Hidden Under Her Heart

by Rachelle Ayala

  He crawled through the tent flap and pulled out a tube of BodyGlide anti-chafing balm. Maryanne rubbed her eyes and yawned, a satisfied smile lingering. She hugged herself and hummed. “I feel like warm honey, can’t barely move. How’re you going to race in this condition?”

  “I feel on top of the world.” He flexed his muscles in a strong man pose.

  She squeezed his shoulders and kissed the back of his neck. “Ready to get dressed? Or shall we unwrap you for breakfast? I’m feeling like sausage on eggs.”

  Lucas sputtered halfway between a cough and a sneeze. “You’ve been hanging around me too long. Here, rub some of this all over me before I put on my tri suit.”

  She picked up the BodyGlide. “What’s this, deodorant?”

  “No, it’s moisturizer to keep me from chafing, especially around my sensitive areas, nipples, between my legs, and where I contact my bike seat.”

  She stretched and purred like a cat with cream, uncapped the applicator and went below his waist. Lucas lay on the warm sleeping bag and spread his legs. How’d he go from loser in love to the luckiest, happiest, most content guy in the world?

  Maryanne deftly worked her way around his ankles, behind his knees, and up his inner thighs. Blood rushed to his groin and hunger growled, springing to attention.

  Lucas raised to his elbows. “I thought the cold shower would do it, but I need you again.”

  “Don’t you have to eat, get hydrated, and suited up?” She twirled a fingertip along the outline of his cock. “Or did you want me to moisturize this another way?”

  The chime of the alarm on his GPS enabled watch cut off the rush of heat and desire. Two hours to go.

  Lucas sighed and kissed Maryanne’s lips. “I’d love it, but we’re out of time. Will you have dinner with me?”

  “Candlelight?” She rubbed BodyGlide on his nipples.

  “With flowers.”

  “Chocolate.” She flickered the tip of her tongue under his teeth.

  “Mmm… Dancing in the moonlight.” He reluctantly disengaged himself and unrolled his tri suit. The one-piece design slipped over his lubricated legs. No underwear, just skin.

  Maryanne kissed his torso and chest, her breath leaving cool patches. She pulled up the zipper. “How are you going to pee in this one-piece?”

  “This fabric wicks moisture away from your skin, and the pee goes right through it.” Lucas laughed and wiggled into his wetsuit. “Almost time to go.”

  Maryanne pulled on her clothes. “Will you take me back to the cabin to change? Where can I watch the race?”

  “Debby’s mom, Sarah, will get you a spot at the pier for the swim. If you stay with her, she’ll bring you to T2 where the bike to run transition is. You’ll see us come around twice and finish at Squaw Valley.”

  She squeezed his cheeks. “I want the first kiss after the finish line when you win it!”

  “Reserved for you,” he whispered. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She kissed him.

  A car horn sounded. Lucas reluctantly disengaged and crawled out of the tent. Sarah and her daughter, Debby, stepped out of one car, and Nathan and his father, Joe, idled in their SUV.

  “It’s showtime,” Sarah patted Lucas. “Joe and Nathan will pack your tent while I take you and Maryanne to the check-in. Is she ready?”

  “Yep, all ready.” Lucas’ phone chimed with Sandra’s ringtone. He walked to the side of the clearing to answer it.

  “Hey, sis, how’s it going?” He kept his voice relaxed, the afterglow of a night with Maryanne soothing his rough edges.

  “Where the hell are you? Mom and Dad are at the cabin where you were supposed to be staying.”

  “Seriously, they flew out here?” Warmth swelled in his chest. They cared.

  “Yep, thought they’d surprise you. Better be glad I took Ma’s phone from her, or she would have rang you all night. She wants to talk to you.” Sandra handed over the phone.

  “Lucas? We’re waiting for you at the beach. Hurry up.” Ma’s voice brought a smile to his face. She sounded cheerful.

  “Hey, Ma. I’m on my way.” He gestured to Sarah and hopped into the passenger seat.

  Sarah pointed at the tent. “Maryanne wasn’t ready, so Joe’s taking her to the cabin. She’ll meet us at the pier closer to start time.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you, Ma.” He hung up, excitement leaping in his heart. His parents had never seen him race before. He had to do well and make them proud. Sarah backed out of the campsite. Maryanne hadn’t emerged from the tent. What was taking her so long?

