I hope I have enough time here in Washington to convince her we should be together again. If she says yes, I’ll move back up here in a heartbeat. I see a glimmer of hope, and I’m not letting it go.
“Do you have plans for Halloween?” I ask.
She glances away and shifts uncomfortably.
When she says nothing, I continue, “I mean, I figured you might go to a party or something.”
She’s still avoiding my eyes. “No plans.” She rubs her fingers together, and now Iknowshe’s nervous.
“We could do something together,” I suggest.
“I’ll think about it.”
She’ll think about it. That’s what she said to me in her car when I told her I wanted to be together again. I’m pushing too hard. I need to back off, but damn, it’s hard to do.
“I need to ask you something,” Lucy says.
She moves her rice and beans around in the container, not really eating. I’m curious what has her so nervous.
I reach over and still her hand. “Luce, you can ask me anything.”
She glances up at me through her long eyelashes, then nods. “I overheard you and my dad in the hallway earlier.” She leans back in the chair and meets my gaze. “What did he mean when he said he got you out of my hair once?”
I frown. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. Would you mind going somewhere with me after we finish eating?”
Her brows shoot up. “Where?”
“To see my mom.”
* * *
For the secondtime in thirteen years, I’m on my mother’s doorstep. But tonight, I’m more angry than nervous. Is there any chance she knows what Mr. Gardiner did?
I knock, and a moment later, my mom is at the door. She looks good. Happy. Until she spots Lucy.
“Cody? And is that you, Lucy?” She gives me a wary look.
“Yes, it is, Mrs. Anthony.”
“Oh, stop that. Call me Kathy. Well, come in, you two.”
We make our way into the house, and Lucy takes a seat on the couch. I sit next to her.
Lucy is fidgeting with her fingers again and my mom is sitting across from us in a chair chewing on her bottom lip. I hate seeing two women I love feel so awkward around each other. Hopefully, we can get some answers. Although, at this point, I’m not sure I’ll like those answers.
“Mom, I have some questions about what happened back in high school. Lucy’s dad said something to me that didn’t sit right. He said he got me out of Lucy’s life before and he’d do it again. Do you have any idea what he did?”
My mom’s eyes well with tears. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I know that man is your father, but Lawrence is a horrible man.” She grabs a tissue from a box on the coffee table and wipes under her eyes.
I reach for Lucy’s hand and squeeze it. I glance over and her eyes are filling with tears too.
My mom continues. “And if he sees you two together, it won’t be good. I’m afraid for you, Cody.”
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen my mom cry. That’s real fear in her eyes. But what strikes me is that she called Mr. Gardiner by his first name.
“Do you know him well?” I ask.
“What? No. Of course not.” She dabs at her eyes, avoiding my gaze.
