Shelter Me(64)
I know that voice. I grip a little tighter hold on Lucy and turn around to stare into the eyes of Ben, the guy from the bank. Trying not to scare my girl I act as if I am happy to see him, but there is just something about this guy that gives me the creeps.
“Hello again, Ben. How are you?”
“Good, Shayne. Hey listen, I just wanted to apologize for the other day.”
Not wanting Lucy to hear any of this, I turn back to her for a moment.
“Lucy, let’s get you in the car and get you cooled off, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy,” she agrees. I open the car door for her then turn back to Ben.
“No apology is necessary,” I tell him.
He looks from me to Lucy and then bends down to her.
“Lucy. That is such a pretty name for a pretty little girl.”
“Thank you,” she says. Straightening himself back up, he lifts the corners of his mouth and starts to say something else, but I hold up my hand to tell him to stop. I bundle Lucy into the back seat and shut the door. Facing him again, I stand tall so he doesn’t see or feel the fear I have pouring out of me.
“Listen, Ben. I appreciate you apologizing, but like I said, there is no need. Now Lucy and I have to get home. It’s been a long day for her.”
“Sure, Shayne. I just saw you walking and wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. I find you very attractive. I wanted to ask you out to dinner the other day, but I’m not very good at asking people out. I got all nervous.”
“Well, thank you for the compliment, Ben, but I am in a relationship and I can’t go out with you.”
He stands there for a minute looking at me.
“Yes, so I have heard,” he finally says. “You’re back with Luke Schavone, right?”
“I am, and how do you know that?”
“This is a small town, Shayne. Word travels fast, but I must tell you this, even though we don’t know each other at all. You need to watch yourself around the Schavone family. I am only telling you this for your own safety and for hers.” He takes his head and tilts it in Lucy’s direction. “They are not the people you think they are.”
Without letting me say anything else, he turns and walks away. I stand there for a few seconds trying to take in what the hell just happened. What does he mean, Luke and his family are not who I think they are?
Getting in my car and making sure Lucy is doing okay, I grab my phone out of my purse with shaky hands and send Adam a text telling him we need to talk. There is something about Ben and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I know it has nothing to do with what Adam told me about Ben’s ex. There is something strange about the way he looks at me, and I definitely did not like him talking to Lucy. I also send a text to Luke letting him know that Lucy and I are on our way back home. It seems very strange that Luke hasn’t called all day, but he did say he would be busy at work today so I shrug it off and toss my phone back into my purse. Putting the car into drive, I take off towards home.
Once we get home, Lucy and I change our clothes and head into the kitchen to decide what to make for dinner. I tell myself I could get used to making dinner for my family every day, but I know I would miss all the joy that comes with being a nurse.
Pulling up a chair so Lucy can help me, I lift her up onto it and check my phone to see if I have missed a text from Luke or Adam. Seeing nothing from either one of them, I set it back down. Lucy and I continue to make everything we need for dinner. After cleaning up our mess, I look at the clock and see we have an hour left before Luke comes home.
“Lucy, do you want to watch a movie until Daddy gets home?”
She yawns and nods at the same time. Laughing to myself, I pick her up and give her a little hug.
“Is my baby tired?”
“A little, Mommy, but I want to stay awake and wait for Daddy.”
“Okay, pretty girl. Let’s go find a movie to watch until he gets home.”
“When Daddy gets home, can we go swimming?”
“After dinner we can, honey.”
We find a movie to watch and Lucy curls up next to me. Just as we settle in, I hear my phone ringing from the kitchen.
“Mommy will be right back, honey. Let me go see who is on the phone.”
Not taking her eyes off of the movie, she slides over and I run through the house and grab the call before whoever it is hangs up.
“Hey, brat. Sorry I couldn’t get back right back with you, it’s been a crazy day at work.”
“Hey, Adam. That’s okay,” I say, returning to the living room to check on Lucy and to tell her I will be in the kitchen if she needs me. Walking back into the kitchen, I sit down at the counter and proceed to tell Adam about my run-in with Ben.