Page 57

L ucy woke first in the morning. Her headache had gone, but she felt awful.

Inside her mouth tasted as if she’d been licking the floor of the chicken coop.

Confusion still rattled around her thoughts.

The events of yesterday were all jumbled up in her mind.

Some of them felt like a dream while others were vivid.

She crawled down the end of the bed then went into the bathroom.

Peering in the mirror, it finally hit her exactly how awful she looked. Her eyes were red, dark smudges underneath each, and her face haggard and pale. Her hair looked like the proverbial bird’s nest, messy and dull.

The past six weeks had taken a toll on her—and then to actually get drunk and want to kill herself!

She wondered what would have happened if the men hadn’t turned up. Would she have gone ahead with her plan? She wondered if when she sobered up, she’d change her mind.

At least she had Allison to thank for saving her. That reminded her of the things she’d said to her daughter. They couldn’t be taken back. Well, Allison has no one to blame but herself.

She cleaned her teeth, hoping to take away the horrid taste in her mouth.

Stripping, Lucy turned on the shower and stepped gratefully into it.

She closed her eyes and let the water wash away her confusion.

The spray on her skin helped wash away some of her fears.

With each passing minute, she felt better and better, and Lucy couldn’t wipe the grin from her lips.

Her men were back!

They were back for good! And she could still see her grandchildren!

She heard someone use the toilet, then Sebastian wandered into the bathroom, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Morning, beautiful.” He stripped off and entered the shower with Lucy. He kissed her lightly, then picked up the shampoo bottle. “Turn around.”

Lucy obeyed and he began washing her hair. He massaged her head and she wanted to melt against his body, it was that good. When he finished, she washed the soap off her head and Sebastian rubbed in conditioner.

“You’ve been neglecting yourself, Lou.” He added sternly, “No more, understand?”

She nodded. He turned her around and she looked up into his serious face.

“I mean it, Lou. I understand how bad it’s been for you, but you have to look after yourself.”

“I know,” she said in a subdued voice. “I’m sorry I... I got so lost. I...” She gulped.

He nodded and kissed her temple. “Give me the soap.”

Lucy reached out and picked up a cake then handed it to Sebastian. He twisted her around again, and she stood quietly while he washed her back. Then he turned her back to face him.

She had tears prickling her eyes, hating that he was upset with her.

He looked at her face. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m not angry. I just want you better. I can understand what happened, but it’s in the past now.”

She nodded.

“Move over!”

Jack came into the shower.

Lucy was damn glad her grandparents had enlarged it years before.

Her grandmother had been confined to a wheelchair in her final years, and so her grandfather had gotten this enormous shower made so it was easier to wash her.

There were even two shower heads, one either side of a built-in bench seat so her grandfather could sit down when he washed her grandmother.

“Morning, all.”

Sebastian leaned over and kissed him. Then Jack kissed Lucy and she sighed. This was what she’d missed so much, sharing their love.

“How’s the head this morning, Lou?”

“Clearer. I will never, ever drink alcohol again!”

“Amen to that!” Sebastian proclaimed loudly. He’d finished washing her and moved her under the spray so he could wash the conditioner off her hair.

Jack examined her critically. “When was the last time you ate properly, Lou?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“How much weight have you lost? Too much by the looks of it.”

She looked down at herself. She’d always been a full-figured woman and still was, but it was obvious she’d lost at least ten kilos or more. Her size 22 jeans had become loose on her and kept falling down. She was pretty sure she’d dropped almost two dress sizes.

By now, Sebastian had finished her hair. He lifted her head with a finger under her chin, then held it between his thumb and forefinger. “We’re back to look after you. We’ll be together from now on.”

Lucy could only nod. She was so happy to have them back it was impossible to express it in words. The nightmare of the past six weeks had gone, although it was hard to believe it was really over. She wanted to pinch herself in case it was merely a crazy dream of wishful thinking.

“Lucy, will you move in with us? No more being apart. I know we talked about it before everything went crazy. We can buy a house together, or you could move into the apartment. Whatever you really want.”

