“It’s been a month.”

              “A month!”

              “Four weeks this Friday,” Diane informed her as she began straightening the bed and tucking the blanket in under Lucy’s feet. “They want to keep you a few more weeks.”

              “What for?”

              Diane glanced up at her. “He cracked your skull wide open! They want to make sure he didn’t scramble anything permanently.”

              Lucy rolled her eyes. “Where is he, may I ask?”

              “They think he fled to Tijuana. Rudy thinks he’s sticking around to finish the job.” Lucy’s huge eyes widened even more in horror, to which Diane mumbled an apology. “They’ve got a guard and everything in case you’re wondering.”

              “That doesn’t make me feel any safer!”

              “And you’ve got Alec,” Diane added without being specific.

              “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lucy glared at her. “You make it sound as if he’s Superman!”

              For the first time since this whole horror fest had transpired, Diane was actually starting to enjoy this. Lucy had no idea who she was married to! “He didn’t tell you?”

              “Tell me what?” Lucy demanded, eyeing Diane closely.  If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Diane was hiding something. “What’s the big secret?”

              “I think I’ll let him tell you,” Diane grinned.

              “Tell me what?” Lucy repeated. “And why are you smiling like that?”

              “Like what?”

              “Like the cat that got the cream!”

              Diane shook her head and busied herself with tidying the rest of the flower arrangements. Eddie should be back soon. She was kind of hoping he’d say something to Lucy, but considering what happened, she didn’t blame him any for wanting to keep his distance. Besides, he wanted to get away for a while. They’d decided to spend some time in Hawaii where the water was cool and the food plentiful. Of course, the monster-in-law would be tagging along. Diane was dreading the trip already. Where was Eduardo anyhow? It couldn’t take that long to get a cup of that witches’ brew that passed for coffee.

              “Aren’t you going to tell me?” Lucy asked as she shifted painfully in bed. Rudy was paying for all of this. Goodness knows her insurance would only have covered the blanket!

              “Did I tell you Eddie and I are going away to Honolulu?” Diane blurted suddenly, skirting the question entirely.

              “Oh?”

              “Yeah,” Diane began awkwardly, “his mom decided she just had to see where Hawaii Five-O was filmed. She just loves Jack Lord.”

              “There are beaches here,” Lucy answered glumly. “It’s okay,” she sighed. “I’d want to get as far away from me too.”

              “That’s not why!”

              Lucy didn’t reply, her thoughts too full of the baby and what a cluster-fuck her life was becoming. Maybe everyone would have been better off if she’d gone and kicked the bucket. It seemed she was no good to anybody. Tears filled her eyes and she brushed them away angrily. She supposed the only thing she was ever good at was feeling sorry for herself.

              “Don’t do that!” Diane implored helplessly as the floodgates opened. She should have kept her big mouth shut. “Eddie has been wanting to get away for ages…” she tried to explain. Only Lucy wasn’t listening. Diane stood back, feeling like crying herself and looking around helplessly. She gathered some tissues and handed them to Lucy, who was inconsolable.

              “I-I’m sorry!” she blurted and began to cry even harder. “I’m so sorry!”

              Diane’s hands flew to her face, trying to think of something, anything that would erase what she’d said. But Lucy wasn’t stupid. Of course, they were leaving to get away from the reporters and the police investigators, everyone and everything seemed to want an opinion. Diane wanted to tell Lucy how Eddie would wake up in the middle of the night screaming about the blood. How he’d lost twenty pounds because he couldn’t eat. How everyone seemed to lay the blame on his doorstep. But the words wouldn’t come.

              Even though none of it was Lucy’s fault. God, she wished Eddie would get his ass up here!

              “Lucy--” Diane began and then to her relief the door opened. Eddie poked his graying head in and his eyes flew to Lucy and then to his wife.

              “What happened?”

              Diane glanced down guiltily. “She knows.”

              “Dios Mio!” he swore. “Why did you say anything?”

              “I-I d-don’t know!” Diane choked back tears of her own. “It just came out!”

              Eddie rushed over to Lucy who sat bawling like a child. “There now, chica.” He soothed as he patted her back. “No one blames you.”

              But no words he offered could comfort her. Lucy shook her head in a little denial and continued to cry. She knew she was being silly and childish and selfish, but she didn’t care. What did it matter anyway? She wished she were dead. Yes, she wished she were dead!

              Alec at that moment had just stepped out of the elevator. They’d gone and practically shoved him out the door. But he was grateful. He couldn’t be there for Lucy if he was falling apart. After a few hours sleep and a long shower, he was ready to take up his newfound duties as husband.

              He carried a large box of chocolates as he figured Lucy was tired of flowers. Rudy had told him she was fond of sweets. Alec felt like the worst husband in the world. He should have known that. But he’d make it up to her. See if he didn’t!

              He rounded the corner and heard Lucy sobbing. What the hell…? He just fought heaven and earth trying to put his wife back together, he’d be damned if anyone was going to take her apart again. Alec knocked softly on the door to find Diane and Eddie in the room with Lucy near hysterics. “What the hell happened?” he demanded, sizing up the situation and growing angrier by the minute.

              They turned towards him with remorse heavy in their eyes. Diane turned away from Alec’s accusing stare. “I think you’d better leave,” he said coldly. They nodded and Eddie kissed Lucy’s brow and ushered his wife out of the room.

              Alec set the box down and closed the door. He wet a washcloth and went to his wife. He swiped her face with tender strokes. “Shush,” he soothed hoarsely. “It’s all right.”

              “T-They’re leaving because of…me!” she croaked.

              He sat down beside her. “How do you know it’s not because of me?” He tucked a lank strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe I’m just that kind of bloke that people can’t stand.”

              She shook her head. “I don’t…think so.”

              “No?” he said, taking the washcloth and gently wiping the tears away. “Your face is all red,” he scolded softly. “You look like a tomato!”

              Lucy laughed a little and self-consciously smoothed her tangled locks. “I must look a frightful mess!”

              Alec pretended to mull this over. “You’re right, it is a little early for Halloween.”

              “Alec!”

              He chuckled softly and touched the tip of her adorable little nose. “But I can live with that.”

              Lucy peered up at him shyly. “Still… mad at me?”

              “Was I mad at you?”

              She nodded. “I think you… were.”

              He reached up and smoothed her hair away from her face. It was nearly too much for him. “I think I should ask if you’re still mad at me!” he said a little unsteadily.

              She glanced down at what he was wearing. Lord, he smelled good! He was clean-shaven and looked well rested. The sleep had done him good. He wore a green T-shirt and a navy hooded fleece jacket. And he was here with her! He came to her. In those last moments when she thought all was lost, her mind had screamed for him. “I’m sorry,” she said finally, her voice slightly muffled through the washcloth as he wiped her nose and mouth.

              “Sorry for what, love?” he asked quietly.

              “You know,” she glanced up at him. His blue eyes seemed faded somehow. As if he’d aged a lifetime in those few short weeks. She gestured toward his stomach. “I’m sorry…I punched you.”

              “Is that all you’re sorry for?” he joked. “I seem to remember a few other things.”

              Lucy couldn’t look at him. “I’m s-sorry for the other thing, too.”

              “And…?”

              “And I’m sorry for the…um--” she peered up at him helplessly.

              Alec didn’t want to hear anymore. He placed a finger over her still swollen mouth. “Don’t fret so love,” he chuckled. “I had it coming!”

              “No, you didn’t---” she started to protest, but was cut off by Alec’s mouth on hers.               His mouth was warm and sweet against her own and she kissed him back shyly. Her heart beat that much faster as his arms tenderly encircled her. She sighed when his lips left hers, spreading gentle heat across her cheek, and down her throat. “Oh!” she cried out when the room began spinning.

              Alec drew back; frightened that he’d hurt her. “Did I hurt you?” he asked fearfully.

              Lucy blushed. “The room started spinning!”

              “Oh,” he grinned in relief. “Me too!”

              “H-Hold me?” she asked timidly.

              “Come here,” he said huskily, and drew her fragile body into his arms. His breath caught in his throat as she settled against him. His hands stroked her hair and they sat each enjoying the other’s closeness. He uttered a silent prayer of thanks and held her as tight as she would allow.

              He held her that way for a long time.

              “I brought you some chocolates,” he said after while.

              “Thank you,” she sighed and nuzzled his chest. “What kind?”

              “Um…” he couldn’t seem to remember anything at the moment. “I think they’re Whitman’s or something.”

              “Don’t go,” she pleaded as he shifted slightly.

              “I’m not going anywhere!” Alec swore but loosened his embrace a little, mindful of her stitches. Never! he added silently and kissed her hair. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away!”

              Lucy’s arms tightened around her husband. “Good,” she sighed happily and closed her eyes.

* * *

 

              It was another month before the doctors felt Lucy was well enough to be released from the hospital. Her CT scans had come back normal, her skull fracture was healing nicely, and there were no complications from her chest wounds. Her ribs were still healing, but the soreness was manageable with some heavy-duty painkillers. Lucy just wanted to be free of needles and the smell of disinfectant.

              The day she was to be released, she’d finally been allowed a shower. Alec had brought over a bag chock-full of scented soaps and shampoos. How he knew she didn’t know but it was a relief to stand under the warm spray and cleanse the grime away from her body. The nurse helped her to wash and towel-dry her hair as it still hurt to raise her arms.

              She dressed without assistance in the clothes Alec had included in the bag. He had surprisingly good taste and picked exactly what she would have chosen. There was a simple lavender floral dress with an empire waist and scooped neckline. For underwear there were a few pieces that she figured Tia must have helped him with. Only Tia knew she was partial to cotton and demure lace. The panties were pink cotton briefs with a lacy trim, and the matching bra contained no underwire, as her still healing chest wouldn’t allow it. The shoes were simple cream leather ballet flats and there were a pair of silky knee high hose and a half-slip to wear as well. Alec had even included a beige cardigan just in case she got cold.

              Lucy managed the panties and slip but had difficulty reaching for the hooks on the bra. She hoped there hadn’t been any nerve damage. “Need some help?” a familiar voice said behind her.

              “Alec,” she gasped, reaching blindly behind her back, “the hooks.”

              He rushed to her and hooked her up. “Sorry love,” he apologized, trying not to look at the scar where the knife had gone clear through. “I didn’t buy that.”

              She turned around. “I know.” Suddenly shy, she crossed her arms over her breasts, and wouldn’t look at him.

              Alec towered over her but had to smile down at his wife. It was so like their wedding night. “Want me to help you with the dress?”

              Lucy nodded shyly and raised her arms above her head, wincing as she did so. He placed the dress over her head and tugged down gently. She felt like she was five-years-old again and her mother was helping her dress for school. Lucy put her arms through the sleeves and glanced up at her husband. He had an odd look on his face. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

              He brushed her damp hair away from her face “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered back. “I thought I wouldn’t get to--” he broke off, his voice catching as tears filled his eyes.

              She reached up and caressed his dear face. A tear was starting to trickle down his cheek and she wiped it away gently. Lucy was overcome by a sudden and powerful emotion that she could not name, and so she simply leaned her head against his chest and hugged him tightly to her. “Me too,” she finally whispered.

              He hugged her back and they stood like that for a long time until he finally pulled away reluctantly. “Sit, love,” he urged, smiling, “I’ll brush your hair.”

              She did as he requested and her eyes closed as her husband ran the brush gently through the tangles. He didn’t pull once. When he finished, he pulled her hair back with a pretty hairband. Lucy glanced up at him, smiling. “Where did you learn that?”

              “University,” he replied, clearing his throat with some embarrassment. “I had to work my way through and rented a room at a boarding house. The landlady had a little girl who wanted someone to brush her hair and play tea party.”

              “I wondered,” Lucy grinned up at him. “Play tea party, huh?”

              He shook a finger at her. “Don’t you start, woman!”

              She giggled at Alec’s obvious discomfort. “Will you play tea party with me?”

              Alec’s eyes lit up at her innocent suggestion. There were so many possibilities and none of them proper. “Only if you promise not to put pink ribbons in my hair!”

              She laughed. “I promise!”

              Alec helped her on with the hose and ballet flats and packed her bag for her. When he was done, he gave the room a final inspection. He was so damned happy to get her out of this horrible place there were no words to describe how he felt at the moment. “Ready?” he held out his hand.

              Lucy nodded and placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her to her feet. They said goodbye to the doctors and nurses who’d helped her reach this moment and walked arm and arm to the elevator. She watched as the doors slid shut and her stomach did a little somersault as the car dipped sharply. Lucy grasped Alec’s arm for support.

              “Easy love, “ he soothed and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

              “Where are we going?” she asked when the world righted itself again.

              “Home,” he answered simply. At her frown he added, “with me.”

              “And where is that?”

              He smiled knowingly and put a finger to his lips. “It’s a surprise.”

              Another thought came to her. “Where’s Rudy and where is Tia? She didn’t visit me at all the whole time!”

              Alec paused a bit before answering. “Tia tried to come that first night, but when she saw you all hooked up to those machines, she starting screaming. They had to give her something to calm her down. And then when you--” he closed his eyes and tried to work his way through the terror he’d felt at that moment.  “She tried love, don’t blame her.”

              “I don’t,” Lucy sighed and leaned against her husband, suddenly feeling very tired. “Just like Eddie, I suppose.”

              “That’s right.”

              “And Rudy?”

              Alec shook his head. “He can’t bring himself to face you. He blames himself. Give him time, love.”

              “He saw me once and then left.”

              Alec snorted in disgust. “He abandoned you and spent the weekend on the piss! I had to go and fetch him home and clean his sorry ass up. It wasn’t pretty.”

              “Oh,” she said in a tiny voice. So that’s what happened. Poor Rudy.

