Lucy felt horrible about what had happened, but when Steve called her the next day, she couldn’t face talking to him. So she did what she always did, buried her head in her work and pretended everything was okay in her world.
Lucy looked up, as her eyes met Tuckers. He had been watching her closely and gave her a small smile when she looked up at him.
She knew she had no choice; she didn’t want her father upset or worrying. She looked at him lying in the bed and smiled.
“Please, Lucy,” he said, giving her a pleading look. “I just want to be sure you’re okay while I’m in here.”
“If it will make you happy, Dad,” she leaned down and kissed him again. “I’ll let Tucker follow me home, as long as he doesn’t mind.”
She looked back at Tucker and his smile widened.
“It would be my pleasure,” he replied as he walked to the door, opening it, then stopped and turned back to Tom and grinned. “I’ll be back this evening, just to make sure you’re behaving.”
“Get outta here,” Tom chuckled. “You just mind my little girl.”
“That, I will do gladly,” he replied as he held the door open for Lucy. She said goodbye to her father, then took a deep breath before she headed out the door, followed closely by Tucker.
As they walked down the corridor together, the memory of the first time they had met filled Lucy’s mind. She remembered their kiss and the memory made her smile.
Over the years, Lucy hadn’t allowed herself to think about that night in any great detail, but now that she did, she remembered that she had liked Tucker from the moment they met. She couldn’t help but wonder just how different her life would be now if she hadn’t walked away from him that night.
Chapter 4
Tucker agreed to follow Lucy back to her father’s house in his own car. As she drove through town, she thought back to when she was younger and how she had been happy living here, despite the fact she had never really fit in.
Every day she had gone to school, she was given crap by one bitchy girl or another, but it had never bothered her, she had Riley.
She shut her thoughts down, refusing to let herself go back to that time. It was the past, and that was where it belonged.
She reached over, switched on the radio, and turned up the volume. Katy Perry filled the car. Lucy tried to sing along with the song, to stop the millions of memories now filling her mind.
When she pulled into the driveway behind her dad’s truck, she smiled knowing that everything was exactly as she had remembered it. She hadn’t realised how much she had missed being home, being here with her dad. She missed her old life.
Lucy switched off the engine of her car and looked into the rear view mirror at Tucker climbing out of his truck before he turned and walked up the pathway to where her car was parked.
She could feel that familiar tension in the pit of her stomach appear as she opened the car door and stepped out.
“Thank you for making sure I got home okay,” she said as she shut the door and walked to the back of the car. “I think I got it from here.”
She popped open the boot and reached in for her suitcase.
“Here, let me,” Tucker said, as he hurried to the back of the car and grabbed hold of her case. As he did, his arm brushed against Lucy’s, and she instantly froze in fear, but he didn’t seem to notice. “I will take it in for you.”
He slammed the boot closed before he made his way up the front steps of the house. Lucy was about to follow him but stopped when she saw him pull a key from his pocket and open the door.
Tucker turned in time to see Lucy giving him a questioning look, and it stopped him in his tracks.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, and Lucy could see a nervous look creep across his face. “I guess it’s just a habit. The Chief gave me a key a few years ago, but I shouldn’t have presumed…”
“No,” Lucy said, as she slowly made her way up the front steps. “If Dad gave you a key, he would want you to use it. He trusts you, and knowing my dad as I do, that is no small thing. I was just surprised, that’s all.”
She walked to the door and took a deep breath before she stepped back into the past. She remembered the last time she stood in this hallway, it seemed like a lifetime ago now, and yet everything was the same, just a little bit older and more worn than she remembered.
“Would you like me to put your suitcase up into your room?” Tucker asked, pulling her back from her thoughts.
“It’s okay,” she replied as she gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, Tucker. For everything. It’s good to know my dad has someone here, looking out for him.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he replied, looking at her, almost unsure of what his next move should be. “Your dad is a good man.”
“Would you like a coffee?” Lucy asked, half hoping he would just say no and leave.
“Sure,” he said with a smile, as he stepped further into the hallway behind her, closing the door.
Lucy led Tucker through to the kitchen at the back of the house. Everything was just how it was before she left. She picked up the kettle and filled it with water as Tucker slipped onto a stool next to the counter.
“So how long do you think you will be back for?” Tucker asked as Lucy walked to the fridge, taking out the milk and setting it on the counter.
“As long as Dad needs me, I guess,” Lucy shrugged before she turned, opening the cupboard, taking out two coffee mugs.
“He misses you,” Tucker said cautiously. Lucy knew he wasn’t sure if he was crossing a line. Still, he continued. “He talks about you all the time, he is so proud of you, but I know he finds it hard because he doesn’t see you more.”
“I miss him, too,” Lucy sighed as she looked at this relative stranger standing before her, yet there was something about him, something that made her want to open up. “I know these last nine years have been hard on him, too, but that’s changed now.”
She turned back to the cupboard, feeling a little confused as to why she found it easy to open up to Tucker. She opened the cupboard, stretching up to try and reach for the instant coffee. Her dad hated instant coffee, but he always kept a jar for emergencies. She just wished he didn’t keep it quite so high. She leaned up on her tippy toes but couldn’t reach.
“Let me,” Tucker said, and was on his feet and next to her before Lucy had time to think. He came up behind her, reaching up into the cupboard, as his body pressed against her back.
Without even thinking, Lucy pushed back abruptly and moved away from him as quickly as she could.
“Lucy! What’s wrong?” Tucker asked, as he gave her a confused look. He stepped towards her and reached out to her but she quickly stepped back until her back was flush with the fridge. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t…don’t touch me,” Lucy pleaded as her whole body went ridged with absolute fear. She pinched her eyes closed and held up her hands. “Please.”
“Lucy,” Tucker said as he stepped closer to her, but was careful not to touch her. “I would never hurt you. Please don’t be afraid of me.”
“I…I know,” she said as she tried to focus on her breathing. “I’m not…I just… I can’t.”