Chapter Thirty-Nine

 

 

             

She stared at the ceiling, her eyes tracing idly over the tiles while she waited for the painkillers to kick in. Rudy had finally left her alone and gone down to the cafeteria to load up on coffee. It had been a long, exhausting story with enough twists and turns to qualify for one of her father’s TV melodramas. After the dust of Corinne Wilson’s revenge had settled, Rudy had ridden in the ambulance with them, and tried to explain what happened.

     It turns out grief is a peculiar thing; it can either make you stronger, or it can drive you completely insane. That’s what happened in Corinne’s case. She’d never gotten over Timmy’s horrific death, nor had she fully grieved for her son. She’d allowed her sorrow to fester like a gangrenous wound and when Reese wasn’t convicted in the first trial, the wound continued to eat away at her, rotting what was left of her sanity. Her husband had her committed to a mental hospital in the hopes a little time and intensive shock therapy might unscramble his wife. But Corinne used that time to hatch a plot of malicious intent.

     When she was released from the hospital because her insurance had run out, Corinne discovered her husband had set up housekeeping with her best friend. For a woman who was still grieving for her murdered child, that was the final straw and set her treacherous plot in motion. At first she’d only meant to make Rudy pay, but somehow that wasn’t good enough. She wanted him to feel the pain of losing a child. Since Rudy had no children of his own, Corinne thought Lucy would be a proper substitute.

      She’d kept tabs on Rudy over the years, usually through his contact at the police department. Corinne’s cousin by marriage happened to be none other than Detective Brandon’s partner, Gary, who usually fed her tidbits from the crime of the day. He simply had no idea that his casual conversations were feeding the fire of her vengeance. Through these seemingly harmless attempts at small talk, Corinne amassed an arsenal of intelligence on Rudy’s life that rivaled what the Allies gathered for D-Day. When she found out about Lucy, she decided that it was time for Rudy to pay the piper. She hired a private detective to track Lucy’s movements, and the rest of it fell into place.

     When Reese was released on bond, Corinne took it upon herself to hold out the proverbial olive branch. He happily accepted and when she proposed her devious plot, Reese jumped on board, eager to punish the man who’d destroyed his life. When she mentioned Lucy and told him he could have her, Reese was delighted. Corinne had given him implicit instructions to hurt Lucy but not kill her as a warning to Rudy, but Reese hadn’t been able to control himself. When Eddie walked in soon after the attack and found her on the floor, bleeding to death, Corinne decided that Reese was too much of a liability. She staked out the hospital, netting herself a housekeeping job, and waited. When Lucy was released, Corinne had finagled the information out of Gary, and immediately bundled Reese off to Point Reyes Station with orders to dispatch the happy couple. Of course, she didn’t tell Reese about Alec being Lucy’s husband. But if Millie should meet his untimely end during a struggle with the strapping Englishman, she wouldn’t be too broken up. No skin off her back and one more thing she wouldn’t have to worry about.

     Corinne had driven him up there herself and made sure he had what he needed. But there was one thing she wanted from him. He was to retrieve the silver-plated compact Rudy had given to Lucy. Corinne had been very insistent on that account. Reese had been confused, but went along with it and took the compact when Alec had taken Lucy out shopping one day. Corinne had wanted the compact for one very specific reason: a trophy to wave beneath Rudy’s self-righteous nose. But leave it to the asshat to go and botch what should have been a simple cut and slice. She’d had to go and do everything herself. By then she’d bugged Rudy’s beach house and decided it was now or never. Phil had been nothing more than a servant to do Corinne’s bidding. The poor man had fallen on hard times after coming back from Iraq and accepted Corinne’s offer to help him get back on his feet. She’d used his gratitude to rope him into becoming nothing more than an emasculated sidekick, often reminding him cruelly of what he owed her. Phil hadn’t wanted to go through with her murderous scheme but he tracked Rudy to the old hospital, clubbed him over the head and left him for dead. He’d made it out to his car before being so wracked with guilt that he went back to help Rudy, who lay in a puddle of blood. Phil took him back to his hotel where he tended his wounds and made a full confession. Rudy decided Corinne had to be stopped before more people were hurt, so he sent Phil back to Corinne, with Phil now reporting back to Rudy.

    They’d decided to allow Corinne to make her way to San Francisco, with Phil making sure Lucy and Gavin would make it out alive. He hadn’t been able to prevent Corinne from using the flashlight on their skulls, but he’d made damn sure Rudy would be waiting in the wings should she get homicidal. It seems both Rudy and Phil had underestimated the extent of Corinne’s hatred and just how far she was willing to go to exact her vengeance.

     Lucy hadn’t wanted to hear about how she and Gavin ended up as pawns in some tragic game of chess. Rudy had been unrepentant, telling her that it had been the only way. At least Rudy could go through life with a clear conscience. After hearing all of that drivel, Lucy had practically thrown him out of her room. She didn’t need to hear about how she nearly ended up sleeping with the fishies. That Rudy was somehow at fault and could have stopped it; that was unforgiveable.

     She wanted Alec to get here and take her away from all of this crap. Where was he, anyway? Of course, it was a seventeen-hour drive. But still…

     Lucy closed her eyes as the morphine began its blissful sweep of her body. She’d sleep for now, but just as soon as she was able, she was going to take a vacation. 

 

* * *

              When she opened her eyes, unwelcome rays of sunlight pierced her room. Some damn fool had gone and left the blinds open, thinking how nice it would be if she woke up to a sunny day. Lucy wondered what school of torture and insufferable agony the idiot had attended. Bright light was the last thing someone with a nasty concussion needed.

     Swearing, Lucy threw off the blanket and hobbled over to the window. She winced as a malicious shard of light pierced her skull. “Ouch!” she muttered and closed the blinds. She teetered on her good leg like a drunken heron and had to grab onto a chair to balance herself. Perhaps it hadn’t been a good idea to get out of bed. Lucy was pondering whether or not she should call for help, when she heard a laugh.

     “Need some help, love?”

              She turned and there he was; Alec looked the worse for wear with disheveled hair and rumpled clothing like he hadn’t slept in weeks. “Alec!” she sobbed in relief and tried to go to him, but her injured ankle wouldn’t comply. Lucy crumpled slowly to the floor and Alec was there to catch her. He caught her in his strong arms and crushed her to him. She laughed and cried as he spread feverish kisses over her face and throat. Lucy kissed him back, grateful that she was in his arms again.

     “You’re late, English,” she said through his kisses.

     Alec pulled away slightly. He smoothed her hair back from her face and frowned at the damage that bitch had wrought. His beloved had two black eyes and a split lip. He touched his lips to hers and caressed them softly. “Forgive me, love,” he said hoarsely. “I turned back as soon as I could.”  Then he lifted her in his arms and carried her back to bed. Once he’d tucked her back in, he pulled a chair up and sat as close as humanly possible. “Pat thought I was crazy for wanting to get back to you,” he told her, taking her hand and pressing it against his lips.

     “What made you turn back?” she sighed and gently caressed his unshaven cheek. He closed his eyes and covered her small hand with his. He looked so tired. Her poor English.

      He sighed. “We were driving out of Las Cruces when I felt something strange.”

      “Like what?”

      “I don’t know exactly,” he said, with a rueful shrug. “I just knew something was wrong. It’s almost as if you had screamed my name somewhere and I heard it.”

      “I did.”

      “What…?”

      She nodded. “When we were in that cell, I called for you.”

      He hung his head and when he looked up again, his eyes were wet. “I guess there are certain advantages to being married to one’s soul mate.”

      Her eyes caressed him lovingly. “You think so?”

      Alec smiled and nodded. “I know so.”

     “You look so tired,” she whispered, her hand caressing his cheek. “Did you get any sleep?”

     “I slept in the waiting room.” He grinned boyishly. “The chairs are very soft.”

     “Did you see Gavin?”

     “Yeah,” he said, yawning and resting his head on her chest. “He looks like he went ten rounds with an angry pit bull.”

