Tomorrow, Lucas' Mother Is Coming

Tomorrow was dressed and ready to go. Niesha was finishing up, brushing her hair out. It still held most of the curls left from yesterday's beautiful hairdo. Preferring to shower when she returns to her apartment, they were ready to go as the agents entered the room. Right now, twisting and lifting her arms above her shoulders was out of the question. 

The bullet barely penetrated her chest lodging between her ribs cracking two, but otherwise, she was in good shape. Lucas protected her. Whether he knew she was about to be shot or not they may never know. She does know he was not attempting to kiss her when he turned them so quickly. She will always believe he knew and saved her. Tears dripping from her cheeks they pushed her wheelchair out the front door scanning the neighborhood for anything strange.

Tomorrow sat quietly in the FBI Agent's car, with Niesha following right behind like a pit bull chasing its bone. Hell, no, she is not losing her, she loved her job, and they were the best boss' ever. Rumors are running wild with the threat that Lucas' mother was coming, and the bitch was taking over, had everybody on edge. 

Tomorrow doesn't know if they called and told them she was coming or they have been holding vigil, but the crew waited under the covered drive thru for her. Diego opened the car door for her and received a hug for his efforts clinging to him as the Agents surrounded her. Scooping her up, as he had seen Lucas do so often, Diego took her inside as the others followed. He had this she was going to be protected. 

Agent Smith drives away; he had to check on Martinez the shooter. He needs to stay alive to answer more questions. Other Agents are coming to take him to a secure cell back on the mainland. Ramos and he will be heading back to Texas tomorrow as long as nothing happens before that.

At the hotel, their expression was glad to see her, but sad at the situation. Laurel walked up to give a ginger hug. "Did we lose all our customers?" Tomorrow asked, expecting the worst. 

"NO, and the ones here will be gone tomorrow and the next group will come in after they leave. Odds are they won't know anything unless someone tells them," Laurel said pointedly loud at the staff. 

Rocco strides from the restaurant, "Oh, sweetheart it is so good to see you," he announced his booming voice filled the lobby. "I have done something, and I hope you won't be mad," he said in a very New York accent. 

Receiving a lot of worried looks Tomorrow gave him all her attention having Diego let her stand, "tell me what you did," she answered light heartedly he can't be leaving her, please.

"I contacted a few friends and have found two who are interested in helping out as the manager for the hotel. Both have years of experience in New York, but a hotel is a hotel right."

Taking his hand and squeezing it. He seemed too afraid to touch her, so she made the connection as Diego set her on her feet hanging on to her arm to steady her.

"Thank you, Rocco, that would be very helpful. Do I get to interview them, or have you been offered the job?" 

"No, I told them to expect to hear from either me or you, soon. Once I knew you would be Ok, I started calling. Running a hotel is time consuming and can be difficult," Rocco said his concern for her is evident. She looked like she was fading fast. He had seen her, and Lucas interact and knew they loved each other. It was evident in the way they looked at each other. He also knew she was not after his money; she came from money he could tell that also. 

"Believe me I know, and I appreciate your help. Let me get settled and you come and tell me about them Ok."

"Perfect, just call the kitchen. Do you want some fruit and bacon?"

He watched the tears come to her eyes and cupped her chin, "I'm sorry sweetie," he told her sincerely. 

Gulping back the tears, "thanks that sounds good," Tomorrow said, and David took her elbow and led her to the elevator Diego followed closely behind them in case he needed to catch her.

"I was going to go back to my apartment," she told him, a little disoriented at where she was going.

"No, we have that three-room suite and an empty room. We need to protect you until arrangements can be made for you somewhere safe."

"Is that why both of you have been scanning the countryside the whole way?"

"Yes, they know you're still alive. We have to protect you. Niesha can bring you whatever you want from your apartment. They won't mistake her for you." Agent Ramos said. Niesha agreed, still following them closely as did three other employees. They didn't need the damned FBI; they could take care of her. "What good did they do for Lucas?" Diego said, keeping his own visual for trouble. 

Moments later Tomorrow stepped into her favorite suite. It was a corner room with a balcony that wrapped around the building. It gave you a beautiful view of the beach and the ocean beyond. "No wonder you aren't looking to leave David," Tomorrow said, walking unsteadily in his grasp. 

Taking her straight to the room he chose for her, he would let Niesha fawn over her. He had calls to make. It sounds like her employees have the place covered and Rocco's smart thinking is a Godsend. She desperately needs a manager. He noticed Pearson or Laurel didn't step up for the job. He knows they have degrees in hotel management. They checked out everyone when they first got here. They are both young so maybe they aren't ready for that responsibility. 

Hearing that Tomorrow is asleep David finally had a chance to go over the different memory cards on the cameras. A few were cheap disposable film cameras he would have to take to a photo shop to see those pictures. Finding many interesting pictures before the wedding shots, he chuckled at a few. He got a different idea about island life. 

Downloading the wedding, he slipped the memory card back into the camera and went to the next. The sixth camera he found a picture and a view of the shooter. Finding one with a view of the other side of the room they snapped just as they were to kiss and the look on Lucas's face told him he was right. He saw the shooter and turned to save her. After downloading hundreds of pictures, he had his answer, Lucas loved her more than his own life. Thinking he hadn't thought to just drop. It may have saved them. Hindsight is great. 

