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“About-” The horn honked in the adjacent driveway.
“Better go,” Addy said, feeling like her words held more meaning than the obvious.
He moved toward her as if he might steal a kiss, but Addy gave a slight shake of her head.
He frowned. “Later?”
“Maybe,” she said, trying to smile but finding she couldn’t manage it.
His eyes narrowed, but the horn sounded again. “I’ll come by tonight after I take Chris to some motor cross bike thing. I need to talk to you. Ben is coming home this weekend.”
Addy’s heart clenched tight as dread sank into the pit of her stomach. He was leaving. For good. Something about that finality, about the casual way he said it like it was no big deal to go back to Texas, made her feel so much more fragile than expected. Yesterday after talking to Shelia, she’d felt strong, but now she felt frayed around the edges, clinging to wholeness, knowing it was impossible to hold herself together.
Lucas leaving New Orleans, leavingher,stung like an open wound.
Ha.
She’d fallen in love with Lucas at the absolute worst time in her life and the bitter irony rubbed her like a new shoe.
The horn sounded again. Three sharp beeps and then a long drawn out wail.
“Go,” she said.
So he did.
Flora closed the door and shot Addy a puzzled look. “What’s up with you this morning?”
“Besides the fact Robbie is out there on the streets, and Lucas stood me up last night?” Addy said, dumping her cup into the sink.
“I see,” Flora said, crossing the kitchen half-full mug of coffee in hand.
Addy waited for her aunt to explain, but she said nothing else. “What do you see?”
“The same girl I’ve always seen. Pushing back, drawing in, closing ranks to protect herself.”
Throwing her half-eaten bagel in the garbage, Addy spun and put her hands on her hips. “What? I shouldn’t do that? The man who nearly raped and killed me and who still stalks me is out there somewhere, and Lucas is leaving this weekend. No sense in pretending this will have a happy ending.”
“Oh, my dear, if you expect to get shit on, you will.” Flora finished filling her mug, turned, and walked out of the kitchen.
Frowning Addy followed her aunt, but she was done with trying to make her understand the reality of her situation. Aunt Flora had been in her shoes before but hadn’t even tried to change Mr. O’Boyle’s mind. Even if the woman would have made her feelings known, the man likely wouldn’t have left his wife, children, or the life he’d created because of Flora’s love. It was easy for the woman to spout off advice when she’d not taken the risk herself.
Addy knew what needed to be done—she needed to end things with Lucas and focus on protecting herself against immediate threat. After all, what good would it do to tell Lucas about Robbie and the threats over the years? He wouldn’t be here to protect her anyhow.
So she’d protect herself. On all fronts.
And just like her aunt, she would cling to the memory of what she’d had with Lucas. Two days of sun-filled, happy memories. A lifetime packed into a weekend.
It would be small comfort in her lonely life, but better than no comfort at all.
She had no regrets about yesterday, but she wasn’t going to leave herself open for more hurt in the future.
Lucas spent the day working on the front porch. He put a new coat of glossy black paint on the rockers and started painting the porch flooring while the rockers dried in the sunshine. The day was gorgeous and the warmth on his shoulders and purpose in his stride made him feel like anything was possible. He was a walking John Denver song.
Homework was light, and Michael had no activities so he could mind Charlotte while Lucas took Chris to his motor cross practice. He’d never understood why his brother and sister-in-law had allowed Chris to participate in such a dangerous activity, but after seeing the boy on the bike, leaning into curves, looking like he’d been born on a motor bike, he understood. Chris had a passion for going fast… and perhaps channeling his reckless spirit into something he loved was smart.
The kid’s qualifying time seemed to please his coach, and the NOLA Springtime Classic was set for Friday night.
Maybe Addy would go with him. Could be fun watching the daredevil who’d been responsible for their meeting in the first place school some kids on the course.