     “How’s his eye?”

     “He’s got a scratched cornea, but the doctor thinks he’ll see straight. Pat’s with him now.”

     “He was very brave.”

     “Was he?”

     “Just like you. I missed you, husband,” she said softly.

    “I missed you, wife,” he sighed happily and hugged her to him. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

     “Never,” Lucy whispered and cradled his head, her hands stroking his hair soothingly. “Let’s not do that ever again!”

     “We should put that in writing,” he said sleepily. “I’ll do it…tomorrow.”

     “Okay,” she sighed and closed her eyes.

 

              Gavin was bored. The doctor had him on bed rest and he was starting to hallucinate. At one point he thought he saw a giant purple dinosaur in his room. But when he looked more closely, he saw it was only Pat dressed in his favorite purple sweatshirt and bringing him another grilled cheese on white. “You cut the crusts off right, dad?”

     “Yeah, yeah you skive,” Pat grumbled at his youngest. It was only a week since he got out of hospital and he was driving them all bonkers with his carrying on and ringing that damn bell. Lucy had thought since they were all busy packing, that whenever Gavin needed something, he could ring the little bell and they’d come running. Pat felt like wringing the little tosser’s neck. “Will there be anything else for His Majesty?”

     “Um…” Gavin glanced up at the look on his stepfather’s face and decided against asking for a coke with ice and a straw. “No, no. That’s fine. Thanks dad.”

     Pat nodded and went to help Alec pack. You didn’t see Lucy carrying on, demanding to be waited on hand and foot. Alec had to practically hogtie her to the bed. But after much wrangling and a few threats that Pat was certain included being threatened with bodily violence, Alec had relented and brought her a box to pack…in bed. He chuckled at the memory of Alec trudging outside to get another box, his face as red as the crosses on the Union Jack. He had to give the girl credit; she certainly put Alec in his place. Goodness knows he and Maggie had never been able to.

     The weeks flew by and they all decided if they would stay until the end of the month, as Pat felt Maggie had been alone long enough. Even though she was staying with friends, Pat was missing his wife something awful and he was a regular ogre to be around. Alec had had enough and decided to take his wife out to dinner just to get away from his grumbling.

      Lucy put on a wine-colored lace dress for the occasion and matching flats as her ankle was still healing. She fussed with her hair and decided to pull it back into a chignon, but what she got instead was a messy knot at the base of her neck. Alec was in a hurry, so she ditched the makeup in favor of a swipe of lipgloss. He didn’t seem to mind when she came out of the bedroom. As for her husband, he was looking especially handsome this evening in a denim blazer and tan slacks. His blue shirt was open at the neck, revealing an enticing peek of his chest. He was such a hunk and he was all hers. Alec caught her staring and she blushed. “Do I look all right?” she asked anxiously.

     “You’re stunning, wife,” he said huskily, taking her hand and pressing a warm kiss upon it. “I just may forgo dessert in favor of getting you out of that dress.”

     “Alec!” she blushed profusely, hoping Pat and Gavin hadn’t heard. “Behave yourself!” Then she giggled. “Be nice and I’ll let you see what I’ve got on underneath.”

     “Is that an invitation, Mrs. Barrington?” He leered at her, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief.

              She nodded shyly, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “You’re very sexy, English.”

     “Am I?” Now he was blushing.

     “What’s going on over there?” Pat demanded as his avatar disemboweled Gavin. “You two get a move on or you’ll be eating me Wensleydale and I don’t have enough for the likes of you!”

      “Keep your knickers on, dad!” Alec laughed and snatched up his keys. He escorted his wife to the door and paused briefly for their inspection. “How do we look?”

       Pat and Gavin let out low whistles of appreciation for Lucy’s petite beauty and grimaced at Alec. “She’s smashing but you look like shite!”

              “Very funny!” Alec ushered his wife into the night and held up a hand as he left. “Don’t wait up!”

     Pat and Gavin dissolved into riotous laughter and went back to their game.

 

              Alec drove to Nobu and they ate dinner on the patio. Lucy couldn’t imagine a more romantic setting, eating lobster ceviche by sunset, and the tranquil rhythm of the ocean playing a hushed serenade. “It’s so pretty,” she said, gesturing to one of the last Malibu sunsets they would see. They were leaving on Friday.

     “Will you miss it, love?” Alec said, reaching across to hold her hand. “We can visit during the summer if you want.”

      She laughed. Yes, she would miss it but she was more than ready to leave all of it behind to start her new life with Alec. “I’ll miss it some,” Lucy confessed, “but not as much as I’d miss you.” He grinned, revealing those dimples she loved so well. “So tell me about this shack you’ve got in Whitby.”

     “There’s not much to tell,” he said, as the waitress refilled their water glasses. “It should be condemned, but I haven’t the heart to go through with it. I just wish we had the money to gut the thing and start fresh.”

     “I wish I could see it.”

     “You will,” he promised and polished off the last rib eye taco. “As soon as we get you settled, we’ll go up one weekend so you can see it.”

     “Good,” she sighed in relief and sipped her tea. “What’s for dessert?”

     “Lord, woman!” he chuckled. “You’re still hungry?”

     “Of course!” Lucy smiled at her handsome hubby. “What’s life without chocolate spring rolls?”

     “I don’t know.” He pulled out his wallet. “This is going to cost you, wife. Pay up!”

     Lucy scrunched up her face prettily and blew him a kiss. Alec caught it in mid-air and shook a finger at her like a woeful husband scolding his wife, but he was happy that she was his.

    After dinner, Alec took her to a movie that was playing at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. They sat in the back and held hands, watching an actress tumbling through the vast emptiness of space.

    Later, they wandered outside to look at the famous hand and footprints. Alec laughed when Lucy placed her small feet into some of the footprints and discovered her feet were larger than Marilyn Monroe’s. He snapped a few photos and asked her if she wanted to go to McDonald’s for a soda and to get Pat something so he wouldn’t be so grumpy. She agreed happily and off they went.

    The restaurant was bustling this time of night, so they took their cokes and headed for a table in back where they discussed where they would be living once they got back to London. Alec had been renting an attic apartment at his parent’s house in West Hampstead, but he said it wouldn’t be a problem to look at some flats more suited to a young married couple. “I don’t mind,” she told him, chewing on a piece of ice. “As long as we have some privacy.”

    He scoffed at that. “I think we need a place of our own, love. It’s time I got out. I only lived with them because it was cheap and I was lonely.”

    “And now you’re not?”

              “Oh no,” he said teasingly, winking at her. “I’m an old married man and the old harpy never lets me have a bit of peace!”

    “Old harpy!” she gasped in mock horror. “I’ll remember that next time you want a free sample of her wares!’ His eyes widened and he was immediately contrite.

     “Touche, wife,” he relented with a sly grin. Alec rose to use the restroom. “I’ll be a minute.”

     “Okay,” she said, smiling up at him and sipped the rest of her coke. Lucy sat at the table, munching idly on ice and hoping Alec’s mum would like her. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t see the young man who entered with a couple of friends and immediately noticed her sitting at the table. He sauntered over, straightening his tie, and cleared his throat awkwardly.

    “Lucy, is that you?” he said in disbelief and caught his breath when she turned around. She was just as lovely as he remembered, and he took a moment to kick himself for hurting her. What the hell had he been thinking when he tumbled into bed with that tramp? She’d kicked him to the curb once she tired of him and he’d been licking his wounds ever since. But here was a chance to make it right. He’d thought about Lucy constantly since their last meeting. He knew she was married to that Englishman, but his warped mind couldn’t grasp it. “H-How’ve you been?”

    Her stomach lurched and not in a good way. Lucy had a good, long look at the man she thought she’d loved, and now she was certain she’d made the right choice when she dumped him like the plague. How could she think he was handsome? He was still tall with that athletic grace that drove the girls wild, but as for the rest of him, Alec made him look like one of those cadavers he’d practiced on in medical school. His hair was still wavy and his eyes still green, but Lucy had had a good look at what lay beneath the surface, and she wasn’t buying. She barely glanced at him before turning back to her ice. “Hello,” was all she could muster.