Lucy looked at him then at Jack. His words finally assured her this was real. She took a breath and crossed her fingers behind her back. “You could move in here. I mean, it’s not that far to the complex, and there is lots of room ... unless you want to be closer.”

Jack gave a whoop as Sebastian smiled that beautiful, sexy smile of his.

“If you’re sure, then we will.”

“I’m sure.”

“These past weeks without you have been so bad, Lou. We’ve missed you so much.”

Lucy looked from one to the other. “I thought I would die from a broken heart. Oh, Seb, Jack, I just couldn’t face being without you. I didn’t know what else to do.” She lowered her head as she whispered, “I followed the darkness to take away the pain.”

Sebastian pulled her into a wet embrace as she sobbed. “Hush, sweetheart. You won’t ever have to face anything alone again.”

Lucy leaned against him. Jack wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his head on the top of hers. Sebastian lowered his head and kissed her.

She sighed against his mouth as he appeared to put every ounce of passion and love into his kiss. Lucy put her arms around him and kissed him back just as passionately.

The phone rang.

Lucy held her hands over her ears so Jack grabbed a towel and went to pick up the phone in the bedroom. He came back in and mouthed, “Allison.”

Lucy shook her head and listened to Jack’s side of the conversation.

“Yes, Allison, she’s okay.”

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Yes. I understand you do, but you have to see it from Lucy’s side, and from ours also.”

“I don’t know. It all depends on Lucy.”

“I will. Goodbye.”

He ended the call and looked at the other two.

“She wanted to come around. I told her no. She kept going on about being sorry and wanting our forgiveness.” He shook his head. “I know she’s your daughter, Lucy, but...”

“I know, Jack. Believe me, I know. I honestly don’t understand any of it. I never raised her to think that way. I always taught her to respect other people’s decisions even if you didn’t agree with them.”

Sebastian picked up her hand. “It’s okay, sweetheart. None of this was ever your fault. If I’m honest, I really don’t know if I can forgive her for what she’s done to you. She’d have to be really and truly contrite.”

“I don’t think I’ve said more than a few dozen words to her since that horrible day.”

It’s not a dream! Seeking assurance, she asked with a tremulous note, “Is it really over? Can I really see my grandchildren and be with you both?”

Both men reassured her once more. Her relief couldn’t be put into words. She stood in the shower then gave a huge sigh. Sebastian took her hand and moved her out. He picked up a towel, wrapping her in it.

Jack dropped his and finished his shower while Sebastian took care of Lucy.

When he’d dried her, he went into the dressing room and grabbed some clothes for her.

Lucy stood as with infinite tenderness he helped her dress. It was as if it was something he needed to do and she let him. When he’d finished, he dried off and dressed.

Jack came into the room and did the same thing.

Sebastian knelt down in front of Lucy, sitting on the edge of the bed. He took her hands in his. “Lucy, I promise you’ll never be alone again. We’ll always be with you—always.”

“Always?”

He nodded his head as he said, “Always. Promise.”

She looked up at Jack standing behind him, his hands resting on Sebastian’s shoulders. He smiled down at her so sweetly, her heart leaped with joy.

Sebastian dropped one of her hands to pat one of Jack’s. “Marry us, Lou. Marry us tomorrow. We never want to be apart from you again.”

Stunned, Lucy could only stammer, “M ... marry?”

“Yes. Doesn’t matter who—me or Jack. But we want you forever, want it to be legal. Then no one can ever come between us. We were going to propose Christmas Day, but...” His voice trailed off.

“He’s right, Lou. We love you more than life itself.” Jack grimaced. “These past six weeks have been hell on earth.”

“So, Miss Willis, will you say yes?”

“I will.”

And with that, she promptly burst into tears again, but this time they were tears of joy.

The two men quickly sat on the bed, one either side, their arms wrapped around her.

She covered her face with her hands as she sobbed. Finally, she lifted her tear-stained face and gave the most radiant smile to them. “I have no idea how it works, but I’ll marry you both as soon as possible.”