She’d stopped by Marvin’s, just out of curiosity while exploring the neighborhood the year before, and had fallen in love with the architecture and atmosphere of the place. Even filled with computers and parts, the little shop had stolen her imagination, with the exposed brick walls that partitioned the storefronts from each other, and the transoms set high above the doorframes. With some tender loving care, she could turn that space into a massage therapy clinic. She’d even toyed around with a business plan, so she knew already what was necessary to make a go of it. She could hire another licensed massage therapist to work with her or go it alone. After a day like today she thought she might enjoy going it alone for a while.
“It wouldn’t take much to get it set up the way you’d like it either.”
“Who do I get in touch with?”
After he’d given her all the details, Seth said, “Are you okay…as far as this deal with Beck goes? Need to talk?”
With a sigh, Lucy replied, “No. There’s really nothing to say. He was really sick and I’m just letting him be for now. Give him time to heal.” Eventually, he’d recover from the flu, but she wondered how long the pain she’d seen in his eyes would take to heal, if ever. “I have the worst luck with men.”
It was a few seconds before Seth replied. “Seemed to me like things were looking up…for all three of you.” That was his way. Letting her know of his concern but not pushing her to talk if she didn’t feel like it.
“Looks can be deceiving. Thank you for the heads-up about Marvin’s place.”
“You’re welcome. Call me if you need me.”
Sitting at her kitchen table alone, eating supper later that evening, she wondered if Beck had been eating and if he was getting his fluids. It wasn’t that far to his house. She could check on him and be back home in no time. Just to make sure he was okay. Her heart ached, recalling the pain in his eyes, and the memory pulled at her to do something about it. Even the thought of the way he’d probably growl at her for coming all the way out there at night didn’t deter her.
She was pulling on her sneakers when her cell phone rang.
“Hey, Luce. It’s me.” Patrick’s voice soothed the anxiety that she hadn’t even realized had been building inside of her all evening.
She let out a relieved breath as calm descended. “Hi. How are you?”
Their schedules hadn’t allowed for another evening together and even though she’d had lunch with him a couple of times in the last two weeks, she missed him. Wanted to pick up where they’d left off Valentine’s night. She could only imagine the physical pain he must’ve been in when he’d left that evening, after their lovemaking had been interrupted. Part of her wondered if there was a reason they’d been interrupted.
“I’m all right.” She could hear a strident little voice in the background and smiled when Patrick said, “Little man wants to talk to you. Do you mind?”
Lucy chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?” All she heard was Patrick’s soft chuckle before the phone switched hands.
“Lucy! I got to go in a cave today! Got to see bats!”
“You did?” She recalled that Patrick had mentioned his son’s pre-school class was taking a field trip that day. She was sympathetic for his teacher, taking a group of rambunctious preschoolers on a field trip that involved a cave. The thought of bats and other creepy things made her shudder. Patrick Junior chattered on for a minute telling her the details then suddenly said, “I gotta go. Bye!”
His father chuckled again as he came back on the line. “He’s convinced there are caves underneath our backyard. He’s investigating while I cook supper.”
Lucy glanced at the clock. “You’re eating late. If I’d known, I would’ve had you over.”
“It’s okay. I just came from Beck’s place.”
She sat down on the couch. “How is he? I was thinking about going out there.”
“Don’t. He just got into bed. He probably wouldn’t even hear you at the door. I found him asleep in his recliner with Cooter lying in his lap.”
Lucy smiled at the image. Animals were naturally attracted to Beck. Waldo seemed to think he was made of catnip the way he loved on Beck any time he was near.
“Is he eating?”
“I heated up some of the soup you sent home with him and made him take some fluids. He bitched the whole time but he told me to tell you again that he’s sorry.”
“Did he ever tell you what happened Valentine’s night to put him in such a tailspin? It’s that woman he mentioned. Chloe, right?” Her protective side reared its head and she couldn’t help her churlish tone.