Noticing the time, he knew they only had about fifteen minutes before hurricane mom was to arrive. 

Niesha stepped out of Tomorrow's room and David noticed she had taken a shower and was sitting on the balcony drying her hair in the breeze with the afternoon sun shining on her. What a beautiful scene, he thought. But it threw him into panic mode, scrambling to her balcony door. That damn blond hair of hers was like a matador with a red cape to the raging bulls who wanted to kill her. 

"Tomorrow what do you think you're doing," David demanded as he crossed the room.

She smiled as he reached the door. "Go ahead and look, no one is on the beach in either direction," Tomorrow told him, relaxing back in her lounger. 

David stepped out to see her view. "No, there was no one on the beach, but boats bobbed in the water a good five hundred feet offshore. "A man with a sniper rifle and scope could get you from any of those boats. Please come in and don't open your drapes again," David demanded. Reaching out he took her hand and carefully helped her up keeping his body between the beach and her. "Your mother-in-law will be here soon. Can I do anything for you?"

"Yeah, tell her I'm not here," Tomorrow told him, smiling again. 

"I'd say your pain killers are working well," David noted as he walked her to a chair in the living area.

"They are," she said. "I took the last two. I figured I would need them to put up with his mother. He said she is a real bitch. He didn't want her to know he was getting married. I forgot you would be here to help me. So, if she tries to hurt me, you'll stop her, right?" Tomorrow asked, he was right she was feeling no pain. 

"I'm here to protect you." David said and cupped the back of her head. "I'm sorry this happened, we thought you were safe here." 

Tears dripped down her cheeks as he knelt next to her and carefully encompassed her in his embrace.

"I should have gone with you and hid in your basement. If I had, he would still be here," she said, holding his shoulders as she cried. 

"No, he loved you sweetie, don't let what happened dampen the love you two felt. I know he loved you more than life itself. You need to hang on to that." The phone rang in the room. "Warning, warning she is on her way." Laurel told him.

"Thanks."

"She is coming, right?" Tomorrow asked. Before he could answer, she was up looking in the mirror. 

"Sweetie you're beautiful don't worry," David offered. To him she could not look more beautiful in his eyes. He just hopes she doesn't laugh and smile with his mother, it might set her off if she does.

With a knock on the door, they looked at each other, she smiled, and he shook his head denoting it was not appropriate. 

"Right, I'm sad," she reminded herself. 

David opened the door, as Tomorrow sat down, her knees were about to give out she had sparkles, but she felt they were from nerves not her brain trying to give way. She was not sad, she was devastated. If she gets to be, too much I'll pass out, she decided. She was doing her best not to pass out as it is. 

A woman with platinum blond hair sprayed stiff with four-inch heels, a teal designer dress, carrying one of those designer yellow handbags she always wanted, walked into the room as if she owned the place. Tomorrow didn't stand even though she felt like royalty walked in. She felt she was losing points with her for not giving her a deep royal curtsy. She definitely looks like the point's type of person. She wondered how many points she may have lost by marrying Lucas. Looking for a resemblance to Lucas, she fixated on her lips without all the lipstick, possibly, but nothing else jumped out to say I'm his mother. 

"Mrs. Berrington I'm Agent Comorian of the FBI. We are trying to ensure Tomorrow's safety." 

The woman's eyes hadn't quit moving as she entered the suite, giving him a second of her attention, then they settled on Tomorrow. She walked towards her. An angry smile flashed across her face. "Too bad you weren't worried about my son's welfare. This has to be the woman who manipulated my son into marrying her. I read your white trash story on the computer. Why was my son shot?" She demanded and then went on to berate Tomorrow. "You and that family's involvement in the drug world and you come here and drag my son into your crap," she shouted and finally the resemblance was there. 

She had the same anger lines as Lucas. She looked like she used them more often than he did. She saw them on him when the FBI first came here. She wondered if she was supposed to answer her or just let her vent. 

With her mother, she would have just sat and taken the tongue-lashing. How was she to know, was the only thing she could think to say back. It was all hidden from me and the world, even the FBI is having a hard time figuring this one out. But apparently, Lucas's mother has figured it all out. Glancing up at David, she wondered what happened; he was supposed to protect her. Catching that look Lucas told him about he stepped in. Apparently, she had no points left for her.

"Mrs. Berrington there is no evidence that she had anything to do with drugs if that is even the answer. Tomorrow had no idea that the family was involved in anything illegal. The man was running for Senator so back off," David said protectively standing over Tomorrow's shoulder. 

Taking David's hand Tomorrow stood towering over this vindictive little woman. 

She watched as the girl stood, she was younger than Lucas and gorgeous no wonder he fell for her. 

"It is nice to meet you Mrs. Berrington. Believe it or not, I loved your son very much. I didn't trick your son into marrying me. He asked me repeatedly to marry him before I agreed. If I had any idea, he could have been hurt because of me, I would have gone to Alaska and hid in an igloo. 