              They reached the third floor and Lucy was ushered into a wheelchair, much to her chagrin. “I can walk!” she protested as Alec proceeded to push her out the automatic doors.

              “And deprive me of the pleasure of pushing you along, love? Never!”

              “You’re enjoying this!” she grumbled as he wheeled her along like some invalid.

              He laughed softly. “Well, the shoe is on the other foot so to speak.”

              “I think I should hate you!” she pouted and gave up.

              “Now, what fun would that be?” he grinned down at her as she fumed. This was the Lucy he’d longed to see. The spitfire. He just hoped it wasn’t fleeting.

              Lucy didn’t know which was worse, being dressed by her husband or being pushed along in a wheelchair like some old lady. People were watching from the parking lot, and she wished she could scream at all of them to stop gawking at her like she was one of those poor souls in the burn unit.

              Alec pulled in front of a shiny new black Cadillac Escalade. It was quite the step up from the jeep. “Where’d you get this?” she asked in awe.

              He grinned slyly. “A friend of a friend loaned me the thing. Like?”

              “I guess so,” she murmured, feeling sleepy. The nurse had given her some medication before her shower and now she was feeling it kick in.

              Alec pushed her to the passenger side and opened the door. They must have given her something because she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. He leaned down. “Hold on to me,” he instructed. She did as he asked, and he lifted her up as gently as he could into the plush leather seat and buckled her in. He placed a fuzzy blanket over her knees and chest. He then folded the wheelchair and returned it to admittance. Alec hurried back and placed her bag in the trunk and slid into the driver’s seat. He turned towards his wife who was already nodding off. “Comfy?”

              “I’m cold,” she complained sleepily.

              He turned on her seat warmer. “Better?”

              She nodded and leaned back. Alec reclined the seat as far as it would go so she could sleep. It was a long drive where they were going. “Sleep wife,” he breathed and started the engine. He pulled out of the parking space and headed for the Pacific Coast Highway. He turned on the radio and allowed Mozart to lull his wife into a dreamless sleep.

              Alec concentrated on the road and tried not to think of what possibly lay ahead. But sooner or later, that bridge would have to be crossed and he only hoped he had the strength to help Lucy through it.

             

                           

             

 

             

             

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Sixteen

 

 

             

Lucy was jolted out of a dreamless sleep by the resounding low-throated bellow of a tanker truck. She jerked awake, feeling the vibrations as it roared past them, and glanced over at her husband just to make sure he was still there. Alec was so engrossed on the sharp hairpin turns that he didn’t realize he was being watched.

              Lucy studied him surreptitiously from beneath thick lashes. It was hard to believe that he was here. That he’d come to her and helped her out of the nightmare. But here he was. She studied his handsome profile. He looked so tired. There were dark circles under those splendid eyes, and there were small lines around his mouth that seemed to have been etched by grief. She longed to kiss them away.

              She dragged her eyes from her husband and busied herself with the occasional passing car. Lucy wondered where they were going. And she wondered why the police had been so comfortable with Alec guarding her all by himself. Rudy had told her in cases like this, the police usually liked to keep a tight reign on witnesses who survived murder attempts, and especially when the assailant was still on the loose.

              Lucy sighed tiredly, wincing as the low ache in her chest returned. The painkiller had worn off and she was now paying for it. She shifted in her seat, trying to find another position that would allay it temporarily.

              Alec heard his wife and glanced over, smiling. “Hello, sleepyhead! Sleep well?”

              She grimaced. “My chest hurts,” Lucy grumbled and shifted again.

              He nodded and checked his watch. “Yeah, you’re overdue for your pill. Want to get something to eat so you can take it?”

              “Please.”

              Alec peered into the rearview mirror. “I think I saw a sign for a truck stop not too far from here. Hold on,” he instructed as he slowed the truck and steered it onto an exit ramp.

              Lucy’s breath sucked in painfully at the sudden movement. Her ribs hadn’t quite knitted themselves back together yet and let her know it with a sharp, stabbing ache. “Slowly, Alec!” she gasped.

              “Sorry love,” he winced and eased up on the wheel. “I’m still getting used to this thing.”

              “It’s okay,” she said once she could breathe again. Lucy closed her eyes. “Wake me when we’re there.”

              He nodded and with one final glance at his wife, Alec concentrated on the new route. It would shave about an hour off their arrival time, and he wanted to get her home before dark. Truth be told, he was a little hungry himself. He’d been so anxious to get Lucy out of hospital, he’d only had a cup of coffee.

              Traffic picked up as he approached the truck stop, mostly semitrailers and tankers on their way to San Francisco. Alec pulled up close to the diner so Lucy wouldn’t have to walk far. He parked, turned off the engine, and hopped out to his wife’s side. He opened the door and was afraid she’d gone back to sleep. Alec leaned in close and nudged her gently. “We’re here, love,” he whispered, touching her cheek.

              Lucy moaned sleepily and opened her eyes. Her husband was looking down at her with a silly smile on his face. “What are you smiling at, English?” she asked grumpily.

              Alec didn’t care he was grinning like an idiot. He was just happy she was here with him. “You,” he said simply. “Just you, wife.”

              She shook her head at him, but couldn’t help smiling and allowed him to unbuckle her seatbelt. Alec helped her down and she stood blinking in the late afternoon sun. It seemed like an eternity since she’d felt that ancient warmth on her skin. Her feet seemed a little unsteady, and she gripped her husband’s hand tight until she felt the earth settle again.

              Lucy heard the gruff laughter of several truckers as they strode into the diner. She suddenly became self-conscious about her wounds. Her face was still healing and the loud gash on her forehead, though fading in color, was still a hideous reminder of that awful day. She balked at the thought of going in and having all those people stare at her. Everyone in a hundred mile radius had probably heard what happened one way or another. “I’m not hungry anymore,” she told him fearfully, tugging at her hand.

              “What’s wrong, love?” Alec asked worriedly, not liking the way she suddenly seemed to shrink before his eyes. “You’re overdue for your meds.”

              Lucy peered up at his handsome face, tears filling her eyes. “I don’t want…them to…see,” she gulped.

              “See what?”

              “What…he…did…to me,” she whispered sadly. “Everyone will see…” her voice trailed off as huge tears began rolling down her pale cheeks.

              Alec finally understood. His own throat tightened. “Oh, love,” he rasped, “no one’s going to see anything. You’re beautiful.” He whipped out a handkerchief and held it to her nose. “Blow,” he commanded gently. He held it as she blew into it and paused just to make sure she wasn’t bleeding. “See,” he scolded lightly, “you’ve gone and made yourself all red again!”

              Lucy hiccupped and grinned up at him. “Am I still a tomato?”

              He brushed a few strands of hair away from her puffy face. “You are, but you’re my tomato! And I’ll give anyone a good hiding that says otherwise!”

              “You would?”

              “Certainly,” he grinned. “It’s part of the job description!”

              “It is, huh?” Lucy said, feeling much better. “And mine?”

              Alec appeared to ponder this and said teasingly, “To fulfill my basest desires and do my bidding!”

              Her brown eyes widened as she replied in mock horror, “But what will my husband say? He’s such a brute!”

              Alec’s mouth dropped open in shock but recovered himself once she started giggling. “Cheeky monkey!” he chided playfully. “Now, let’s eat! I’m starving!”

              She looped her arm through his and allowed him to escort her into the diner. Her irrational fear of people staring was unfounded she soon discovered. Most of the patrons were exhausted truckers looking for a reprieve from the unholy grind of the road. Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, as the only stares that came their way appeared directed towards her handsome husband. 

              She didn’t blame the ladies any; he was easy on the eyes. A knowing grin curved her mouth as they sat down at a corner booth way in back. A waitress came to hand them menus, and Lucy stifled a laugh when the girl’s mouth dropped open once she laid eyes on Alec. Poor girl. She was still chuckling to herself when Alec’s deep voice interrupted her musings. “What’s so funny, wife?” he asked, wondering if he’d forgotten to comb his hair. It had been a stressful morning.

              “You,” she told him with a knowing smile. “That poor girl will never be the same!”

              Alec frowned at his wife in confusion before he got the gist of it. “Oh,” he muttered absently as he perused the menu. “Well, she’s out of luck. I’m married.” He leaned forward. “What are you going to have, love? I think I’ll have a hamburger.”

              She finally managed to drag her eyes away from him and realized she was famished. The hospital had only given her oatmeal and fruit for breakfast. Lucy eyed the menu and decided not to be adventurous. She’d end up back in the ICU if she attempted to eat the chicken-fried steak. “I think potato soup and a sandwich will be fine.”

              He nodded and when the waitress came around again with their drinks, he finally understood what his wife had been alluding to. The girl was clumsy and blushed profusely. She wrote down the wrong order twice and nearly baptized Lucy with her iced tea. Alec finally had to wrangle the glasses from her before she sent the both of them to casualty. “What’s wrong with that bird?”

              His wife took a sip of her tea before answering dramatically, “She’s in love!”

              Her husband didn’t take kindly to the joke and rolled his eyes. He fished around in his blazer pocket for the small bottle of pills they’d given him for Lucy. “Here, love,” he said a trifle forcefully, “take your medicine!”

              She giggled again and took the small pill and popped into her mouth. “You should be flattered!” she told him before washing the foul tasting tablet down with tea. “You are very nicely put together.”

              It was Alec’s turn to blush. His wife found him handsome? “Really…?” he asked almost shyly.

              “Um-hmm.”

              He cleared his throat. “Do… you find me…um… handsome?”

              Lucy’s eyes flew to his. He was joking right? He was so utterly beautiful she didn’t think there were any words to describe him. His eyes held hers for a long moment. Long enough for her to remember their first meeting, at the bar in the casino, where he’d saved her from being drugged and likely raped. Then another memory surfaced, that of Alec moving gently above her as he groaned with pleasure and his blue eyes blazing with passion. How his lips felt as they seared her throat… and her breath caught at the remembered feel of him, thrusting hotly deep within, loving her….

              She blushed and looked away.

              “Lucy,” he said softly.

              She couldn’t look at him she was so embarrassed. “Look at me!”

              Lucy finally braved a glance at him and was surprised to see the same look in his eyes now. “Don’t look at me like that,” she pleaded.

              “What way?” his voice was oddly strained.

              “Like you can see through my dress!”

              He laughed softly, the sound curling through her battered body like heat from a fire. “But I already know what you look like without it!”

              “Alec!” she gasped in shock, trying not to laugh in spite of herself. “Behave!”

              He chuckled wickedly, his lovely mouth curving upwards in a devilish grin. “Oh, I intend to, wife! Believe me!”

              Her eyes widened and she bit down on her lip, suddenly uncertain of his intentions. Alec’s heart sank to his stomach.

              The doctor had pulled him aside the night before she was released and told him that even though her body would heal, her mind was still fragile, and had urged him to be an attentive husband and sensitive to her needs. He was not to mention anything that might upset her and he was warned that any kind of intimate relationship should be the last thing on his mind. The doctor had been blunt, damn right annoying if you wanted to know the truth. He knew Lucy wasn’t ready for that kind of relationship. Quite frankly, neither was he. It was too soon. He would never make her to do anything she didn’t want to. “I’m only teasing love,” he rushed to assure her. “I like teasing you, forgive me.”

              The fear in her eyes faded and she smiled at him shyly. Alec was relieved. He reached across the table and took her small hand in his. “Forgive me?”

              Lucy nodded. “Always.”

              “Next time I get cheeky, just give me a good kicking like you did last time.”

              Lucy still felt guilty over that. “Alec, I’m so sorry I---”

              He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. “Stop it! I was being an arse!”

              “No, you---”

              “I don’t want to hear you say you’re sorry for that ever again!” he insisted firmly. “I deserved it and that’s that!” He studied her hand thoughtfully before giving it back to her. “Though I should make you pay for my dry cleaning. That was my favorite sweatshirt!”

              “What…um… happened after I left? Did she hurt you?”

              “Hurt me?” he repeated incredulously. “Nah, she just threw me in a dumpster!”

              “She did?” Lucy didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she imagined poor Alec being carted off by Xena into the night. A few giggles escaped her and she just couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing. Her hands flew to her mouth to stop it, but it was too late.

              Alec’s lips twitched as his wife had a good laugh at his expense. He didn’t feel bad. He figured she’d earned it. She winced as her ribs protested against the exertion. “Ouch!”

              “Serves you right, love. Laughing at your poor husband! For shame!” She stuck her tongue out at him and it was his turn to laugh.

              He wagged his finger at her, but she only made a face at him. Sometime in the near future, he was going to have to put a stop to her impertinence. And he was going to enjoy it thoroughly. “Behave, wife!” he scolded with mock sternness. “I mean it!” he repeated, trying not to bust a gut at the silly face she made.

              Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the waitress brought their food. Alec demolished his everything burger with relish, to hell with his doctor and his ulcer. Lucy on the other hand, ate her soup and sandwich with all the temerity of a frightened Beverly Hills housewife afraid to go off her diet. She sipped her soup and ate her sandwich slowly, as if she were afraid it would be her last. “Something wrong, love?”

              “No,” she said, after a swallow of her turkey club. “I was just afraid I’d never get the horrible taste of hospital food out of my mouth!”

              “It couldn’t have been that bad. Rudy paid an arm and a leg for that suite!”

              “I don’t know,” she said, chewing thoughtfully. “The food just didn’t taste right. Does that sound strange?”

              He thought it over. “Nah,” he said finally. “Yankee food tastes the same after a while.”

              Thus mollified, Lucy finished her soup and sandwich. Alec then asked if she wanted dessert. “Can I?”

              “Of course!” he said generously before giving her a sly wink. “Anything my lady desires!”

