Chapter Three
Lucy
My feet are screaming by the time I walk through the door at home. Four-inch heels were a big mistake. I was on my feet from the moment I arrived at work all the way until I got in my car to head home. My feet are screaming. I kick off my heels and wiggle my cramped toes, silently tell them I’m sorry for torturing them all day.
“Mom is that you?” Bailey calls out from the kitchen.
“What’s left of me,” I reply with an exhausted sigh as I walk into the kitchen. Bailey is seated at the kitchen island with Lucky, my childhood best friend, while she is staring with great concentration at the paper in her hand. I can almost see the smoke coming out of her ears as her mind tries to process what she is reading. I walk over to Bailey and kiss the top of her head. “What’s got her stumped?” I ask Bailey.
“She’s looking over my math syllabus for the year,” Bailey replies. I feel Lucky’s pain. Junior high math has advanced since I was a kid. I’m going to have to hire a math tutor for myself just so I can understand what Bailey is learning.
“Lucky, put down the paper before you short circuit your brain, sweetheart.” I chuckle under my breath. “Are you staying for dinner?”
She drops the paper on the counter and uncrosses her eyes. “Yeah, Ryder is working a double tonight.”
Lucky’s husband Ryder has been working longer hours since he was made Lieutenant on the police force a couple months ago, so Lucky has been spending her time here with us. After the year the two of them had, she needs to be surrounded by people who love her. Last year Lucky suffered a miscarriage that resulted in her having to get an emergency hysterectomy. It was completely devastating for them both.
I grew up with Ryder and Lucky, I was there the day they met on the school playground, and I was there when they got married. Their relationship has been through some major ups and downs. Just when we all thought they were finally going to get the happy ending they so deserved, the floor was ripped tragically out from under them. We almost lost Lucky to the darkness that has plagued her for most of her life after that miscarriage, but by the Grace of God and Ryder, she was able to pull herself back, and the Lucky I know and love is coming back. But she still doesn’t like to spend too much time on her own for fear the demons will return. So, on the nights Ryder works late, she crashes on our couch. I am perfectly okay with that, because I know she will be safe here with me and Bailey. Plus, it’s nice to have another adult around to talk to. Loneliness is a bitch.
I never really knew how lonely I truly was until all my friends started getting married and moving on with their lives while I seemed to stay in the same position. Once upon a time I was the one who was light years ahead of all my friends. Now, everyone is flying past me in leaps and bounds. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, and I am incredibly lucky to have a successful career and a healthy, smart, beautiful daughter, but there is no hiding the fact that we both feel like our home is still missing something.
I open the fridge and stare into the emptiness. Ugh, I suck. Thanks to my flakey mom brain, I forgot to go shopping. Most days I marvel at how long I have been able to keep Bailey alive. I slam the door shut and ask, “Who wants pizza for dinner?” Both Bailey’s and Lucky’s hands shoot up in the air.
****
I finish reading the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to Bailey. Bailey can read these books on her own, but she insists that I read to her every night, saying I do a better job with the voices. My Voldemort is pretty badass. It makes me happy that she still wants me to read to her. The days are so hectic and crazy that I don’t get as much quality time with her as I would like, and I hope that will change with Connie’s help, but for now I will take what I can get. I set the book down on the nightstand, lean over and kiss Bailey on the forehead, and tell her goodnight before I slip out of her room.
Waiting in my room when I walk in is Lucky. She has made herself at home in my bed and is scrolling through my Netflix. Not the exact image I would like to walk in on, but it’s better than the emptiness that I usually find.
After changing into my pajamas, I slip under the covers next to her. My body melts into the soft pile of pillows. It feels damn good to be off my feet for the first time today. I pull the blankets up to my chin and sink further into the fluffy goodness.
“Did you hear Hunter is moving to Seattle? Brooke was helping him find a place today,” Lucky says between bites of popcorn. “I guess he already sold his place in Brooklyn.”
“Yeah, I ran into them this morning. It will be nice for Brooke to have Hunter so close now,” I say between yawns. “I’m sure the women of Seattle are rejoicing that Hunter McCoy is coming to town.”
“I’m pretty sure they aren’t the ones he’s concerned with.” She gazes over at me. My only response is to roll my eyes at her.
“What is it with everyone today giving me that stupid look when they hear Hunter is moving to Seattle?” First Connie and now Lucky.
“Lucy, you cannot be that dumb. Hunter is totally moving here for you.”
“That is ridiculous, Lucky. Hunter is moving here to be closer to Brooke and the kids.” Lucky is delusional. Hunter is not moving here for me. I roll over and cover my head with my pillow, so I don’t have to listen to anymore of her insanity.
“You are the only one being ridiculous Lucy. That man is dying to get into those panties of yours. The man looks at you like you’re a fucking snack whenever you are in the room. He’s been lying in wait for four years. Lulling you into a calm before he strikes and taps that ass.” She smacks my ass through the blankets.
“Lucky, please shut up about this and pick whatever dumb teen movie you are going to watch,” I snap. I’m so done talking about this subject.
“He’s not going to fuck you with that attitude.”
I grab my pillow and smack her in the face with it. “Enough,” I scold her.
“Yes, Mom.” Lucky sinks down under the blankets. “All I’m trying to say is you like him and he likes you, so why not just give it a shot.”
“Lucky, I will stab you with my nail file if you say one more thing about me and Hunter.”
“You’ve been watching too much Orange is the New Black.”