He Loves Lucy (20 page)

Maybe the lust had left him overly optimistic. Maybe Lucy couldn’t handle a sexual relationship on top of everything else they were doing. Maybe he’d been an ass to even expect her to.

As they walked toward the front door, Theo watched her scan the outside of his home. It was a normal enough place, he supposed. A four-bedroom single-story stucco house in a brick color with white trim, a kind of home that screamed middle-class South Florida. They walked inside and he tried to see it through her eyes. He knew that most everything in the house had belonged to his parents, picked out by his mother, whose style was understated but nice.

Lucy looked around. “You boys live lush.”

He smiled at that. “It’s my mom’s doing. She was into design.”

“She knew what she was doing.”

Lucy’s eyes wandered to the fuzzy orange blob now sitting on the tile floor in front of them. Theo heard her giggle.

“This must be Beelzebub boy.”

Theo waited for the hissing to begin. And waited some more. But Norton just sat there and blinked at Lucy, his whiskers twitching, as if he was making up his mind whether to reveal his true personality or keep pretending he was something less than bad-to-the-bone.

Lucy crouched down and held out her hand. “Hello, pretty kitty.”

Theo figured that would do it. Norton hated anyone commenting on his appearance. But the damn cat just sat there-no hissing, no spitting, no skittering away like he was running from the fires of hell. Lucy moved to pet him and he rose, flipped his tail, and wandered off.

Lucy stood up. “Affectionate little bugger.”

“That was a veritable wet sloppy kiss coming from him, let me assure you. Come on back to the kitchen.”

Theo made a pot of decaf, started the oatmeal, and set the table out on the back porch. It had yet to get blistering hot, and he had to admit he wanted Lucy to admire his handiwork in the backyard. He took her on a tour of the rhododendrons and the firebush and the beautyberry, holding her hand in his.

“Jeez, Theo. When do you find time to work in the yard?”

He shrugged. “One thing I’ve learned since moving back with Buddy is that a person can do what needs to be done with the time he has. It’s a universal law I never really appreciated before, not even in med school.”

Lucy nodded. “Do you ever take time to have fun?”

“I had fun in Tampa. I have fun whenever I’m with you, and I’m having fun again right now.”

He watched her blush, and he swore he’d never seen anything more attractive in his life. There was something so tender about Lucy. She tried to show the world she was tough, with that humor and determination, but the inner core of her was tender and easily bruised, and he felt privileged that she’d let him see that part of her. It was the part that connected with his heart, yanked on it, whispered impossible things to it.

He must have been staring at her oddly, because she asked, “You OK, Theo?”

“Fine. Just thinking about mulch.”

“Ah.” She nodded, as if that made perfect sense to her. “Is Buddy home?”

“Sleeping in. He’s got a swim meet tonight. Want to come with us?”

Lucy shrugged. “Don’t think I can, but thanks.”

Theo gave her a sideways glance, noting the pleasant but cool smile she offered him. He admired the pretty cotton dress Lucy had worn that morning, something a little on the funky side that showed off her figure. She’d developed a real sense of what looked good on her, and Theo wondered if it was something Gia had helped her with or something that came to her instinctively.

He leaned in to kiss her, and she offered him her cheek. If that wasn’t an indication that something was amiss, he didn’t know what was.

“What’s up, Lucy?”

“Nothing. Just tired, I guess.”

“Let’s have it, Cunningham. Why have you frosted over so much in the last couple weeks?”

“Frosted over?” Lucy put her hands on her hips. “What are you talking about, Theo? You’re the one who’s too occupied to hang out with me.”

So
that
was it.

Theo watched Lucy stroll back to the porch and sit in a chair at the small breakfast table, where she stared out at the yard.

“Can I help with breakfast?” she asked absently.

“I got it.”

As Theo served the oatmeal, yogurt, and a freshly made citrus salad, he wondered how he could smooth things over with her. In the throes of lust, like in the pool in Tampa, everything seemed fairly simple: Go for it, and worry about the consequences later. Well this was later, and the disappointed woman sitting across the table was the consequence.

