8

Madison tapped her index finger against her mouth restlessly. Nina sighed in disapproval of her mother's clear sign of angst. She rolled her eyes. "Oh mom, come on. It's okay to be calm."

"I can't help it. I'm not your father. And I am very upset."

"Clearly." Nina smiled. "Charles!" She called out. "Could you please ask Mattie to fix mom a drink. Preferably something strong."

"Vodka." Quincy spoke. Watching Madison glare at her daughter.

"Vodka! For two. Daddy wants one too."

"Right away Miss." The door bell was rung on his way back from delivering the message. Charles drew back in surprise. "Miss Lucille." She raised her hand over her mouth, signaling him to be quiet. "Miss Lucille, the whole house has been worried about you." He chose to whisper instead.

"There's never been any need to worry Charles. I needed some time to myself. How else would I come back looking so pretty." She kissed his cheeks.

"Beyond pretty Miss Lucille."

She smiled. "Where's everyone?"

"In the den."

She nodded. Leaving her bag by the door. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress as she made her way to the den. "I don't need a drink Nina. And neither do you Quin. Stop trying to get me angry the both of you."

Lucille smiled, before winking at Nina who noticed the sound of her clicking heels before she walked in. Madison was too busy talking to notice and Quincy was too busy tuning everything out. "Hey Lulu."

Hearing Nina call her pet name for Lucille made Madison turn to the door. At which point, she gasped as she got to her feet. "Lucille." Her surprise quickly turned into a scowl. "Where the devil have you been? Two weeks."

"I needed to think?"

"To think? I could hit you." She raised her hand.

Lucille flinched. "Yes I did. I couldn't stay here where you'll smother me. I needed to be away from that and all the questions and the more questions that would follow because people would find out."

"Those questions will still be asked." She pointed out.

"And now, I'm ready." She doubted her own response.

"Where did you go Lucille?"

She kept quiet for a few seconds. "You wouldn't know where. And it wasn't a hotel."

"And you didn't tell anyone?"

"Why would I? It defeats the purpose."

"Of what?"

"Look, Maddy. What's important is she's back. Stop hounding her with questions." Quincy said.

"Did your father know where you were? Did Nina?" She ignored her husband.

"If they did, I don't know. Did you Nina?" Nina shook her head. Doing her best to keep from laughing. And Lucille's smile wasn't helping. "It's about time daddy passed his all knowing power to someone."

"Hey. I said I didn't know anything. And mom wouldn't- refused to believe me." Nina corrected.

"How is the baby? I hope nothing hap- in fact, come on. We're going to the hospital."

"Baby's fine mom. I was at the hospital before I came here."

"That explains how daddy knew you were coming." Nina mentioned.

"Wha-"

"I missed you too mom." She hugged her mother, stopping her from asking more questions. "I'm sorry you got so worried. I'm fine, baby's fine." She moved to her father. "Hi daddy." Hugging him.

"I don't know why she was so worried. Even aunt Rachel didn't have this much questions when she found us that time we ran away." Lucille stood in front of Nina. "How did thinking work for you?"

"It was good actually."

"Yeah? So Nick's been coming over."

"To do what?" Her expression changed. As did the tone of her voice. A hint of anger.

"Looking for you. He was here like every other day. He never stayed long though."

"Maybe that's because someone was staring at him and making him uncomfortable." Madison mentioned, looking at Nina.

"Who me?" Nina faked surprise. "If he was uncomfortable that's on him." Lucille nudged her, her smile back. "By the way, mom's keeping you here."

"What?" Her smile disappeared.

"Oh! I'm keeping my eyes on you."

"Mom, I'm not a teenager. You didn't even keep me locked up then."

"I wasnt there then, so I'm doing it now." Nina laughed.

"Fine. But I have to see the kids. Can I do that? On my own?"

"Fine. But not yet. Maybe in a few days."

"Poor kids must have been worried sick."

"Considering the fact that mom was panicking, I'm sure everyone is worried." Nina stated. None of them realised when Quincy left.

Two days passed with the girls at their parents house. Both girls were seating on beach chairs by the clear blue water of the house swimming pool. Feeling the warmth of the morning sunning their skins. "So don't be surprised if you see the housekeeper. Mom says you're going to need help around the house."

