Fragile (20 page)

Dad approached him fast, grabbing him by the collar, “You did not just say that,” he growled.

“She knew what might happen. It was all her idea. She should have been on something or at least brought condoms.” As much as he deserved it, I pulled Dad off him before he threw his punch.

“Leave now, or you’ll be leaving via ambulance.”

“We leave at eight, Lucinda!” he yelled through the apartment before walking off.

As soon as I saw his car drive away, I ran to Lu. I found her in the bedroom on the ground, cuddling herself and crying. She shook her head trying to speak, but nothing came out. I rushed over to her and enveloped her in my arms. I held her to me as she cried into my shoulder.

“He just turned up.” She sobbed.

“I know. It’s ok now. He’s gone.”

Lu lifted her head, “I got scared. I’ve never been scared of Luke before.”

He was lucky that he wasn’t here right now. “He’s gone.”

Dad came up and handed over a glass of water before he took a step back, giving us some room “Was he here long?”

“Not too long. I thought it was you, that you forgot your keys.” Lu leaned over to the bedside table and picked up a tissue. I took the tissue from her hand and took over the job of cleaning her eyes.

“There you go.” I scrunched the tissue in my hand before placing it on the table. “Has he always been so up himself?” I asked as I wrapped an arm around her.

“Or self-centred?” Dad asked.

Lu looked between the two of us. “I don’t know. I guess. No one has ever said anything. I’ve never seen him like this. He’s never done anything like this.”

LUCY

I couldn’t help the fact that as eight o’clock approached, I watched the clock hanging on the kitchen wall. In the corner of my eye, I saw that Rick was watching it too even though he was trying to distract me with his fabulous cooking. As the time got close, Rick came and put his arms around me, kissing my temple. We didn’t know what would happen next, if Luke would turn up demanding that I leave with him, or whether he’ll just leave me behind.

“Go to sleep, Lu.”

“How did you know that I wasn’t?”

He chuckled under me, a hand running up and down my back. “I can feel you blinking against my chest.”

“Sorry.”

Rick’s hand ran over my body as I stayed draped over him. “What’s on your mind, honey?”

I kissed his chest before I spoke. “I’m waiting for the banging on the door to start,” I confessed.

“I won’t let him near you.” I lifted my head to look at Rick. His hand followed and he placed a bit of my hair that had fallen down behind my ear.

“I know,” I whispered.

Rick’s lips found mine and he kissed me softly. “I won’t let him near you,” he whispered his promise once more.

We woke the following day like every other day. We were in the kitchen. Rick was cooking breakfast when the banging on the front door started. We both froze and looked at each other.

“Stay here,” Rick instructed as he walked towards the door. I heard the door open, then voices. It was Ireland. She was angry and wanted to come in.

“Lucy!”

I didn’t know what to do so I just stayed where I was behind the bench.

“Ireland!” Rick growled.

“Lucy!” She yelled just before she came around the corner and saw me.

“Ireland enough,” Rick came from behind her and over to me.

“What did you say to him?”

“You don’t have to talk to her.” Rick put a hand on my shoulder, pulling me close to him.

“Yes, she does! What did you say to him?”

“Who?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Luke! He’s gone! He left me because of you. I know it, so don’t deny it, Lucy!”

“I don’t know what to say to you, Ireland. I’m right here, not with Luke. He’s all yours. I don’t want him back. Ever. If he’s gone, it has nothing to do with me.” Rick moved his hand from my shoulder and wound his arm around my waist

“Don’t lie to me, Lucy. I know he came by yesterday to talk to you. What did you say to him to make him leave me?” Her voice was tight, on the verge of tears.

“He was already leaving before he came over here,” Rick said.

Ireland’s eyes snapped to his. “I don’t believe you. I told you that she is only with you to get back at me. I know that she and Luke are still talking, and I know that he was here yesterday.” Her eyes came back to mine, “Last chance, Lucy. What did you say to him?”

I had nothing but pity for her at the moment. “He came by to get me to go home with him and I said no. He said we leave at eight. At eight, I was here with Rick and not with him. He was already planning to leave, Ireland.”

The tears in her eyes spilled over. “I don’t believe you.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.” I wrapped my arms around Rick’s waist.

“I was here too, when he came by, Ireland. Lucy has told you the truth. You’re better off without him.” We all stood there letting Rick’s words set in.

“You did this on purpose. I know you two are still fucking behind everyone’s back. You’ve put on this show, getting everyone to believe that you’re the victim and I’m the bad guy. I don’t know what Rick sees in you except an easy screw. Luke has always said that I was better then you.”

“That’s enough, Ireland! Lucy has done nothing to you. It has been you. You’re the bad guy, and Lu is the victim. You need to leave now. You’re not welcome here.”

Ireland’s eyes shot between the both of us before they landed on me. “This isn’t over, Lucy. You hear me? I know things about you. I can...”

‘OUT!” Rick’s voice made me jump. I’ve never heard him be so loud. Ireland stomped her feet and left the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

RICK

“What’s with Aiden lately?” Dad asked, eyeing Aiden who was laying his head on Lu’s belly.

“He’s always with Lu when she’s home,” I reminded him as I took the bag of shopping out of his hands and placed it on the bench. Opening the bags, I started to unpack the contents Dad had brought over for me. I didn’t want to leave Lu, and she didn’t want to leave the apartment. I couldn’t blame her.

“Lucy looks a bit pale. Is she alright?”

I looked up at Dad, who was standing over Lu’s sleeping form. “Ireland came around this morning, and she wasn’t very nice. It shook Lu up a bit.”

“What happened?”

I put the packet of noodles down on the bench and leant against it, crossing my arms as I explained. “She accused her of making Luke leave, accused her of still being in contact with him. Stupid stuff like that.”

