Somewhere in His Arms (48 page)

             
She sighed and stretched languidly. “Anything you want.”

             
“But you already said '
no'
, love.”

             
“Besides that!”

             
“I don't know. But I think we should see the sights while we can. We'll be leaving next month.”

             
“Uh-huh.”

             
“Are you falling asleep wife?”

             
Another sigh: “No.”

             
With a last kiss, he climbed out, grabbing a towel and drying himself off. “Think about it.” He leaned down to drop a kiss onto her mouth and went to dress.

             
“Okay.”

             
He didn't realize he was whistling as he combed and dried his hair. He pulled on a T-shirt and jeans, and was about to head into the kitchen to grab a snack, when he heard an unholy pounding on the door. “What the hell?” he muttered to himself.

             
The clock on the mantle read eleven o'clock, and he was sure Rudy wouldn't be pummeling the door down this hour of the morning. “Who's there?” he called.

             
“Open up, you little shite!”

             
“P-P-Pat...?” Alec stammered in disbelief. How'd
he
find him?  “I-Is that you?”

             
“Well it ain't yer Aunt Mary!”

             
Gulping back a cold lump of fear, Alec turned the knob and opened the door. There on the front porch, stood the hulking figure of his enraged stepfather. Alec quickly slammed it shut and leaned against it, trying to think how far he and Lucy would get before he tracked them down. His wife of course, chose that inauspicious moment to stroll in wearing his bathrobe. “Who's that?”

             
“W-Who?” he stammered innocently. “I don't see anyone.”

             
“At the door. I heard someone knocking.” She frowned at the look on her husband's face. “Alec, what's wrong?”

             
Alec didn't answer, but peered fearfully through the peephole.
Yeah, he was still there.
“He's found me,” he whispered back and locked the door.

             
“Who?” Lucy asked and flinched when the whole door shook. Whoever was on the other end wasn't in the most pleasant of moods. “Alec?” she whispered, thinking her husband had the right idea. “Who
is
that?”

             
“I can hear you in there, you little shite! Open the door before I knock it down!”

             
“Wait, here,” he told his wife, who stood wondering who the enraged beast was.

             
Alec steeled himself, unlocked the door, and flung it open. “Hi, Pat!” he said, striving for a casual nonchalance and failing miserably. “How's every little thing?”

             
Pat stormed past his stepson and immediately zeroed in on Lucy who made quite the impression in her state of dishabille with her hair piled on her head, soft tendrils framing her face, and wearing nothing but her husband's bathrobe. “Is
this
why you haven't answered my calls?”

             
“Sort of. If you'll let me exp---” Alec scratched his nose.

             
“So, yer mum is crying her eyes out wondering what the bloody hell happened to you and here you are
fucking
this slag!” He stalked towards her.

             
An involuntary squeak of fear escaped Lucy's throat, and she ran to cower behind her husband.

             
“That's enough, Pat!” Alec shouted in outrage. “She's my
wife!”

             
Pat stopped in his tracks. “W-What did you say?”

             
“You
heard
me!” Alec replied stiffly; he wasn't going to forgive him for that. “She's
my
wife!”

             
“Your...wife?” Pat repeated stupidly and stared at his stepson who was glaring at him like he'd like to wring his rotten neck. The poor girl was in tears, the doe-eyes peering at him fearfully from behind her husband's shoulder.
The nurse.
“Hello, miss,” Pat managed through a dry throat. She hid her face behind Alec and refused to acknowledge him. He'd gone and done it now. What a balls-up this turned out to be!

             
“Fuck off, Pat,” Alec said coldly, trying to console his wife.

             
“But---!”

             
“Later!” Alec insisted.

             
Pat skulked off feeling like a prick and left.

             
Alec sent Lucy to the bedroom and chased after him. “Tomorrow!” he called out, not waiting for an answer.

             
She lay staring up at the ceiling. Over the years, Lucy had been called a great many things, most of them unrepeatable by Vivian, but she'd have to give the award for the worst insult in the world to Alec's stepfather. She didn't need to know British slang to realize he'd called her a whore. She swiped at her eyes, not knowing why it hurt so much.

             
Alec opened the door and shut it. “That was Pat,” he said glumly. “And he'll be back tomorrow.” He went to her and lay down, taking her in his arms. “I'm sorry for that.”

             
She sniffed a little. “I guess he called me a whore.”

             
“I'll kill him for that.”

             
“No need,” she sighed, stroking his hair. “You were right, though.”

             
“Right about what?” He rested his head on her chest.

             
“He
is
tough.”

             
“He means well, I guess. He just doesn't know when to quit.”

             
“Are we still going out?'

             
“Do you still want to?”

             
“I need some fresh air.”

             
He raised his head and peered down into her reddened eyes. “What did you have in mind?”

              The trip to Catalina Island was just what the doctor ordered. They packed a picnic lunch and drove down the coast, listening to Alec's extensive ABBA collection.