This was what he thought might happen.

“I bet you anything that when I’m not around you make sausage patties and Belgian waffles.” Lucy leaned in and gave him her first real smile of the day. “And don’t you try to lie to me, Theo Redmond. I know you too well at this point.”

He grinned, realizing that entire statement was true. She did know him well by now, better than any woman since Jenna. And the truth was he did occasionally snarf down waffles and sausage.

“I hope my secrets are safe with you,” he said.

“Of course they are.” She patted his hand. “Just like my secrets are safe with you-if I was allowed to have any, that is. Which I’m not.”

“Sure you are, Luce. You’ve managed to keep a few secrets from me just fine.”

She frowned a little and took a sip of her decaf. “Like what?”

“Like what happened to you back when you were nineteen, back when you started putting on all the extra weight. I keep thinking of that, and it’s like a line was drawn in your life that year. One day you were active and the next day you weren’t.”

Lucy’s face went tight.

“You’ve never answered my questions about it. You just shrug it off like it was nothing.”

She did it again right then, gave a little shrug and avoided his eyes. It had been nearly seven months since they’d started this adventure, but they still had a long way to go, and his gut told him there was something big that Lucy wasn’t dealing with and if she didn’t, she wouldn’t make it.

They wouldn’t make it.

“It’s an old story, really,” she said with a sigh. “Girl meets boy, boy humiliates girl, girl checks into the Pepperidge Farm hotel.”

“Who was this jerk?” Theo was stunned by the intensity of the anger that just welled up inside him.

“He is no one that matters, Theo.”

“He matters to me.”
What kind of loser would do that to her
? “Let’s track him down and make him suffer.”

Lucy’s laugh was soft and sad. “I’d really rather not.”

Theo knew they were heading somewhere, but he also knew Lucy was at the wheel. It appeared she was done with her story.

Tears began to form in Lucy’s eyes, a development that Theo was not prepared for. He started to get up out of his chair and head to the kitchen for extra napkins, but she stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm.

“No mental breakdown today, I swear. It’s Friday, and you know I only have craptacular meltdowns on Tuesdays.”

“Of course.” He stayed standing, aware that her tears didn’t care what day it was.

“It’s just that sometimes this whole thing seems like a fantasy to me. Do you know how long it’s been since I was this thin and felt this good?”

“A long time.”

“Right after I was weaned and started on solid food, I think.”

Theo laughed.

“So, thank you.”

Theo was speechless. What he wanted to do was pull her into his lap and hold her and kiss her until they both couldn’t breathe. But the signals she was giving off today made him rethink that plan.

“Then thank you, too,” he said.

“No sweat. I know the money’s going to help with med school.”

Theo took a deep breath, moved his chair closer to hers, and sat down again. “When my parents died, they left their investments and cash assets in a trust fund for Buddy and they left the house and all their belongings to me. They were paying for part of my med school, and I was taking the rest out in loans, which I’ll be paying back for many years.”

Lucy nodded.

“I can’t touch a dime of Buddy’s money. People with Down syndrome are living very long lives now, but often with medical complications as they get older. I have no idea what he’ll need in his life, or when he’ll need it. That money is not mine.”

Lucy frowned. “So what you’re saying is that every pound I lose is a thousand dollars straight into your med school tuition?”

‘That’s a no-frills way to put it.“

“Yikes. I really shouldn’t have eaten that pecan pie.”

Theo laughed. “You said it was only half a pie.”

After a moment of quiet, Lucy cocked her head and smiled at him. “I’ve never asked you-what kind of doctor do you want to be, Theo?”

“A physiatrist.”

“Do you mean a psychiatrist?”

Theo shook his head. “No, Cunningham. I know the kind of doctor I want to be, and the word is
physiatrist
-physical medicine in a hospital setting, postsurgery rehab, mostly.”

“How long will that take?”

“After med school there’s a four-year residency and a one-year fellowship. At best, it’ll be seven years until I’m done. I won’t be out of training until I’m thirty-nine-old and gray.”