              They topped off their meal with a shared portion of apple pie and a side of vanilla ice cream. Alec paid the bill and soon they were off again. He still wouldn’t tell her where they were going. As the pill started to take effect, Lucy supposed it didn’t matter, just as long as they were together. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

 

              Dusk was descending rapidly when Alec pulled up at the gas station to fill up for the last leg of their journey. He hadn’t expected it to take this long, but he’d taken his time on the road on account of Lucy. She was still groggy from the last pill he’d given her and had nearly gotten sick as they left Sand City.

              He went inside the station to pay and picked up a few bottles of water and a couple of sandwiches in case Lucy got hungry. Alec hurried back and settled into his seat, the day fast gaining on him. He glanced at his wife who had gone back to sleep and reached over and felt her brow. She felt a bit warm. He’d better haul ass and put her to bed. He buckled himself in and started the engine.

              He was already starting to regret the drive. Rudy had offered to pay for a plane ticket, but Alec didn’t trust anyone at the moment. The police still hadn’t caught that bastard and he wasn’t about to jeopardize Lucy’s safety just for sake of convenience. As he turned onto an off-ramp, his thoughts turned to Gavin.

              But just as quickly, he shoved them away. He couldn’t think about the little twat right now. To hell with all of them! Lucy came first. Alec merged into traffic and went on cruise control. He forced the rest of his thoughts into a deep corner of his mind where he’d deal with them later.

             

              It was midnight when Alec finally pulled up in front of the darkened cottage. He breathed a sigh of relief and turned off the engine. Lucy still slept.

              He jumped out and fumbled in his pocket for the keys. The realtor had lent him a set as he was renting the place and he hadn’t known how long they might have to stay. The first key proved difficult and he swore, jiggling the metal around in the keyhole. Then the door wouldn’t open! He leaned on the thing and pushed with all his might until finally it swung open, nearly sending him sprawling headfirst to the floor. “Bloody hell!” he swore and did a quick walk-through, turning on the lights in the living room and kitchen. Alec then went into the master bedroom and turned down the bed.              

              Lucy could decide which room she wanted later.

              He rushed back to his wife, who was still asleep. Alec unbuckled the seatbelt and lifted her out of the truck. God, it frightened him how light she was in his arms. She might have been a piece of glass, one wrong move, and she’d shatter completely. Her head came to rest on his shoulder, her sweet breath tickling his cheek.

              Alec hurried to the door and a thought occurred to him that he’d done this before. On their wedding night he must have carried her across the threshold. He just wished he could remember it! “Alec…?” she murmured, still groggy with sleep. “Are we there, yet?”

              “We’re here, love, “ he said softly against her hair. “I’m carrying you across the threshold.”

              “That’s… nice,” Lucy sighed dreamily.

              Chuckling, he carried her through the cottage and into the bedroom. He laid her down gently on silk sheets and removed her flats. She sighed contentedly, turned over on the pillow, and went back to sleep. Alec pulled the comforter over her, flicked the lamp off, and left the door cracked should she need him. Then he went into the kitchen and yanked out a bottle of brandy. He poured a healthy dollop into a shot glass and downed it in one fiery gulp.

              Alec locked up, collapsed on the sofa, and promptly fell into a deep and exhausted slumber.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seventeen

                

             

             

She awoke the next morning to the enticing scents of bacon, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Lucy sat up in bed and had a look around. The bedroom was large and airy with a huge window overlooking the bay. Sunlight filtered through the linen drapes and threw mysterious shadows onto the thick shag carpet. She could see the room was decorated in varying shades of cream and taupe, and there were several expensive looking pieces of furniture. Lucy had wondered if Alec intended on taking her back to the little cottage, apparently…not.

              Her ribs protested angrily when she swung her legs over the edge, and she had to take a moment to breathe. She set her feet down on the carpet where she saw that Alec had placed a pair of red velvet ballet slippers. There was also a matching robe in soft plush microfleece. Lucy still wore her cardigan, but breathed a sigh of relief at the slippers. They fit like a glove and soothed her aching feet.

              She stood up and saw she had a half bathroom and took a moment to freshen up. Lucy flushed the toilet and washed her hands with the scented soap. She didn’t dare look in the mirror. She did however, take time to remove the headband and run her fingers through the tangles. Lucy looked for a comb or brush but couldn’t find any, so she wet a washcloth and pressed it to her face. There was no need to hide the fact that she looked like hell warmed over. It didn’t bother her that much; somehow she figured Alec wouldn’t mind.

              Lucy turned off the light and went in search of her husband. She hugged the cardigan closer to her body as she padded down the narrow hallway, taking time to admire the architecture. It was a cottage in every sense of the word. There were whitewashed walls, open-beam ceilings, and dark wood trims.

              She passed through the living room where there was a huge wall-mounted HDTV and mahogany bookcase full of DVD’s in every title imaginable. The rest of the room was tastefully decorated in red floral plaids and cream. There was a large slipcovered sofa and loveseat, wicker chairs covered in brightly patterned cushions, and a coffee table shaped like an old 19th- century baggage cart. Richly woven rugs in taupe and red floral patterns covered the dark wood flooring.

              There came a sound from the kitchen, and Lucy rounded the corner to find her husband in the throes of breakfast. She suppressed a smile while he fumbled for a spatula and not wanting to disturb him, carefully hopped up onto a barstool and watched him with open admiration.

              Alec was barefoot and dressed in a blue T-shirt and sweatpants encasing his narrow hips. His untidy raven locks attested to a night spent on the sofa, and he had a new day’s growth of beard. He looked just as yummy as the Canadian bacon he had frying in the pan. Lucy stifled a giggle when he swore at the whisk he was using to whip up some kind of sauce in a bowl. He heard her and whirled around. Their eyes met. “Spying on me, wife?” he asked huskily.

              She nodded sleepily and yawned. “What time is it?”

              Alec checked his watch. “Ten-thirty.” He went over to her, leaned across the island, and dropped a kiss on her scarred brow. “What are you doing up?” he breathed. “I would have brought it to you.”

              “I couldn’t sleep anymore,” she frowned at him slightly. “It hurts to lay in one position too long.”

              He felt her brow. “You’re way overdue for your meds.”

              “You’d make a great nurse,” she said, smiling up at him.

              Alec laughed and kissed her again, this time on her nose. “Nah,” he said as he went back to the stove. “I’m not the nurturing type.”

              “And what type are you?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably on her stool. “I still don’t know what you do for a living.”

              He gave her a knowing smile. “Ask me again, sometime.”

              “Alec!” she groaned in frustration. “You’re really not going to tell me, are you?”

              “Nope!” He couldn’t help but laugh at the little frown she had on her adorable face. “Here, love,” he gestured toward the breakfast nook in the kitchen. “Come, sit.”

              Grumbling under her breath, she made her way around and plopped down on the plaid cushion. She felt the start of a nasty headache, so she folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them.

              Alec didn’t particularly care for how pale she looked this morning. Once she got some food into her, he was sending her back to bed. He took out the toasted English muffins and placed the bacon and poached eggs on top and slathered it all in hollandaise. He then lightly sprinkled it with a little freshly chopped parsley and placed it on the table.

              Lucy raised her head and looked at the plate in front of her. She had no idea Alec was such a gourmet. The eggs Benedict looked like it could have come from any five-star restaurant. Her eyes grew wide when he placed a goblet of freshly squeezed orange juice before her, and took out a cloth napkin and with all the European flair of a maître d, shook it out and placed it in her lap. Her mouth must have dropped open from shock, because he had a foolish grin on his face.

              “Will there be anything else, Madame?” he asked in an affected French accent.

              His wife merely rolled her eyes and sliced into the decadent breakfast. The eggs were poached perfectly and oozed richly over the bacon. They tasted even better. “Wow!” she exclaimed after a swallow. “These are really good!” She eyed him suspiciously. “Where’d you learn to cook like this?”

              Alec laughed, a bit embarrassed. “Boarding house!” he said lightly. He got his own plate and sat down across from her. “This is the only thing I can really cook without a recipe. This and my mum’s pot roast.” He took a bite and was suitably impressed. At least the hollandaise didn’t break!

              “Well, I’m impressed.” She chewed slowly, savoring every bite. “I can’t even boil an egg properly!”

              “You’re a splendid cook,” he assured her. He got up to get her pills and handed one to her. “They gave me enough for a month, just in case.”

              “Ugh,” she grimaced, choking it down with orange juice. “They taste awful!”

              “After this, I want you to go back to bed.”

              Lucy was in no mood to argue. “What if I want a bath later?”

              “I’ll help you.” He speared a piece of the muffin on his fork and chewed slowly. “There’s a walk-shower down the hall and a huge bathtub. You’ll love it.”

              “Where are we anyway?”

              “Point Reyes Station.”

              “Why so far?”

              “You know why!” he replied gruffly. “The farther, the better!”

              “It’s a nice house,” she said, changing the subject.

              Alec nodded. “I got a great deal because it’s off-season. It’s fully furnished and it comes with a private beach.”             

              “What’ll I do for…um…clothes?”

              “There’s a few shops in town. When you feel up to it, we can get you what you need.” He reached for his orange juice. “ In the meantime, there’s a suitcase with some stuff Tia packed for you.”

              “Tia…?”

              “Uh-huh,” he winced at the orangey sour sweetness. “She spent a few days up here getting everything ready.”

              “She did that? I thought she--”

              “Well…” Alec scratched his nose. “She wanted to see the place and make sure I wasn’t some--” he broke off, searching for the right word.

              “Lecher?” she offered, grinning impishly. “Masher? Psycho?”

              “I think the word she used could be loosely translated as “the devil incarnate.”

              “She didn’t say that!”

              “My Spanish may be a little rusty,” he grumbled, “but I know an insult when I hear one!”

              “She’s just being protective,” Lucy said defensively. “She never liked--” she folded her napkin awkwardly in her lap, “--you-know-who.”

              “And who might that be?” Alec asked quietly.

              She glanced up to see him staring at her with an almost pained expression on his beautiful face. Lucy shrugged helplessly. “You…know,” she gulped, looking down at the runny remains of her eggs. “He didn’t mean anything t-to…me,” she said tearfully. She hoped Alec didn’t think she was still pining over that louse. She was still a little ashamed she’d almost gotten hitched to the son of a bitch! “Don’t be mad,” she pleaded as the tears started to fall.

              “Come here,” he said hoarsely.

              Lucy got up and went to him. He pulled her down onto his lap and she brushed her lips shyly against his roughened cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Still… mad… at me?”

              Alec’s arms tightened around his wife. He buried his face into her hair, savoring the fragrance. “Never!” he swore fiercely and kissed her back. “Never!”

 

* * *

              Alec had shooed her off to bed after breakfast, only to wake her for a quick lunch of chicken soup and a spinach salad. He let her watch a few episodes of Mister Ed on his laptop before closing the lid and taking it away. “Sleep first!” he’d scolded gently.

              Lucy punched the pillow in frustration before the medication worked its magic. She slept the rest of the afternoon and woke up just as the sun was settling itself beneath the bay. She turned over and stared up at the ceiling. Faint voices from the television seeped into her room from the crack Alec had left in the door.

              Lucy hoped Alec had something tasty for dinner. She particularly had a craving for spaghetti. But she suspected her doctor had given her husband a list of foods she should eat to build her blood back up. So more spinach it would probably be.

              She found him in the living room decked out in sweats and lacing up running shoes. “Alec…?”

              He glanced up at his wife and smiled at the way her hair tumbled about her face. “Hey, love,” he greeted her warmly as he finished tying his trainers. “Sleep well?”

              Yawning, she sat down beside him and put her head on his shoulder. “Where are you going?”

              He kissed the top of her head, “Just down the beach. I need to stretch me leg a bit. The muscles shrunk while wearing that straitjacket.”

              She laughed. “How did that happen exactly?”

              Alec winced at the memory. “It’s a gruesome tale I’d rather not repeat at the moment.”

              “You’ll have to tell me sooner or later.”

              “Or rather not at all,” he said with a rueful laugh. He stroked her hair and took her hand. “Or did you want to eat first? I’ve got a roast in the oven.”

              “I can wait,” she sighed and glanced down at their entwined hands. She mourned the loss of her ring, and its absence was sorely felt. “I’m sorry about the ring,” she apologized, stroking his finger with hers. “I wish I hadn’t done that.”

              Deep laughter rumbled from within his chest. “You and me both!” She watched as he reached beneath his sweatshirt and pulled out a chain from around his neck.

              She stared dumbfounded, there, winking knowingly at her in the lamplight, were the matching wedding bands. Alec lifted off the chain and handed it to her. “Look familiar?”

              Lucy’s eyes grew round. It was her wedding ring, all right. Or rather what was left of it. Apparently, something very big and very heavy had crushed the cheap metal as easily as if it were paper. It lay a flattened memory of itself next to Alec’s intact one. Tears came to her eyes. It was almost a foreshadowing. She’d been crushed and broken just like the ring, while her husband seemed to have gotten stronger with each passing day. “It’s ruined,” she wept.

              Alec had meant it as a joke. Though he’d been heartbroken at the loss of her ring, he’d come to see the humor in it. After getting a construction worker to pry it out of the asphalt with a crowbar, he’d taken it back to his hotel. He’d lovingly cleaned and repaired it the best he could before placing it on a chain along with his. He’d worn it with pride like a damn war medal. “Shush, love,” he soothed and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll get you another.”

              “I want this one,” Lucy croaked. “Can you ever forgive give me?” she asked tearfully as she stroked the flattened circlet.

              His own throat tightened. But he didn’t want her to carry on so. It was a cheap alloy and therefore, not worthy of being worn by the woman he loved so dearly. He managed a smile though. “There’s nothing to forgive, wife,” he said huskily, taking out his bandana and wiping the tears away. “I had it coming through both ends.”

