I had assumed my future,” he said, his dark eyes trained on some unseen horizon sitting outside her kitchen window.
Turning, he sank into a chair. “You plan things, you know? I was going to Tulane Law; Courtney was at UNO working on her business degree. We were comfortable, and I thought happy, even if I studied too much. She was lonely, and when Ben came home for Christmas and stayed to find a job, he took her to the movies, for drinks with friends, and they job hunted together. I was relieved because I didn’t have her nagging me about studying too much and ignoring her, but joke was on me. They fell in love.”
Addy made a sympathetic sound in her throat.
“No, it was partly my fault. I took her for granted, and she was lonely. Ben didn’t intend to betray me. I could see that in his eyes. He was torn up about it, but I guess they couldn’t stop it. I had saved for a ring and planned to propose to Courtney. I’d booked a condo in Destin, picked out the gulf-view restaurant for the proposal, and sent in my resumes to intern at some big law offices. All planned out… except Courtney was pregnant with Michael.”
“Oh, Lucas,” she murmured, stretching out a hand. He pushed it away, lifting fierce eyes that still mirrored pain.
“A real Jerry Springer special, right? I couldn’t believe they’d done something like that behind my back. I dropped out of law school and left New Orleans. You know the rest.”
“So why did you come back?”
He lifted his eyes, and she saw straight into his heart. “I don’t know.”
“I think you do,” she said.
He shook his head. “When mom called me about Ben getting hurt in Afghanistan, something tore loose. All that bitterness and hate rusting away inside me just broke away. I took a ride on Cisco-”
She lifted her eyebrows.
“My horse. And as I stared across the prairie, I knew it was time to let the hatred and shame of losing out to Ben go.”
“Did you love Courtney?”
“Yeah, of course. You know her. She’s hard not to love. But I think it was more a comfort thing. We’d both decided we were better together than apart. She just hadn’t banked on finding true love instead.” His words fell soft on her, and she could feel the change in him even as he spoke.
“You don’t ever plan on true love, do you?”
He leaned toward her. “I kind of figured that out. That’s what I wanted to tell you earlier. Maybe that’s why when you asked me about love, I froze and panicked.”
Addy smiled.
“Fate brought me home. Now I know what it’s like to find the person you’re meant to be with. I know what real love is.”
Addy clasped his hands. “You came home for me.”
“I did.” He set his forehead against hers. “We don’t have time for more, but I’ll take a kiss before you go.”
“I’m not leaving. Just taking a shower.”
The devil danced in his eyes. “Want me to wash your back?”
Addy’s kiss told him all he needed to know.
Lucas watched as Courtney rolled Ben up the side ramp he’d installed after painting the porch. His brother wore a gray sweat suit with his unit’s emblem on the front. Very noticeable was the empty right pant leg. He tried not to look, but it drew the eye and made his heart clench.
The kids hung back watching their father move toward them in a wheelchair. Fran gave Michael a push, but he resisted.
“Look at the porch,”
Courtney breathed, stroking the glossy satin of the rail, looking up with a pasted-on smile. Her eyes pleaded with her children. “And who put the ramp in?”
“It’s temporary,” Lucas said from behind his parents. “I figured Ben wouldn’t be in a wheelchair long.”
At hearing his voice, Ben looked up. His dark eyes were unfathomable, his expression fierce. Courtney’s eyes reflected gratitude and a certain wariness. He didn’t blame his sister-in-law. The situation was awkward and carried enough tension to smother the neighborhood.
With another small push from Fran, Michael moved toward his father. The other two followed clustering around Ben, hugging him, chattering about winning races, making the lacrosse team, and getting a new Creampie stuffed kitten. Ben’s smile lit up the porch, and though he’d lost much weight and looked older than his thirty-five years, Lucas could see a glimpse of the old Ben within his face.
“Let’s all go inside,” Fran said, opening the front door. The kids tumbled in, Chris already asking about cutting the cake.
“You haven’t had lunch yet,” Fran admonished. Lucas glanced over at his father who stood holding the door. The older man nodded and left him on the porch with Ben and Courtney.
Lucas swallowed the sudden emotion that stuck in his throat as the click of the door sounded like thunder.
Ben sighed. “I guess we’re doing this.”
Courtney rubbed his shoulders, and his brother lifted a hand to pat one of her hands. Lucas understood right away that they were united in solidarity. The way he would be with Addy.
Lucas kicked at the runner of the freshly painted rocker. “I think it’s time we did.”
A few seconds ticked by.
“What do you want us to say we haven’t already?” Ben asked, anger still lurking in his tone. “We’re sorry for the millionth time?”
Lucas didn’t say anything for a moment. “No, you’ve already apologized.”
“Then what?” Courtney asked, sinking into the still moving rocker. “We wronged you. Everybody knows, and we’ve had to live with it. It’s a crappy cloud over a person’s head. Yeah, it’s accurate, but it’s also not fair because people see only what they want to see. They don’t see inside us to the feelings within, to the-”