The Lawes Girl

16

Bryan rubbed his right temple, feeling a headache coming on. Quincy eyed him before looking away. "Why are you okay with this?"

    "Why aren't you?" Quincy's eyes came back to him, then rested on his hands. His eyebrows furrowed. 

    "She's your daughter."

"This isn't about her." He spoke so calmly. As opposed to the worry in Bryan's voice. 

    "How is it not? This concerns her too. It's her child."

"It's his child as well. And our grandson."

    "I can't believe this is coming from you." He shook his head, crossing his legs and looking away.

    "This isn't about me either."

"Damn it man!"

    Quincy looked up with hooded eyes. "You do know Nick is aware of what he's done?" Bryan nodded. "He needs his father." Bryan rubbed the side of his face, shaking his head. He laughed. "I don't know why you're so hell bent on protecting her from him. You weren't there when He came over the first time. Or the times after that. She doesn't need you." He glared at Bryan. "Or me. Not since I've known her. And she wouldn't start now."

   "Quincy-"

"The person you should worry about is Nick. If you weren't too busy chasing him away like he were an insect you'd see it."

  From the moment Wes laid eyes on her, he couldn't speak. She'd shut him up again. Without a word again. He felt like the luckiest person ever. To have her by his side... In public. They would stand side by side all night. It made his heart race. Lucille by his side all night. What could be better? The car stopped in front of the building, the chauffeur opened the door to the blast of flashing cameras. Wes stepped out first, adjusting his black suit as he did. He stretched out his hand and Lucille gently placed her hand in his. Emerging from the limo and suddenly drowning in wave after wave of camera shots. Wes smiled. Of course. He bent his head to her side. Even in her heels she wasn't so close to his height. "Aren't you going to yell at him for opening the door for you?" The limo slowly rolled away from behind them. Lucille smiled, Linking her arm with his then digging her fingernails into his suit sleeve. He hissed subtly and laughed. Somehow managing to get into the building. 

    He wasn't the only one that froze when she walked in. Not that he noticed them with his eyes so fixed on her. But they all were looking at Lucille. They way she moved with some guy by her side. Damn it. She looked like she was made by angels and demons to t*****e him and keep him staring at her. Lucille was gorgeous in her black long silk dress, sapphire coloured shoes of which the tips he could only make out from underneath it. Matching jewellery laced with silver and some guy beside her. Who is the guy with her? He absent mindedly took a drink from the passing waiter and just held it. Lucille was the definition of vision... a pure vision. "Lucille Lawes." The person beside him started. 

   "You know her?" Nick asked.

"Yes." He smiled. Neither one of them had looked away from her. "We went to high school together. A day before I graduated, she came right up to me and told me she had a crush on me. She must have been sixteen." He was proud of his story. "I met her in college. I asked her out and she said 'that was high school and this isn't.' It was shocking when she said that." Nick couldn't help wondering why he was still listening. "And she is not the forgiving type." That got his attention. "Too many victims of that particular mishap. I don't think I heard of anyone who did something wrong to her and was forgiven." Nick closed his eyes for two seconds. Was he sent to tell him that? "Excuse me." He went right for Lucille and the person she was with. His friendly informant wasn't the only one. But he couldn't move. With high school coming to mind, it felt like that again. Without the bullying. Just unpopular and she was it... whatever that meant. He decided to mingle.

   While Lucille and Wes were mingling: introducing and being introduced, "It's what she's wearing." One of the ladies who had formed a semi circle said. "It's the way she carries herself. Both her and her sister. They're like seventeenth century princesses pulled out of time with a hint of a wild side."

   "Hmm." Lady two sipped her wine. "Didn't she have a child?"

"She did didn't she?" Lady one remarked. "She doesn't look like it."

   "Who for?" Lady three asked.

"Nick I think." All eyes followed lady two's words to Nick's direction where he stood charming away an eager listening lady. "She was with him a lot during that time."

    "But she's here with him." Lady four nodded in Wes' direction.

"Wes Rangle." Lady two, who seemed to know everything, pointed out.

    "You mean Wes Rangle the racer?" Lady five didn't wait for a reply before heading off towards the pair.

    "They look so good together." Lady one referred to Lucille and Wes. "But if it's Nick then why-"

    "Maybe it's not him." Lady three said.

"You know, I went to a party she threw once. It was something. Both her and her sister..."

