Somewhere in His Arms (49 page)

             
“I think we have to have a reservation.”

             
Alec eyed her mischievously. “Is that so, wife?”

             
She nodded and kissed his mouth lightly. “I've always wanted to go.”

             
“Why didn't you?”

             
“Dad was always busy and mama...” she trailed off, but managed a smile for her husband, “well, there just wasn't time, I guess.”

             
“Wait here,” he instructed and strolled off to speak to someone on his phone.

             
Lucy sat wondering what her handsome husband was up to now. He always seemed to have something up his sleeve, first the restaurant and now this. He came back looking very satisfied with himself. “They said to come on down.”

             
“What---!” she cried and peered up at him suspiciously. “How
did
you do that?”

             
He put a finger to his lips and whispered, “It's a secret!”

             
She rolled her eyes, protesting vigorously as he caught her hand and tugged her along with him. “Alec! What sort of secret gets you into underground tunnels and popular tourist attractions?”

             
“Stop tarrying, wife! What would it be if I couldn't have fun with a secret?”

             
“Some secret,” she huffed, struggling to keep up with his long strides. “I thought we agreed we wouldn't keep secrets from each other!”

             
Alec grinned back at her. “It's not that kind of a secret, love!”

             
“Oh? What kind is it then? Because I'd really like to know.”

             
“All in due time, wife!” he roared with laughter, tugging her along, and feeling like he could take on the whole world right at this moment. “It won't be any fun if I tell you right away.”

             
“Oh, for goodness' sake!” she grumbled under her breath and allowed her husband to cart her off to the Green Pier.

             
They were the last ones onto the boat, and were crammed in like sardines in a tin. But Lucy couldn't be happier. The captain gave them all tubes of fish food to entice the fish to swarm around the boat, and children squealed with glee as they pointed out the bright array of creatures to their confused parents. Alec was too busy watching his wife to take much notice of the schools of marine life bustling through the kelp. Her face was lit up, and her eyes sparkled with girlish excitement. She looked healthy, happy, and he was proud to have had a hand in that. She caught him looking at her and blushed, pointing to several orange fish that gathered for a feeding. He nodded and pointed out a fat sea bass that had its mouth open as if in contemplative horror at ending up on someone's dinner table.

             
Lucy giggled and peered into the glass once more as the boat made its way to Lover's Cove where they saw a few sea lions sunbathing on rocks and bald eagles screeching at them while they vied for the same fish. Forty-five minutes later, the boat pulled up to the pier and Alec took her to dinner.

             
They had lobster tacos and seafood pasta and talked about the upcoming move to London. Later they purchased a few items in a souvenir shop that Alec thought his mum would like. Then they reluctantly caught the ferry back to Long Beach with Alec promising her that they would come again before they left. They drove back just as the sun was streaking its passing across the sky. Brilliant shades of amethyst and scarlet lit their way, and Lucy turned on the radio for a little driving music. She stopped on an oldie from the '70s and turned it up. The mellow strains of England Dan & John Ford Coley filled the car with their hit “I'd Really Love to See You Tonight.”

             
Alec laughed at her choice and sang along with her.

              “Thank you,” she said, kissing him on the cheek while they were getting ready for bed.

             
“What for?”

             
“For the perfect day. It was just what I needed.”

             
He grinned through a mouthful of toothpaste. “I aim to please.”

             
She laughed as some foam dribbled onto his chin. “Hurry, up English! We're going to miss the beginning!”

             
“What?” he said as he rinsed his teeth.

             
“They're playing
Top Hat
on channel four,” she said, brushing her hair. “Don't you want to see the part where Edward Everett Horton gets a black eye?”

             
Alec came out wiping his face on a towel. “I don't think I want to be reminded at how far a woman will go when she's been scorned.” He slid into bed beside her. “I think I prefer it when Fred's dancing with Ginger.” He kissed her cheek and urged her down into his arms. “Maybe I should take you dancing.”

             
Lucy yawned. “I can't dance.”

             
“Neither can I.”

             
She ran a slender finger down his nose. “Then we'll do nicely”

             
Fred was twirling Ginger around in her feathered dress. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

             
“I think I'll ask Tia if she wants to go shopping.”

             
“I guess I'll have to throttle Pat all by myself.”

             
She giggled and snuggled closer. “You'll be fine, sweetie,” she sighed and drifted off.

             
Alec lay awake long after the movie ended. He wasn't so sure.

             
Pat could be difficult to deal with and twice as shrewd. He'd been a strict taskmaster growing up and partly the reason why Gavin ran away. Alec grew sleepy and turned the TV off. He drew closer to his wife and slept, dreaming of Lucy in her wedding gown.

              She was the first out of bed. She showered and changed into jeans and a light sweater as the first of the fall rains had begun its descent. Alec slept in and she let him, heading into the kitchen for a light breakfast, and prepared a batch of cookies for him and Pat to snack on while she was gone.

             
While the cookies baked, she unrolled puff pastry for some sausage rolls. She'd never made them before, so she wasn't certain how they were going to turn out. If she were lucky, they'd send Pat screaming back to London. Lucy laughed to herself over her little joke and called Tia to confirm their shopping date.

