“Well, we should go. We sent the kids home. They’ll be wondering what’s taking us so long,” Silas said.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” Ava said. “Let’s have lunch at Julius and Macey’s.”
“Sure.” Sarah nodded.
Ava lingered before Silas finally managed to escort her out. He gave Lucas a small grin which made the latter’s cheeks turn pink.
Lucas remained silent until they had gone. Hesitantly he looked at Sarah who was avoiding his gaze but this time it felt different. Her cheeks were tinged a faint pink. At least it was shyness not anger or disgust that made her avert her gaze.
“So…where were we?” Lucas asked.
Her blush deepened.
“Sarah, I know I don’t deserve it but…I’d like a second chance,” Lucas said. “Can we…can we start over?”
She blinked finally looking at him, “You want a do-over? Just forget everything and wipe the slate clean?”
“No. No, of course not,” Lucas shook his head. “I put you through so much, make me pay for it. I just…I just want a chance to prove I can do better.”
“…Okay.”
Lucas blinked, “Okay?”
Sarah nodded, “Okay. We’ll try it.”
Lucas struggled not to leap to his feet and shout. A chance! She was giving him a chance! A real chance! There was so much to make amends for he didn’t know where to start.
“…What about Lidia?”
“Don’t worry about her. I already have Alan working on it. Once it’s done you’ll never see her again.”
“…and Madeline?”
“She’s fired and banned from the office as well as everywhere else I’m likely to be. I won’t let her, Lidia or my mother anywhere near you. I don’t want Zoe even knowing their names.”
Sarah allowed a small grin. It seemed the three-year-old had truly charmed her father. She noticed it before on their trip to the Statue of Liberty the way he scooped Zoe up on the ferry to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. If nothing else she certainly stirred up Lucas’s protective instincts.
A gentle knock on the door prevented further talk as the doctor entered. She smiled as she approached, “How are you feeling?”
“All right, I guess,” Sarah answered.
“It’s good to see you awake considering the dosage you were given.”
Sarah grimaced, “I only took one drink of it.”
The doctor nodded checking her heart rate and blood pressure. She seemed satisfied, “I’d like to take another blood sample and see how much is left in your system.”
Sarah nodded, “Do I have to stay here?”
“…No. If you feel like you will rest better at home that’s fine now that you have woken up,” Doctor Darman said after a moment. “There may still be some traces of the drug in your system for the next several hours so I would ask you to exercise caution and avoid any sort of strenuous activity.”
“I’ll make sure she gets home safe and rests,” Lucas said.
The doctor nodded, “I’ll send in a nurse to remove the IV and discharge you.”
* * *
Sarah shivered in the night chill as they stepped out of the hospital. She breathed deep letting it clear her head. A moment later someone covered her shoulders. Tensing she looked to see Lucas settling his coat over her. His expression was soft, concerned. She gave him a small smile of appreciation.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet…you look stunning in that dress,” Lucas said.
Sarah blushed, “Thank you.”
“I just wish I could have danced with you tonight,” Lucas sighed.
Sarah fought a smile as her face warmed. A car pulled up alongside them. Alan stepped out opening the door for them. Lucas escorted her to the vehicle looking at Alan with a confused expression.
“I thought I told you to head home and get some sleep,” Lucas said.
“Well, I drove Sarah’s vehicle home first then went back for yours. It was late so I figured I’d swing around to see how it was going here. Good?”
“We’re making progress,” Lucas said before ducking into the vehicle after Sarah.
As Alan pulled away and drove them home Sarah tried to relax. Her hands trembled and she rubbed them trying to fend off the chill or nerves. Suddenly another hand enveloped hers. Looking up she saw Lucas watching her with concern.
“Cold? Should I tell Alan to adjust the temperature?”
“No. I’m fine.”
He raised her hand to his lips kissing it watching her reaction. The rest of the ride was quiet. Waving Alan off Lucas escorted Sarah inside himself. The house was dark and quiet but Ulima had left the light on in the kitchen. Lucas helped Sarah up the stairs and escorted her to her bedroom door. She hesitated turning to face him. He seemed at an equal loss.
“So…I’m just a couple doors down,” Lucas finally said. “If you need me just…”
“I will,” Sarah nodded. “Thank you. Oh, your coat.”
Lucas accepted it back letting himself admire her in her dress again. She really looked beautiful in it. He wished he had seen her in it under better circumstances. Next time…
“Well, good night,” Sarah hesitated before finally stepping inside her bedroom and shutting the door.
Lucas stood in the hallway for several minutes before retreating to his own bedroom. Baby steps.
Glancing at the bandage the EMTs put around his knuckles reminded him of the rather grizzly bruising and cuts from when he pummeled James. He should have killed him. The idea that Sarah would have to face her attacker again, even in a courtroom angered him. But maybe it was for the best. Sarah was strong. She didn’t let anyone else fight her battles for her and maybe it would give her some closure. But she wouldn’t be alone. He would be there for her.
With that thought in mind he changed into a pair of flannels and collapsed on his bed utterly exhausted from the day’s events. Tomorrow would be a new start.
Lucas drifted off to sleep. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep when he was suddenly awakened by a blood-curdling scream.
“NO!”
Lucas jerked awake practically leaping out of bed. He blinked his sleep-addled mind a step behind.
“Stop!”
Lucas stumbled out of his bedroom following the cries to Sarah’s door. He hesitated but her cries continued.