“Hardly.” Lucy smiled at him again.

“What I’m saying is that your dream is my dream, Luce. That’s the way it works for us.”

Lucy fiddled with her coffee cup. “I can’t wait to break away from psycho Stephan and start my own company, you know? I want the challenge of making my own decisions. I want the chance to thrive or dive on my own.”

“You’ll be getting that chance soon.”

Theo and Lucy sat for a long moment, looking into each other’s eyes. Theo reached for her hand.

“Buddy is my hero. Did I ever tell you that?”

“No,” Lucy said.

“Yeah. God gave him a whopping disadvantage, but he’s always made the absolute most of his gifts. I see being a doctor as my way of doing that.”

“OK.”

“You’re the exact opposite of Buddy. Do you know what I’m saying?”

She looked surprised. “Not really.”

“You’ve got everything, Lucy. Brains. Beauty. Wit. Determination. A good heart. And I can’t tell you how cool it is to see you claim it all.”

She laughed, but it was a little sob of a laugh and it was clear the tears weren’t going to stop this time.

“I’ll get those tissues now.”

“Maybe that’s a good idea.”

Theo returned with an entire box, which made Lucy giggle.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy, Lucy. I wish things were different, but this is how it is. I can only ask for your patience.”

She blew her nose and nodded. “Patience is not my best virtue.”

“C’mere, Luce.”

He pulled her onto his lap and held her tight. Lucy put her arms around him and hugged him back, a hug full of affection and connection, and he felt the power of it-all the way down to his shoes.

The timbre of the embrace changed slowly. Lucy curled into him, relaxed against Theo’s body. He held her softly, feeling her breathe, drawing her scent into him, reveling in the deep satisfaction he felt just having this woman in his arms.

“I really want to do this, Theo.”

“Hug me?”

“That, too.” Lucy pulled back to look down into his face. “But I was referring to my goal. I want to succeed.”

“I know you do.” Theo grabbed a tissue and wiped away a smear of mascara on her cheek. “Maybe what we need is some serious-assed motivation. Are you with me?”

Her eyes widened. “Sure.”

“Our challenge is another thirty-two pounds in twenty-one weeks. It’s doable, but it’s going to be tough. So pick something-something big and juicy and decadent-as your reward when you reach your goal.”

“I’m assuming Milk Duds are out.”

“They are.”

“Starting my own company, then.”

“Nope. Can’t be work-related. It’s gotta be a splurge. An adventure. Something you’ve always wanted. Something you can’t wait to do.”

He could almost see the synapses fire behind the bright light of her eyes. “All right,” she whispered. “I want to go to bed with you again.”

Theo thought he would fall out of the chair. “Uh…” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t think I can wait five months to make wild love to you again. I’m not sure I can wait five minutes. What else you got?”

She smiled and looked off into the yard in thought for a minute. “I know!” Her face shone with delight. “How about I arrange to go somewhere exotic where I can be pampered head to toe? I’m talking total sensory overload, Theo.”

“Go on. This is good.” His hand slid up her back, then caressed her between her shoulder blades.

“I want to loll around in abject luxury at some island resort, where a whole team of people tends to my every desire.”

Theo’s hand strayed down to her lower back, where he spread his fingers wide and pressed in. “Excellent. Maybe Fran could go with you.”

“That would be fun. Don’t stop touching me.”

Theo let his hand slide down to Lucy’s ass, packed tight in that little dress, and he grabbed a handful. Lucy’s head wobbled backward. She breathed heavily. “And I want cabana boys named Raoul to rub warm, fragrant oil all over me, from head to toe, all over my throat and chest and my legs and arms. I want-”

Theo pushed the chair back on the deck and it made a loud scraping sound. He grabbed Lucy’s face and kissed her hard, then rose up and placed her on her feet, taking her hand.

“Where are we going, Theo?”

“
Shh
.” He stroked her hair as he led her inside. “The name’s Raoul.”

July

Office of Doris Lehman, MSW, PhD “But how did you know it was love?”