"She's right. I've thrown up twice this morning already and I'm tired all the time."

"You know, I heard that happens when you're pregnant."

"Hm." Lucille smiled. "Funny." Nina smiled brightly. "So I met someone. He was nice." She changed the subject.

"Ohhh! A he." Nina said in excitement. "I told him about" She pointed at her stomach. "Right after he asked me to dinner. It's too bad though. I could tell he was fun."

"Oh yeah? Enough flirting to tell?"

"Yeah."

"Geegee thinks you're upset with her." The subject changed again.

"For what?" She looked at Nina. Her sunglasses making everything look dull and grey."

"Cause she told me about you being pregnant."

"She did me a favour. I don't think I would have been able to tell you. Much less anyone else. I don't even know how I told Nick."

"That's exactly what I told her." They fell silent. "What's going to happen with Nick?"

"I've had a lot of time to think about it and honestly, who cares? Don't bring him up again. He's an asshole." Nina chuckled. A sound that was broken by someone clearing their throat. Both girls looked back, pulling down their sunshades to the tip of their noses. Seeing Nick, standing with his hands in his pockets. If Nick had been standing there when she insulted him, it didn't bother her.

He'd heard her say it. And didn't know how to react. "Lucille, Hi." He acknowledged the older sister. "Nina."

Both girls looked back at the pool. "Hi." Lucille said. The one word, completely cold and distant.

He stood there with a little to no expression on his face. "How a-" Suddenly overwhelmed with nausea and ready to throw up, she got up and ran for the nearest bathroom.

Nina laughed. "Wow! Your presence makes her vomit." She got to her feet. "I wonder if it's her, or the baby that's nauseated by you." She glared.

Charles came out of nowhere. " Miss Lucille needs your help Miss Nina."

"If you'll excuse me, I have to go hold my sister's hair while she throws up." She backed him. "Show him the door will you Charles. And why wasn't he announced?"

"I was going to. But Mrs. Lawes was leaving the house and she stopped me. She told him where to find Miss Lucille." Nina nodded. Walking away from them.

Nick clenched his jaw. "This way Mister Atkins."

He shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I need to talk to Lucille. Tell her it's important."

Charles nodded. He came back with a message. "Miss Lucille is unwell. And does not want to see you."

"Tell her we need to talk. Please. She knows we need to talk."

"She is unwell Mister Atkins." He had to remind the man.

"Then show me to her room."

"I can't do that."

"Then I'm not leaving."

"Thank you Charles." Nina said. Closing Lucille's room door.

"I forgot he's like that."

"Ignore him."

Lucille laid down. Hugging a pillow. "He won't go away. He'll just keep asking. It's brutally annoying. And I don't want to put Charles through that."

"I'm sure he'll leave. Doesn't he have to work?"

"There's that." Lucille smiled. "He's always busy. There's no way he'll be here all day."

Not much later, Charles returned with a message. "He said he's cleared his schedule. And he's here to apologise and will wait as long as he has to."

"So that's why he's been coming over here." It wasn't just to see her.

"I'll be out soon Charles. Thank you." Charles nodded and left.

"You're going?" Nina asked, stunned.

"He won't stop. And I'm thinking of Charles. And I'm already getting angry. Let's just get this over with."

So much hostility in her steps and the way she moved. She had on a light long grey house coat. Somehow, it made him think of that night. And again, he couldn't help thinking she knows his secrets, knows what he's doing. He shifted his weight. Convincing himself that she didn't. "Hi." She nodded. "I'm-"

"Speed this up Mister A." She kept herself a few feet away from him.

"Call me Nick."

"Is that why you're here?" Still cold. Not a change in her tone.

He smiled sharply. "I'm sorry. I was... acted worse than an asshole." Now she knows he heard her. "I didn't know who you are at the time and my reaction was-"

She laughed, "Do you even know what you're apologising for?" She folded her arms.

"Umm." He scratched the back of his neck. Strange, she has him racking his brain and feeling very unsure of the confidence he came in with. Is he not saying what he's supposed to?

She laughed some more. Shaking her head at his silence. "Well? You can't come here and have nothing to say. You said you want to apologise."

"What am I apologising for then?"

