Lucy sighed before standing from her solitary log and heading back towards her house. It was a huge rambling farm house that felt cold and empty. She remembered the joy her and Hudson had when they first put the down payment on it. The fun they had christening the house. Then the darkness took over. It wasn't long and Hudson had a bed moved into the living area, machines were beeping and the nurse visiting every day. The house took on a medical smell, no longer the scent of wisteria and roses floating through. The windows had to stay shut for fear of germs, the fresh sea breeze no longer wailed through the house. Instead the house became sterile and lifeless. Melinda had insisted on repainting the house after Hudson died, she picked the colours, bright and cheery, just like her mother. Not to Lucy's taste. Melinda insisted in new furniture, a new bed, a house makeover. Lucy didn't want to be bothered with any of it, she wanted to sit in her bed that she had shared with Hudson and remember times they shared, good times. Lucy wanted to be left alone in her misery. No one seemed to be able to get the hint and soon they were all trying to get her out of the house. One thing Lucy quickly learnt though is after a while they get impatient, the friends drift away, the extra family members stop calling, the only one that was persistent was Melinda, Lucy's worst luck.
Lucy snorted out a laugh as she stomped her way up the steps with her hands shoved into her jeans pockets, head down and hoodie pulled up over her hair. As she looked to the top of the stairs that ran between her home and the neighbours she saw a man standing at the top. His hair was slicked back, tattoos dotted his exposed arms, his tight white t-shirt was pulled taught showing off a rippling chest and his tight blue jeans showed off more of what he had going on. He looked like he had just been thrown straight from the 1950's. She wondered if he was a ghost but the way he cocked his head to the smile and folded his arms across his chest, before pulling a cigarette from behind his ear and shoving it to the corner of his mouth and striking the light on the zippo told her that he was real.
"Hey there" he said with a nod of his chin.
Lucy smiled up at him and waved.
"Hey yourself" she replied friendly.
"Do you live next door?" the man said with another nod of his head towards her house.
Lucy smiled and nodded her head. He smiled again and turned leaning against the railing of the top step as Lucy reached him. He stuck his hand out and she took it shaking it. His hand was big, engulfing hers. The closer look she got at him the more she realised how amazingly good looking he was. Lucy shook her head, she had not been sexually attracted to a man since Hudson died, but suddenly her body was reacting in a way that she wasn't sure she was comfortable with.
"My name is Xanther" the man said with a smile that sort of was more a lip curl, reminding her lot of Elvis.
Lucy's heart let a little flutter as he looked down at her with his dark brown eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. If only her mother could see her now, Lucy thought with a smirk.
"I'm Lucy" she replied with a smile.
Xanther grinned and nodded.
"Are you looking at buying next door?" Lucy asked.
Xanther smiled again and nodded his head.
"Sort of, I already bought it" he smiled again, causing another flutter of her heart.
Lucy's eyes widened and she felt her palms go sweaty; she shoved her hands back in her pockets.
"Is there much work to be done to it?" she said inwardly groaning out her ridiculous small talk.
It's been so long since Lucy even thought about looking at a man without being filled with irritation; she had forgotten completely how to flirt. Asking Xanther about renovation work wasn't really in the flirting manual, but what else could she say so Xanther want to fuck me? Lucy thought. Xanther nodded his head and stared out at the ocean.
"Na not too bad, just a splash of paint. You should come over some time and check it out" he said with a smile. "Bring your husband we will have a drink"
Lucy looked away and blinked her eyes before shaking her head.
"I don't have a husband" Lucy said sadly.
Xanther looked Lucy up and down and shook his head.
"Sorry, I saw the wedding ring on your finger" he said pointing to the hand that was shoved deep in her pocket.
Lucy pulled her hand out her pocket and looked down at the ring nervously twisting the band before shaking her head.
"Yeah I just haven't got round to taking it off" she said "Hudson, my husband passed away three years ago"
Xanther frowned and nodded quickly before looking away at the ocean again. Just like that it felt like a dark cloud fell down around Lucy's shoulders again. When Xanther looked back at her she could see that her mood seemed to have infected him, his eyes were darkened and sad and he ran his hand up through his already slicked back hair.
"I know the feeling" Xanther said sadly.
Lucy frowned and shook her head.
"Did you lose your wife?" Lucy implored not wanting to push too deep.
Xanther nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets, as he rocked back on his heels before relighting the cigarette that had gone out in his mouth. He took a drag and looked down at it frowning.
"I don't even know why I smoke these fucking things, I hate them" he said tossing the cigarette to the ground and standing on the butt before picking it up and putting it in his pocket.
"I'm sorry for your loss" Lucy blurted.
Xanther looked over at her and gave Lucy a tight lipped smile before nodding his head.
"I'm sorry for yours too" he said again. "Anyway I better let you go."
Xanther turned and started down the stairs. Lucy stood and watched him for a bit longer kicking herself for bringing the conversation down to such a downer. It was the first time that she had met a man that peaked her interest at all and she chased him away by getting all down about Hudson. It wasn't that she wanted to forget Hudson. She loved him with all her heart, but she agreed with her mother. Lucy just couldn't let Melinda know that she agreed with her. Lucy knew she had to move on, she was lonely and there was only so much her trusty rabbit could do to satisfy her itch.
Chapter Three
Lucy sighed again before turning and heading back to the house, kicking herself the whole way back. When she went in the front door her big old black lab Samson, clamoured his way off the ground, she had, had him since he was only a puppy and she was still a teenager. Melinda had let her feelings known that he was getting too old and should be put down, but Lucy couldn't bear to do it. He was old. He was starting to hurt and she had to control his diet, but hell if she didn't love that big stinky adorable old fart of a dog.
"Oh Samson I'm so useless" Lucy said miserably as she ran her hand over the big dogs head while she flopped onto the couch.
Samson waddled over to where Lucy sat and put his head on her knee. She looked down at him before sighing.
"If only you were human" she sighed resting her head against the back of the couch and closing her eyes.
Lucy was shaken from her sleep by a banging on the front door and Samson barking. She flung her eyes open and sat up.
"What the hell?" Lucy said pulling herself from the couch feeling her muscles clunk and stretch.
Lucy shuffled for the door pulling her phone from her pocket to see the time; it was well after eight in the evening, too late for Melinda making a frantic visit. When she swung the door open she saw a small wiry man with a baseball cap wedged tight onto his head. He had a pot belly that made him look pregnant and his grey hair stuck out like a mad scientist from under the cap. He stood with a notepad in his hand and a pen poised in the other. Around his neck was an expensive looking camera. He smiled widely when he saw Lucy and then looked down nervously at Samson who stood beside her growling and curling his lip. Lucy instinctively reached out and stroked Samson's head but it didn't stop the low throaty growl that he emitted. The man looked around Lucy nervously peering into the entrance of her house. Lucy didn't feel comfortable. She didn't know who the man was but something inside her told her not to trust him as she stepped out onto the front porch, Samson close to her side and pulling the door shut behind her blocking the view of her house from the nosy man.
"Can I help you?" she asked with a frown as the man took a step back, obviously not sure he could trust Samson who continued his low growl.