This is dedicated to my wonderful friend KP. Happy Birthday, dear one! I hope you enjoy this.
Set in "The Hungover Games" verse, so this will make much more sense if you have read that at least through Chapter 7. Hope you enjoy!
I've tried ringing your flat at least six times. Please call.
Where the hell is that brother of hers?
He's been out of touch lately, and it bothers her more than she cares to admit. She's become accustomed to hearing from him on a daily basis ever since his marriage to Freda fell apart, and she still fears for his emotional state, wishing he would get out and truly begin a new life for himself.
"I'm fine Lu," he always insists when she brings it up. "I neither need nor want the complication of a relationship right now."
But he's lonely, and she senses it—she sees it, in the deepening creases of his eyes, the sad tilt of his expression, the lost look of a little boy he lets slip when he thinks she isn't paying attention.
God—if that woman is trying to sink her talons into him again now that all of his hard work and determined efforts are finally paying off in spades…
You're worrying the family, I hope you know. Please text me to let me know you're alright.
Please text me to let me know you're not in danger of falling for that bitch again, she thinks, pacing the carpet as she wills her phone to vibrate.
Then it does.
This is Mary. Charles is fine, just in the shower. I'll have him call you as soon as he's finished.
Mary? Who the hell is Mary? And Charles is in her shower? A tickling sensation races up her spine.
"Thank God," she whispers to herself, nearly giddy knowing her baby brother is both safe and finally getting out there again.
Mary? This is Lucy, Charles's sister. Have we met?
She closes her eyes, trying to recall every conversation they'd had over the past three weeks, mentally pulling up every pretty face at his last book signing, wondering just why Charles had failed to mention this Mary to her or to anyone else in the family.
No, but I saw your text and didn't want you to worry about him. He's staying at my flat to help me as I have recently sprained my knee and cannot walk very well.
Ok—she doesn't know her—but Charles has basically moved in with this woman already? Of course, he could be doing it out of the goodness of his heart, but she pushes that notion aside immediately. At least this Mary is thoughtful enough to inform Lucy that her brother is safe and sound.
A sprained knee? That has to be painful. He helped me when I broke my leg when we were kids. I was horrid with crutches. He has never stopped teasing me about it.
"Limpy Lu" he had deemed her, a nickname that had stuck all too well and still made her grit her teeth. Of course, Charles had taken it upon himself to share it with Rob right after he and Lucy had become engaged three and a half years ago.
She still hasn't completely forgiven brother-dearest for that one.
Crutches are instruments of torture. And I tease him as relentlessly as he teases me.
She likes this Mary better and better.
I'm glad to hear it. He deserves all of it and more. Let me know if you ever run out of fuel. I'll send insider's information.
This could be fun. Yes, this could be very fun indeed!
I''ll keep that in mind. It's always helpful to have a knowledgeable source.
A laugh that both feels and sounds evil emerges from her throat, summoning her husband from the other room.
"Who are you texting?" he inquires, clad in boxers and his favorite t-shirt she wishes he would throw away.
Big sisters always know the truth.
"Charles's new girlfriend," Lucy smiles as she touches Send, raising Rob's brows in the process.
"Charles has a new girlfriend?" her husband echoes. "When did this happen?"
"I don't know, but I'm guessing sometime over the past three weeks," she responds a bit too gleefully. "He's been pretty quiet lately."
"He's been otherwise occupied, it would seem," Rob states, leaning forward to plant a kiss on her lips before he is attacked from behind.
"You're surrounded, villain," their four year old son exclaims as he grabs his father's legs. "Give me all your money so I can give it to the poor."
"You took it all yesterday," Rob claims, raising both hands. "I am the poor now."
Lucy grins at their antics as her fingers whiz across her phone.
Please tell him that our sister Sharon has gone into labor. He's going to be an uncle again very soon.
"Likely story, villain," Edward cries out, the dark curls falling into his eyes reminding his mother that the boy needs a haircut soon.
"Take him to see Max sometime this week, alright?" she instructs her husband, receiving a nod of acknowledgement as her phone vibrates again.
He's nearly done, and I'll tell him about Sharon. We'll have to chat again later. It's been lovely meeting you, Lucy.