If you want to blame someone, wait until the FBI finds the men involved. I hope you enjoy your visit. I know Lucas was proud of what he accomplished with his hotel. Out of respect for your son, remember he loved me." She turned, clinging to David's arm, looking into his eyes as her knees gave way. That is all she could do for her; she could understand her anger; but she hadn't done this. Her eyes began to flutter as she went down. Catching her before she hit the ground, he wrangled her around picking her up and took her to her room. 

"What is wrong with her?" Mrs. Berrington demanded actually showing concern as she followed them.

"The same bullet went into her as your son. On top of that, she is still healing from being injured in that car accident. She was ordered to rest, but she is worn out trying to be ready for your visit. We thought she was safe here Mrs. Berrington, if we thought she was in any danger we would have moved her. Or not have the wedding here. We have found out someone was able to access the government web site and found her because of the marriage license application. We now have to find out who made the inquiry and how they got access to that site. This entire case runs deep with government involvement blaming her for your loss is ridiculous. She has done nothing wrong except fall for the wrong man five years ago," David said as he covered Tomorrow with the other half of her bedspread and walked Mrs. Berrington from the room. He knew from experience she would sleep for a couple of hours.

"I have Lucas's Trust, his prenup with Tomorrow and his marriage license. I will let you know that Lucas loved Tomorrow and took that bullet for her. He loved her that much." 

Walking to his computer, he showed her the wedding photos clicking through the ceremony and pointed the sniper out. He stood out on the rocks, and he knew Lucas saw him. "He turned her suddenly he knew that man was going to shoot her," David pointed out. "This man here saw him," David said and pointed at Diego, "and took off after him and caught him. We have the man in custody. I know you're angry and hurt, your son is dead, but Tomorrow is not to blame. If you want someone to blame, blame me. I was here to protect her and failed." 

She sat looking at the wedding photos on this man's laptop. Lucas had seemed happy, and she could see the love and pride in his eyes that he had for this girl. 

"So, did he leave this all to her?" Mrs. Berrington asked, sounding defeated.

"Yes Ma'am, he did with plenty of witnesses signing. She didn't trust him to be faithful, it is the main reason she refused to marry him the first few times he asked. He had a reputation of being a ladies' man. She didn't fall for his charms. He wrote the prenup and he would have punished himself badly if he had cheated. It was a quick wedding, but he was thrilled she agreed to marry him and was not giving her a chance to back out. He was the one who wanted to seal the deal with her. They had been together since September. Tomorrow did all the advertising to bring in the people for the opening, and the hotel was packed for the Christmas crowd as I understand." 

After having Mrs. Berrington sit, he told her about the women in Chicago being shot and how he happened to see the photos that brought the FBI here. "All Tomorrow did was go to fundraisers in Texas and be the pretty girlfriend on the arm of the son of the man running for Senator. There are ten FBI agents working this case and we are narrowing it down. We have to find who wants her dead and why."

"And you know nothing for now?"

"No Ma'am, nothing we can point at and say this is the reason," he told her and wouldn't tell her anything else if he did know. He can see why Lucas hadn't invited her to the wedding. She looked like a ball buster and hadn't given Tomorrow a chance to defend herself. Lord, what was going to happen to her now. 

"Mrs. Berrington let's get you settled in your room. Tomorrow should sleep for a good two hours if she holds to her normal day," he said while escorting her from the room. 

An hour later, she was down in the lobby looking over the place. She looked refreshed and interested in the hotel, so Niesha decided to be her tour guide and try to entertain her. 

"Mrs. Berrington hello, I'm Niesha the entertainment director here. I would love to show you around if it would please you."

"So how long have you been working here?" Mrs. Berrington asked if she could care less, which set the tone for the entire afternoon. 

"I have been here for almost three months. We had a wonderful Christmas season and New Year's was great fun too. I miss Lucas terribly, he was the best boss I ever had," Niesha said as she steered her out to the patio to the pools and towards the beach. Noting her heels, she kept her on the concrete or tile. They only had twelve guests, so it was quiet. The lunch crowd was sparse, but the whole island was sparse. It was off-season vacation time for the islanders who work the tourist trade, she explained. 

"He will be greatly missed," she said whether she wanted to hear it or not. 

"Where is my son's room?"

"He had an apartment over here to the left," Niesha told her, turning to walk her by his apartment, if she wants in, she will have to go find the keys. 

Standing outside the apartment Niesha told her just for the shock reaction. She knew the woman thought she was a trashy island girl so she figured she would live up to that expectation.

"The first time Lucas and Tomorrow made love a bunch of us sat out here and listened. He was either a very good lover or she was a noisy one. We teased them for days. That was right after New Years, it sure didn't take Lucas long to convince Tomorrow to marry him," Niesha said light heartedly. "We were all so excited for them, they made the perfect couple. You could tell just by the way they looked at each other they were desperately in love," Niesha said with a flip of her hand. "It is all very sad. I don't know what Tomorrow is going to do now, she has lost almost everyone she loves. Her father, her boyfriend, and now her husband, she must feel cursed where men are concerned."