The letter lays on the marble table with its familiar cursive handwriting. Lucy knew she had to open it but couldn’t bring herself. Fear or maybe pride was holding her back. She needed that chapter of her life over; if only she could cut the past out like a cancer. “Are you ok” Christian’s voice flowed over her shoulder? “Yes! Yes, I’m fine, just lost in thought” She hid the letter under a pile of wedding planning notes and bridal magazines. “It’s been a long day”, she sighed. He moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. “My mother driving you crazy again?” Lucy leaned into his embrace. “No, not at all. Your mom was very well-behaved today. Thank you for talking to her. I know she is excited about the wedding, but I just can’t wear your grandmother Tully’s dress,” Christian laughed. “I don’t think my grandmother Tully wanted to wear that dress”, Lucy spins around. “Enough about the wedding, let’s go out for dinner; there is a Turkish restaurant on the main street that I think we should ….” Christians’s phone rings; he looks at the screen, then back at Lucy. “I’m sorry darling, I have to take this“, he says as he walks to the home office, closing the door behind him. The kitchen suddenly feels cold and dark as Lucy’s doubt creeps in. She decided it was now or never; searching for the letter she had hidden, she hastily opened it.
Lucy,
I know why.
Momma.
Before Lucy could process the words on the paper, Christian walked into the kitchen with an overnight bag. “I have to go; there is something I need to take care of”. Something about his body language and how his eyes won’t meet Lucy’s makes her feel rejected. “Ok, call me,” she says, moving behind the island and putting space between them. Lucy wondered if he was going to see Abby again. She has been inconsolable since she heard about the engagement. Lucy never liked how Christian ran to be by Abby’s side, comforting her, but all Lucy’s protests were logged in her throat. She wanted Christian to choose her on his own; she didn’t want to convince or talk him into it. She wanted him to make that choice on his own, and she thought the engagement was how he showed her his choice, but here he goes again, running to Abby. But Lucy didn’t have time to think about herself, Christian or Abby. She needed to find her mother before it was too late.