    Not taking ‘no’ for an answer, Dean sat down across from her and she grimaced in disgust. “Go away.”

     But Dean wasn’t thinking clearly. He’d missed her eyes, her smile, and the way her little nose scrunched up when she was upset. She was so damn gorgeous it took his breath away. She was wearing a lace dress with a sweetheart neckline that revealed the creamy tops of her breasts and her hair…

     “I’ve missed you, Lucy,” he said, and tried to take her hand. She snatched it away as if he was a carrier of a quiescent virus and kept glancing anxiously towards the men’s room. “Talk to me!” he pleaded desperately. “It’s been hell without you.”

      “I’m sure,” she muttered, the steady warmth in her dark eyes fading rapidly. She now stared at him with cold indifference and Dean wondered if he shouldn’t have worn a sweater. “So, how’s life?” she said politely and making him feel as if he were a helpless patient in the emergency room.

     “It could be better,” he said, as his eyes caressed every curve. “I lost the fellowship to Eaton.”

     “That’s too bad,” she said coldly, and crunched on the last of her ice. “How’d Viv take it?”

     “We don’t talk.”

     “Oh?”

     He sighed and tried to take her hand again. This time, she hid it under the table. “We had a fight and she threw me out.”

    Lucy didn’t really want to hear about his pathetic love life. She wished Alec would hurry up and rescue her from this idiot. “Well,” she said, getting up to toss the cups into the trash,  “I’d like to stay and chat, but I’m waiting for someone.”

    “Your husband?”

    She nodded and held out her hand. He winced at the rings. He wondered how that English bastard had snatched her up. Lucy married him shortly after their first meeting from what he heard and she’d made him wait for a year? His mind unraveled at the thought of her giving it to some sleazebag just like that, when she had gone on and on about how much it meant to her to wait. Dean couldn’t process this information and he lost it right then and there. “How long did you keep your panties on?” he demanded in a loud voice, startling several diners nearby.

    “That’s none of your business,” she snapped, and tried to skirt past him but he caught her arm. What was this? He had her arm in a death grip and it was beginning to hurt. His eyes had gone near black and the anger in his voice was palpable. “Let go of me!” she demanded, pulling at her arm.

    Dean yanked her to him and tried to kiss her. “You’re mine, Lucy! You’ve always been mine!” She turned her head and pushed at his chest, her eyes turning helplessly to the other patrons, but they turned away in cowardice and focused on their burgers. Even the employees went along their business as if a woman being accosted in their restaurant was a nightly occurrence. “I can’t believe you! You made me wait for a year! How long did you make him wait, Luc?” He demanded, trying to unzip her dress. “You slut!”

     “Let go of me, you bastard!” she cried and kneed his balls sharply. He gasped in agony and let her go. But he wasn’t going down without a fight. He reached up and grabbed a handful of lace and it disintegrated in his hand. The bodice fell apart and her right breast was exposed for everyone to see. And he wasn’t done with her yet; he reached up again and caught hold of her skirt. He yanked down hard, leaving Lucy clad in her slip. That was the last straw. He’d insulted her, stripped her bare in a restaurant, and this final humiliation was too much. Lucy pulled back her arm and plugged him smack dab in his nose. The resulting flood rivaled the worst of any nosebleed she’d ever had.

     Lucy stood back and felt something go around her shoulders. Alec had come out to see what the commotion was and found his wife near starkers. He tugged his blazer around her securely and surveyed her handiwork. “I think you broke his nose,” he said in admiration.

    “And where were you?” she demanded, shaking out her hand. “I could have used some help.”

    “You don’t want to know,” he replied, slightly embarrassed. He inspected her knuckles and pressed a kiss against them. Alec glanced up at the diners who were now just beginning to stir from their gluttonous slumber. “Where were they?”

    “Apparently unhealthy food is more important than interrupting an attempted rape.”

     Dean sat crumpled on the floor while his buddies tried to stem the flow that now rivaled Old Faithful. He was starting to look a little pasty. “Yuh bruh muh nosth!” he mumbled through a towel someone had brought him.

     Alec knelt down and eyed the bastard in disgust. “Be glad that’s all she broke!” He glanced up at his wife who was blushing to the roots of her hair. “I think you owe my wife an apology.”

     “Nuh!” Dean shook his head, trying to staunch the flow of blood. At this rate, he was going to need a transfusion. Now he knew what Lucy had gone through.

    “I think you’d better apologize,” Alec said quietly, placing a firm hand on the little shit’s leg. The warning was implicit. “Lucy gave you one, mate. You really don’t want one from me.”

    Dean’s friends glanced at Lucy and what was left of her dress on the floor and then at Alec who looked as if he wouldn’t mind cleaning all of their clocks and urged him to apologize. She might press charges, they said. Lucy perked up at that. Someone had called the police and by then all she wanted to do was go home.

    The police officer took one look at the whole scene and decided the creep had to go. “You’re coming with me! You have the right to remain silent…” he began and cuffed him. The last thing Dean saw when he glanced back was Lucy smiling gratefully at her husband. They hugged each other and exchanged loving kisses. Dean looked away in despair as the officer led him out to the squad car. He would spend the night in a cold cell ruminating on how he could have been so stupid. Lucy and Alec never thought about him again. But just to show there were no hard feelings, she didn’t press charges. She figured he’d suffered enough.

* * *

 

              “What are we doing here?” she asked as her husband turned the key. “I thought we were going to Santa Monica.”

              “Keep your knickers on, woman,” he told her as the door swung open. “Gavin wanted me to pick up a few of his things. He’s too chicken to do it himself.”

              Alec had promised her a day out to the Santa Monica Pier, but a side trip to Gavin’s apartment came first. “Nice place,” she breathed in awe. Porn could be very lucrative it would seem from the look of things. It was a fairly large condo decorated in tasteful creams and pastels. Apparently, Gavin thought he was living in 1984. There was even a large poster of a well-known TV actor clad in his detective uniform of a white linen suit and pastel T-shirt.

              “Here,” Alec said to his wife, and handed her several large garbage bags. “Go to the bedroom and get his clothes. I’ll get the kitchen.”

              “Okay,” she said, and tromped down the hallway to the bedroom. A huge waterbed dominated the room and Lucy took a moment to indulge the kid inside her. But then she hastily jumped off, thinking she might catch something. Who knew what was lurking on the surface? She went and started opening drawers, tossing every bit of clothing she could find into the bag. When the drawers were empty, she started on the walk-in closet. She never knew men could have so many clothes! Even Alec kept his wardrobe to the bare minimum.  

              Lucy rifled through the shoeboxes and decided to leave the dress shoes and stuffed several pairs of expensive-looking sneakers into the bag. She added belts, jeans, shirts, and several leather jackets. Soon, the two bags were stuffed full. There was a bookcase next to the bed and she called out to Alec for another bag.  “Alec!”

              “What?” he called back, his bag just as full of cooking utensils and plates. Where on earth did Gavin get all this junk? He was going to have to go back to the car for more bags. Alec got up, tied the bag, and hauled it to the door. Lucy came out, tugging her two very heavy bags full of clothes. “Here,” he said, and helped her drag them across the carpet to the door. He glanced down and laughed. “Is that it?”

              “Nope,” she shook her head. “He’s got a small library in there. I need another bag at least.”

              “All right,” he said, taking two bags and opening the door. “Let me take these to the car. I’ll be right back. Why don’t you have something to eat while you wait?”

              “Want some help?”

              “No, I’ll be back. I think there’s some ham in the fridge.”

              “All right,” she said, and went to fix a sandwich. She raided the gigantic refrigerator for bread and cheese and plopped down onto the leather sofa, munching and watching reruns of What’s Happening!!