Dad ran his hands through his hair, giving it a tug. “Bloody Ireland. I don’t know what is with that girl. Tell Lucy that I’m sorry, when she wakes up.”

“I will.” I stepped away from the bench and finished unpacking, then walked Dad out to his car.

“What made Ireland think that Lucy had anything to do with Luke leaving?”

I held his car door open with it separating us “She knew that he was here yesterday. Do you know when she’s going back?” I really wanted Ireland out of Lu’s life. She’s done nothing but destroy it and stress her out.

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on her, Luke, and Mather. I don’t see her leaving by herself. She’ll probably stay with Mather.”

“What is she doing?” I swung the door slightly, kicking the pavement with my shoes.

“She and Ray are talking again and Tray’s up here now. Last I heard he was looking at transferring schools.”

“Shit.” I looked up at Dad. “Not at Tray, that’s cool. I just don’t want Ireland around Lu anymore.”

Dad looked between me and the apartment, “No matter what, Rick, if you have Lucy in your life, Ireland is going to be there too, and Luke by extension. Their parents are still married, and if you’re as serious with Lucy as I think you are, you’re going to be a part of that.”

“What are you saying?” I stopped my movements and focused on him.

Dad had pity clear in his eyes, “If you’re in Lucy’s life, your family is in her life too.”

I couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. “I need Lu. I can’t leave her because of my family.”

“If Mather and Ray get back together they’ll stay here and I suspect Ireland will too.”

“So, not only has Ireland destroyed Lu’s, Ray’s, and Mum’s life, she’s about to rip mine apart as well.”

“I’m sorry, Rick, but that’s how I see it. Ireland needs someone to be able to live. She can’t do it alone. She knows that I won’t be there for her. I can’t overlook what she has done the way that Mather has, and it’s sounding like Luke isn’t coming back anytime soon.” He stopped talking and we stared at each other. “Look, Rick, I don’t want to say this, because I love Lucy, but if she was by herself, she wouldn’t feel obligated to be a part of the family. Ray understands that, but if she has a tie to the family, then she’s going to be obligated to be a part of the family.”

“I went a long time without having anything to do with the family. We can do it.” I was getting defensive; I didn’t want to lose her.              

“Rick, Lucy and Ray have a relationship like we do. Do you see her giving up her Dad? I don’t. I know this isn’t what you want to hear after everything, but Mather has an opportunity to be a part of your life now, and she is going to take advantage of that.”

“No matter how you put it, Lu is going to be around me and Ireland.”

“She’ll stay away from everyone except Ray.”

I looked toward the apartment, to where Lu was sleeping. “This isn’t fair.”

“Life’s not fair.”

When I headed back into the apartment, I watched Lu sleep. She looked so at peace and happy with her eyes closed. When her eyes are closed, I couldn’t see the sadness in them. Lu stirred, but didn’t wake. I got a blanket and put it over her then sat in the chair and watched over my Lu as Dad’s words run through my head.

I felt a weight on my legs, then soft kisses on my neck, “Hey,” I said against her lips.

“Hey,” Lu’s soft voice vibrated against my skin.

I wrapped my arms around her, bringing her closer to my body, and opened my eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. I needed that sleep.” She sat up straighter, resting her hands on my shoulders. We looked into each other’s eyes. A piece of her hair had fallen forward so I lifted a hand and started to play with it.

“I can’t let you go, Lu. I know it’s selfish, but I just can’t.”

“Then don’t.” Lu’s eyes were searching mine, looking for an explanation.

“My family has put you through so much. If Ireland stays up here with Mather, and her and Ray sort their marriage out, she’s going to be in your life forever. I don’t want that for you.” I started to see the panic in her eyes and my heart constricted at the sight.

“What are you saying, Rick?”

My world was being ripped apart by my own doing. I would give anything for it to be different, but it’s not different. This is how it is, and if I want Lu to have a good life, a happy life, away from the heart ache, this is how it needs to be.

“I’m saying that if I’m in your life any longer, nothing but heart ache will come of it.” I saw the recognition register in her eyes, right before she got up and stepped away from me. She had a hand in her hair and was looking at the ground. I hated what this was doing to her. Not being able to be around myself, I got up and left the apartment leaving Lu behind for the last time.

LUCY

I walked through the apartment with a bag in my hand. Dad watched me as I walked down the hallway and into my room. “Lucy?” Dad knocked on the door before he opened it.

“Yeah, Dad.”

He walked into my room, his eyes on the bag now sitting on my bed, “What’s going on, honey?”

“Nothing.” I turned away from him and headed toward my closet. “I’m heading out.” I grabbed some clothes and walked past him, heading to the bathroom.

Dad was standing in the hallway when I stepped out of the shower. “Will you be here for dinner?” Dad asked cautiously as I walked toward the front door.

“Um...I don’t know, maybe. I’ll see you later.” Closing the door behind me, I got my phone out of my bag and put it to my ear. “Hey, I’m on my way.” Then I headed back downstairs to get a taxi.

“Here.” A glass half full of amber liquor was placed in front of me.

“Thank you.” I brought the glass to my lips and let the liquid burn my throat on its way down. We sat in silence, letting the liquid’s burn ease.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Nope.” I slid my glass closer to the man with the bottle of tequila in his hand.

Tray and I stayed quiet as we drank. Phones rang and we ignored them. People came up to join us before they left for the night. After that, the night became a blur. Next thing I knew I was rolling over, hitting something beside me. A male groaned making me open my eyes suddenly. Holding my breath, I pulled back the blankets to see who it was beside me and then released my breath when I saw Tray’s head on the pillow. Laying back down my stomach rolled, making me run to the bathroom.