“Sarah? Sarah!”
Lucas gripped the doorknob finding it locked.
“Stop!”
“Sarah! Damn it! Open the door!”
He rammed his shoulder against the door. It creaked but held firm. With a grunt Lucas tried again feeling the door give slightly. A third attempt finally had it burst inside as the door jamb cracked and gave way.
Lucas stumbled into the bedroom. His gaze fell on the bed where Sarah tossed and turned, thrashing as she fended off her unseen attacker. He rushed to the bed gripping her flailing arms.
“Sarah! Sarah, wake up!”
She struggled a bit longer before her eyes fluttered open. For a moment she didn’t seem aware of her surroundings then her gaze focused and she finally saw him.
“L-Luke?”
“Yeah,” he nodded.
Sarah sat up wrapping her arms around him as she shook with relieved sobs. Lucas gently embraced her trembling form. Stroking her hair in comfort he waited for her to calm down.
“I was back in that closet,” Sarah finally calmed down enough to speak. “He was coming after me and I screamed for him to stop but…”
Lucas’s embrace tightened, “I won’t let him near you. I promise.”
When she finally calmed down, Sarah released him. Lucas was reluctant to let her go but obliged watching her with concern. She wiped away the last of her tears wondering what she should do. How was she going to fall asleep?
“I think I’ll make some tea, maybe have a snack,” Sarah muttered.
“You need to sleep,” Lucas gently admonished. If she started puttering around in the kitchen she was likely to stay up the rest of the night. A sleepless night would do her no good.
“I…can’t. What if I dream I’m back there again?”
“You won’t do anyone any good if you don’t sleep.”
“…I can’t.”
“Let’s try this,” Lucas moved to sit beside her.
Grabbing extra pillows to prop himself up he reclined back and gently embraced her again. Sarah tensed resting her head on his shoulder while he stroked her hair as if consoling a child. Though the thought made her grimace she couldn’t deny the comfort it brought and she slowly relaxed.
“There you go,” Lucas said feeling her body slowly release its tension. “I’ll be right here. You are safe.”
Sarah sighed. She blinked as the exhaustion and stress of the day slowly seeped out of her. Drifting off she jerked awake trying to fend off her tiredness.
“Sleep Sarah. Just sleep.” Lucas muttered.
She blinked this time not fighting the heaviness invading her.
* * *
Sarah woke. Her mind felt muddled and heavy. Slowly memories of the previous night emerged from the fog. She recalled the party, Lidia…James…She shivered sitting up.
Beside her Lucas slept. His head was propped on pillows in what had to be an uncomfortable position. Though he wore flannels his chest was bare. It seemed he had slept on top of the covers as well.
Part of the night was shrouded in a fog and probably would remain so but Sarah did remember a few things very clearly. Lucas was the one who had pulled James away. He also took her to the hospital and stayed with her all night waiting for her to wake up.
She remembered the way he woke her when her dreams turned into a nightmare. Sarah’s gaze went to the door seeing it wide open, the door jamb cracked and splintered where it used to latch. Did he break down the door to get to her? Frowning she looked at Lucas seeing that his eyes were now open.
Calm brown eyes surveyed her and she felt her face warm as he asked, “Did you sleep all right?”
“Um…yes. I did.”
“Good.” Lucas sighed stretching and cracking his neck.
Sarah cringed at the pops that issued from him. His discomfort was her fault but he didn’t seem bothered. She looked again to the door, “Did you…break the door down?”
Lucas glanced at it. His expression betrayed nothing as he said, “It was locked and you were screaming.”
“Oh.” Sarah felt her face warm again.
“You were having a nightmare,” Lucas said rubbing her arm.
“Thank you,” Sarah muttered feeling shy.
Her cell phone suddenly rang. She jumped and felt silly as Lucas leaned over and offered the phone to her. Looking at the screen she saw it was Tailor. She bit her lip and was tempted to ignore the call but knew he would only panic if she didn’t.
Giving Lucas an apologetic look she answered, “Hello, Uncle Tailor.”
“…What happened last night! Tracy said…”
“I’m fine. Uncle really. No Julius and Silas were around. I mean I didn’t stay in their presence all night. There were people I had to talk to,” Sarah sighed. “No, no. Uncle would you please stop? I’m the one who decided to talk to Lidia alone…”
“I should go,” Lucas whispered seeing the phone call was going to take awhile.
She nodded still trying to calm the frantic man on the other line. He stood moving to the door hanging on its hinges.
“I’ll—ah—get this fixed,” he sheepishly whispered before retreating to his room.
Sarah watched him fighting a laugh. Was that really her ruthless, neglectful husband? A man who didn’t even acknowledge her four years ago? Did her sudden departure really throw him for such a loop?
“…And where was Lucas?” Tailor demanded. “If he let you…”
“Uncle Tailor, stop!” Sarah said. “Luke is the one who stopped it. He beat James to a bloody pulp from what I hear…”
It took some time to calm Tailor down and she was finally able to hang up. Sarah slumped on the bed and glanced at the broken door remembering the rather intimate way she woke up. It really did seem like he genuinely cared.
It had been her idea to ignore him until he stopped trying. That was all she had to do with her brother and father. Ignore them long enough and they simply gave up. She thought Lucas would be no different but he seemed determined to prove her wrong.
Sarah chewed her lip for a few minutes longer before going to her closet. If she was going to get answers she needed to ask questions.