              It wasn’t long before her husband came huffing back. “Damn elevator!” he swore, heading to the refrigerator to grab a cold drink. “The thing stopped on the fourth floor and I had to climb the stairs!”

              “Well, sit a while, dear and watch some TV with your wife.” Lucy patted the seat beside her and he flopped down, putting his feet up on the glass coffee table. “Ever see this show?”

              “No, can’t say that I have.” Alec laughed at poor Rerun getting his head shaved to join a cult. “Why does he worship a head of lettuce?”

              “Most people in the ‘70s did that sort of thing.”

              “That explains a lot!”

              They rested for a bit before finishing packing up for Gavin. Lucy went to retrieve the books and massive CD collection, while Alec took care of the electronics and DVDs. Soon Alec had everything piled into three large bags and went to see if his wife needed assistance. She was buried in a mountain of plastic jewel cases and hardcover books. Alec was a little surprised that Gavin was such a bibliophile. He may not have finished school, but that didn’t deter him from wanting to better his lot in life. Alec had renewed respect for the lad.

              He sat down with Lucy and tried to organize the chaos. At this rate, they wouldn’t make it to Santa Monica until tomorrow. “I’m sorry, love, “ he apologized. “I didn’t know it would take this long.”

              Lucy leaned forward to kiss him. “Don’t be. I haven’t had this much fun since Vivian cleaned out her closet.”

              “It couldn’t have been that bad.” Alec grinned and wrapped a rubber band around a stack of Duran Duran’s greatest hits. “Gav sure is stuck on the ‘80s.”

              “Isn’t he?” she giggled. “I found a Knight Rider lunch box hiding in the back of the closet!”

              “No way!”

              “Vintage 1982, if I’m not mistaken.”

              “Nice.” Alec let out a low whistle of appreciation. “I used to a have one of that cartoon where the robots turned into cars.”

              “And I used to have Smurfette.”

              “You see?” he chuckled. “We were made for each other!”

              She nodded happily, and moved on to a stack of books on the film industry. Lucy wondered if she couldn’t ask one of her father’s old friends to help Gavin out in his quest to break into special effects. They sat in companionable silence and were startled by men’s voices coming from the living room.

              Lucy opened her mouth and Alec quickly shushed her. “Who is that?” she whispered.

              “Stay here,” he ordered, and crept silently out to the hallway. It was that whale of a manager and the Tree. Alec winced, tiptoed back, and hid behind the door. He motioned for Lucy to go about her business and waited for them to pounce.

              It didn’t take long for them to make their way to Gavin’s bedroom. “What are you doing here?” The Tree growled and made like wanted to rip Lucy off the floor. Harvey put out his arm and made him back off. The young woman looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her at the moment. She was pretty though. Her skin was like clotted cream and those lips! Harvey would have no trouble getting her a contract if she wanted one. But he wondered how she got into the apartment. Only he and Gavin had keys. Unless…

              He waddled over to where she sat organizing Gavin’s extensive collection of books. “Who are you, miss?” Harvey asked politely. She glanced up with huge chocolate eyes, and Harvey knew where he’d seen her. The Halloween party! So, Gavin had gone and snatched her up. Figures! Harvey thought in disgust. “Maria,” he smiled lecherously. “We meet again.”

              Lucy cringed inwardly, wishing Alec would stop playing James Bond and settle Harvey’s hash. “How’d you know it was me?” she asked, playing brainless sexpot once again.

              “I’d know those… eyes anywhere, my dear,” he laughed and nudged Tree, who laughed along as if on cue. “So, where’s Gavin?”

              “Um…” she said, pretending like she had to strain a few ounces of gray matter to figure it out. “He said I wasn’t supposed to tell!” Lucy burst into a fit of girlish giggles. “He’s so silly!”

              Harvey took in the scene with the garbage bags and Gavin’s precious CD collection. Trying to escape, was he? Well, he’d put an end to that! “Come now, dear. Where’s my boy? He can’t have gotten off too far.”

              “Don’t know.” She shrugged, and tossed a dictionary into the bag. “He doesn’t tell me anything. He just said to pick up his things.”

              The Tree growled and Harvey gave him a signal to end this tomfoolery. Lucy gasped as Tree hauled her roughly to her feet and shook her. Her teeth threatened to rattle out of her skull when Alec stepped out from behind the door. “Put my wife down,” he said quietly. They turned and their eyes widened. Alec had his pistol aimed at both of their heads. “Please,” he added, cocking the trigger for emphasis.

              Tree glanced at Harvey, who nodded and he set Lucy down. She fled to hide behind her husband. “You took your sweet time, “ she accused breathlessly. “I don’t have earthquake insurance!”

              “Funny, wife,” Alec replied and glared at Harvey and his Tree. “What do you think I ought to do to them, dear?”

              “Well, you never got a chance to thank the brute for breaking your leg,” Lucy offered. “I mean he does have it coming.”

              “And the toady?”

              “He needs a lesson in humility.”

              “You’re so right, my love.” Alec loved watching them squirm. When the Tree’s hand went to his pocket, Alec ordered him to take his jacket off. “Strip,” he ordered.

              “W-What?” Harvey cried in disbelief. He turned to his Tree. “You just gonna stand there like an idiot and take this shit?”

              Tree shrugged lamely. “He’s got a gun.”

              “So?” Harvey grumbled. “It’s not even real!” He made the mistake of moving toward Alec, who suddenly pointed the gun toward the closet and pulled the trigger. Lucy’s ears rang with with the sudden explosion, and she wondered if her husband had had his coffee that morning.

              Alec inspected the barrel and trained it upon Harvey’s head once more. “It sounds real to me. Both of you, strip. I won’t ask again.”

              The Tree and Harvey exchanged weary glances before reluctantly tugging off their garments. Lucy averted her eyes as Harvey’s blubbery body was laid bare. She began to wonder what Alec had in mind. “What are you up to?” she hissed, and stifled a giggle when Harvey nearly tripped over his pants.

              “All will be revealed, wife. Get my phone.” She reached into his jean pocket and whipped it out. “See if you can find something to tie these two up.” Alec kicked the clothes away, while Lucy ran into the kitchen. All she could find was a roll of twine. She hurried back.

              “This is all there was.”

              “Great.” He pointed with the pistol. “Onto the bed.” When they hesitated, Alec growled and stepped towards them. “Not today, gentlemen. I’m not in the best of moods. Do be nice and climb up like good little boys.”

              Harvey and Tree climbed onto the waterbed, bouncing up and down as Harvey’s weight threatened a tsunami of epic proportions. “You on the bottom,” Alec instructed the Tree. “Then you, fat boy.” Harvey glanced uncertainly at the handsome young man who bore a striking resemblance to Gavin.

              “Are you by any chance related to Jimmy?”

              Alec shrugged and winked at his wife, who giggled. “Who wants to know?”

              “I-I just asked,” Harvey said, feeling vulnerable in his state of undress. It was one thing to observe a fool cavort naked on a bed for money that happily went into his pocket, it was quite another to be on the receiving end of it. “Can’t we talk about this?” he pleaded helplessly, not wanting to get on top of Beau. He wasn’t into that sort of thing. “You’re a handsome young boy,” he cajoled,  “I could make you famous!”

              Alec sighed and shook his head at his wife. “Not interested, fat boy. I don’t think my wife would like that, would you, love?”

              “No,” she said lightly. “I’m very selfish.”

              “You could do it together!” Harvey offered foolishly. “The more the merrier I always say!”

              Lucy and Alec actually seemed to ponder this, but they shook their heads and Harvey’s face fell. “No…?”

              “Don’t think so, mate.” Alec told him gruffly. “We like our arrangement the way it is. There’s no room for anybody else.” He pointed the gun again and ordered Harvey: “Get on top.” Then he smiled at his wife. “Tie them up, love. Nice and tight.”

              She did as he asked, trying not to stare at the two men entangled intimately on the waterbed. Harvey and Tree were grumbling about where to put their hands. And Lucy had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. At one point, she thought Harvey told Beau to stick it somewhere else. She tied their hands and feet together and hurried back to her husband. “What now?”