"For believing that everyone wants your money. That I want your money." She spat. "It's not about your reaction because obviously, you wouldn't be happy if someone springs that on you. You don't know me. I'm not your girlfriend. You insulted me Nick. You implied that I want your money. That's why you're an asshole. Not everyone wants your money." She stopped to breathe. "Or anything else from you."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

"Okay. Have a nice day." She flashed a smile. "Wait. How did you know I'm around?"

"I didn't. I left work and when I saw you, I cleared my schedule."

Lucille nodded. "Now you can go back to work."

"I was hoping-"

"Have a nice day Nick." She walked off. "You came to apologise and you have." Running into an eavesdropping Nina. Who looked proud of her sister.

What the hell just happened? Nick smirked.

There's no putting it off now. She'd have to tell them. Or what would be her reason for gathering all the kids in the common room. She cleared her throat for the umpteenth time. Her heart felt like it would drop. So many pairs of eyes staring at her, waiting to hear what she had to say. She let out a shaky breath, wiggling her fingers on her right hand. Why is it so hard to do this. It wasn't this hard with Nick. It had to be done. "I was away, because I found out I'm pregnant." There! All said.

Gasps and all other remarks expressing shock followed. "Are you serious? You're having a baby?" Was the somewhat chorused question. The girls stared with wide pleased eyes.

"So someone tapped that?" One of the teenage boys commented.

Another boy hit him, "of course someone did, you fool. Look at her."

"Ew! You guys are disgusting." Came the voice of Odette, other girls agreeing with her.

"It doesn't stop it from being the truth."

Lucille couldn't help smiling as an argument broke out among the children. The children below twelve watched in confusion. "That's why you were away?" A little girl asked.

Lucille nodded. Everyone fell silent. "I didn't know how to handle it. So I wanted to be alone. I know you were all worried. I still don't to be honest." She muttered the last sentence to herself.

A storm of questions followed. And she did her best to answer them. At some point while she spoke, she noticed a moping girl in the corner. She wasn't the only one though. "Who's the father?"

Another question was asked before she could call the girl's attention. "Umm... you don't him. Or you might, depending on what you read."

"Oh tell us Lucille please."

"Do you love this guy? Is he your boyfriend?" The questions of a boy hurt that his crush was having someone's baby. Just before he was smacked in the head by a boy behind him."

"Hey! Don't hit him. It's a good question. Is this mystery person your boyfriend aunt Lucille?"

"Wait. Wait a minute." She turned to the moping girl. "Connie, what's wrong?" Connie shook her head. "Come on. Tell me." Connie kept quiet. Everyone in the room was looking at her. "You're not the only one. Do any of you want to say something? Everyone else has questions."

No one said a word. Connie sighed. "You wouldn't have time for us anymore."

Lucille's forehead creased. "Is that what you guys think?"

"You were away for more than two weeks. Thats a sign to me." Someone muttered. She couldn't tell who. This turn on the subject reduced the excitement in the room.

"That's not going to happen. I just needed to think. And I've thought, and I'm back. I'll always have time for you. All of you."

"But what about when the baby comes? First Nina leaves and soon it'll be you."

"That's not going to happen."

"Babies are a handful. We see the way the nannies run around all night when they start to cry, we hear them complaining. You'll probably be too tired to come over even for five minutes."

Lucille smiled. "Did you know I had a job? Worked for almost eighteen hours sometimes. Helping my boss. And I always came here. I let Rinnie do my make up, or Odette. I listened to Estelle and the girls sing and boys' the bands. I talked to all of you and played with all of you, helped most of you with your problems, tried to keep some of you from bullying others, helping out with your homeworks. And I helped the nannies with the babies too.

"Do you remember when you came here Connie? Look at you now. You're fifteen. And I'm still here. You thought I would leave you but I didn't. You all thought the same thing at one point or another. Nothing's going to change. I promise."

"You would bring the baby with you right?" Betty asked.

"What kind of person would I be if I didn't?" Lucille smiled. "There's nothing to worry about you guys. I wouldn't leave you. Not anytime soon anyway."

All those questions had given her a headache. And she didn't feel like talking to anyone, so she decided to spend an hour or three in her own house. Lucille fell asleep on the couch. Thirty minutes into her nap, she woke up with a start at the sound of a knock on her door. "I'm coming!" She called out. Dragging her feet.