             
“I didn't know you liked ABBA,” she said and changed the CD.

             
“Well, mum listened to them enough when she was carrying me. They were bound to rub off somehow.”

             
“Well, at least they can sing. Have you heard the warbling that passes for music these days?”

             
He laughed and waited for a truck to pass. “Pat just loves The Bee Gees.”

             
“Does he?” she said, popping a cracker into her mouth. “What's up with him anyway?”

             
“He had a rough childhood. His parents abandoned him when he was two and he had to go live with an aunt who didn't like children.”

             
“That's awful!”

             
“Yeah, he's had a rough go of it. I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on him. Though he probably needs a good hiding now and then if you ask me.” He glanced at her and smiled. “You could do it for me!”

             
“Please!” she made a face, rolling her eyes. “I only reserve
that
for the ones I love or those that have been acting like an arse!”

             
Alec chuckled at the memory and was glad he could do so. For a long while, he thought he'd lost her. “It wasn't all bad.”

             
“No....?”

             
“Nope. I know what you're capable of next time we have a fight. I can better defend myself!”

             
“And how would you do that?”

             
“I don't know yet,” he grinned and slowed at a tollbooth. “But I'm making plans!”

             
Lucy took out the CD and turned the radio to a '80s station. REO Speedwagon was droning on about how they couldn't fight this feeling anymore, and Alec's eyes widened in mock horror. “Perhaps I should expect the element of surprise?”

             
“I think that's a wonderful idea!” Their eyes met and they both burst out laughing. “Drive on, English... there are sights to see!”

             
“Yes, ma'am!”

              They drove to Long Beach and caught the ferry to Avalon. Once they disembarked, they traveled on foot. They strolled through the brick-lined streets, peering into various souvenir shops, and laughing at the inhabitants who zipped around on their golf carts. It was unseasonably warm this time of year, with the sun a bright glaring disc in the azure sky, and palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze. It was so good to get out and enjoy life, to hear the loud din of conversations and laughter, and know that she could finally take a deep breath and leave all the previous grief behind. 

             
They went into a nearby ice cream shop and indulged in scoops of vanilla and green tea. Then Alec decided he wanted to preserve their trip for posterity. He whipped out his phone and began snapping pictures like a little boy with his first camera. “Mum will love these!”

             
A strong breeze caught Lucy's straw hat and blew it onto the beach. She raced to retrieve it, but Alec told her to leave it. “Leave it!” he shouted at her. “You need some sun!”

             
“But Alec!” she protested, taking off a sandal and shaking the sand out. “I burn easily! What will you do with a lobster for a wife?”

             
He grinned and held up his phone. “Smile for the camera, love.”

             
“Oh no, you don't!” Lucy tried to evade the lens. “I take awful pictures!” The breeze was wrecking havoc with her hair, blowing it into her eyes, and generally being disagreeable. “I'm a mess!”

             
“You're gorgeous with your hair blowing like that.” He snapped a pic, grinning as his wife crossed her eyes at him and made silly faces. Her dress was flapping about her slender pins, revealing a glimpse of creamy skin, and he laughed when she tried to hold it down. “I hope you're wearing knickers under that thing!”

             
“That's none of your beeswax!” she retorted and tried to grab the phone. “Let me take a picture of
you
for a change!”

             
Alec struggled playfully with her before relenting and allowing her to take several shots of him taking his shoes and socks off, burying his toes into the hot sand, and nearly tripping over his feet when he realized what a horrible mistake it was to take one's shoes off when the sun has been baking sand all day. “Ouch!” he yelled, and Lucy caught the moment when he stood on one foot and fell onto the sand, swearing profusely.

             
“Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not wise to walk on sand in ninety-degree weather, English?” she teased lightly

             
“Very funny!” he grumbled and stood up, shaking the sand off. “Here,” he said, grabbing the phone, “let's take one together.”

             
He stood next to his wife and held the phone out and took a pic. After putting his shoes and socks back on, they inspected the photo and smiled at the two of them laughing into the camera. Alec took another one of Lucy kissing his cheek and him grinning like an idiot. “Want to stay and have dinner, wife?” he asked as he put the phone into his jean pocket.

             
“Can we?”

             
“I don't see why not.”

             
“Isn't your stepdad supposed to drop by tomorrow?”

             
“So?” Alec shrugged and took her hand. “It'll serve him right if we have a lie-in.”

             
She checked her watch. “It's not even four. What'll we do till then?”

             
He steered her toward a shady area and they sat down on a bench. “What do you want to do?”

             
Lucy reached up to smooth his hair. Being married certainly agreed with him. His eyes glowed and the fine lines around his mouth had faded. He'd already garnered several appreciative glances from the local women and a few men as well. “It's too bad we can't go on the glass bottom boat tour.”

             
He smiled at her and touched the tip of her nose. “Who says we can't?”