              “Take a picture, love,” her husband instructed. “I want Gavin to see this.”

              “Yes, dear.” She happily snapped away and got some pretty good pictures. “What if they go to the police?”

              “You’re right, my love.” Alec stepped forward and grabbed Harvey by what was left of his hair. “You won’t go tattling on us will you, mate?”

              “Huh?” Harvey mumbled and his eyes widened in horror. “Stop poking me with that yardstick, Beau!” he yelled and tried to close his legs. “I’ll tell everyone! You won’t get away with this!”

              “Oh, yes we will!” Lucy grabbed a few of Gavin’s socks and stuffed them into his mouth. She stuffed one into Tree’s mouth too. “You’ll keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you, you horrible little man!”

              “Hey,” Alec grinned down at his wife. “That’s pretty good. Take a few more snaps. We can upload them on Vine. I’ll bet we could even sell them to that TV show. People pay good money for this sort of thing, don’t they Harv?”

              The only answer the two men could muster were muffled screams of rage. Lucy snapped a few more pictures before Alec decided it was time to leave. They tossed what they could into the bags and left Harvey and Beau on the waterbed. Then they turned the lights out and skedaddled, giggling like two naughty schoolchildren.

              The landlord went up the next morning after some of the tenants had complained about an awful ruckus. He would later tell everyone he knew--which was everybody--what he’d found. Harvey didn’t emerge from his house for weeks. The footage of him and Beau on the bed found its way to several porn websites, and he was soon the laughing stock of Hollywood. He fled to his penthouse in Manhattan and forgot about Gavin.

              Soon after, he found another young man who was dumber than a rock and just as endowed as his predecessor had been. Though he would never have that star quality that Gavin possessed. The girls didn’t complain much, and Harvey went back to doing what he did best: making money at someone else’s expense.

 

              Rudy drove them to the airport. Tia had said her goodbyes the day before, knowing she would make a scene. Lucy was a little sad. Not that she was leaving, but because a few days ago she’d gone grocery shopping with Alec and had spied Diane and Eddie in the dairy aisle. She’d waited to see if they would say anything and had waved to them. While Eddie had smiled and looked like he might have been willing to exchange a few pleasantries, it was Diane who pulled him back, shaking her head and barely glancing at her old friend. Lucy had left the store in tears, so much for friendship.

    Alec told her not to worry about them as she still had him. That made her feel better, and she tried not to let it get to her. But it still hurt, nonetheless.

     They unloaded their luggage and made their way through the crowded airport. It had been a bad idea to fly home after Thanksgiving, and Pat was angrier than a hornet that had been tossed out of his hive. They all had the good sense to stay clear of him while he struggled along with his bags. Gavin did his best to calm him down, but Pat was certain air travel had been invented as a cruel form of torture. “Off with you now!” he growled as he was nearly sideswiped by a cart laden with designer trunks. The rest of them held their tongues. It was best not to poke an angry bear.

     “Well, kiddo,” Rudy said, and set her suitcase down. “I guess this is it.”

     It was hard to stay mad at him. Lucy supposed he’d meant well, but she was finding it hard to forgive. She would in time and didn’t want to leave things unsettled between them. “I don’t suppose you’re sorry for any of it?” she couldn’t help asking. Alec and Gavin kept their distance.

     “I did what I had to,” Rudy said at last, feeling very guilty for everything that had happened. “I am sorry you had to get hurt. I’ll never forgive myself for that if it makes you feel better.”

     “It doesn’t.” she said sadly, and hugged him in spite of her lingering anger. “You’ll have to make it up to me.”

     He patted her consolingly on the back, and Rudy felt like a father sending his only child off to college. “I’ll think of something.” He pulled back and forced a smile. “Better go on, kiddo. It’s a long flight.” He looked on as Lucy joined her new family and went through security. Rudy lost sight of them, as they were lost in the sea of weary passengers flying home after indulging for the Thanksgiving holiday. He stood for a long moment, sad but oddly happy. Then he drove home to commiserate with Tia, who had prepared his favorite dinner and tried not to feel too sorry for himself. Later, he would drive over to Vivian’s and have a good, long chat...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Forty

             

             

 

Maggie was waiting for them at the airport and could hardly contain herself. Pat’s friends had driven her to Heathrow and waited with her. She was a little apprehensive at meeting her new daughter-in law, but Pat had assured her Lucy was as sweet as could be and pretty to boot. Alec had picked a winner. She was also frightened at seeing Gavin. He hadn’t wanted to speak to her on the phone, but he’d emailed her and told her a little of what his life had been like in California. Maggie just hoped he was still her sweet boy.

    The plane landed and they waited anxiously for the passengers to disembark. Maggie kept fiddling with her blouse and Helen told her stop it; she looked just fine. She frowned at her and just hoped the wind hadn’t ruined her hair. It had grown enough for her to get a decent cut and style. The stylist had given her a cute pixie and even colored the grays. She just didn’t know what Pat would think of it all.

     She would soon find out as the first of the passengers started arriving. “Can you see them?” she whispered worriedly to Helen. Maggie couldn’t see anything and stood up, trying to spy the bear-like form that was her husband. There were several families with children and just when she’d given up all hope, she was suddenly swept up into the air and crushed in Pat’s arms. “Pattybear!” she laughed and tried wrapping her arms around his thick waist. “Put me down, you ox!”

     Pat chuckled and gave her an affectionate squeeze before setting his wife down. He held her at arm’s-length and gave her the once over. “You cut your hair!” he exclaimed in surprise. But it suited her round face and rosy cheeks. She was as lovely as ever. “I’ve missed you, woman,” he muttered and leaned down to kiss her. Maggie kissed him back, happy to have to him home. She’d been completely miserable without her cuddly bear.

     The obvious clearing of several throats interrupted their loving display. “Gee, dad,” Gavin said dryly.  “Get a room!”

      His parents broke their embrace and Pat pulled away. Maggie stared for a moment at her youngest, taking him in. He’d chopped off all his hair and he was as tall as Alec, but he was still her baby. She went to him and flung her arms around him, sobbing with joy. Gavin was a little taken aback at his mother’s welcome. But he was happy to see her and patted her back awkwardly. “There, there, mum,” he managed and felt them all staring at them. He didn’t care.

     Maggie pulled away, swiping at her tears in embarrassment and that’s when she saw Alec. He came through with the last of the passengers accompanied by a petite brunette. The California sun had done him good. He looked tanned and happy. There was an air of self-confidence she hadn’t seen before. Maggie supposed it had something to do with his wife, who hid behind her husband. Alec urged the girl to introduce herself and Maggie hid a smile as she offered a small hand.

    “H-Hello, Mrs. Barrington,” Lucy began timidly, “I’m Lucy.”

     Maggie took her hand and embraced her warmly. “You’ll call me Maggie or mum if you like!” She chuckled as she pulled away. Pat had been right. She was quite a beauty with almond-shaped eyes and porcelain skin. She wore a pretty lavender dress and not a scrap of makeup. “Alec, where’d you find her? She’s gorgeous!”

     “I…um…won her in Vegas,” he said, stifling a laugh as Lucy blushed. “I saw her and couldn’t help myself.”

     “Well, I can see why!” Maggie introduced them to Helen and Frank and then they were ready to go home, as they were all knackered from the flight. “I’ve got a roast in the oven,” she told them, and then Alec and Lucy burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?”

     “Nothing mum.”

 

              Lucy nearly fell asleep on the 38-minute commute to the flat in West Hampstead. Alec had to practically carry her upstairs. He set her down on his bed, covered her with a blanket, and let her sleep.