Wes stood before her, looking broken. Heart broken and confused. A very sad look on his face as he asked, "You're pregnant?"

It stung, it stung her to see him look like that, and hear the words come out of his mouth. A lump formed in her throat. Her eyes burning with welling up tears. "Who told you?"

"I got a call from one of the kids. I was worried when no one could find you. So when he told me you were there, I went right over, but you'd already left." The pain was in his voice. "They kept asking if it was me. If I'm the father of your baby. Tell me Lucille, are you?"

She looked up, blinking away the tears. Her answer lodged in her throat. Why was this so much worse than telling the kids or Nick? And all she has to do is give an answer. Wes' pain only grew worse the more he stood before her. She didn't even think of him until now.

"For who?" Her silence gave him the answer he hoped was a lie. "Tell me Lucille." She shook her head. He nodded and turned around.

"Nick." She said. Rushing after him. She didn't want him thinking she didn't know who the father is because she shook her head. He stopped walking. "Nick Atkins." And she had thought it would be best not to tell him. He nodded again. "Wes I-"

"Congratulations." It hurt too much.

"Wes-"

"I'll see you later Lucille. I've Umm... I've got somethings to take care of." He never looked back. Not even while he got in his car or drove off.

"Hey." Geegee greeted Nina. Walking into the den. "How are you."

"I'm fine." Nina sat up, taking her feet off the coffee table, reducing the volume of the television.

"How's Luce?"

"She's upset."

She sat next to her friend, her worry very clear. " Why? Did one of the kids say something?"

Nina shook her head. "Wes."

"Wes?" Geegee gasped when she realised. "Wes! I forgot about Wes. What happened?" She moved closer.

"One of the kids told him. Apparently, he found her at our place and was really upset. Luce said he looked angry and sad."

"Well of course he would be. Not only is the girl he likes suddenly carrying someone else's child, he heard it from a group of kids."

"I don't even want to think about it. Anyway, she came back upset. We were in the kitchen and she smashed a glass against the wall."

"If she did that, then she was more than upset."

"It's the hormones I'm guessing. She'd been crying."

"Oh my goodness. Wes." Geegee shook her head.

"Yeah. You're not going to be able to ask her about Nick."

"Oh of course not. Not today at least." She sighed. "I need a drink." She stood up, and headed for the kitchen. "Maybe we should go out. Change her mood a little."

Madison didn't like that her daughter's were packing up to leave. And her attempts to convince them to stay were failing. "At least another week."

"Mom, my agent called. I've got an audition to go to."

"You said it's just a formality."

"Yeah. But I'd prefer it if I go and I still get the part. It's more fulfilling that way." Nina smiled, glancing at Lucille who was piling clothes on her bed.

"Then you stay Lucille."

"What?" She'd been acting like she wasn't part of the conversation. "Oh no. I'm not staying here."

"What is this? It's a really big house, you can stay here till the baby's born."

"Not even till this Saturday?" Lucille blinked in shock. Nina laughed. "Mom, it's a big deserted house. Only you and daddy stay here. Everyone else is in the employee house."

"Besides, we're used to much small spaces. Which is why we got that place."

"We should never have sent you there." Madison hissed. The girls shared a look and laughed. "Look at you two. You can barely keep a room messy."

"Well aunt Rachel never let us leave our room till it was clean. And when we got to high school, we were used to it. Not to mention college."

"Aunt Rachel." Madison huffed. "She's Mattie's cousin for crying out loud." The sisters were forced to leave their parents and move to Italy when their family lost its fortune. They were nine and seven years old. Damages caused by the Lawes businesses had death threats being sent to Quincy who's grandfather was the head of the company before his death, and Quincy's cousin, his father's right hand man. His cousin and grand father's problems were shoved on his shoulders. With not much to take care of the girls and for the sake of their protection, he sent them away. Mattilda their cook who never left their side helped them find a place in her cousin's home in Italy. Rachel, also known as uncle Richie's half sister.

The girls were sent to boarding school at ages eleven and thirteen. Quincy made back everything his grandfather had lost and more. At which time, the girls were seventeen and fifteen. The girls were allowed to go home. But decided to finish high school in Italy and see their parents during holidays. When Lucille was done with high school, both girls were taught how to handle the new family business within six months. Madison and Quincy didn't get to see their daughter's grow up. Madison still hated that defining fact.