             
With that settled, she turned on the TV for a little company while she waited for Alec to rouse himself from his bed. She didn't have long to wait; he strolled in yawning and glancing at the clock. He kissed her cheek and flopped down beside her.              

             
“Why didn't you wake me, love?” he grumbled sleepily. “You let me oversleep.”

             
“You deserved a rest,” she said, kissing his nose. “Tia will be here soon. What are you going to do with yourself while I'm gone?”

             
He rested his head in her lap. “I don't know. Pat will show up and I'll have to hide in the bathroom.”

             
Giggling, she stroked his hair consolingly. “Poor baby.”  Lucy reached for the remote. “I think there's a soccer game today. You 'll enjoy that.”

             
“Who's playing?”

             
“Manchester United against West Ham, I think,” she said. “I made some sausage rolls for you to nibble on.”

             
He nuzzled his face into her lap.  “You didn't have to do that.”

             
“Well, since I never made them before, what better way to send your dad packing?”

             
Alec's shoulders shook with laughter. “They can't be
that
bad.”

             
“I don't know,” she said doubtfully, “they might put him in the hospital. It was a very trying recipe!”

             
“I have every faith in your cooking abilities, love.”

             
“Serve him right if they did,” she sniffed. The doorbell rang. “That'll be Tia,” she disentangled her limbs from her husband and flung open the door.

             
Tia stood in the chilly drizzle with a plastic rain scarf protecting her freshly permed 'do. “Ready,
nina?”

             
“Come in, Tia. Give me two minutes.” Lucy ushered her in to where Alec was sprawled on the sofa. “Alec will keep you company while I get my jacket.”

             
“Hola,
Mister Alec,” Tia smiled shyly.

             
“Hola,”
he smiled back warmly. “And where are you young ladies headed off to today?”

             
“Shopping and lunch at the mall.” Tia explained, inspecting her purse. “I decide to do my Christmas shopping.”

             
“It's a little early isn't it?”

             
“It's never early enough,” Lucy said dryly as she emerged from their bedroom wearing a fleece jacket and ankle boots. “You should have seen the crowds last year. Many didn't make it out alive!”

             
Alec laughed heartily at this. “That's why I shop online.”

             
“You just don't want to leave that sofa!” she scolded lightly and kissed his tousled hair. “When's Pat getting here?”

             
“He said he'd be here around twelve.”

             
Lucy tugged on a knitted hat and grabbed her purse. “I want you two to behave. No brawling now.”

             
“Who says we're gonna brawl?”

             
“You heard me!” She leaned down over him. “Want me to bring dinner?”

             
“If I'm still alive,” Alec grimaced, waving at Tia who stood near the door. “Whatever you want, love.”

             
Lucy opened the door for Tia and he called out, ”Be careful on those roads!”

             
“I will! Love you!” she called back and threw him a kiss.

             
“Love you, too!” he called, catching the kiss in mid-air, and patting it onto his cheek.

             
His wife rolled her eyes laughing and then she was gone.

             
Then Alec was all by his lonesome and he found he didn't care for it much. He checked the TV schedule for the football game and turned it on. He busied himself for an hour and nibbled on a sausage roll, which were delicious by the way, and didn't know why Lucy second-guessed herself, she was a damn fine cook.

             
He dozed on the sofa for about half an hour before the doorbell woke him up.

             
Alec peered through the peephole. Pat's balding head gleamed wetly at him. He looked so miserable that Alec almost felt sorry for him. He unlocked the door and Pat stomped his boots onto the welcome mat, swearing at the weather. “Rain's bloody awful! If I wanted rain I would've stayed in London!”

             
“Why didn't you?” his stepson drawled, taking his coat. “We're leaving in a few weeks anyway.”

             
“Because yer mum's worried herself sick that's why!”

             
“What's wrong with mum?” Alec said, alarmed. “It's not the cancer is it?”

             
“Nah, nothing like that,” Pat grunted, looking around the house. “Nice place.”

             
“What's wrong with mum?” his stepson demanded again, having paled considerably since opening the door.

             
“Keep yer knickers on, lad.” Pat gave him a reassuring tap on the shoulder. “Yer mum's full of beans. She's just worried about yer brother that’s all.”

             
Alec heaved a sigh of relief. “Aren't we all?” He urged Pat to sit down and offered him a drink. “I think there's some beer in the fridge.” Alec came back with a cold bottle. “We don't drink much,” he said ruefully. “Lucy bought that to make bread.”

             
Pat took a grateful draught before setting the bottle down on the coffee table. “So where's the missus? I wanted to apologize.”

             
“She went out with a friend.” He sat down in a chair across from his stepdad. “You hurt her pretty bad, old boy.”

             
The man winced and flushed in embarrassment. “I'm sorry lad. I didn't mean to hurt the lass.”

             
Alec nodded stiffly. “She made some sausage rolls and biscuits for us.” He headed into the kitchen and put them on a plate. He handed it to Pat who took a roll with an expression of mild amusement on his weathered face. His expression soon changed to one of delightful bewilderment. “Blimey! She
can
cook!”