              Lucy shook her head in a little denial. “No, you didn’t deserve that!”

              “I didn’t…?”

              She reached up and touched his cheek shyly. “No,” she repeated stubbornly.

              “Okay,” he breathed and lowered his head.

              Lucy’s breath caught as his mouth gently caressed hers. He hadn’t tried to kiss her since that night he’d come to visit her in the hospital. She’d wanted him to. Oh, how she’d wanted him to. His mouth was warm, firm and tender. The first time Dean had tried to kiss her, she’d turned her head away…unsure and frightened, but her husband…?

              It wasn’t difficult to see why she’d married him. He’d been so utterly charming, funny, and so gentle. Oh, so gentle. She remembered how careful he’d been with her. Even in a drunken delirium, he’d been gentle.

              Lucy sighed and kissed him back, her mouth opening a little under his. His tongue lightly teased hers in a sweetly sensual caress. She timidly touched it with her own and he groaned, deepening the kiss. She found herself swept up in something she wasn’t sure she could handle. But it was wonderful to be held this way. Her hands slid up into his hair, and Lucy gasped as his mouth whispered kisses across her cheek to her ear and down her throat.

              “Sweetness,” he muttered hoarsely. Alec flicked out his tongue and touched it lightly to where her pulse drummed frantically against the creamy flesh. He hadn’t meant to kiss her, knowing if he did so, he wouldn’t stop. She was trembling in his arms like a frightened rabbit. Had he gone too far? Alec pulled away. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes closed. “Lucy?” he asked, his voice thick with passion. “Are you all right, love?”

              “Hmm…?”

              “Are you okay, love? Did I… frighten you?”

              Relief flooded him when the thick lashes fluttered open. She stared up at him in a daze. She then reached up and touched his cheek in wonder. “The room was spinning again.”

              Alec released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding and put his brow to hers. “Me too,” he breathed. “Wait for me?”

              Lucy nodded and kissed the scar above his right eye. “Hurry!”

              He extricated himself reluctantly from his wife’s embrace and hurried out the door, nearly tripping on the welcome mat. Her soft laughter followed him out into the darkness, and he beat a hasty retreat down the road, anxious to get back to the one he loved.

 

              Alec opened the door, stomping his feet to shake off the excess sand, and hurried to pull the pot roast out of the oven before it turned into jerky.

              He stopped short at the entrance to the small kitchen. His wife had donned a pair of oven mitts and was about to pull it out herself. “Oh, no you don’t!” he admonished lightly.

              Lucy whirled around at her husband’s voice. “Stop doing that!” she scolded him and swiped at him with an oven mitt. “What are you trying to do? Put me back in the hospital?”

              “Give me those,” he said, motioning for the mitts. She handed them over and stood aside as he pulled the heavy oval roaster out and placed it on the counter. He pulled off the lid and stuck a meat thermometer into the roast. “I’ll stop only if you stop trying to be Wonder Woman.” He peered at her obliquely. “You’re still recovering and it’s my job to see that you do!”

              “I was just checking to see if it was done!” she grumbled, slightly offended. “Thank you very much!”

              “If you want to make yourself useful, wife,” he told her with a playful swat at her bottom, “go set the table.”

              He laughed as she made a face and went to retrieve the forks from the buffet. “Will the nook be okay?” she asked, setting the napkins and silverware down.

              “That’s fine,” he muttered as he sliced into the roast. Thank goodness the meat appeared to be edible! “Unless you’d rather eat in the living room.”

              Lucy shook her head. “I like the nook, it’s very cozy.”

              Her husband glanced up, smiling wickedly. “I know something else that’s twice as cozy!”

              She stared at him blankly before her mouth dropped open. Would she never get used to his bawdy humor? “Husband!” she gasped in mock horror. “Behave yourself! Whatever will the neighbors think?”

              Alec laughed at his wife. “They won’t think anything! The only neighbors nearby live across the bay!”

              “Really?” her eyes grew round. “And here I was thinking I was perfectly safe!”

              “Oh, you are! You are!” he insisted, grinning from ear to ear.

              Lucy brushed past him to get the plates and coyly fluttered her lashes. “And how long will that last?”

              He sobered slightly. “Are you flirting with me, wife?”

              She peered at him over her shoulder and gave him a saucy wink. “Perhaps.”

              Their eyes met and then the both of them burst out laughing. “Cheeky monkey,” he chided softly and motioned for her to sit down. “I’ll get the glasses. What would you like to drink?” He peered into the small refrigerator. “We have soda, tea, and ginger ale.”

              “Ginger ale, please.”

              He opened her can and watched as she poured it over her ice. Alec went to fetch the meat. He placed hot slices of the roast, potatoes, and carrots onto a serving platter. He put this in the middle of the table and retrieved some ready serve rolls he’d popped into the microwave and the butter. Lucy handed him her plate. She watched in bemusement as he placed two slices of the rich beef onto her plate and smothered it in gravy. To this he added the potatoes and carrots. “This enough?’ he asked.

              “Perfect,” she sighed as she sliced into the meat. It was cooked perfectly and melted in her mouth. “You’re a wonderful cook!”

              Alec sat down and dug into his dinner. “Try the potatoes. They’re to die for!”

              She speared a roasted potato. “You’re right!” Lucy peered up at him uncertainly. ”Boarding house…?”             

              He shook his head as he chewed. “Mum.”

              “What’s she like?”

              Alec swallowed and took a sip of his iced tea. “Mum? Oh, she’s wonderful! You’ll love her!”

              “Will she…like me?” she asked, suddenly afraid that her new mother-in-law would find her lacking.

              Alec looked up in and saw the fear in her eyes. “She’ll think you’re great, love!” he reassured her. “She’s been wanting me to marry for ages!”

              “Really?”

              “Yeah,” he told her as he polished off the rest of his plate. “She’s a regular nag!”

              “Alec!”

              “I’m joking love,” he chuckled. “But she’ll be chuffed when she sees you. Trust me!”

              “You’re sure…?”

              He winked at her. “Would I lie to you, wife? Now, how ‘bout some dessert?”              Lucy watched, not entirely convinced, as he took their plates and placed them in the dishwasher. Then from the refrigerator, he produced a chocolate pie with delicate swirls of whipped cream dappling the creamy surface. “Where’d you get that?”

              “I went into town while you napped and picked this little beauty up. They’ve got the most adorable bakery.” He placed it down and cut her a huge slice.

              She cut into it and immediately thought she’d died and gone to heaven. “Yum!”

              “That good, huh?” He cut himself a slice and nearly had an orgasm himself. “Blimey, that is good!”

              “Want to watch a movie?” he asked after a final swallow of pie.

              “Sure, what will we watch?”

              “Something funny!”

              Their eyes met and he reached across and took her hand. She couldn’t speak.               There were no words.

 

              After helping her husband load the dishwasher, he’d cleaned up the kitchen and settled down with her on the sofa to watch Dumb and Dumber. They sat in companionable silence, holding hands, and laughing here and there at the zany antics of Harry and Lloyd.

              When the movie ended, Alec asked her if she wanted a bath. Lucy was tired, but she needed to wash the previous day’s grime away, so she allowed him to show her to the bathroom down the hall.

              Her eyes widened at the walk-in shower and huge freestanding tub. The bathroom was a study in minimal elegance with pale green walls and ivory trims. A large pedestal sink stood in one corner with an oval antiqued mirror above it, and several wicker baskets held various assortments of towels and luxury bath items. There was a spa-like tranquility to it, and Lucy could hardly wait to have a real shower. The one at the hospital had been serviceable but inadequate for her need to enjoy the experience.

              “Sit, love,” her husband said, gesturing towards the small bench near the sink.

              She sat down and hung her head, thoroughly spent for the day and feeling a peculiar ache in the small of her back. The doctor had told her it could take up to a year before she was back to her old self, but he’d been blunt in his assessment, and told her she’d carry these wounds for the rest of her life.

              Alec knelt down before his wife frightened she’d tried to do too much. He reached and touched her cheek gently. “You don’t have to do this tonight, love. You can take one in the morning.”

              Lucy shook her head. “No, I want to wash my hair and the warm water will help my back,” she grimaced slightly. “It’s been hurting all day.”

              “You’re sure?” he asked, looking up at her with uncertainty in those jewel-like eyes. After a moment, he stood up and walked over to the shower. “Shower or bath?”

              “Um…a shower…” she said faintly, glancing down at herself, “the…um …stitches are still healing.” Lucy reached down to pull her stockings off and shimmied out of the slip as well. “Help me with the dress,” she pleaded and raised her arms painfully.

              She winced as Alec gently tugged the dress over her head. Lucy crossed her arms over her chest and tried not to cry. There was a large bandage that would have to be removed and she didn’t know if she could bring herself to do it. She looked up at her husband helplessly and pointed to her chest. “The…bandage…”

              “Hush,” he soothed and helped her to stand. Alec’s throat tightened as he pulled the shower door open and reached for the knob. He let the water run for a few minutes to allow the water to warm up. Then he rolled up his sleeve and tested it. Just right. He turned towards his wife who by now, was diminishing before his very eyes. She hung her head and had her arms crossed protectively over her chest. “Don’t,” he whispered and reached for her.

              Lucy pulled away. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to touch her, but this was something she had to do herself. “I-It’s all right,” she told him, and forced herself to look up at him. “I’ve got to do this...” she took a deep breath, “by myself.”

              Alec understood. Or at least he was trying to. He just didn’t want her to think she had to do this all by herself.  He was here for her and he wanted her to know that. “You’re sure?”

              Lucy nodded. “Just help me with this corset,” she quipped with a humor she didn’t feel.

              To her relief, he said huskily, “Turn around, wife.”

              She turned around and felt his gentle hands unhooking the bra. Then she felt his lips on her shoulder. “Call me when you’re ready to wash your hair. I’ll be right outside.”

              “Okay,” she said faintly and watched as he left, leaving a crack in the door.

              She breathed a sigh of relief and allowed the bra to fall to the floor. She reached and tugged the panties off and stepped out of them, wincing at the effort it took to remove her underwear. Then she reached and with a slight cry of pain, removed the huge bandage that covered the incision where they’d sliced her open. Lucy flung it aside angrily and stepped into the shower.

              The water was warm and gentle, soothing away the aches and pains of the past few days. She was careful to let the water rinse her stitches but not soak them entirely. There were a various assortment of scented bath gels and soaps. She chose one and allowed the sweet aroma of patchouli send her to a tropical island and away from the fact that she had nearly died at the hands of a madman.

              Lucy squeezed some out onto a sponge and soaped up her body the best she could, wincing as she reached up to wash her face and neck. When she knelt down to scrub her feet, she noticed something strange. There was a dark liquid mingling with the sudsy water. She watched almost as if in a dream as the water took on a pinkish hue, then her eyes widened as it became crimson. She was bleeding.

              For a frightening moment, Lucy thought one of her incisions had breached open. Panicking, she felt all over and found nothing. Then she glanced down and felt it deep inside. It was a familiar clenching of her womb.

              She had started her period.

              Her hands slid down over her flat belly, and she let out a howl of pure and utter anguish. The baby was gone, and her body was just now cruelly reminding her of this simple fact. Lucy slid down to the tile floor and began sobbing.

              She could not stop.

              Alec was removing his trainers and had set them aside, when he heard his wife scream. It was unlike anything he’d ever heard in all his twenty-eight years on earth. It was almost an inhuman cry of pain and loss, and he jumped up and tore into the bathroom.

              He flung the door open, adrenaline flooding his veins, and looked around in a panic. “Lucy?”

              Walking slowly through steam and fogged up mirrors, he went to the shower and nearly ripped the glass door off its hinges. For a frightening moment he couldn’t see her and then he looked down. There, huddled in a near fetal position near the drain, sat his wife. She was weeping pitifully as she hugged her knees to her chest. There was a dark puddle under her and he thought she might have cut herself with a razor. “Lucy--”

              Lucy looked up at her husband, tears and water streaming down her face. “I-I…s-started…m-m-my…p-period,” she gulped tearfully and began to cry even harder.

              “God, love,” he choked in agony and knelt down in the shower beside her. She reached for him and he pulled her onto his lap and rocked her gently. “It’s all right, love,” he soothed, his voice cracking. He was getting wet, but he didn’t care. Her entire body shook with sobs, and he was on the verge himself. He smoothed the wet strands away from her face. “We’ll have a whole bloody lot of them,” he swore fiercely and kissed her brow. “We’ll have so many, they’ll be pouring out of the goddamn windows!”

              “P-Promise?” she whispered hoarsely and peered up at him.

              Alec kissed her brow once more and continued rocking her. “I promise! There, now,” he managed through a throat thick with unshed tears. “Don’t cry,” he said again, knowing deep down, that she had to.

              “You can cry too, Alec,” she croaked. “Please cry.”

              “You’re doing enough crying for the both of us,” he told her, swallowing hard and clasping her tightly to him. “I’ll cry later.”

              I’ll cry later, he promised himself. Much later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eighteen

 

 

             

She stood in the middle of the bedroom in a daze, not quite sure as to what she was supposed to do. Then she remembered. Pajamas. She rummaged around in the suitcase that Tia had packed for her. There were the usual clothing items of jeans, t-shirts, socks, and several pairs of underwear. But Tia had apparently forgotten to pack her favorite nightgown. “They’re not here,” she mumbled in confusion and turned to her husband. “She forgot.”

              “What’s that, love?”

              “Tia forgot to pack my nightgowns.”

              Alec’s handsome brow furrowed slightly and went over to the suitcase and inspected it himself. “Are you sure?”