Madison sighed. "There's no winning with you two Redies."

"Oh mom!" Lucille tilted her head. "I'll be here for another two days."

"Of course that's what you'll say. Suck up."

Lucille shoved a pillow at Nina. "Cause I'm trying to make her feel better?"

"But the thing is, it won't." Nina was ready to throw the pillow back.

Madison gasped. "Nina! The baby!"

Nina gasped, dumping the pillow immediately. "You're right!"

Lucille smiled slyly. "I can get away with anything."

"Six months Lulu. Just you wait." Nina spat, Lucille laughed.

Melanie moved restlessly on the couch in Nick's office. Her intention; to get his attention away from his work and focused on her. But he wasn't budging. Not even a slight glance her way. And it only made her more restless than she was pretending to be. She groaned, giving up. "Why aren't you paying attention to me?"

"Because I'm busy Mel." He didn't look at her.

"Can't someone do your work for you? Come and spend time with me on the couch."

"Somethings have to be taken care of by me. If you're bored here, you can leave. You don't have to come here."

She arched a perfectly lined eyebrow. "Is that your way of telling me to stop coming to see you?"

Yes. "No. It's my way of saying, your presence is distracting enough that if I look at you, I'll stop working. I need to work."

"Oh really?" She smirked, getting to her feet and crossing the distance between the couch and his desk. Nick smiled, writing down something as she drew nearer to him. She slipped her warm gentle hands under his strong jaw. "Look at me."

He chuckled. Moving his head away to continue writing. "Stop it Mel."

She giggled. "Mm-mm." She tried to move his face. He stiffened his neck, it looked effortless. "Come on Nick. You know you want to."

"You are so tempting."

"And you are so hot." She brought her face down to his. "Give in."

"Work Mel." His head was finally in her direction, but his eyes weren't. He stopped writing and picked up the receiver. Pen and receiver in one hand, while he dailed with the other. "Yes." He said once the Secretary picked up. "Tell the driver to bring the car around."

"Are we going out?" Melanie asked excitedly.

She wouldn't like the next part. "He'll be taking me to Miss Lucille La-" He wasn't sure if people now know who she is. Probably not. "Miss Lucille's place."

"Yes Mister A."

A sound of shock and disbelief escaped Melanie's mouth. "Are you for real right now?" Just as expected. She stood straight, planting her hands on her hips. "You refuse to even look at me and now you're going off to see some Lucille?"

"It's work Mel." He finally looked at her.

"Like hell it is." She frowned.

Nick sighed. "I don't care if you believe me. If you're going to keep being upset, then leave. I don't want a headache." She crossed her arms. "We can talk about this tomorrow. If it really bothers you?"

"Really?" Her hands fell to her sides.

It would be so easy to say no. "Yeah. But I don't see what the big deal is. It's just work."

"Have you seen you?" She scoffed.

Yes. But someone doesn't. And probably wouldn't.

The front door was already being opened just as he was about to start knocking. A woman opened the door, hand bag perched on her shoulder. "Hi." He greeted.

"Hello."

"Is Lucille in? Lucille Lawes?"

"Yes." She stepped aside. Letting him in. "Good bye."

"Good bye." He walked in and closed the door silently behind him. The heel of his shoes clopping with every slow step he took. He looked around the livingroom room. In seconds, he was drawn to the the glass windows that made it possible for him to see the back yard that looked like a perfect drawing of clear water, blue from the tiles of the swimming pool and hot tub with rays of sunshine hitting the water. Not to mention the lamppost in the corner. He was moving towards the beautiful sight but stopped when he noticed something else; Blood on the floor. His forehead creased. Drops of blood trailing from both sides of the livingroom room until it vanished down two doors; left and right. Could it possibly be? He chose to follow the trail of blood on his left side. Which, he didn't know, led to a room and a store room.

Why would that lady leave her all alone at a time like this? Was she a nurse? Lucille should be in the hospital. Why was there so much blood if not because she's losing the baby? Or has lost it. The closer he got, he could the sound of things being moved around. One door was closed and the other stood ajar, the one where the sound of rummaging was coming from. He stepped through the open door frame and stopped when he saw Lucille. A scowl on her face, one hand holding the other lower arm tight. Stained with blood and the hand being held moving things around a shelf.