  “Can we turn around?” Lucas asked.

  “No time. You have to be there early for body marking. What did you forget?” Sarah hooked a sharp right onto the road and stepped hard on the gas.

  “Was Maryanne okay?” Lucas’ voice scratched, and he cleared his throat.

  “Looked fine to me. Why don’t you call her?”

  He pushed her number. A little girl answered. “Hello?”

  Great. She’d left her phone at the cabin.

  ~~~

  Maryanne adjusted the visor over her face and donned her sunglasses. King’s Beach Pier was crowded and people jostled, practically hanging off the railing. She and Vera had arrived too late to see the professional start of the race. A sea of bobbing swim caps thrashed into the lake as the mass of amateurs poured into the water.

  Vera elbowed her. “You’ve been awfully quiet. Come on, spill it. Did you?”

  It was too wonderful to talk about. Maryanne hugged her windbreaker and scanned the roiling lake surface filled with swimmers. The lead pack headed toward the pier on the first lap, arms and legs scrambled together. Lucas had told her he wouldn’t be out of the water first, that even though his father was a strong swimmer, he couldn’t let the first leg drain his energy. Yet he hated being kicked. Was the one in third place with the long arms and smooth stroke Lucas?

  Vera pointed her binoculars. “Oh look, Zach’s in first place. He used to be a surfer and a lifeguard.”

  The swimmers closed in on the pier and rounded the buoy toward the second lap, their strokes steady. Maryanne caught a glimpse of Lucas as he made the turn. Her heart swelled, and she couldn’t help bouncing at the sight of his strong, clean strokes rippling through the water.

  The line of swimmers spread out as they finished the second lap. The first guys out of the water sprinted up the beach, tossing their goggles and swimcaps and shimmying out of their wetsuits, exposing their racing suits. Lucas came out fifth and ran toward the rows of bicycles.

  Moments later, the crowd roared as the lead pack of bikers turned the corner toward the lakeside, accompanied by motorbikes and camera vans. Lucas pedaled furiously in the second clump, trailed by three guys. A sudden pang ached in Maryanne’s side, and she massaged her tightened abdomen.

  “What’s wrong? Contractions?” Vera looped her arm around Maryanne. “Let’s go back to the cabin and rest. It’s going to be hours.”

  “I want to be here when he comes around for the second loop.”

  Vera eased her away from the crowd. “It’s going to take a while. You need to rest, sweetie.”

  Maryanne said a silent prayer as her abdomen relaxed. “I’m better now.”

  A heavy purse tapped her shoulder. “I know who you are.”

  Lucas’ sister stood beside the older woman who could only be his mother. Maryanne extended her hand. “Mrs. Knight? It’s nice to meet you.”

  The woman pursed her lips and stared at Maryanne’s pregnant belly. “If you cared about him, you’d stay away. He has no sponsorships because of you accusing him of rape.”

  “Ma!” Sandra interjected. “She didn’t accuse Lucas.”

  “She didn’t have to.” Lucas’ mother sneered. “Always the black man’s fault.”

  Maryanne swallowed the burning acid that upwelled to her throat. “Lucas is innocent. That’s what I told everyone.”

  “Why don’t you clear his name?” Mrs. Knight glared
at her. “And why’re you hanging all over him?”

  “Ma, at least she didn’t have an abortion.” Sandra tugged her mother’s arm.

  “That’s one good thing you did, child.” Mrs. Knight nodded approvingly. “You know, I wasn’t the only athlete who got pregnant that summer. I was the only one who had the baby.”

  Lucas’ stepfather handed his mother a cup of soda. “Sherell, let’s go back to the hotel and rest. He’s not coming this way for another two hours.”

  Maryanne pinched her arms and turned away from them. Mrs. Knight muttered, “That girl’s such a midget.”

  “Don’t pay attention to her,” Vera said. “She strikes me as being off-balanced.”

  “Kind of like my mom, in her own little world,” Maryanne agreed.

  Sandra jutted between them and pushed Vera. “Who you talkin’ about?”

  Maryanne and Vera quickened their pace and sidestepped her, but Sandra shuffled around them and blocked their path. “I said, who you talkin’ about?”

  “Nobody, sorry.” Maryanne looked up at Sandra’s huffing face. “My mother, okay?”

  Sandra shook her head so hard her beaded braids clattered. “My brother’s playing you.”

  Maryanne swiveled around her, but Sandra grabbed her shoulder. “Only reason he’s with you is to keep you from having the abortion. Once you have the baby, he’ll find another pregnant woman to glom onto. He’s saving lives, one baby at a time. If I were you, I’d look for someone else to play daddy with.”

  “Why do I have to listen to this?” Maryanne clenched her fist. “You don’t know the first thing about him.”

  “No, you don’t. He used to hang outside of abortion clinics and chat up women, offer to be their boyfriend and help them through their pregnancy. Ask him how many he saved.” Sandra ticked her fingers one by one. “Of course, there were a few who went through with it, and boy did he hate them. Got a couple restraining orders thrown at him.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Ask Daria. I dare you.” Sandra smirked. “He used to worship the ground she walked on. She was a beauty. Long-legged, silky black hair, bathing suit model, tall. He hates her now.”

  Vera stepped between them. “Come on, we don’t have to listen to this.”

  “He defaced her car. Spray painted ‘murderess’ in red.” Sandra’s voice followed them.

  Bile boiled and burned in Maryanne’s throat. She grasped her neck, but the acid ate at her esophagus. Murderess. Would Lucas one day hate her for what she’d done to Barry’s baby? Her baby?

  “Tia, Tia!” A girl hugged Vera. “The tooth fairy left me a cell phone.”

  Maryanne gasped and coughed. Vera’s niece played with the ringtones on Maryanne’s cell. She was seven years old. Black dots crowded her vision. The shudder of the vacuum quaked her womb, and a rush of blood suctioned from her head. Her child would have been the same age.