              Lucy nodded and glanced down, wincing as another cramp twisted its way through her womb. “I can sleep in my robe,” she sighed.

              He opened his mouth to say something, but a thought suddenly occurred to him.               “Wait here,” he said and left the room.

              Alec hurried to his room just down the hall. It was small but adequate. He yanked out his duffle and tore through it, searching for something suitable for his wife to sleep in. When he discovered the items at the bottom of the bag, he was about to leave when he spied the bottle on the nightstand. He snatched it up and left.

              He held out his old pajamas for her inspection. “Try these.”

              She reached out and took the pajamas, but stopped short. “Wait a minute!” she looked up at him in surprise. “These are the ones you were wearing that day!”

              Her husband grinned knowingly. “They’re very comfortable.”

              “I couldn’t,” she said and started to hand them back.

              “Don’t,” Alec said softly, and knelt down before her. “I want you to wear them.”

              Her fingers stroked the soft cotton lovingly. “You’re… sure?”

              Alec nodded and reached for the top. “Here, let me help you put these on.”

              Lucy rose and allowed her husband to remove the robe and help her on with the pajama top. He held the bottoms for her to step in and pulled them up. They swallowed her whole. “They’re too big!” she cried in dismay.

              Her husband couldn’t resist laughing at the way his pajamas hung from her slight frame. She looked like a child wearing her father’s clothes. Alec kissed her nose lightly and began rolling the bottoms and sleeves up. “It’s not that they’re big, love,” he grinned down at her. “It’s just that you’re so small!”

              “Am I?” she said faintly and sat back down on the bed. At least Tia hadn’t forgotten the most needed item in her war chest: tampons. Lucy had been very lucky the hospital had included the extra-heavy pads they usually gave to new mothers. In her case, tampons weren’t going to cut it. She winced again. “Ow!”

              “That bad, huh?”

              “It’ll pass,” she grimaced, trying to be brave.

              Her husband peered down at her thoughtfully before leaving again. He came back with a glass of water. “Here, love,” he said and held out two small blue tablets. “Take one.”

              Her eyes widened. “Valium! Where did you get that? Dr. Muir didn’t prescribe that!”

              “I-I know, love,” Alec said quietly. “They’re…um…mine.”

              “Yours…?”

              He nodded and held her gaze with his own. He sat down beside her. “I hardly take them, only when…” he paused and drew a deep ragged breath, “the nightmares get to be too much.”

              “Nightmares? I thought--”

              Alec laughed uneasily. “It’s a long story, love. I don’t think you’re quite strong enough to hear it just yet.”

              “I want to,” she breathed and looked up at him. The pain in his voice was palpable. “You can tell me anything. You know that!”

              “Yes, I-I know,” he said, softly brushing the damp locks away from her small face. After he’d calmed her down, he’d cleaned her up the best he could. He’d washed and rinsed her hair and towel-dried it for her. All the while she hadn’t said a word… in effect, giving up the fight. He’d felt as if he were bathing a doll. He reached down to where her hand rested on her thigh. Alec picked it up gently and turned it over. Kissing the long-faded scar on her wrist, he said, “When you’re ready to tell me about this, I’ll tell you all about my little adventures.”

              Lucy tugged her hand away and pulled the sleeve down roughly. “You don’t want to hear about that!”

              “No…?”

              She shook her head stubbornly. “It is what it is.”

              Not wishing to pursue the matter further, he offered her the Valium. “Take this then.”

              “I don’t think I want to, Alec,” she gulped fearfully. “Mama--”

              Alec pressed a finger to her lips. “I mean… we’ll both take one.”

              Lucy didn’t want to. She’d seen what the drug had done to her mother. Most days, she’d lived in a semi-unconscious state where Lucy had to feed, bathe, and dress her. She wondered if Alec knew the sordid history of her parents. Rudy would have had to tell him. But he was looking at her with the same pain she felt deep inside. Perhaps, just for tonight…

              “To sleep?”

              He nodded, popped the other pill into his mouth, and washed it down with a swig of water. “I’ll stay with you …if you want.”

              She reached for the Valium and placed it in her mouth. Lucy grimaced at the taste, and it took several gulps of water just to get it down. “Will… you,” she asked timidly, “hold me?”

              He stroked her cheek and pressed his lips against her brow. “If you…want me to.”

              “I want you to!” she cried and fell into his arms. “I want you to!”

 

              Alec woke sometime in the night to the wind rustling leaves in the garden. He opened his eyes briefly. The room was dark and silent save for the sound of his wife’s gentle breathing as she slept in his arms. It was the first time they’d shared a bed since that night Lucy had fainted while tending him. She slept on her side and he spooned her, pressing his chest against her back and tucking his knees under hers. They fit together perfectly like those pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.

              The Valium had done its work. She slept peacefully in his arms. Probably the best sleep she’d had in a long while. He tightened his arms around her and nuzzled his face into her hair. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

 

              When next he woke, it was morning. Sunlight was streaming through the curtains, and he knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. Alec reluctantly left the warmth of his marriage bed and went to take a shower. He leaned his head against the tile wall and let the hot water cleanse the aches and pains away. He shaved and dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. Breakfast was a cup of coffee, but he made some oatmeal for Lucy in case she got hungry later.

              Before he left, he slipped back into the bedroom to check on his wife. For a moment, he stared in awe of her fragile beauty. Her black hair streamed across the pillow and dark lashes lay against pale cheeks. The ache in his chest had set up permanent housekeeping, but he didn’t mind. Alec bent down to kiss her cheek.

              Lucy stirred and her eyes fluttered open. “Alec?” she moaned sleepily.

              “Shh,” he whispered and kissed her again. “I’ve got to run into town for a bit. I’ll be back in a few.”

              “Where are you going? Come back to bed,” his wife grumbled.

              Alec chuckled. “I’ve got to pick up some groceries and check on a few things. Is there anything you need?”

              “A box of chocolate,” she murmured drowsily.

              “Anything else?”

              She shook her head, her eyes closing again. “Just you…”

              “I’ll lock the door, love,” he said. “There’s oatmeal on the stove.”

              “Okay…” she sighed and went back to sleep.

              He kissed her brow and tucked the comforter around her shoulders. Alec shut the door and picked up his keys and phone. The sun had lent its vibrant streaks of crimson and violet to the dawning sky. Autumn was fast approaching, and he felt a foreboding chill in the air when he locked up and headed out.

              The long ride into town allowed him to mull over things. He’d had to compartmentalize much of his life since meeting Lucy. But it wasn’t such a bad thing. It allowed him to focus on her and their marriage for a change. For so long he’d been trying to make his family happy that finding Gavin had been foremost in his mind, almost to the point of an obsession. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on work, which in his profession was a liability. He also hadn’t been able to sleep nor eat.

              To make matters worse, Pat had been niggling him constantly for updates, even when Lucy was in hospital fighting for her life. He’d finally tossed out his old phone and gotten a new one with an unlisted number. He knew he had to call his mum and he’d do it.

              Eventually.             

              Alec didn’t want to think about that right now. All he wanted to do was get into town and hurry back to his wife. He smiled at that word. Wife. Yes, it had a certain ring to it. He only hoped his wife felt about him the way he felt about her. And the word that came to mind when he thought about how he felt about Lucy was…hopeless.

              He supposed he’d fallen for her the moment he saw her balancing precariously on that barstool. He’d gone into the casino after a long drive to Gavin’s studio and having the door slammed in his face, so what if it had been ten years since he’d seen him last? Blood was supposed to be thicker than water. Or at least, that’s what he thought. He’d felt so sorry for himself that he’d driven all night from Los Angeles and ended up straight in Las Vegas.

              He had never been one for gambling, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to play a few cards and piss up the joint. So there he’d been getting sloshed when he noticed the two plonkers laughing and gesturing toward the pretty young woman who was sitting all alone at the bar. He thought they meant to chat her up or something, but things took a serious turn when one of them pulled a small bag of pills out of his pocket.

              That’s when Alec had noticed her. Really noticed her. She’d been wearing one of those long maxi dresses. It had been red with white flowers and there’d been a white flower in her upswept hair. Maybe a gardenia or maybe it had been a camellia? He’d observed her surreptitiously for over an hour, watching her dab at her eyes with a napkin and making small talk with the bartender. Then she’d dropped her purse and had nearly fallen off the stool when she bent to retrieve it. As she did so, there had been a slight glimpse of slender pins under that long dress. After that, one of the plonkers made his move and approached her. Alec had kept a careful eye on her as she politely rejected his advances, only for her lovely face to crumple when he cursed her. Soon after, she’d left for the ladies’ room and plonker had slipped a pill into her drink. When she returned, he knew he couldn’t leave her to her fate. So he’d snatched the drink out of her hands and fallen helplessly into a pair of the darkest eyes he’d ever seen. The rest of the night had been a blur. But apparently he hadn’t wanted her to slip through his fingers. When he proposed, it had been a joke, or maybe it hadn’t. He never dreamed she’d say yes, and he never dreamed she’d be a virgin either.

              The rest of the night had been a blur. A very pleasurable blur as it turned out. He’d gone to bed that night the happiest he’d been in years. But when he awoke the next morning nursing a dreadful hangover he’d jumped into the shower, oblivious to the small figure that had slept beside him. When he’d finished the bed was empty, his bride had fled, leaving her innocent blood staining the sheets, and leaving him confused and feeling a loss he could not explain. And Rudy, he mustn’t forget Rudy.

              Alec could laugh now at waking up one morning in his hotel a few days after his wedding to find his father’s old school chum beating the door down in a thunderous rage. But at the time, he’d been nursing the mother of all hangovers and hadn’t fully realized the import of his actions. Rudy had quickly given him the third degree, and once he understood that Alec had no idea what had happened, confiscated his wedding band and marriage certificate, and sent him on his merry way back to Los Angeles with the promise that he would look into the matter and to not worry his pretty little head over it.

              If he hadn’t broken his leg he might not have found out he’d married Lucy. Oh, they might have figured it out sooner or later, but if it hadn’t been for Rudy swooping in and throwing them into the fire, they might very well have continued to roam aimlessly along the vast moors of life. At least now they had each other to weather whatever storm might come their way. Alec didn’t want to think about how close he’d come to losing his wife. If he thought about it long enough, he’d start to unravel at the seams, and Lucy needed him to be strong for the both of them.

              With that final thought, he turned on the radio and continued the drive into town humming along to the uplifting beat of Jackie Wilson.

 

              After a light breakfast of maple and brown sugar oatmeal with a side of toast, Lucy didn’t know quite what to do with herself, so she decided to go exploring. She found a laundry room tucked away from the kitchen, separated by a pair of sliding doors. There was a gorgeous red front-loading washing machine and matching dryer.

              She decided to make herself useful and gathered up the used towels and clothing in the bathroom and tossed them into a hamper to be washed later. Then Lucy straightened the pillows on the sofa. Alec would probably scold her for trying to play maid, but if she didn’t do something to occupy her mind, she’d go mad.

              Lucy wondered where her husband was sleeping. He’d slept with her the night before, but she had a feeling Alec would probably want to limit that if he could. He was being the perfect gentleman, it seemed he was terrified if he handled her too much, she’d shatter into a million pieces. She wasn’t made of glass!

              Shaking her head and muttering under her breath, she found a small bedroom near the bath that she supposed Alec was using. It was so tiny! The room was obviously meant for function rather than comfort. There was a twin bed alongside one wall with a navy plaid quilt, a few pillows, and a hand-knitted afghan draped neatly across the end. A small desk and chair rested in one corner, and Alec’s duffle sat forlornly in the closet awaiting its owner’s return. A small area rug and plaid curtains completed the meager furnishings.

              Her husband seemed very adept at keeping things shipshape and Bristol fashion. All Lucy had to do was plump his pillows for him. She winced, feeling another cramp knifing its way through her womb and hurried to the kitchen to take her pill. As she left, she noticed the staircase for the first time. Curiosity demanded she climb the winding marvel, but Lucy knew she wouldn’t make it halfway and left the exploration for another time. She barely made it back to her bedroom when she felt a sudden horrible gush and hightailed it to the bathroom.

              Lucy sat in abject misery and hoped her husband had enough foresight to buy her a supply of overnights. She was going to need them. Lucy hung her head and waited for the storm to pass.

              When she felt it safe to stand upright again, she brushed her teeth and washed her face. That much she could handle. But when she looked at the tangled mess that masqueraded as her hair, she flung the brush aside in frustration. To hell with it! So what if she looked like Medusa? Lucy wet a cloth and lay back down. Soon the familiar drowsiness began to overwhelm her and she gave in, grateful to be free of the pain for a time at least…

              She awoke with a start, having dreamt of empty cradles. Lucy wiped the tears away and sat up. The cottage was silent; Alec wasn’t back yet. She felt groggy despite the nap and went to splash some water on her face. Apparently she was sleeping her life away.

              Lucy straightened her bed and wondered what time it was. She put on her robe, deciding it wouldn’t do to put on anything she didn’t want ruined. Slowly making her way down the hall, she was rounding the corner when she came face to face with the barrel of a semi-automatic pistol.

              Too startled to cry out, Lucy fell back against the wall and banged her head. She slid down into a crumpled heap, wondering what the hell happened.

              Alec stood for a moment shaking in horror at the realization that he’d almost shot his wife. After picking his way through the small grocery store, he’d made a call to Pat who was none too pleased at what his stepson had to say. There’d been words exchanged and none of them made for polite conversation. He’d driven home feeling the worse for wear and not caring if he ever spoke to the old boy ever again.