     She awoke alone in the darkened room and managed to find the bathroom. After combing her hair and pressing a cool cloth against her face, Lucy made her way downstairs. She paused on the landing to hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Pat laughed heartily at something Maggie had asked him, with Gavin and Alec joining in. Lucy suddenly felt like an outsider to this close-knit family and didn’t want to intrude on the revelry. She knew she was being silly, but she made herself creep back upstairs. They needed this time together. So she let them enjoy their reunion without her.

     Alec noted his wife’s absence and went upstairs to check on her. He found her sitting by herself on the window seat, gazing sadly at the house across the street. He sat down beside her. “What are you doing here all by yourself? Come downstairs.”

     “I didn’t want to intrude. It’s been a while since you guys were together.”

     He hated when she did this. They’d been married long enough for him to know when something was wrong. “You’re not homesick are you?”

     “No, nothing like that.” She shrugged, not knowing why she felt the way she did. “I don’t know. I just felt like I didn’t belong. Silly isn’t it?”

     “Don’t feel like that, love,” he said softly, and kissed her cheek. “Mum wants to talk to you, and I told her all about Catalina Island. She’s dying to know what we got her.”

     “Is she?”

     He nodded and brushed her hair out of her eyes. “And Gavin wants to know when he can clobber you again in Dead Space.” Alec groaned in exasperation. “Don’t tell me he’s gotten you hooked on those bloody horror games!”

     She laughed, feeling much better. “It’s not my fault. Besides, I’m terrible at it. I just played with him because I was babysitting. I couldn’t sleep after that.”

     “Serves you right,” he muttered and kissed her. “Now will you come downstairs?”

     Lucy nodded and kissed him back. “Only if you carry me.”

     “Cheeky monkey,” Alec chuckled and did just that. He took her arm and escorted his wife to the kitchen. He was glad to see her greeted so warmly by his mother, who sat Lucy down beside her and peppered her with all sorts of questions. Lucy answered them to the best of her ability, often looking to her husband for help. Alec shook his head at her and sat back as they enjoyed his mother’s pot roast.

     “You see?” he told his wife as they undressed for bed. “And you were worried for nothing!”

     “She’s very nice. Just like you.”

     “I don’t know about that. I’m still grumpy after that long flight.”

     “Me too,” Lucy sighed as she climbed into bed. The bedroom was small, but it would have to do. “So when are you taking me to see the house?”

              “Is that all you can think about?” he teased, taking her into his arms and reaching up to turn off the lamp. “I’ve got to worry about going back to work and finding us a place to live.”

    “Well, when you figure it out, English, let me know.” She snuggled close to her husband and fell asleep.

    Alec tried to say something; he was too tired. He fell asleep thinking about all the things he had to do. But it was good to be back home.

 

              The next few weeks flew by, with Lucy settling comfortably into her new place in the household. She thought about going back to work, but her husband was dead set against it, feeling she should wait at least a year before trying anything that demanding. In the meantime, Alec returned to Scotland Yard, and Pat took up his new job as a military advisor at a film studio. Gavin went back to school, taking online classes to get his high school diploma. But most days after studying, he settled into the large sofa in the living room, playing video games. Maggie was worried about him, but Lucy assured her it was quite normal for someone his age. Especially for a young man who never had the chance to grow up. When Maggie questioned this, Lucy decided to tell her a little of his life in Skid Row, conveniently leaving out the horrific details. After that, Maggie decided Gavin had to find his own way in life. She couldn’t do it for him. But if he wanted her help, she was there to guide him if needed. Gavin was still ashamed of what he’d done and sometimes could barely look at his mother. Lucy had to pull him aside and tell him to knock it off. She was his mother and she would love him even if she knew he used to take off his kit for a living. He seemed to accept these sage words of wisdom and from then on, life became a little easier.

     Without Alec and Pat around, Lucy and Maggie had time to get to know one another and Lucy was thrilled to have a mother in her life again. They went shopping along the High Street, shared recipes, and became each other’s source of comfort. Maggie especially liked having a nurse as a daughter-in-law. The lingering effects from the chemotherapy and mastectomy often revealed itself through extreme fatigue and crying spells. Lucy was there to help her into bed and calm her when it got to be too much.

     Lucy was never lonely as there was so much to keep her busy. Alec had given her free rein to go house hunting and often dragged Gavin around with her to look at flats. It had been quite an experience navigating the Tube and riding the double-decker buses. Even Gavin had been discombobulated by how much he’d forgotten.

     Driving around was another world entirely. She had to learn all over again as the wheel was on the right side. And Alec hadn’t been wrong about getting trapped at the Lambeth Bridge roundabout. He’d been gone so long, it had taken him two hours just to get out of traffic. Lucy had had quite a laugh over that.

     One Saturday, she and Alec took the train up to Whitby to look at the house. It was a miserable December afternoon, with the roads washed out due to the rain. They decided to stay overnight at a seaside hotel and drive up in the morning. It was the first time in weeks that they’d had anything resembling any form of privacy and took full advantage. But the bed wouldn’t cooperate and squeaked something awful when they began kissing.

    “Damn bed,” he muttered against her throat and tried again. The bed creaked dangerously and Alec had had enough. He rose and took Lucy with him. Then he yanked the mattress to the floor. “Onto the bed wife,” he commanded, tearing off his T-shirt in his haste and Lucy couldn’t help but giggle.

    “You’re so bossy,” she said laughing and stretched out on the mattress. She held out her arms and he fell down into them and gathered her close. Lucy sighed happily as his mouth found her breast. “I’ve missed you, husband.”

     “Lucy love,’ he rasped, and massaged the nipple with his silky tongue. Alec groaned as she arched against him, her soft cries of pleasure making his cock ache for her sweet pussy. He covered her mouth with his and quickly removed her nightgown and underwear. Lucy gasped, spreading her thighs eagerly as he lowered his hips. Her eyes slid shut as the tip of his scalding cock teased the engorged lips and caressed her clit before pressing hotly into her.

     “Ooh,” she breathed, and shuddered as he stretched her painfully full as he always did. Her eyes widened at the familiar pinching discomfort and sighed in relief when it evolved into a pleasurable ache. Alec moved swiftly within her, his pulsating flesh stroking the inner walls and inflaming her desire. Lucy arched her hips, whimpering against his mouth at the sweet torture. He would slow his thrusts and she cried out, greedy for him. “Don’t stop!” she panted, clutching him close and pressing her palms against his flexing ass. Lucy bit down on her lip, drawing blood, and felt the first delightful twinges of an imminent orgasm.

     “My wife,” he groaned against her throat, pushing into her frantically. “I’m coming, sweetness. Wait for me.”

     “I-I can’t!” she gasped, and cried out as a painful orgasm shattered her body. Lucy had never felt anything like it and had to force herself to breathe. She was barely conscious of Alec’s own release and he collapsed upon her, groaning his pleasure. They lay quiet in each other’s arms, kissing and touching, soothing and caressing. “Alec,” she said after a while, “you all right?”

     “No.”

     She smiled, hugged him tighter, and closed her eyes.

 

              They drove up to the house early the next morning and Lucy couldn’t contain her excitement. Alec warned her not to count her chickens before they hatched. “I haven’t been up here since January, so I don’t know if the roof has held up. We might be in for a nasty surprise.”

     “Oh, stop!” she chided softly. “I thought Mr. Newton told you the house was fine.”

     “You think I trust that tosser?”

     She giggled at her husband’s ill humor and huddled deeper into her coat. “How old is it anyway?
     “Old enough to know better,” he grunted, struggling with the transmission. “We should have brought the truck. The tires can’t handle this mud.”

     “I’ll get out and help you push if we get stuck.”

     “You might have to if this rain doesn’t let up,” he sighed, steering the car past the gate and finally stopping in a cobbled driveway. He shut off the engine and Lucy wiped off the condensation to see a magnificent old manor. It looked like something out of Jane Eyre. She could hardly wait to get inside. “Wait here,” he instructed and got out, stomping his way through puddles of mud.

