Wes: Lucas is having a MS flair. They are keeping him for three days for some IV steroids. Call me when you get this.
Another text from Will.
Will: Where are you? Wes called looking for you.
The fourth and final message was from an unknown number.
Unknown: I need you, Love Lucas
Everything faded around me. Lucas was suffering and I was the one he needed. My fingers trembled as I tried to remember how that stupid phone worked so I could call back the unknown number Lucas texted me from.
After two rings, “Hello,” came from a woman’s voice. I pulled the turban off my head, and held it to my mouth. I was going to be sick.
Why did he need me when he had her with him?
“Is … Lucas there?” My throat tightened as I said those words, never more unsure of myself.
“Annie?” the lady asked, almost excited. “Is that you?”
“Yes, can I speak to Lucas?”
The phone sounded like it was dropped then I heard mumbling but couldn’t make out what was being said, then I heard the voice I had wanted to hear every moment since Lucas turned his back on me. “Precious, thank God, I need you, baby,” Lucas said on the other end of the phone. His voice still heavy in sleep was the most calming sound I had ever heard.
“How are you feeling? Are you going to be okay?” I asked. “Who was that girl?”
He laughed — it was beautiful, but was it hiding the truth of who she was. “I feel like shit. I’m going to be okay. It’s all part of the MS gig. That girl is Ang … she’s my … she’s my grandmother.”
I slid down the wall, letting my wet hair trail a pattern across the wallpaper, until my butt hit the floor. “Your grandmother.” I sighed. “You found your family. How are they?”
“They’re wonderful, but I’m ready to come home.”
“Your mom and Wes will be happy to hear that.”
“They’re not my home, my home is with you. You’re my home. Can I come home?”
My breathing ceased as everything in my life combined into one big cluster of chaos — learning who my father was, that my mother didn’t die in that wreck years ago, the ache of what I felt for Lucas. Everything had been thrown into the large blender called life and set to shred. And the only person who could make the pieces whole again wanted to come home to me.
“Talk to me. I’m scared,” Lucas whispered so low I wasn’t sure the words were meant for my ears.
My chest pained as I jumped to my feet and started to throw stuff into a purse. “Where are you? I’m coming.”
Lucas laughed again and the sound was music to my ears. “Damn, I love you. I’ve got two more days in this damn hospital taking this steroid drip than I’m flying home. Will you pick me up at the airport?”
My heart raced in my chest and I fought back a smile. I missed him more than I would’ve ever admitted. “I love you. I’ll come there … if you want me too? I’m a pretty good nurse when I want to be.”
I let the towel slip down my body as I walked down the hallway to the bedroom to change. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get to him, but I was going.
“I could use a sponge-bath. Did I mention all I had on was a hospital gown?”
I know it sounds crazy but I could hear his smile through the phone.
I pressed the speakerphone button and toss the cellphone onto the bed before pulling some clothes out of the dresser.
“Lucas Carter, I’m sure you can find a few nurses around there more than willing to sponge you off.”
“Yeah, I know, but I enjoyed the first three so much, I thought I would go for a fourth one.”
I laughed hard, missing the harmless flirting Lucas mastered in.
“What airport do I need to fly into? And can you have someone pick me up?” I asked, tugging a cotton t-shirt over my head.
“Precious, as much as I would love to see your face, I only have two more days in this joint. By the time you get here, I’ll be coming home. Will you pick me up? I’ll get you the flight information as soon as I get a flight booked.”
“Of course, I’m sure Wes will drive me,” I said and then wiggled my jeans up over my hips.
“I don’t want Wes there.”
The tone of his voice threatened to suffocate me. A heavy weight crushed my chest and I fell back on the bed, debating on what to do.
“How do you suggest I get there then? It’s a little far to walk.”
Lucas sighed, and I could physically feel time and distance stretch between us before he finally spoke again. “I’ll figure it out, if you just promise to be there.”
“Promise.”
We talked on the phone for another two hours. His voice seemed to lighten as he talked about Miles’s family. The more he talked, the more I could tell he was accepting his newfound family a lot better than I was. Maybe, I was a tad jealous that the only way I could ever learn who my mother was, was through stories Wes and Bob told me. She had no family I could turn to.
“I’m hanging up now, so I can book a flight and sleep. These meds are getting to me. I love you,” he said, and before I had a chance to respond, he hung up.
As soon as the called ended, I went to the grocery store and purchased a month's worth of junk food, sent a text to Bob telling him I was taking two weeks off, and then checked into a state of hibernation.
I changed into a pair of lounge pants and Lucas’s high school football jersey that I had never returned after we went swimming, and crawled into the corner of the sofa for a marathon of Gilmore Girls on Netflix.
The day turned into night, and still not a word from Lucas. I did receive a text from Bob stating he was glad I was taking some time for myself.
The doorbell buzzed three times, I stretched not realizing when I went to sleep or even what time of day it was. I glanced at the clock above the T.V. and saw it was 10:56. I was hoping that it was AM and not PM.
Who the hell? Was my thought as I kicked a crocheted afghan off me. I had just started toward the door when I heard the doorbell again. I huffed, wondering again who it was. I had only had two visitors since I had moved in — Lucas and Wes. Lucas was still in the hospital as far as I knew and Wes had a key. I pulled back the door without even checking the peephole.