  ~~~

  Lucas leaned into a fast rhythm, keeping the lead pack within view. Today, he would push hard on the bike and surprise his competitors. He’d been mountain biking and doing power training with weights all summer. He passed the lead guy in the second clump and sped toward the second loop start at King’s Beach. The cheering crowd grew larger the closer he got. Volunteers slapped refreshment into his hands at full speed. He glanced at a group of screaming women waving banners. No sight of Maryanne. He spurred forward and made the turn around the cone. His mom jumped into the roadway ahead of him. He swerved and skidded, but regained control a split second before hitting the curb. Several competitors passed him. About halfway done. Sweat blinding his eyes, Lucas focused on the road ahead, keeping close to a twenty-seven mph pace.

  The road inclined upward toward Northstar. The lead pack of five riders disappeared around the curve. Lucas stood off the seat up the ascent to Brockway summit. He had to pass them before the descent and kill their determination. The road wiggled like a serpent the closer he got. Sweat streamed down his face, and his thighs burned. The motorcade was right ahead of the five lead bikers: Zach, two Europeans who trained in the Alps, an American and another Australian. Lucas surged, passing two easily. The road led through the ski resort, bare of snow in September, winding around clumps of fir trees. Zach looked back and got off his saddle. He passed another biker to take the lead. The third man dropped back, but Lucas continued to close in. They hadn’t expected a fight on the ascent.

  Lucas gritted his teeth and passed the second man, pulling abreast with his training partner. Zach’s surprised look was met with what Lucas hoped was steely determination on his face.

  “Good luck, mate.” Zach clenched his teeth.

  “Don’t need it.” Lucas pushed harder and took the lead. Zach waved him off. “I’ll catch you on the downhill. Watch out for potholes.”

  Lucas put his head down into the wind and glided as if skiing down the mountain, his body leaning into the turns. He made the turn back onto North Shore Rd and crouched low over his aerobars. The hum of his tires whirred like a jet turbine, and his legs spun smoothly, almost as if detached from his body.

  A sparkling, serene lake view greeted him with cool breezes. No fear, just beauty, in a zone of tranquility. A rabbit darted in his path. Lucas braked and swerved, juddering the bike into the gravel. He unclipped his right foot to avoid a fall, but lost precious seconds. Zach and the former second place guy, a German biker, Gerhard, zipped past him. Two other guys closed in.