              But the thought of Lucy lightened his spirits and he hoped his present would go over well. He’d set the package down on the doorstep and opened the door. An unearthly silence had greeted him, so he had called out Lucy’s name. When she didn’t answer right away, panic set in and for a frightening moment, he’d thought the worst. So like the damn fool that he was, he’d whipped out the gun. He’d meant to secure the house, not send his wife to her grave.

              Panicking, Alec set the gun down on the console table and bent down. “My God, Lucy!” he muttered guiltily. “Are you all right?”

              She winced as his gentle fingers probed the bump emerging from her skull.               “Ouch!” she grimaced. Lucy opened one eye and peered at her husband. “Do I look all right?”

              Alec cradled her face in his hands. “Why didn’t you answer when I called you?” he demanded, more angry with himself than with her. “You scared the hell out of me!”

              “I scared you…?” she said, reaching up and wincing when she found the knot. “I was taking a nap, where did you think I was? Climbing the Matterhorn?”

              “I-I thought---” he couldn’t finish. “Here, love let me help you up.” Alec reached down and pulled his wife to a standing position. “Hurt much?” he asked again, feeling ashamed and slightly foolish at having overreacted.

              “What do you t---ouch!” she cried out and allowed him to escort her to the sofa. “Where’d you get that thing anyway?”

              He rushed to get some ice into a plastic bag and wrapped it in a towel. He pressed it gently against the bump. Lucy gasped and winced. “Sorry love,” he winced along with her. “I overreacted.”

              “You certainly did!” she scolded and leaned back into the cushions. “You didn’t answer my question. Where’d you get the gun?”

              “Rudy gave it to me,” he said uneasily and went to fetch the thing. He came back and placed it on her lap. “He thought it might be useful.”

              Lucy’s mouth pursed in a moue of disdain and wondered if Rudy had finally fallen off his trolley. She never liked guns. One of Viv’s boyfriends had been an avid gun collector and hunter. He had been quite harmless up until the time he shot Lucy in the foot during one of his little “demonstrations.” They had casually driven her to the hospital, all the while reminding her of what to the say if anyone asked her how she’d gotten hold of a gun. She’d been all of eleven, and in the end her poor foot had required thirty stitches. Lucy picked it up by the grip and held it away from her as if it carried a particularly nasty strain of bubonic plague. “Are you licensed to carry this…this… thing?”

              Alec suppressed a smile and took the piece from her and placed it back into his ankle holster. “I’m licensed,” he said, with a knowing smirk playing about his splendid lips. “I’m more than capable of protecting you, wife,” he added, echoing his wife’s words from that horrible fight.

              A delicate brow arched in disbelief. “Really? Who says?”

              He pointed to his chest and gave her a sly wink. “I do!”

              Something in his eyes suggested he was more than capable but for now Lucy was in no mood to find out. “Did you bring lunch?” she asked instead. “I’m starving!”

              “As a matter of fact wife, I did bring a little something to nibble on.” Her husband left to fetch the bags from the truck. He came back and handed her a Styrofoam bowl of lobster bisque and a prosciutto and Fontina cheese Panini.

              Lucy closed her eyes in delight at the creamy concoction. She took a small bite of the Panini and found it to be just as sinfully delicious. “Yum!” she exclaimed. “Where did you get these?”

              He sat beside her on the sofa and rummaged around in the sack for his own lunch.  Alec pried open the plastic lid and took a spoonful of his New England clam chowder. Savoring the new experience, he took another spoonful before answering. “There’s a small café just off the highway. I had to pay them extra just for the privilege of having them pack it up for you.” He took a bite out of his buttery popover. “Like?” he said after a swallow.

              She nodded. “Anything to drink?”

              Alec produced two glass bottles of sweet tea and two straws.

              They ate in companionable silence and Lucy couldn’t help but notice the boxes he’d carried in earlier and set beside one of the chairs. “What are those?”

              “What?”

              “Those,” she said, with a nod of her head. “Those boxes.”

              “Eat your soup, wife,” he said, smiling. “It’s a surprise.”

              “For me?”

              “Maybe.”

              Lucy rolled her eyes at her husband and gestured toward his popover. “Can I have a taste?”

              He broke off a piece and handed it to her. “Oh! That’s good.”

              “Let me try some of that sandwich.”

              Lucy broke off a piece and shoved it gently into his mouth She laughed as some of the gooey cheese strung itself across his chin. “Careful!” she chided and swiped the cheese off with her napkin. “You’re very messy!”

              Alec grinned at his wife, pressing his lips against her fingers. He watched as her eyes widened slightly and he was suddenly overcome with a desire to fling her over his shoulder and carry her off to bed. He squelched the lustful urge, telling himself that there would be time for that soon enough. “Finish your lunch, Mrs. Barrington and I’ll let you see what I’ve brought.”

              “Mrs. Barrington, huh?”

              “Oh yes,” he agreed, sipping his soup. “It’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

              Lucy mulled this over and decided it did have a pleasant connotation to it. “Yes,” she sighed at last, reaching up to caress his face. “Mrs. Barrington sounds about right.”

              Their eyes met and held, and Lucy was convinced there was nothing more perfect in the world than being Alec’s wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nineteen

 

 

 

After lunch, Alec cleaned up and steered his wife into her bedroom. He bade her sit while he gathered the large boxes he’d stowed in the living room. Lucy straightened her robe about her and wondered what grand secret her husband had up his sleeve. He’d gotten her the overnights and a large assortment of various brands and sizes. When she’d asked him how he’d known, he merely gave her a sly wink and handed her the box of chocolates he’d brought. It seemed Alec was trying his damnedest to win husband of the year.

              Not that his wife was complaining, but she didn’t want him to think he had to go to all this trouble just to please her. She’d have to make it up to him…somehow. “Alec?” Lucy called when he didn’t return right away. “Do you need some help?”

              “What?” he answered and came in carrying the larger of the two boxes. “No, love,” he grunted and set the box down none too gently. He looked around and decided the nightstand would do. He removed the lamp and books and slid the heavy piece across the carpet so that it stood in front of Lucy. “How’s that?”

              “Um…fine,” she answered, slightly puzzled. “Alec, what are you---”

              Her husband held up a finger to silence her and bent down. He proceeded to pull out a box cutter and slice through the tape and cardboard. Slowly but surely, there emerged something that resembled a computer monitor. When he freed it of the packaging, he pulled out her present: a twenty-inch flat screen television set with built-in DVD player.

              Alec grinned up at her. “This way you can watch all the TV you want without leaving the comfort of bed.” He handed her the smaller box. “Open it, love.”

              Lucy sat gob smacked at her husband’s generosity. This was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. Not even Dean’s engagement present of a weekend at a bed and breakfast in Napa Valley or Rudy’s nursing school graduation present of pearl and diamond earrings could compare to this simple and thoughtful gift. She was overcome with emotion and began to cry.

              Her husband was alarmed and went to her. He hadn’t meant to upset her. “God, love!” he sputtered, clumsily reaching for a tissue “I-If you don’t like it, I can send it back!”

              Lucy blew her nose and was surprised to see no blood. She smiled at him, loving him more in this moment than she had on their wedding night. Her hand gently stroked his cheek. “I love it!”

              “If you love it, then why are you crying?” he asked hoarsely, nearly weeping himself.

              “I’m crying because I’m happy,” she said, and pressed her lips against his cheek. “Remember?”

              Alec’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion, then it dawned on him. “Oh!” he smiled in relief. “Then I’d hate to see you when you’re sad, love.” She laughed at the tender reminder and fingered the plainly wrapped box in her lap. He took another tissue and swiped at her eyes gently. “Open the other one,” he urged.

              Sniffing loudly, she tore the brown paper off and opened it. Inside were several box sets of I Love Lucy and Mister Ed. “How did you know?”

              “They didn’t have the complete boxed set, so I ordered what they had,” Alec reached in and lifted out a pink box. “I thought it would be appropriate… since,” he pressed his lips softly against her scarred brow, “I… love… Lucy.”

              Lucy choked back a sob and kissed him shyly on the mouth. “And… I love…Alec,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.

              “Don’t cry love,” he said, gulping back his own tears and hugging her tightly to him. “I hate it when you cry.”

              “I’m just… happy.”

              “Well,” Alec set the box on the floor and took her in his arms, “in that case, cry away, wife. Maybe I’ll cry too, since I’m so bloody happy!”

              After a while, he stretched out on the bed beside her and they lay wrapped in each other’s arms. Alec kissed her hair and closed his eyes, thinking if he were to die this very moment, he’d die a very happy man.

 

              After a light supper of deli-baked mac and cheese, they retired to Lucy’s room to try out her new TV. Alec had changed the sheets for her after a minor “accident” and told her not to worry about it when she hid her face in embarrassment.

              He finished making the bed, and Lucy sat back against the pillows watching her handsome husband fumble with the remote. She giggled at the face he made when he tried to set the channels, and the TV began to switch rapidly from one channel to the next as if possessed. “Here, husband,” she grinned, reaching for the remote and putting him out of his misery, “allow me.”

              Alec swore and handed the device to his wife. “I remember when all you had to do was plug the damn thing in.” He watched as her slender fingers deftly punched in the codes and soon they were watching an episode of The Bachelor. “People don’t actually watch this rubbish, do they?” he asked in disbelief as he watched desperate women fling themselves at the blighter.

              “I’m afraid so,” Lucy told her husband gravely. “They’ll trample each other to death just for a rose.”

              “Why?”

              “I don’t know,” she shrugged and patted the bed beside her. “Come to bed, dear.”

              Alec peered at his wife with something akin to horror. He may have held her the night before, but he certainly didn’t intend to make a habit of it. He loved having her in his arms, but for the sake of his sanity, he was obliged to live like a monk. Not that anything would happen mind you, but still…

              He swallowed hard and fled to his bedroom suddenly at a loss for words.

              She sighed heavily and resigned herself to a lonely night in front of the television. Lucy flipped through the channels, ignoring the nightly news broadcasts, and decided to pop in a disc. Settling against the pillows and pulling the comforter closer about her, she began watching the episode where Fred and Ethel had a fight. Though it wasn’t much fun without her husband.

              She was at the part where Fred had shoved Ethel off the bench, when Alec strolled in wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants. He approached the end of the bed looking adorably nervous and said with a rueful smile: “Where do you want me?”

              She laughed and patted the bed beside her.

 

* * *

              Lucy lowered her aching body into the steaming water and winced. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a decent bath. Showers were nice and all, but it couldn’t compare to a large tub filled with oodles and oodles of rose scented bubbles. She sighed in relief as the heat relaxed the tight muscles and leaned back and placed a washcloth over her eyes.

              She hadn’t been sleeping well. Now that she was regaining strength, Alec had deemed it necessary to retire to his bed once or twice a week Most nights he sat up with her and even held her while until she fell asleep, then he would sneak off to his bed while Lucy had to contend with shadows crawling up and down the walls in her dreams.

              She didn’t think it was necessary. She had been perfectly happy with the sleeping arrangement, but she supposed a man had to go off by himself once and a while. Though she could understand why he wanted to sleep alone, Lucy didn’t think it was fair considering the number of nightmares she was having. She slept better when Alec was holding her, staving off the demons, especially ones with pointy knives. She had half a mind to beg him to sleep with her, but she didn’t want to come off as needy and who wants a wife who’s clingy?

              Maybe she should ask him to buy her a nightlight the next time he was in town.

              Finally, she sat up to wash. There was an assortment of scented soaps and body gels, so she picked up a bar that smelled faintly reminiscent of plumeria and some other exotic flowers, and was startled when it slipped out of her hand and plunked into the water with a resounding splash!

              “What the---” she muttered in frustration, patting blindly beneath the sudsy water for the wayward bar of soap. She’d been dropping things here and there, and Lucy wasn’t too put out until now. Now she was terrified there had been nerve damage after all. “That’s just great!” she swore under her breath and finally located the slippery offender behind her back. She winced as snatched it up.

              “Something wrong, love?” came her husband’s voice, warm and dripping with amusement.

              Lucy shot him a baleful glare. “I dropped the soap,” she sighed finally. “Again!”

              “Again…?”

              “I’ve been dropping things all week or haven’t you noticed?” She peered up at him with some embarrassment. She really didn’t want him to know but here it was, out in the open. Lucy sunk miserably into the water until it rippled about her shoulders.

              Alec stood awkwardly for a moment, not knowing what to say. The doctors had in fact, warned him there might be probable nerve damage, but they hadn’t been too concerned about it at the time. He finally gave up attempting to explain to his wife that the doctors had been too damn concerned with putting her back together for them to worry about something as trivial as a few damaged nerves. They had suggested more surgery and physical therapy, if needed. But he didn’t think she’d care to hear that. So he pulled up a stool.

              “Sit up, love and I’ll wash your back,” he offered instead. One brown orb eyed him warily before she nodded and sat up.

              Lucy drew her knees up to her chest and leaned forward a bit. She sighed as her husband lathered up a sponge and gently scrubbed her aching back. “What did the doctors say?” she asked finally. “Is there damage?”

              Her husband didn’t answer right away and instead soaped up her shoulders. Finally, he drew in a deep breath and blurted, “They said you’d have to have more surgery and physical therapy!”

              Alec watched as she paled slightly and hung her head, as if in defeat. “Is that all?”

              The sponge stopped. “They said lots of things.”

              “Tell me the bad stuff.”

              “I don’t think I want to.”

              She turned so she could see him. “That bad, huh?”

              He shook his head. “No,” he sighed at last and handed her the sponge. “Every time they fixed something, there’d be something else. First there was a clot and they had to pry your chest back open! You nearly bled to death, love.” His voice caught at the memory and his jewel-like orbs glistened with unshed tears. “They were going around asking people if they were O negative. You’ve got a pint of mine in you, by the way.”               Alec stood up, wiping his eyes on his sleeve, and began to rinse out the shower.

