Somewhere in His Arms (81 page)

             
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 pet
ite 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 be
droom 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 rig
ht 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.