     Alec entered the house to find Mr. Newton had been here recently and placed a good number of buckets around to catch rain that was slowly seeping through the ceiling. It figures, he thought in disgust. He made his way to the kitchen and lit the ancient stove and put on a pot of tea. At least that worked. He ran back out to retrieve his wife. Good thing he’d told her to wear wellies. “Careful,” he warned, and helped her through the doorway. “It’s a mess.”

     She slipped off her hood and shook off the rain. They stood in an old brick kitchen and Lucy went over to the stove to warm her hands. “It’s dark. Are there any lamps?”

     “Candles, I think,” he said, ransacking a few cupboards in his quest for fire and came up with a few candles instead. Alec lit one, poured the wax onto a plate, and firmly affixed the candle to its makeshift holder. “These will have to do.”

     They sat down at an old table and drank tea from chipped cups. “It’s so quiet,” she whispered. “Are there any neighbors nearby?”

     “Around here?” he scoffed. “The last tenant left two years ago. There’s no one for miles.”

     “Why didn’t you sell?”

     “I don’t know.” He shrugged and finished his tea. “I suppose I kept hoping I’d meet a pretty girl and she’d want to shack up with me.”

     “She does!”

     “Is that so?” Alec laughed and stood up. “Come love, I’ll show you around.”

     Alec gave her the grand tour of his house, which in Lucy’s estimation, had to be at least three hundred years old. But that was a rough estimate. There was a sitting room, a wine cellar, and several bedrooms upstairs. Alec was reluctant to go up because of wood rot. “It’s not safe. The whole thing needs to be replaced.”

     So they contented themselves with the downstairs only, and Lucy wished she had more time to inspect every piece of furniture she discovered lurking under sheets. But her husband was insistent that they leave before the storm got worse. “We’ll come back when it’s warmer, love. I’m afraid the roof won’t last much longer. I just wanted you to see the place.”

    “Thank you,” she said, and kissed him on the cheek. “It was very thoughtful of you.”

    “I thought so.” He ushered her out to the car and locked up. Mr. Newton had some explaining to do. The house was in much better shape the last time he saw it. But he hid his disappointment and drove them back to the hotel just in time. The road flooded shortly thereafter and was rendered a safety hazard. They wouldn’t make it back to the house until spring. Until then, Alec and Lucy had to be content with their small attic.

 

              Shortly before Christmas, Lucy received a strange package in the mail. Pat and Maggie had gone out shopping, and Gavin decided to go sightseeing. They had the house all to themselves. Alec was taking a nap and she carried the box upstairs. There was no return address and she hadn’t ordered anything, so she was intrigued. Maybe Alec had finally ordered that electric blanket she’d been pestering him to buy. No one ever told anyone how damn wet and cold London was in the middle of winter!

    Alec was awake when she entered and sat on the bed. “What’s that?” he said, sitting up. “Order something?”

     “Not me,” she replied, and began prying at the tape with a pair of scissors. “There’s no return address.”

     “And you’re opening it?” he said in disbelief. “It might be a bomb or something.”

     He took the box from her. “It’s not a bomb!’

    “How can you be sure?” Alec shook the box. It was heavy and something seemed to be rattling around in there. “I’ll open it.”

     Lucy watched in some consternation as her husband struggled with the box. When he finally opened it, he glanced up at her in surprise. “I thought you said you didn’t want a new laptop.”

    “I don’t.” She frowned and peered inside. To Alec’s surprise, Lucy began to laugh. Really laugh. She was laughing so hard she nearly fell off the bed.

     Alec looked at the laptop and then at his wife. “Are you all right, love?”

    “I’m just fine,” Lucy sighed at last, wiping her eyes. She took the box from him and lifted out the laptop. She removed the packaging and opened it. The thing wouldn’t power on and she was confused. “It’s broken.”

     “How can you tell?” he muttered, disturbed at the fact that his wife had gone and bought a used laptop. And a broken one at that! “Tell them you want a refund.”

     “Wait a minute,” she fished out a card from the box and finally understood. “This used to be dad’s laptop.” Lucy handed him the card that Rudy had sent. Somehow he’d finally gotten Viv to hand it over. She wondered how he’d gone about that. “He left it to me, but Viv hid it away and wouldn’t let me have it.”

     “So why did Rudy send a broken laptop to you?”

     “Read the card.”

     He did and burst out laughing himself. Old Walt had gotten one over his young wife. Anticipating that she would squander his fortune, he’d had the entire motherboard replaced with one made out of pure gold and semi-precious stones. He’d meant for Rudy to put it in a safe place until Lucy came of age, but Viv had kept it from her out of spite. The laptop held Lucy’s inheritance and Vivian never knew. “How much do you think it’s worth?”

    “I don’t know. Maybe enough to fix our house.”

    “Our house?” he repeated in wonder. “I won’t hear of it. We’ll put it in the bank. It’s yours to do with as you please.”

    “And if I want to give it to my husband?”

    Alec shook his head. “No!”

    “Stop being stubborn.”

    “I’m not being stubborn. I refuse to take your money and waste it on that scourge on humanity!”

    Lucy set the laptop aside and straddled her husband. “You’re adorable when you’re being obstinate.”

    “I don’t care what… you say,” he said, his eyes growing round as she began to unbutton her blouse. She smiled down at him as she removed it and unhooked her bra. Lucy bent down and began kissing his face and throat, her lips spreading sweet warmth throughout his body. “Um…” he closed his eyes and slid his hands up her thighs, relishing the feel of her silken skin.

              “Help me,” she breathed and he complied, groaning as he helped her tug off her skirt and panties. Alec groaned and quickly divested himself of his clothing. He lay beneath her, shivering in sweet anticipation.

              “What—“he began, only to be shushed by the soft press of her lips, and the delicious pricking of her nipples against his chest. He reached up and caught the swollen mounds, squeezing gently. She cried out softly and threw her head back, relishing the feel of his hands as they roamed possessively over her body. Lucy bit down on her lip as he slid his hands lower and thumbed her clit. She gasped and bent down, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, and ground herself sensuously against his cock. Alec groaned and grasped her hips.

              She knew it was going to hurt, so she braced herself. He was gentle as he lowered her slowly onto his cock. Lucy sucked in her breath, delightful shivers dancing along her spine as he spread her wide, inch by glorious inch. He packed her full and for a moment, she felt close to bursting. But it soon passed and she stared down at her husband in awe. She couldn’t believe how good it felt. His cock was throbbing unbearably inside her; an excruciating heat and she wiggled her hips a little, moaning at the new sensations. “Alec,” Lucy breathed in wonder. “It doesn’t hurt.”

              Alec groaned. “You’re sure…love?” He could barely breathe, she felt so good. He wondered why they hadn’t done it this way before. “Better…hurry…love,” he gasped, trying not to move and grasping her hips. “I…don’t…think…I can…last much …longer.”

              “Okay,” she murmured and wasn’t sure what to do at first. But leave it to instinct to find a way. It urged her to move forward and back. Alec groaned, arching his hips and soon she was sliding up and down on his cock, stroking her clit against the base of his penis as she did so, and whimpering as the sinful sensations began its steady climb up her body. Lucy ground her hips slowly into his belly, reaching up to lift her hair off her neck, and moaning his name as his hands claimed every inch of her. She opened her eyes to stare down at her husband. He writhed beneath her in bliss, his head thrashing back and forth on the pillow, and when the torment became too much, he sat up, gripping her tightly to him as he took over.

              “Alec!” she whimpered, kissing him hungrily, was unaware of what she was saying in the midst of her carnal delight. “Fuck me!”

              His eyes widened at the erotic plea and Alec growled. “Yes, ma’am,” he muttered against her throat. He crushed her to him and thrust his hips up hard and fast, ravaging her pussy with his cock as he surged upwards into her. She gasped in shock and clung to him, biting into his shoulder to stifle the screams. He growled and moved her quickly onto her back where he finished fucking his wife. Alec hadn’t meant to take her this way, but she’d gone and begged him for it. He couldn’t help himself and rode her savagely, burying his face into her neck, and moaned at the feel of her thighs wrapping around his waist and the way her nails raked down his back. She was whimpering beneath him and he knew it was from the intense pleasure coursing through their bodies. He could feel her pussy tightening around his cock, and he increased his pace, lunging in and out of her wet flesh.