              Lucy sat, stunned. Damaged nerves were one thing, bleeding nearly to death and having to ask your husband if he’ll gladly give up a pint to save your life was quite another. She couldn’t imagine what it had been like for him. “I’m sorry, Alec,” she said, feeling ashamed of her selfishness. “I-I didn’t know.”

              “Don’t apologize for being angry,” he said flatly, wiping his hands on a towel. “I just don’t want you to feel like it’s going to hold you back when you’ve been doing so well.” He sat down again. “Besides, there are worse things.”

              “Oh…?” Here it comes, she thought wildly, not sure if she wanted to hear what was about to be said. Something in his voice suggested that he didn’t want to rip off the bandage on this wound.

              “Like…” his breath left him in a sudden harsh exhalation, “Turkish cigarettes.” He closed his eyes and shuddered in remembrance of the foul stench and the subsequent agony that followed. “And cold cement floors and--” he broke off, unable to continue.

              “Alec, don’t--” Lucy choked, alarmed at the pain in his voice. She reached up and put her hand on his mouth to stop him when he tried to continue. “No more!” she begged. “I can’t bear it!”

              He closed his eyes and for a brief horrifying moment, he was yanked violently back to that cell with its cold damp floors, and the cockroaches that scurried over his feet as he tried to sleep.

              Even now after all this time, Alec could still hear Corporal Banks in the next cell, screaming as they beat the soles of his feet. The torture had continued long into the night and Alec had waited, paralyzed with fear, knowing they would soon come for him. But they didn’t come and young Corporal Banks, who had been all of nineteen and who missed his mum and her shortbread biscuits, ceased his hysterical wails sometime near dawn, when they inevitably broke his spine.

              They’d come for Alec that afternoon and tore out his fingernails one by one with a pair of pliers. The cigarettes had come later.

              “Alec!” Lucy cried. “Look at me!”  He seemed to be in the throes of some private hell that only he could see. His eyes were squeezed shut and he shook all over. It was the first time she’d seen him this way: terrified and lost and she didn’t like it.  “Alec!” she cried again but he refused to look at her.

              Taking matters into her own hands, Lucy struggled to her knees, the water sloshing violently over the sides of the tub. She leaned halfway out and took him into her arms. Her husband’s body was taut with fear, and she pressed her body close to him offering herself to him in this way. She drew his head down to her shoulder and cradled him as if he were a frightened child. “It’s all right, my love!” she wept, clutching him to her. “I’m here! Hold me tight!”

              Lucy wondered if he heard anything she’d said until his arms crept up around her, and her breath was sucked from her body. The strong arms crushed her to him and she tightened her embrace as he wept. “I can still hear him sometimes!” he cried hoarsely. “They beat him to death and then they beat me too!”  His voice caught on a ragged sob. “I can still hear them coming for me at night!”

              “Shush,” she soothed and kissed his tears away. Her hands came up to cradle his face. “They can’t hurt you anymore! I won’t let them,” she swore, kissing his trembling lips. She looked him firmly in the eyes. “Understand?”

              Alec blinked, as if awakening from some vivid dream, and the wild terror in his eyes faded. He nodded and returned her kisses with increasing ardor. Lucy gasped in panic and tried to pull away. “Alec!”

              He tore his mouth from hers and buried his head against her shoulder. He sighed heavily. “Sorry,” he muttered against the fragrant silk of her skin. “Got away from me for a moment, wife.”

              “Is this why you’re refusing to sleep with me?” Her hands stroked his hair.

              He pulled away slightly, clearing his throat. “And what do you think?”

              Lucy outlined his mouth with her finger. His eyes closed at her touch.               “Hmm,” she tilted her head to one side. “You tell me.”

              The perfect lips curved upward in a devilish grin. “You’re healing nicely!” His heated blue gaze raked over her scarred chest appreciatively.

              Her mouth dropped open and glanced down. The small creamy breasts were on full display and she covered them quickly and sank back down in the tub. “You’re wicked!” she accused breathlessly.

              Alec laughed like some lecherous pirate from one of those romance novels Tia had been so fond of reading. The white teeth gleamed as he shot her a leering grin. “Ah, but you love me because I’m so wicked!”

              Lucy flushed scarlet and struggled to keep a straight face. It was true, all of it. She was madly in love with him and he well knew it!  “And how did you come to this startling conclusion?” she asked tartly.

              He reached down and let his finger travel slowly from her shoulder to her breast. Bubbles obscured the rosy peak and her breath caught as his finger scraped off the protective film. Gently, he teased the soft peak until it responded and stiffened beneath his tender caress. Lucy’s eyes slid shut, and the most delightful warmth crept over her body. “Oh!” she cried softly.

              Alec pressed his lips against her cheek. “That’s how I know,” he whispered huskily. “You do the same thing to me.” Then he moved away, leaving her cold and aching for his touch.

              Lucy’s eyes flickered open. Alec was standing a good distance away with his arms crossed over his chest. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before he cleared his throat. “Want me to wash your hair?”

              For the moment, Lucy was utterly incapable of coherent speech. She merely nodded and watched him leave to fetch some towels. She reached into the murky water and yanked the plug out.

 

              The warm water cascaded over her body, and Lucy held the washcloth over her eyes and soaked her hair. It had gotten too long to manage properly. She was going to have to cut it and soon before she clogged the drains. It was falling out anyway, due to stress no doubt. Not to mention that she was going gray. It was only inevitable that her body would show the effects of a near murder attempt. Not that she was vain, mind you, but really---!

              She was startled by the shower door sliding open when her husband poked his splendid head in. “Ready?”             

              “I’m going gray!” she cried in dismay.

              Alec stepped in wearing the most hideous swim trunks she’d ever seen. They were some awful shade of purple with equal amounts of neon blue and orange with a few splashes of radioactive green thrown in for good measure. “How do you know you’re going gray?” he asked as he poured shampoo into his hand.

              “Where on earth did you get those?” she asked, pointing in the offending item’s general direction and tilting her head back so he could massage the shampoo in. “They look like the result of a paint store explosion in 1985!”

              Her husband merely chuckled and lathered up his wife’s head. “Don’t you like them? They have such character!”

              “I think I can get you something more appropriate,” Lucy told him lightly. “Those look like the last pickings on a dollar store rack.”

              “As a matter of fact, they are!”

              “Take them off!”

              The smile was suddenly swiped from his face. “W-What--” he said stupidly, not quite certain he’d heard her right.

              “You heard me!” she reiterated, craning her neck to see him standing there with his jaw agape. “You’re too gorgeous to be wearing that insult to clothes. Besides, you don’t need them,” she paused and swallowed hard, “in… here.”

              “No?”             

              Lucy shook her head, feeling cold and shaky and wondering if she’d gone mad. It was a shower, after all. No one wore clothes in a shower and he was her husband.               Modesty was all fine and good, but somewhere along the line, one would be confronted with their spouse’s nudity sooner or later. “It’s all right, Alec,” she forced herself to say. “Don’t you…um…need a shower…too?”

              He seemed to be having trouble breathing. Then she felt his lips brush her shoulder. “Are…you sure, wife?”

              “Um…” her voice shook, “I think so. I-I m-mean we are married and…um---”

              “Hush,” he said softly, and then she heard him moving behind her and the trunks were discarded in a soggy purple heap on the tile floor. “Happy now?”

              “Um…”

              “There now, wife!” he laughed and handed her a sponge. “It’s only a shower, right?”  He turned around to face the wall. “Can you wash my back, love?”

              “Certainly,” she murmured and poured some bath gel. Lucy was again reminded of how tall he was. She felt so tiny standing behind him. As she lathered his back, she took the opportunity to study her husband. Her husband! This beautiful man was hers. She was a little in awe of his male beauty. He had an athletic build with a body that was leanly muscular, with broad shoulders that tapered to a flat belly, and tautly muscled buttocks. Her eyes caressed him lovingly and somewhere in the back of her mind, she was reminded of the fact that she had touched every inch of that magnificent form on their wedding night.

              Her heart swelled in her chest, overwhelmed by the love she felt for him, and rose on tiptoes to lather his shoulders. He stiffened suddenly when she began to wash the middle of his back. The scars. Lucy tried to regard them with a nurse’s eye, but she found herself feeling overcome with a wife’s pain for her husband. She saw now why he refused to let her bathe him. He was afraid she’d be repulsed, disgusted, horrified by the marks on his back.

              They were in no particular pattern, just small uneven circles where the cigarettes had been put out onto his flesh. The small puckered scars were ten years faded, but the pain remained as she could attest by the involuntary shrinking of the skin as she pressed her lips against them. Alec stiffened. “W-What are you doing, Lucy?”

              “Hush, my love,” she soothed and continued to kiss each scar. “It’s all right.”

              “Lucy,” he croaked as his eyes filled with tears, “don’t love…”

              She began to cry as well. “I’m sorry, Alec!’ she wept and dropped the sponge. “I’m sorry they hurt you!” Lucy was crying in earnest now, harsh wet sobs that wracked her chest.

              He whirled around and cradled her small face in his hands. Alec shook his head.  “They don’t hurt anymore,” he breathed and pressed his lips to her brow, where her own scar was beginning to fade. He proceeded to kiss her eyelids, her nose, her cheeks, her trembling mouth. “Don’t cry, wife.”

              Lucy shook her head stubbornly, uttering a hoarse croak, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She rose on tiptoe to kiss his face as he’d done her and pressed herself against his wet body, wanting to comfort him the only way a wife could. 

              Alec groaned at the feel of her soft breasts against his chest, the taut little nipples burning into his flesh. It had been too damn long. Now she was here in his arms and he couldn’t find the strength to push her away. He crushed her to him and claimed her mouth in a hot kiss, his tongue thrusting through the soft sweetness of hers to tangle with her own.

              Lucy cried out at the bruising pressure and her first instinct was to try to push his tongue out with hers, but she found herself kissing him back, sliding her tongue timidly into his mouth, and gasping as he stroked it provocatively with his. Their kisses took on a fierce desperate quality, as if each might be their last, and she reveled in her husband’s embrace. “Alec,” she sighed dreamily when his lips slid hotly down her throat. “I love you so.”

              “Sweetheart,” he muttered hoarsely, flicking out his tongue to taste the salty sweetness of her damp skin. “My wife,” he rasped.

              Her eyes closed, suddenly transported to their wedding night. He’d said the same thing before taking her virginity. Lucy’s eyes flew open suddenly and she stared down in disbelief at Alec’s dark head hovering over her breast. His tongue darted out and grazed the nipple before taking it into the scalding cavern of this mouth. She cried out at the surprising burst of pleasure and slid her fingers into his wet hair. Lucy arched her back, offering more of herself to her husband’s greedy mouth. Her lungs found it difficult to pull in the required amount of oxygen to keep her on her feet, and she felt herself sliding down some dark and winding tunnel.

              Then Alec’s mouth took hers again and his arms were wrapping tightly about her, and she felt herself being lowered gently until she felt the cold press of tile beneath her. He was on top of her and Lucy clung to her husband, gasping in shocked pleasure at the feel of him, hot and hard between her thighs. His skin was warm satin against her own, she began shaking uncontrollably, and not just from the water evaporating on her body.

              She kissed him back hungrily, sliding her hands possessively over his tautly muscled back and down to the smooth flesh of his ass. He was trembling in her arms. Lucy slid her lips across his cheek and slipped her tongue into his ear, licking and laving until he groaned and ravished her mouth with his.

              It was a sweet blinding madness and Lucy reveled in it. Her head fell back, breathless with desire, and gasped with each passionate kiss across her face, down her throat, and across her breasts. She cried out softly when he parted her thighs with his own and stroked between the engorged lips with the tip of his cock.

              “Oh,” she breathed in pleasure, shuddering at the exquisite press of his velvety flesh into hers and wanting him inside her in the worst way. “Alec!” she pleaded and suddenly regretted her eagerness when he thrust hard and deep. Her eyes widened and she gasped in surprised pain. She dug her nails into his back and winced as he stretched the tight flesh. Lucy panicked for a moment, feeling too full of him for it seemed her body had forgotten this crucial part. But soon the initial discomfort eased into something manageable.

              “Darling wife,” he groaned against her throat. “Take… me.”

              “Yes,” she whispered and kissed his shoulder, sinking her small teeth into the warm flesh. He moaned and clasped her tighter to him. His voracious mouth ravaged hers again and Lucy gave him kiss for kiss, embracing his tongue with her own, and telling him without words how much he meant to her.

              Then he began to move as he had that first time. The first thrust stretched her to the point of discomfort, and he seemed to sense this, sliding out and easing back into her gently. Lucy moaned and held on tight, relishing the delicious pleasure pain of her husband thrusting into her body. She arched her hips eagerly against his and gasped when he increased his pace. His thrusts were a frenetic, desperate race to the finish, almost as if he were afraid he’d lose her again. The pleasure mounted, and she egged him on with her soft gasps and whimpering cries.

              She was barely conscious of her husband’s own ragged breaths, the forceful pounding of his body against hers, and the sweet words of love he muttered in her ear. Lucy tightened her arms around him, feeling the familiar storm gathering between her thighs, and feared she would die from the sweet agony of it. Her panting breaths mingled with his and she cried out, suddenly desperate for it. Her hips thrust greedily until a small shriek escaped her lips, her body recoiling violently from the shattering force of her orgasm. It spread its excruciating heat throughout her body, rendering her helpless in its grasp.

              She lay wracked with aftershocks from that most tortuous pleasure, staring up at Alec, his face a rictus of ecstasy while he pushed frantically into her, until finally his eyes squeezed shut and with a shuddering cry, he collapsed onto her spent body.