Lucille could feel something wasn't right. So she turned and jolted at the unexpected presence of Nick in her door way. "What the hell?" Her scowl grew deeper. She faced the shelf again, moving further down. Searching for the first aid kit. She should have kept it somewhere closer by now. And what is he doing here? "What are you doing here? How did you get it in?" She kept searching, moving linens aside.

"I wanted us to talk. The woman let me in."

"What are you doing here?"

"I just told you." Still so hostile.

"Here. In my door way."

"I saw blood and I was worried that-"

"That I'd lost the baby? The baby's fine." She wrapped a bandage on her cut.

"Let me help you."

"I can do it myself thanks." He nodded, a small smile on his face. Lucille smoothed out the perfectly wrapped white bandage with a sigh. She walked past him, pulling her cell phone out if her trouser pocket. "Tricia." He followed her to the livingroom.

"Yes Lucille." The maid answered.

"Could you come back for a minute?"

"Right away."

Lucille turned to look at Nick. He stood a few steps away from her. Clearly not in the mood for his presence and yet knowing she won't be able to get him to leave. "Sit."

"Thank you. If I may," He started as he took his seat. The chair and a half very comfortable. He crossed his legs. A swift glare from her and he uncrossed them. What just happened? "How did you injure yourself?" He cleared his throat. When did he start feeling this way around her? Like he can be here forever and yet he can't wait to leave. Runaway is more like it. It was so much better when she ignored him. Her time working on his office couch. That same feeling like she took all his power from him. But even worse now.

"I was opening a can of tomato juice. I reached for something and cut my arm on the tin when I grabbed it."

"This much blood?"

"I'm a bleeder. One cut and it's like I'm a fountain."

"I'm sorry."

She nodded." Tricia, came into the livingroom. "Tricia." Lucille smiled.

"Yes Miss Lucille? Did I not do something? Is that blood?"

"You did everything. I cut myself. I'll clean it up, don't worry." She took a deep breath. "Did you let this man in?"

She looked at him. "Yes I did." She nodded.

"Ok. You're fired."

Nick snapped his head in Lucille's direction. He wasn't the only one in shock. "But

Miss Lucille I-"

"You're fired."

"Wait." Nick got up. "Hold on. That's not-"

"Have you seen him before?" The anger was in her eyes, growing worse. Tricia shook her head. "Did you come to tell me someone was looking to see me?"

"No but-"

"What if he's dangerous or wants to hurt me?" She stopped smiling.

"I'm sorry Miss Lu-"

"There's no need for this Lucille. It was a mistake." He frowned.

Tricia nodded. "Yes it was."

"You're fired Tricia!"

"Lucille, wait. It was a mistake." He repeated.

"So if he was dangerous. Which he probably is, I'll be dead. Or hurt."

"I'm sorry." Tricia's voice trembled.

"It was a mistake Lucille. She wouldn't do it again. Mistakes happen."

"Yes! They do. And look where that's got me." She looked at him. Very angry.

His eyes moved from her face to her stomach. Shocked as he understood. "You can't mean that. That's not fair." His face softened.

"Life's not fair. Please leave Tricia. You're fired. Nothing he says will change my mind. So don't hope for it."

"Please Lucille." Tricia begged.

"Get out!" She yelled. Fists tight by her sides. Tricia jolted. She stood there for a second before she slowly walked out.

Nick and Lucille stood there, staring at each other. Why is he saying all of this? "Lucille-"

"Don't call my name. Don't say it." She wagged her finger at him, warning him.

He sighed. "You shouldn't say that."

"So it wasn't a mistake?" He kept quiet. "We were in an accident Nick. I stopped thinking. I shouldn't have stopped thinking."

"And apparently I was?"

"Do I know you? How would I know if you were."

Was he? He rubbed his forehead. "Okay. You're upset."

"What? You don't have an answer?"

"You don't know me. And I don't know you. But mistake or not, this is our child." Why is he doing this? "And I'm going to be here for you." She clenched her jaw. It didn't suit her. "Please. Let's go out to lunch. And we can talk about this. Calmly."

"I can make lunch."

"I made reservations." He cleared his throat again. "Please."