              “Faster!” she panted in his ear, biting down on her lip as the first painful tremors began twisting its way through her. “Oh!” Lucy sobbed, her cries cut off by his tongue. The orgasm was a rapturous agony, and she wept with the severity of it. She felt him stiffen above her, and she grasped his tongue with her own, taking his soft moans of pleasure. Alec gasped and shuddered, his muscular body wracked by the most intense orgasm he’d ever had. Her arms clutched him to her, and she gasped at the familiar warmth flooding her womb. Their sweaty bodies lay entwined, shuddering with the delightful aftershocks of passion.

              When he felt he could breathe again, Alec raised his head and peered down into her lovely eyes. “The answer is still ‘no’,” he said, and silenced his wife with his kisses.

     Lucy lay beneath her husband and held him to her. She didn’t know how, but they were going to have their house, one way or another. All she had to do was work on him. It was her money and she wanted that house. He was just being hardheaded. She’d have to do something about that.

 

              Christmas came and went and with it the new year. London was finally blessed with snow or as Pat called it, a damnable mess. They were snowed in for a few days with Gavin driving them all loony with his new video game console and insisting upon challenging all of them to a game in which he either ran them over with a car or shot them dead in the street. Maggie finally lost her temper and Pat stood back, chuckling with glee when she confiscated the toy and ordered Gavin to read a book.

     Alec took his wife upstairs to get away from his brother’s whining. As much as he loved living with his mum and dad, the living situation was becoming intolerable. They had to share a bathroom with Gavin, who seemed determined to scrub away his sin with several baths a day. There was also the lack of privacy. Alec and Lucy could only make love when no one was in the house or asleep, as the walls were so thin. He’d been giving a lot of thought to her offer of giving him the money for the house.

     “Did you really mean it…about the money, I mean?”

     “Of course,” she said, surprised that he felt he even had to ask. “What’s mine is yours.”

     “We’ll have to talk to the solicitor and get an estimate,” Alec rattled on anxiously, feeling guilty. “You d-don’t have to,” he amended hastily. “We can find another house. It’s cheaper anyway.”

     “You don’t really want to do that,” Lucy said, smiling at her guilt-stricken husband. “If you did, you would have sold off the property years ago.”

     “Well,” he said, scratching his nose, “that’s open for debate. But I won’t do anything without your approval.”

     “Is that so?” She went to him and slid her arms around him. Rising on tiptoes, Lucy kissed his scruffy cheek. “You’re awfully sweet, English,” she sighed and drew him down with her onto the bed. “But I want to do this. We’ll do it together, just you and me like we’re supposed to.”

              “What about school?”

              “What about it?”

              “You’ll pay your student loans first.”

              “And then?”

              “Don’t you want to go back and be an archaeologist?”

              “I can do that for free. The whole house is an archaeological dig,” she quipped.

     Alec smiled down at her, feeling for the first time in his life that he was actually worthy of the incredible woman that was Lucy. “Promise?” he asked shyly. “I-I mean…are…you sure?”

     “I’m sure,” she sighed happily and pulled his head down to hers.

     “I adore you, Mrs. Barrington.”

     “I know, my darling.” Lucy smiled, and stroked his hair. “I know.”

 

* * *

              Gavin bounded down the stairs, not knowing what he was going to do. “She’s coming!” he shouted to anyone who’d listen. They were all gathered around the kitchen table eating lunch and staring at him like he’d fallen off his trolley.

     “Who’s coming?” they asked in unison, barely glancing up from Lucy’s shepherd’s pie. “Don’t tell me the Martians are finally invading after all these years!”

     “Very funny, dad!” Gavin frowned, waving the missive for their eyes to see. “Rudy’s coming to visit for the summer and he’ll be bringing Connie!”

     “Who’s Connie?” Maggie asked in confusion.

     “She’s a girl Gavin rescued from these hoods, mum.”

     “Oh. Is she a nice girl?”

     “Of course, she’s a nice girl!” Gavin rolled his eyes, and began muttering to himself. “What’ll I tell her? No, wait! I’ll bathe in the River Jordan. Yes, that’s it!” Maggie didn’t know what he was talking about. But Pat, Alec, and Lucy exchanged knowing glances and told him to calm down.

     “Calm down?” he nearly shouted. “How can I be calm at a moment like this?” Then he tore back upstairs, eager to get Connie on the phone so they could make plans.

     “She must be quite a girl.” Maggie commented. “I haven’t seen anyone act this strange since Pat proposed.”

     “Hey now, woman,” Pat protested, “I was in love with you!”

     “Exactly!”

     They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Maggie didn’t know what was with any of them today. “What’s so funny?”

     “I think Gavin’s in love.”

     “Is he?” Maggie sniffed, and helped herself to another portion of pie. “It’s about time!”

     They all shook their heads and Lucy and Alec decided it couldn’t have happened to a nicer fellow.

 

              “So, what are you giving my brother for his birthday?” Gavin asked Lucy while shopping one day. “I think he’s got everything a man could want.”

     “I’ll think of something,” she said cryptically, while Gavin gave her a weird look and shrugged.

     Gavin began to wonder what it would be like to be married. Not that he was inclined to hitch his wagon to a filly, but he liked to entertain the possibility of it some day…

     They browsed for a little while, with Gavin deciding on a DVD box set of Busby Berkeley musicals for Alec. Lucy, he noticed, left empty-handed.

 

              Alec drove Lucy up to the house so she could see how her money was being spent. He’d kept her updated on every minute detail. The house had been gutted as the contractor had said that it was best to begin with a clean slate. Though the structure was sound, every last bit of wood and plaster had been rotted through and it had taken nearly four months just to clear it out. Every piece of wiring, every piece of plumbing that had ever been put in was stripped and laid bare. The only thing that hadn’t gone to the dump was a pair of grandfather clocks. The most expensive item on the list was the roof. That had been the first thing to go. The contractor had looked upon the old thatching with a mixture of horror and disgust. He’d said it was a miracle the whole thing hadn’t crashed down onto their heads.

    Lucy nodded in approval at the progress the contractor was making, but it would be at least another year before they could actually move in. Alec was disappointed, but she had something she was sure would put a smile back on his face. “Here,” she said, handing him a brightly wrapped box. “Happy birthday, English.”

    “You didn’t have to get me anything. You’ve already given me so much.” But he took the box and shook it, grinning in spite of himself. “What is it?”

     “Open it, silly.” Lucy sat down on the courtyard steps and patted the spot beside her. “I think it’s something you’ve been wanting for a long time.”

     “I can’t think of anything…” his voice trailed off as he opened the box. Inside was a plastic wand of some sort with a cap and a weird blue mark on the side. He stared at it in disbelief and his eyes flew to hers. “Is this what I think it is?”

     She nodded, blushing and holding her hands to her face. “I-I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t feeling well…but I wasn’t sure. I went to the hospital after I took that and made sure.”

     “B-But the doctor said…he said...” Alec couldn’t speak. In fact, it hurt to breathe. “You’re sure?”

    “I’m sure. I wouldn’t have told you if I wasn’t.” Lucy was getting worried. He was pale and shaking. “I-I mean it’s all right, isn’t it? I know the timing is off with the house and everything…”

    “Lucia,” he said softly, tears welling in his eyes.

    “What, my love?”

    “Hush,” Alec commanded hoarsely and took her in his arms. They were both laughing and crying. “I think it’s the best present you’ve ever given me, besides your virginity.” He reached down and covered her still flat belly with his hand. “We’ll have to be extra careful with this one.”

    “Then it’s all right?”

    “Hush your mouth, woman and kiss me!”

    “Yes, sir,” Lucy sighed against his lips, and not for the first time in their marriage, happily obeyed.