              Afterward, with his heavy weight pressing into her, the warm water cascading gently over their spent bodies, she soothed him with her lips and hands. She kissed his face and stroked his back, knowing now what it meant to be truly loved and loved in return.

              Soon after, Alec toweled them off and carried her tenderly to bed, where she curled against him in the dark, lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of her husband’s heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty

             

             

 

She opened the box with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Alec had allowed her to go wild with his credit card and so Lucy had ordered a few things online: a few shirts; a pair of capris jeans; underwear, a pair of Mary Jane sneakers; a few nightgowns.

              Lucy picked up the pink cotton gown and held it up to her, wondering if her husband would like it. She had never been one for fancy lingerie, but the nightgown sort of filled the prerequisite for romance. It was waltz length with lace-trimmed neckline, sleeves, and pin-tucked bodice.

              She needed Alec to like it; for he had not touched her since that night he made love to her in the shower. And that was nearly two weeks ago. The night after that awesome event which had left her feeling sore but deliriously happy, her husband had tucked her into bed and…promptly left.  He hadn’t tried to touch her nor kiss her for that matter, and Lucy was left feeling no better than an unpaid whore who’s just been used shamelessly.

              When she tried to touch upon the subject, Alec had mumbled some sort of excuse about having a cold and had left her to fend for herself while he went gallivanting about town. Lucy was none too pleased about it, and she wanted to know what the hell was going on. Had she done something wrong? She knew so little about men. Perhaps she should have taken Vivian’s advice on how to handle the opposite sex. She could have used that information right about now.

              Alec had retired to his room after a light dinner of baked chicken and mashed potatoes, and Lucy found herself all alone on a Saturday evening. Well, not exactly alone. She had the large television in the living room to keep her company. After loading the dishwasher, she tidied the kitchen and curled up on the sofa with a cozy afghan for some channel surfing.

              She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help but click through several evening news broadcasts. Lucy knew what she was looking for and was relieved when there was no new information on Reese. There was a gossip show prattling on about the usual useless parade of overpaid celebrities. Lucy was about to click it off when Vivian’s name came up.

              “Guess who’s been replaced? That’s right,” the host babbled with glee, “Miss Vivian’s handsome doctor is no more! Our sources reveal that the gorgeous blonde kicked her doc to the curb after meeting up with handsome actor Draco Benedict at the Emmy after-party and my sources reveal they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. They slunk off to a bathroom together and abandoned their significant others for a whole hour! I wonder what those two were up to?”

              Lucy clicked it off in disgust and changed the channel. Finally, a good movie! She sat feeling quite sorry for herself and commiserating with Gene Tierney over Rex Harrison in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. She swiped at her eyes with the edge of the afghan and wondered if she shouldn’t go in and ask Alec what was his problem.

              She dozed on the sofa for a few hours before awakening to the caterwauling of The Sound of Music. Not that she had anything against Julie Andrews, but Lucy had always found the movie too saccharine for her taste.

              It was nearly ten. Lucy clicked off the TV and turned off all the lights, except the one in the kitchen. Then she took a long hot shower. As she combed her hair, she studied her reflection and the scars that didn’t look as if they would heal any time soon. Though the bruising had long since faded, the jagged scar on her forehead would likely have to be hidden with globs of makeup or bangs. She never liked makeup and Lucy wasn’t eager to go under the knife again, so bangs it would probably be if she ever got out of the house.

              She towel-dried her hair and plaited it into two tidy braids. Then she rubbed some scented lotion into her skin, put on a pair of lacy panties, and pulled on her new nightgown. She flung the towels into the hamper and brushed her teeth. Then it was off for another lonely night without her husband.

              Lucy padded quietly through the darkened cottage, feeling oddly bereft without Alec. She found herself in front of his door and knocked timidly. “Alec…?” she asked in a trembling voice. “Are you all right?”

              She put her ear to the door. For a moment, she thought she heard something. Lucy knocked again. “Alec?”

              “Go away!” he shouted.

              “What?”

              “Go away and leave me alone, woman!”

              “Woman, is it now?” she snapped. “I thought I was your darling wife!”

              “For God’s sake woman, go to bed!”

              Lucy reached down and tried the knob. It was locked! How dare he lock her out! She knocked insistently, growing frustrated with his nonsense. “English, open this door!” she demanded angrily. “Did I do something wrong?”

              He groaned in frustration. “I’m tired, woman! Leave me alone and go to sleep!”

              “You’re tired!” she shouted in frustration. Lucy paused in the hall for a brief while she thought it out. Then she whirled about and marched into the kitchen. She ransacked the drawers looking for something that would serve as a proper lock-picking device. Finally she found a flat-head screwdriver and a steel crochet hook in a utility drawer.

              She marched back with all the determination of a scorned wife and jimmied the lock, nearly slicing her hand off in the process. The knob turned easily and she flung the door open, wanting her husband to know exactly whom he was dealing with.

              The room was dark save for a sliver of moonlight that sliced through the blinds and settled on the wall above Alec’s head. “Alec? Where are you?”

              Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness and she could see him outlined beneath the quilt. He’d gone and pulled the whole thing over his head. She didn’t know how he was able to breathe under there. “Alec would you please tell me what this is all about?”

              When he didn’t answer, she strode over to the bed and yanked the quilt off. “Well?”

              “Hell and damnation woman!” he growled. “Can’t a man get some sleep?”

              “Not when they’re pouting,” she answered brightly. “What’s up, O Husband of mine?”

              Alec groaned in frustration. Why couldn’t she just leave it be? He was already feeling like a heel, why’d she have to rub salt on the wound as well? He snatched the pillow and covered his face with it. “Go away!”

              Lucy flicked on the desk lamp and approached the bed. “I don’t think so,” she said slowly. “Why don’t you explain yourself? I miss you!”

              “Don’t!” he said in an anguished voice. “It should be obvious!”

              “What are you going on about? Did I do something wrong?”

              He sighed through the pillow. “It’s not you, it’s me!”

              “Please!” she shot back in annoyance. “I’ve heard that and then some. Try again!”

              “Dammit, woman!” he groaned in frustration and tore off the pillow. “I-I’m sorry I… fucked you in the shower!” he blurted with some embarrassment and turned a million shades of red. He replaced the pillow and expected that to be the end to it.

              Lucy blinked in disbelief and struggled with the impulse to collapse on the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter. But she held her tongue. “I think there’s an app for that!” she quipped, and watched as he tore off the pillow again and looked at her with reddened eyes.

              “That’s not funny!” he choked.

              “I’m sorry, darling,” she apologized, “but you had me terrified I’d done something awful to you!”

              He stared up at the ceiling. “I think that’s the other way around.”

              “Was it really that awful?” she asked, feeling slightly upset herself.

              “Oh no!” he exclaimed savagely. “The bloody earth moved!”

              “Then what’s the problem?”

              “I meant to do it properly!” he spat out in disgust. “Not on some shower floor!”

              “I thought we did.”

              Alec groaned in frustration. “You don’t understand, love.” He watched as his wife pulled out the chair from the desk and sat down with her hands folded neatly in her lap.

              “Explain it to me, then.”

              He sat up and clutched the pillow to him. He wouldn’t look at her. “I had it all figured it out. I’d woo you, marry you, and then bed you.”

              ‘That’s so romantic.”

              “Lucy!” he pleaded and this time raised his head to look at his wife. It didn’t make him feel any better that she looked all of twelve-years old in that nightgown and her hair in braids. In fact, she looked so adorable, he had to fight the urge to get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness. “I’m trying to explain myself!”

              She brought a finger to her lips. “Go on, you won’t hear a peep from me.”

              “Oh hell!” he swore, raking an angry hand through his hair. “You deserved better than being taken like that and you not even a month out of hospital!”

              “But it’s been a month.”

              “What?”

              “It’ll be a month this Thursday.”

              “That’s beside the point!” he muttered more to himself than her. “I was supposed to make up for that time I practically raped you!”

              Now it was Lucy’s turn to get angry. “Where did that come from?”

              Alec shrugged helplessly. “Didn’t I?”

              She wouldn't allow him to do this to himself. Hell no! Lucy slid off the chair and fell to her knees before him. She reached out, took his hand, and held it fast when he tried to tug it away. “Now you listen to me, Mr. Alec Robert Barrington,” she began in her most stern-like nurse's voice. “I don't know what you think happened in there but it most certainly wasn't what you call...fucking!”

              He refused to look at her and sat with slumped shoulders. “It wasn't?”

              “No!” she told him firmly. “It wasn't!”

              Finally he dared to glance at her. Her eyes were full of tears and her face full of love...for him. “What would you call it then?”

              “Making love!” she said softly and brought his hand to her lips. She kissed it and held it against her cheek. “I've seen,” she struggled with the vile word, “fucking and know the difference. You were making love.”

              “I was?” Alec said a bit uncertainly. “I hurt you,” his hand caressed her cheek.

              Lucy turned her head and pressed her lips to his hand. “Well, it had been a while since we were together.”

              He nodded and smiled a little. “That's true.”

              “And you were very gentle by the way.”

              “I was?” He knew he sounded like a parrot but he needed reassurance that he hadn't manhandled his delicate wife. “It's no excuse, though.”

              “Oh, stop!” she exclaimed. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. I mean we are living together in close quarters. How long did you think it would be before we did the deed?”

              Alec laughed at his wife. “Are you always this…”

              “This what?”

              “Logical?”

              Lucy smiled up at him, relief flooding her being. They were going to be all right. “Well, I have to be,” she said dryly. “I'm married to you!”

              “Cheeky monkey,” he breathed and reached out to toy with a braid. “You look like you're about twelve years-old.”

              She laughed then and shifted painfully on her knees. “Are you going to invite me in or do I have to sleep on the floor?”

              He grinned from ear to ear and stretched out on the bed. “Turn the lamp off, love and get in here!”

              “You're so bossy!” she teased and flicked the lamp off. Lucy slid in beside her husband and he pulled the quilt over them.

              She sighed happily. “I missed you,” she whispered.

              Alec hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head. “I missed you, too”

              Lucy snuggled close. “Let's not do that again!”

              “Okay,” he sighed and nuzzled her ear. “Even if we fight?”

              She kissed his neck. “Even then!”

              “Sounds like a good plan,” he whispered in the dark. “Go to sleep, wife.” Alec held her close and long after she'd fallen asleep, he lay awake, listening to her soft breaths as she breathed in and out. He kissed her brow and slept, treasuring the feel of her in his arms.

 

              Lucy put on her oven mitts and pulled out the first batch of cookies. Now that she was feeling more like her old self, she'd wanted to try her hand at baking. She decided to try something easy---like Tia's chocolate-chip cookies. Alec had driven her to the small grocery in town and she'd finally been able to do some shopping of her own.

              She put them on a rack to cool and prepared a new batch. Lucy was spooning up the dough when the phone rang. They hadn't had much contact with the outside world since shutting themselves in their newlywed cottage. The only person who had the number was Rudy, and she wondered what could be so important that he would break radio silence.

              Her blood ran cold. What if it was Reese? What if he'd finally tracked them down? Wiping her hands on a towel, she went into the living room. Alec was sitting on the sofa with the phone in his hand and a disgruntled look on his handsome face. He glanced up at his wife and shook his head glumly. “What are you saying?” he demanded angrily. “How could they lose him?”

              Lucy sank into a chair, feeling sick to her stomach. “She's fine,” her husband said, tipping her a wink. “Okay, I'll tell her! Goodbye!” He slammed the phone shut and nearly hurled it into the fireplace. “They lost him!” he told her once he could speak.

              She paled and clutched her apron. “Lost him?” she repeated numbly. “W-Where?”

              Alec rubbed the flesh between his eyes. “They tracked him going across the border in El Paso and then the plonkers lost him in Juarez!”

              “Juarez?” she repeated faintly, feeling as if she might throw up. “What's he doing there?”

              Alec sighed heavily. “I think he's got relatives there or something. Too bad the narcos can't string his sorry ass up from a bridge!” He rose and went to her. “He'll have to go through me to get to you,” he swore fiercely. “You know that.”

              Lucy nodded and gulped. Sometimes if she wasn't careful, she'd see those hellish eyes gleaming at her from some dark corner of her subconscious. Suddenly her stomach protested the direction her thoughts were taking and she fled to the bathroom. She barely made it and slumped against the toilet.

              Alec swore and followed after her. He wet a washcloth. He bent and swiped her face. “Let's get out of here,” he said.

              “Where?” she mumbled through the cloth.

              He smoothed her hair away from her brow.

              “San Francisco.”

              “N-Now?”

              Alec helped her up. “Pack a bag, love. We're hitting the trail!”

              Lucy hurried to her room. She began tossing the bare essentials into the satchel. “How long will we be staying?” she called to him.

              He popped into her room with his duffle. “A few days at least. Suddenly this place gives me the willies.” He set the duffle down and helped toss her clothes into her bag. “We can buy what's missing, if need be. Let's go.”

              Lucy shouldered the satchel and hurried to the kitchen. She got a plastic bag and threw in the first batch of cookies. Then she wrapped up the remaining dough and stuffed it into the freezer. She pulled the half-baked cookies out of the oven, turned it off, and placed the pan on the counter.

              Alec led her outside where the sun was just starting its nightly ritual of slipping into the bay and locked up. He loaded the truck and helped her in. As she fastened her seatbelt, Alec leaned across and reached into the glove compartment. He fished out the pistol Rudy had given him and slipped it into his ankle holster. He fastened his seatbelt and turned towards his wife. “Ready?”

              She nodded and leaned back into her seat as the truck rolled away from their little cottage. Suddenly the gun didn't seem like such a bad idea after all. Lucy had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach that Alec might soon have to use it.