  Twenty miles later, Lucas turned into T2, about eleven minutes behind the leaders. He had taken a big risk, burning his thighs on the uphill attack. His legs had better hold up in the marathon. The deafening noise of the crowd swelled his eardrums. “Knight, Knight, Knight!”

  “Lucas, Lucas!” His mother and sister screamed from the roadside. He waved and flung off his bike and stumbled like a caveman, hardly able to straighten up. Where was Maryanne?

  He couldn’t lose time looking for her. Chugging down flat soda and water, he swallowed salt tablets and sucked an energy gel while slipping on his running shoes. Volunteers slapped sunscreen on him. Another pair of hands removed his helmet. Forty-eight minute swim, four forty-six on the bike, a bit worse than he would have liked at this point, but he could still win if he maintained a six-minute-mile pace for the marathon.

  Lucas stretched to his full height and ran through T2 to the marathon start. The leaders had ten minutes on him. None of them were runners. Strong swimmers and awesome bikers. For the first time, Lucas had kept up on the bike instead of dropping back. He had a shot as long as his legs held up.

  The crowd chanted his name as he reverted through Squaw Village onto the road the bikers were coming on. Bicycle after bicycle streamed past him in the opposite direction. He paced himself, still feeling as if he were spinning pedals. His mother, father and sister screamed and hooted. Lucas waved and streaked onto the course. The marathon was an out and back, and he’d get a chance to check out his competition at the turnaround point on West Lake Blvd. Perhaps Maryanne had camped there. He pumped his arms, eager to see her. The marathon was about survival, and she was the only pep rally he needed.

  Chapter 27

  Maryanne slouched on the sofa, holding her abdomen. “I’m really fine. I don’t need a doctor.”

  “You should rest.” Vera held her hand. “You fainted. It can’t be good for the baby.”

  “But I’ll miss Lucas. He started the marathon already.” Even if he’d eventually think her a murderess, he deserved her support for this race.

  Jen sat at the kitchen table and woke her laptop. “He finished near the top five on the bike.”

  “Yes!” Maryanne clapped. “I knew he could do it. He’s naturally a strong runner. He’s going to win it. I can feel it.”

  Vera pressed a cool towel over Maryanne’s forehead. “You need to rest. Besides, the finish area is probably overcrowded and all staked out.”

  “He needs me. Let’s drive to the turnaround point before the racers get there.” Maryanne pick
ed up her purse. “Please?”

  Jen looked at Vera. “Zach’s in the top five. Don’t you care to cheer him on?”

  “Not really.” Vera yawned. “I’m going to have a smoke. Why don’t you two go ahead?”

  Maryanne and Jen headed to her Benz.

  “Do you know what’s going on with Vera?” Maryanne asked Jen.

  Jen unlocked her car, and they stepped in. “Things are a bit tense. Emily doesn’t need her as much anymore, and as much as she doesn’t want to admit it, I think she envies us being pregnant.”

  Maryanne pressed her abdomen. The baby was hiccupping. “It’s not like I want this baby.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t want to take away your happiness. How far along are you?”

  “Thirty-two weeks.” Jen followed the directions of the police officers and detoured past the remaining bikers.

  “Boy or girl?”

  “I didn’t want to know, but Dave swore he saw boy parts. You know how men are.”

  “I guess.” Maryanne recalled Lucas’ enthusiasm at her ultrasound. “I’m supposed to get an amnio next week.”

  Jen maneuvered past the last stretch of bikers and drove along the lake toward the running route. “Are you screening for genetic issues?”

  “Huh?” Maryanne peered down the road. “Oh, no. I need to clear Lucas from the rape charge.”

  “Our company is going public, so we can’t afford negative publicity. You understand?”

  “Sure.” Maryanne’s gut twisted. Hopefully Jen didn’t hear the growl in her stomach. “Lucas deserves better.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If he hadn’t met me, everything would have lined up for him. His family hates me. Thinks I’m dragging his name in the mud. Sister thinks he’s with me to save the baby.” Maryanne hated sounding so pitiful, especially to the wife of the CEO who’d make a decision on Lucas, but she had to get Jen to sympathize with him and see what pressure he was under and how noble he was.