Jennifer Carter was standing on my front porch. The last and only time I had ever seen her, she had practically thrown me out of her home.
She handed me a key and a Verizon bag. “Lucas told me to bring these to you. Well, I have a friend waiting on me.” She turned and started walking down the porch-steps but on the bottom step she turned back around. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for how I treated you, I’m sorry I didn’t find a way for Wes to keep you, I’m sorry you didn’t get the life you deserved.” She paused and hit the palm of her hand on the porch railing. “I’m glad it’s you that makes Lucas happy. Having you two together would make Miles and Evie happy.” She flipped around without even a look back at me and climbed into the passenger seat of some high-priced car.
Could Jennifer Carter be anymore strange?
I spotted Lucas’s Jeep in the driveway and then glanced down at the key in my hand, sure enough it was for the Jeep. I slammed the door shut and shook my head as bile rose in my throat.
What the hell was Lucas up to?
I fell back on the couch and let out a breath before taking a box containing an iPhone 7 out of the bag.
The phone was already turned on with several texts messages flashing on the screen.
Lucas: I had Wes get you this phone when he replaced my “lost” one. And before you start arguing, he owes it to you. At least, he didn’t have to pay your cell phone in your teen days when you didn’t understand data limits. But I digress. I wanted him to buy you a car but he said you wouldn’t accept it. So, I hope you at least got the keys to my Jeep. My plane arrives Wednesday morning at 10:58. I’ll be on flight 5286 and it’s expected to arrive at gate B7. I wrote you a text and needed more characters than one text would allow. Read
from the first text down, and I hope you understand my frame of mind a little more. I love you and can’t wait to hold you. PS I don't have my phone yet, I'm using Angela's. Be careful when you text back, she's great, but kind of nosey too.
I thumbed through the phone and saw two more lengthy texts. When I started reading the first one — there are only twenty-six letters in the English alphabet, and who would believe that Lucas Carter could heal every wound my heart ever attained without even using half of them.
Lucas: I gave a piece of my heart away when I was little, but the odd part was I never understood what was missing in me until I met you. The deep ache I often felt vanished when I was near you. The sadness that had plagued my childhood turned to unbelievable joy with a simple touch of your hand. Your whispers were louder than my demons’ screams. From day one my heart knew you were precious, even if my head wanted to argue with it. I thought I might’ve wanted you, but the truth all along was I needed you. I NEED US!
Baby, all my life, I shut down when I knew the pain was going to set in. It was easier to run than to feel. But not anymore, I want to feel everything with you. The good and the bad. Teach me to be like you, teach me how not only to bask in the sun, but also to dance in the rain. Let me hold you so tight, I’m incapable of running.
Lucas: I’m slowly sorting out all the shit in my head, and learning it is a bigger job than I can tackle alone. The past two weeks, I’ve thought about my mom and real dad and wondered if they had what I feel with you. My mom use to watch this movie with a passion I couldn’t understand. She told me she would watch it with my dad when they were dating. I asked her earlier, and yes, she was talking about Miles not Wes. I decided to watch it to get a glimpse into their life together. Then the last scene caught my attention. It is my feelings toward you. I’ve had the time of my life and it’s all because of you. You are my home and I love you. Never running from you again, Lucas
Lucas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9BbUqHrWFI
I clicked on the link and it took me to the final scene in Dirty Dancing. Again, Lucas had music talk for him.
Epilogue
A Year Changes Everything
Lucas Carter
She’s 21, I’m 20, I could start fires with what I feel for her. I still remember the day my soul whispered, “She’s the one.”
Our luggage is strapped in on top on the Jeep, two half-empty soft drinks sit snug in the cup-holders between us, and Annie thumbs through the songs on her iPhone as we cruise down the interstate to see my family in Texas.
Annie’s hair is down and ruffling around her face as she leans her head slightly out the open car window. A soft smile flirts with her lips. She is calm and peaceful, just the way I like to see her.
She’s talking about the paint colors she had chosen for one of my newest flips when the sun caught the diamond on her left finger, the diamond my father had wanted to place on my mother’s finger, and I couldn’t stop smiling at the idea she had finally decided to take our relationship to the next step.
In the backseat, I hear a cry, my baby’s cry. Annie twist around to place a pacifier back into her mouth. Blakely quiets immediately. I glance over at Annie to take in the soft profile of her face. Annie rocks the car-seat and sighs when Blakely drifts back off to sleep.
Sometimes, it screws with my head to see Annie tending to Blakely. Those sparks shoot out again, and surround my heart. I wasn’t a man who deserved that little angel in the back seat, and sure didn’t deserve to have Annie as my wife.
I was not only broken, but selfish and all too familiar with screwing up. Annie didn’t give a flip about my mistakes — she loves me despite them.
Annie loves not only me but Blakely too.
And that would be enough for now.
But I couldn’t wait to finally …
Have a family with Annie and see her belly grow with my child.
True Love doesn’t have a happy ending …
True Love doesn’t end.
Thank you for reading Tiny Dancer. If you enjoyed a little piece of my imagination, please go to https://swoonreads.com/m/tiny-dancer/ and rate my story.
Happy Reading, JM Worthington
Tiny Dancer Page 28