   Wes finally left Lucille's side, following after a waiter while smiling pleasantly at people who looked his way. He got the champagne he was looking for and headed straight for Nick. He stood by his side. Looking straight ahead, he took a gulp of champagne. Nick assessed him for a second. "Nick Atkins, I finally get to meet you." 

   "You know me, but I don't know you."

"Wes Rangle."

   "As in the racer?" Nick showed no signs of being impressed. 

"As in."

   "You're one of her friends?"

"No." They faced each other. "As far as you're concerned, I'm the one who took care of her."

   "I should thank you."

"I should hit you. More than once."

   Nick smiled. "I'd be happy if you did."

"I'd be happy too."

   Nick's impassive face returned. "I mean it." Wes raised a brow. "I really do."

   "Unfortunately." Wes smiled. "I'll leave the brutality to Lucille. But it's nice to finally meet you Nick."

   "You too Wes." He didn't let his disappointment show. But... Wes. It may not be the exact pronunciation, but Marvin called out that name a few times.

   "Did I tell you you look amazing?" Wes whispered to Lucille once he got back to her side. Interupting her conversation with a group. She smiled shaking her head. "Well, you do." She squeezed his upper arm while continuing her conversation with the group. When they left the group she turned to him. Suddenly he was too dazzled to speak. He swallowed and licked his lips. "Dance with me."

   "What?" She smirked. "Here? No one's dancing."

"Then let's go somewhere where we can."

   "I know a place. There's a small room over there. We can still hear the music." She had began to move before she finished talking.

   Nick watched as they left laughing and talking. She was with Wes. And all he could do was watch. For one hour she didn't glance in his direction. He didn't pay attention to those who couldn't help watching him. After a while, he stuffed his hands in his pockets, feeling his phial of cocaine in it and headed for the restroom. Subtly followed by a lady.

   Lucille took off her shoes and they danced. Both smiling so brightly. He loved it. Loved seeing her so happy even though Nick was in the next room. She laughed when he spun her. He just loved it. "Everyone was looking at you."

   "Try every woman in there was looking at you. If anything they were probably wondering why I am with you when I had Nick's child." Her hand touched his chest. Then he dipped her. 

   "We don't have to talk about this."

"Oh come on Wes. That's one question anyone might have been asking for a year now." She stepped back. "Thank you."

   Nick couldn't concentrate on the woman in his arms. Not even a glance from Lucille. Not a thing. She hated him. And even if she said one word to him at her place she did nothing here. Making conversation with everyone who came up to her. With Wes by her side... well not all the time. He felt sick to his stomach. He stepped away from the lady, hissed and left the restroom without a word. Leaving his somewhat conquest shocked and hurt.

   Lady number three joined a group with better gossip. "No. I'm telling you. Bryan Atkins threw a party for his grandson. Lucille's son. Nick's son."

   "But it's Nick. Nick Atkins. I mean, Nick doesn't have girlfriends."

   "Then maybe she wasn't his girlfriend. Hence the distance."

"I suppose that makes sense." 

   Lucille and Wes rejoined the party. After another hour at the party, the pair left. Stopping for ice cream on the way home. "Do you always do this after a party?"

   "Uhh... yes. But don't ask me why. Cause I don't know why."

"Ok." He chuckled. "It's cute though."

   "It isn't always ice cream. It just has to be something sweet..." She talked and talked. And he talked, listened and laughed. Taking note of every detail when colourful lights from neon signs hit her face just right. They sat so close together. Knees touching. She touched his face for some reason and he held it there. Her warm open palm against his face. He leaned in, drowning in her eyes. She just kept looking at him. Go for it. Kiss her. Kiss her and she would know how he feels and he wouldn't have to keep imagining it. He leaned in more, hovering over her and feeling her warm strawberry and chocolaty breath against his lips. His eyes drifted to her lips then back to her eyes. Do it and she would know. Do it and he would know. He would wouldn't he? If she didn't kiss him back. If she stopped him when he tried or if she pushed him away and moved towards the door and looked out the window. He looked at the window. Seeing it happen. It's just a kiss. And like words, it could ruin everything. He looked at her again. Feeling his heart pounding as her eyes searched his. That's right. Tell yourself the truth Wes Rangle. He loves her. But he's not ready. 'As far as you're concerned, I'm the one who took care of her.' But did he really? Can he really? He pulled her hand from his face gently and kissed her open palm. He shivered, nodding at her ice cream. "Your ice cream's melting." He rested her hand on her thigh. "Talker." He saw her blink... what was it? Three times? Then smile. 

    "So is yours. Give it to me." She grabbed it from him.