She grins like a school girl, certain Charles has no idea that his new girlfriend has been texting his sister and wondering just how he'll react when he finds out.
How she wishes she could be there to see his expression.
Same to you, Mary. He's been keeping you a secret from us, you know. I'll have to reprimand him for that.
"You're looking too pleased with yourself," Rob cuts in as Edward scampers back towards his bedroom in search of his sword.
"I'm about to nail that brother of mine," she grins, biting her lower lip in anticipation as she composes another text.
Mum—Charles has a new woman. Spent the night at her flat—that's why he hasn't been answering his phone.
Her stomach races, knowing her mother has her phone on hand awaiting news about Sharon.
What? Details, Lucy Eleanor, and I mean immediately.
"I feel sorry for Charles," Rob murmurs over her shoulder. "He'll soon have the entire Feminine Blake Armada on his heels."
"He already has two-thirds of us," Lucy returns. "And this is good news. It's what we've all been waiting for, for someone to take his mind off of that witch of an ex-wife of his and remind him that he's got a lot to offer a woman."
Charles, I've just told Mum about Mary. She wants more information immediately.
"Then perhaps you should leave well enough alone, Lu," her husband suggests, sliding his arm around her waist, nuzzling his nose under shoulder-length dark hair to nip that spot that tends to make her yelp. "Let Charles and this new woman find their own way while I find my way across you."
"I thought you had rounds," she hums, keeping an eye out for Edward as his finger traces her neckline.
"I still have time to go a round with you," he breathes.
She jumps at his kiss, pushing him back playfully as her phone alerts her to a text.
"Oh, God," she exclaims, showing the phone to her husband. "He sent a photo."
"Well done, Charles," Rob observes with a nod. "She's a bit of a stunner. I don't blame him for going after her."
"Watch it, Doc Maguire," she warns under her breath.
"No worries, love," he replies, planting a lingering kiss on the pulse point of her neck. "I do value my life, you know."
"Unhand her, villain," Edward commands, making Lucy chuckle as Rob swears under his breath, the tip of a plastic sword planted firmly in his left buttock.
"Go a round with your son," she whispers with a coy grin. "I'll be back by the time you get home this afternoon."
He walks away reluctantly before grabbing up the four year old and swinging him over his shoulder, Edward's belly-laugh squeezing her heart.
She's stunning, even first thing in the morning. Rob says, "Well done." But you're a complete ass for snapping a photo of her when she clearly wasn't expecting it. You didn't even give her a chance to get properly dressed or brush her hair.
She then quickly forwards the photo to her mother, pacing at a feverish pace awaiting her response.
She's gorgeous, isn't she? Lord, they would make pretty babies.
She laughs out loud.
You'd finally get another dark-headed grandchild. I think we have enough red-heads in the family.
She swallows down the slight sting that always accompanies the mention of more grandchildren, laying a hand over her trim waist for a fleeting moment.
We have enough boys in the family. I'm placing my order for a raven-haired granddaughter right now. Of course, it's probably a bit early in the relationship for me to mention that to Mary.
She shakes her head at her mother and plops down on the sofa.
Don't you think it would be wise to meet her first, Mum?
Of course! I'll organize a family dinner as soon as Sharon is up and about again. We'll let Mary hold the baby to see how she is with children. That's always a good test.
Lucy's eyebrows fly up, remembering how Freda avoided Sharon's boys and Edward as if they carried the Bubonic Plague.
I'll see if I can manage a way to meet her this week. Will prod Charles for more information and will try to procure her phone number. I really enjoyed exchanging texts with her.
She stares at Mary's photo yet again, trying to piece together a basic personality framework.
Good work, Lucy. Report all findings to me. Wait—getting a text from Donny.
She holds her breath, hoping all has gone smoothly for her older sister.
Joshua Andrew is here! And Sharon was marvelous, Donny says. Another gingersnap, it would seem. Now I must meet Mary as soon as possible. Will text Charles immediately.
"I'll say it again," Rob breathes from over her shoulder, making her heart jump. "Poor Charles."
"Yes," Lucy smiles back at her husband. "Poor Charles, indeed."