"Hi mum" Lucy said cheerfully.
"Hello sweetheart you are sounding really chirpy this morning" Melinda said wryly.
Lucy rolled her eyes and smiled, she couldn't even be irritated with her mum this morning.
"I have a favour to ask" Lucy said.
"Sure thing, what do you need?" Melinda asked.
"I have met a really nice guy called Xanther. Anyway he has asked me to go away with him for a few nights, so I need someone to look after Samson for me" Lucy said.
There was silence on the other end of the line, so Lucy knew that Melinda would be relaying her message to Colin who would be standing beside her not really listening but humouring his wife.
"Xanther? Is he a nice man?" Melinda asked fighting to keep the excitement from her voice.
"Yes he is a really lovely guy. If you come here though, I need to warn you that there are a bunch of journalists hanging about" Lucy said.
"Why are there journalists there?" Melinda asked and Lucy recognised the instant concern in her voice.
Lucy sighed and ran her hands through her hair.
"Xanther is, well was a singer in a band. He moved into the house next door and the media got wind of it and have been trying to get in contact with him" Lucy explained.
"I think I read about him, some rock and roll band" Melinda said.
"Yes that's right" Lucy agreed "Anyway if they talk to you, tell them you don't know him"
"Well I wouldn't be lying. I don't know him, until you introduce him to your mother of course" Melinda said, the hint wasn't subtle.
"You will meet him mum I promise" Lucy said with a smile.
"He makes you happy Lucy?" Melinda asked.
Lucy felt her eyes start to well up. He was making her happy. She had laughed for the first time since being with him. Things were moving frighteningly fast, but it was a great ride.
"He makes me really happy mum. I'm scared. But I'm happy" Lucy said.
"I understand that sweetheart. Enjoy it for however long it lasts" Melinda said.
"Thank you mum" Lucy said sniffing back a tear.
"I love you Luciana, you deserve to be happy. You have been hurting for too long and I can hear it in your voice. You like this one" Melinda said.
Lucy nodded her head.
"I do like him mum. I like him a lot and that's what scares me" she said.
"Don't let it get to you. Just live for the moment. You more than anyone know how quickly every moment can be snatched away. So live it sweetheart" Melinda said with a thread of sadness in her voice.
Lucy wiped more tears that fell from her cheeks.
"Thank you mum. I love you. I have to go and get ready though. So I'll see you when we get back" Lucy said.
"Have a fantastic time and when you get back we will have Xanther over for dinner alright?" Melinda said.
Lucy laughed and shook her head.
"Of course we will" she said as she hung up the phone.
Lucy sighed and wiped the stray tears that had escaped down her cheeks. Samson was lying at her feet and looked up at her nuzzling Lucy's leg while she reached out and patted his head.
"Alright, you're all set. Grandma will come and feed you" she said with a smile as a knock on the door sounded.
Samson let out a small bark and ran to the front door. When she swung it open she sucked in a breath as Xanther encompassed her doorway. His tight black t-shirt showed off his muscles, his tattoos poked from the neck and his arms were covered in Japanese artwork. His jeans were tight and rolled at the bottom with his boots. Xanther's dark hair was slicked back and he had a cigarette tucked behind his ear. Lucy had dressed herself in a tight fitting pencil skirt and blouse that showed off her cleavage. Together they looked like a pair that had just time warped straight out of the 1950's. Xanther gave her his curled lip smile.
"We match" he said with a grin.
Lucy laughed and nodded her head.
"We have to in order to fit into the car" Lucy said with a wink.
Xanther frowned and shook his head.
"What car is it?" he asked curiously.
"Ah you will have to come with me and see" Lucy said with a smile.
Xanther cocked his head and put his hands in his pockets as he followed Lucy out to her garage. She turned to face him when he stepped into the room and saw the big black '57 Chevy sitting there. His eyes widened as he took the car in, with its white wall tyres and shiny chrome exhaust.
"Holy fuck Lucy. Now I did not see this coming" he said with a grin.
Lucy laughed and nodded her head. She had bought the car when Hudson and her first started dating. Hudson was a mechanic and so had worked alongside her to restore it, adding a few modern perks like a great stereo, air conditioning and cruise control. It was her pride and joy but after Hudson passed away she couldn't bring herself to even look at it, let alone drive it. Occasionally Colin would come and give it a run around the block to make sure that it stayed running smooth and she had it serviced regularly, but she hadn't actually driven it since before Hudson got sick. Lucy sucked in a shaky breath. Xanther looked at Lucy and frowned.
"Are you alright?" Xanther asked coming towards her and putting his hands on her shoulders.
Lucy nodded her head and smiled up at him.
"I'm alright. I bought this car to share with Hudson." Lucy said as she dabbed at her eyes to prevent the mascara from running. "But now is the time for new memories"
Lucy smiled and Xanther nodded his head, his face reading concern. He reached out to her and put his hands on her waist pulling him into him before kissing her gently.
"I want that Lucy. I know this sounds crazy, I can't quite believe it myself. But you are stirring something in me. I haven't smiled since losing Georgie and Aiden. I didn't know how to smile, but you are bringing out something in me that I thought I'd lost" Xanther said as he looked into her eyes.
Lucy smiled and nodded her head, she felt the same way. She felt like she was caught up in a whirlwind at the speed in which they were moving, but she didn't want to get out of it yet. She knew she should be running for the hills, but Lucy had always been a romantic at heart and a firm believer in love at first sight. Xanther leaned in and kissed Lucy again, this time a passionate slow kiss that made her melt in his arms.
"You know I've never christened this car" Lucy said with a twinkle in her eye.
Xanther widened his eyes and grinned at her.
"Really?" he said
Lucy nodded and smiled.
"Hudson got sick right after we finished restoring it, so we never got the opportunity. Maybe it was meant to be" she smiled.
Xanther grinned at her and nodded his head.
"Well then let me please do the honour of taking your backseat virginity" Xanther laughed turning her and pushing her against the car, kissing her deeply again.
Lucy groaned and pushed her hips into Xanther who smiled against her lips.
"Let's get on the road and we will find somewhere along the way" he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Lucy nodded and pulled the keys from her handbag, swinging them on her finger. She swung the driver's door open and climbed in, pressing the remote button for the garage. Xanther climbed into the passenger seat as she brought the engine to life with rev. Xanther's eyes lit up and he nodded his head.
"This is a fucking beauty" Xanther exclaimed.
Lucy gave him a sideways glance and smile. She had to admit that she was enjoying the feeling and sound of the car. She had missed it and never realised how much until that moment. Slowly she started to back out of the garage noticing Chris the first reporter coming down her driveway.
"For fucks sake" Lucy said putting the car back into drive and pulling back in her garage.
Xanther looked at her confused and shook his head. She rummaged around the back seat and found the picnic blanket she had stored there. Lucy looked in the rear-view mirror to see Chris continuing down the driveway. Lucy held up the blanket.
"Here curl up under this and sort of look like you might be Samson" Lucy said.
"What?" Xanther said shaking his head.
"Reporters" she said.
Xanther didn't need any more explanation as he curled himself on the seat under the blanket; Lucy straightened it on top of him so he couldn't be seen as she put the car back in reverse and pulled out of the driveway. Chris jumped out of the way as she reversed back. Chris looked into the driver's window and smiled at her. Lucy put the brakes on and wound down her window, as she forced tears to her eyes.