He sat back and laughed. "No." He grabbed it back. She gasped. For some reason Nick came to his mind. And then he remembered the accident she was in with Nick. And what it led to. His reasons for backing down kept growing. He didn't want to repeat her night with Nick. If only partially. 

   Lucille woke up feeling a little groggy. She had to pick Marvin up from his grandparents' place. Which grandparents exactly? She dragged her hand over her face, the events of the night before coming back to her. She raised her hand over her face, looking at her palm. She could still feel Wes' prickly stubble on her palm. 'My fingers are cold.' she remembered saying before touching his face. They'd gotten warm almost immediately. She could still see how dark his eyes had turned, feel the tension he'd created the closer he got. He was so close. She smiled. "Idiot." Then rolled out of bed. Intending to leave the image of a kiss that never happened on her bed. She had a feeling if she told anyone, Wes might get an ear full from Nina or rather, she might get an ear full. So she'd keep it to herself. "Wes Rangle you idiot."

   The way her dress flowed behind her when she walked up and down the stairs with Wes by her side. "Hey." Bart snapped his fingers. Nick blinked. "You do realise I was there with you. I-I was at the fundraiser."

   Nick raised his eye brows. "You were weren't you?"

"Yes. I was."

   "I-"

"Of course you didn't notice. Not when you were so busy-" Bart drew back once he realised. "No way." He scoffed in disbelief.

   "What?"

Bart sat forward, assessing his friend. "No way." He laughed. "Are you for real?"

   "What?!"

   Months of succumbing to Lucille's punishment. Like every other day, once she saw him, she stepped aside and let him in. And every time he said hi, she'd look away and reply. That didn't stop her from being hospitable enough to ask if he would like a drink or eat. And just like always... well, most times when she wasn't busy working or out, she'd sit a couch away with the TV killing off the silence or music playing. She had a way of acting like he wasn't there. Tonight was a night with the TV on doing its job. 

   Lucille kept getting up to check on a lasagna she was making. Marvin had fallen asleep and was in his crib. His crib by the couch Lucille made her Nick safe zone. Lucille rushed off when her timer went off. Just then Marvin became fussy. His tiny groans got Nick's attention. He looked in the direction of the kitchen. Lucille was too busy noisying away in the kitchen. More groaning. was he having a bad dream? Do baby's dream? Unable to just listen to him. He got up and went to him. It had been so long since he carried him. His hands went to Marvin's sides. He held him. Marvin had grown bigger. Right under his nose, he had grown bigger and he didn't get to hold him. Until now. He lifted his son out of his crib.

   All the clattering in the kitchen stopped. "What are you doing?" Wide angry eyes glared at him. He froze, about to rest Marvin's head on his shoulder. "What are you doing?" She enunciated the question. 

   "H-he" She was doing that thing again. Making him feel uncomfortable and doubt himself. "He was fussy so-"

   "So?" She stormed over to him, peeling Marvin out of his arms.

"I thought-"

   "I told you. I told you not to touch him."

"I know but he was fussy."

   "It's not his first time being fussy. You haven't been here long enough." She had grown hostile. 

   "But I'm here now."

"I don't give a rat's a*s. Get out."

   "Wait. Lucille-"

"Get out!"

   "He's not just your son you know. I can take him from you. It's called custody." Crap. Why did he say that? He instantly regretted the words. 

    A deep scowl of resentment came over her. "Excuse me? I co-own an orphanage. Full of kids who love me and who I love. I have more lawyers and connections than you can think of. Half the people you know were introduced to you by your father who was introduced by mine and people I know." That was very possibly a lie but she she didn't care. "You try to take him from me and I swear to you: you would never see him again. And neither will your parents. Up until they die. And it will be your fault!" What the hell was he supposed to do with that kind of threat? "Get out!" She grabbed his jacket and flung it at him. "Get out!" Marvin started to cry. Nick stormed out, clutching his jacket in his hand.

   He drove in anger, smoking a cigarette and clutching the wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white. The threat ringing in his head like the loudest bell in the world. It was a twenty five minute drive back to his place. Once he got home, he went straight for a decanter and a glass. Needing that glass of whiskey now more than ever. That seemed to be the case these days. He drank too much and did too much cocaine to shut it all out. But in the morning it was back again like it never left. He started to pace the length of the livingroom. 

   What the hell? All he did was lift his son and she said that. Well damn it, he threatened to take her son from her. He gripped the glass, taking a sip. After all he had done, he still managed to say something as shitty as 'I can just take him from you.' Why did those shitty words leave his mouth? Because he was angry. For months now it's been cuts and 'get out' and pure hostility from her, granted he deserved it, he knew that. But the frustration got the best of him and he let it show. With those words. What a choice of words. So terribly angry from the tip of his toes to his head, he slammed his hand holding the glass on his glass coffee table. Smashing both the table and the glass. Somehow not getting a single cut. All he did was carry his son who was fussy. But she did warn him. She told him what would happen if he touched him and all she did was follow through. Heaving deep breaths, he shook his head and started to laugh. She did warn him didn't she? He laughed hysterically. Then, he grabbed his jacket, his car keys and was back on the road.

   He banged on Lucille's door like a mad man. Banged until the door was flung open. A fresh scowl on her dace with a hint of surprise. Her hair was wet and pulled up, strands sticking to her face and she was in her house coat. She had just come out of the hot tub. He didn't have time to assess her. "I wasn't ready?" He didn't wait for her to speak. If she did, he wouldn't get a word in. He pushed past her and walked in. "When you came to my office that day to tell me, I was confused. I couldn't think straight anymore." He turned to face her. "I didn't know what you wanted but I knew I wasn't ready for that. For this. I didn't think about anything else so I offered and you shut it down." Lucille folded her arms, his explanation blasting her with so much cold she could shiver. She felt sick. "Next thing I know, the CEO calls me telling me to come home. And they're going on about how sad you looked the day you quit and how it was obviously affecting you to have found out and be pregnant with my-" He pointed at his chest and let his hands fall weakly. "So I did what was expected of me."

   "Scheming?"

"No. Playing the part of-"

   "That's scheming. You knew what you were doing. You made sure everything went your way." Her eyes were red.

   "Yes but-" Damn it, wrong words. "I was expected to-" Damn it! Think. "The CEO- my parents they-"

   "Did I ask you for anything? Did I ask you to be there? Did I ask you for any single thing?"

   "No."

"I'd made up my mind. I went to think because I didn't care about you, I cared about me! I went to think and I came back ready to accept my fate. I was terrified. You weren't the one going to have the baby. It was me. This whole thing never concerned them! It was us. Just us and you did what was expected of you? Did I tell you anything. Did I tell you I wanted anything from you that day? Because all I did was let you know I was preg-" She sighed, blinking. Stupid tears.

   "Lucille, I wasn't ready." His eyes Begged her for something. 

"And you think I was? You basically called me a s**t, then turned around and offered me money. You were over every other day looking for me and apologising like it was something you truly meant when all it was was a huge facade to hide the fact that you were going to leave anyway like you should have done from the start."

   "I wasn't ready to be a father."

"And you think I wanted to be a mother? You think I didn't have my own plans? If I hadn't got in the car with you that night. I didn't even know you. I still don't. For all I know everything you told me about yourself is a lie. You weren't even my boyfriend. You should have stayed gone!"

   "Maybe I should have. But I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for him. He's my son" She scoffed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. "And I love him."

   She stopped and turned to him in disbelief. "You love him? I have loved him from the moment I found out. In spite of everything. What about you?"

   Silence and just her hateful glare and teary eyes. "Lucille please. I'm so terribly sorry I will always be sorry. I wasn't ready, I didn't want it. But I want- I'm here now. And I don't know how else to show you because I have been through all your t*****e and I will continue to be living in your t*****e just to prove it to you." She shook her head and looked away. "Everything I did all those months ago were convenient for me. Clearing my schedule, showing up like a lost puppy, being annoyingly persistent. But broken fingers and a scar are not. Neither is taking glimpses of him or not being able to hold him while he's growing."

   "There I was, wondering what it was I did wrong to make you decide not to come to the hospital."

   "It wasn't you. It was never you-"

"Oh! I know. I know I didn't do anything wrong. And you have the guts to talk custody."

   One knee was on the floor in a second. Eyes and hands begging. "Please." This was new. "I am sorry for everything. I could never take him from you. The CEO would kill me first. I was a fool and an asshole. But I'm here now. Still a fool and trying not to be an asshole. Although I failed. But I would do anything. Including never touching him again or talking to you or whatever punishment you decide to go with next. Just to make you see that I will not leave again. I didn't just leave you, I left him too. Let me redeem myself. I need you to forgive me and not hate me so much. And no matter what it takes, I will work towards that." His other knee touch the floor, he reached for her hands, taking them. "I'm ready now." Pleading eyes looked up at her, glaring eyes looked down at him.