Chapter Two
December 23, 1955 - Darlington, South Carolina
The faint strains of Bing Crosby crooning "White Christmas" drifted from the RCA transistor radio sitting in one corner of the slightly grimy, tool-covered workbench. Under the hood of a gleaming cherry red and creamy white Chevy Bel Air (the pride and joy of Darlington's mayor), Wyatt hummed along under his breath, intent on finishing the monthly maintenance the car's owner insisted upon before quitting time, a task he thoroughly enjoyed.
Though truth be told, there wasn't much Wyatt Logan didn't enjoy nowadays. The past few months had been probably the happiest he'd ever experienced, and that included the early "honeymoon" years of his marriage to Jessica. Despite his rational mind insisting this new life he and Lucy were sharing was just make believe-some fantasy likely to vanish the moment Rufus returned for them-Wyatt's heart knew better.
Since crossing the invisible line between best friends and something sweet and lasting and real a few days after arriving in 1955, every morning he woke with Lucy in his arms without the constant, exhausting threat of Rittenhouse hanging over them was like a precious gift, one Wyatt never felt deserving of, let alone dared wish for. She had saved him so many times-unknowingly giving his life new purpose and meaning-that regardless of where (when) they ended up, he only wanted to be with her.
Another source of satisfaction for Wyatt was how easily he and Lucy had settled into their new lives. Certainly, their successful acclimation owed a tremendous debt of gratitude to Wendell, not only for calling his good friend Jimmy and getting him this job, but also for sending them to Guelda. From the night they met, she'd been nothing but kind and generous, starting with bringing in a doctor to stitch up the cut on Lucy's forehead, a quick stop at the church's clothes closet so they had something clean to wear, and even finding them a furnished apartment to rent. Wyatt shuddered to think how awful their circumstances would have turned out to be without Guelda's help.
Sympathetic to their initial cover story about being robbed and left for dead on their way out of town that evening in September, in addition to the Scott siblings, numerous residents of Darlington gradually welcomed the newcomers as well. Wyatt started working for Jimmy that very week, and soon was on a first-name basis with people like the town barber and a couple guys who worked at the local hardware store. One of his very favorite people in Darlington, however, was their landlord. Wyatt would never forget the day Guelda introduced them to Maggie Spencer...
Flashback
Because of her swollen ankle, he and Lucy ended up staying at the parsonage for nearly three days, a necessary situation that evoked mixed feelings in Wyatt. He was truly grateful to the minister and his family for giving them food and shelter while Lucy was recuperating from her sprained ankle, but having to tolerate this much forced inactivity, however, always tended to frustrate him–just ask Rufus or Denise Christopher, he thought wryly.
Ignoring Lucy's poorly-concealed amusement at his restless behavior, Wyatt consoled himself with the thought that at least hiding away in the parsonage like this kept her safe since they had no way of knowing if Emma and her partner were still prowling around Darlington. As an added bonus, Wyatt was getting to spend nearly 24/7 with the woman he loved after enduring their agonizing separation. While he was faintly disappointed Lucy absolutely refused to open up to him about the six weeks she was a Rittenhouse captive, one of the many things they did discuss, in addition to what might be happening back in 2018, was the future.
He was taken aback when Lucy was less than optimistic about sustaining their cover story for an indefinite period of time, considering she was (in his opinion) an expert on history and anthropology. "I don't know, Wyatt, it's one thing to try and blend in with our surroundings for a few hours or possibly a couple of days. What if it ends up being weeks or maybe longer?" she fretted after lunch Tuesday. They had the place to themselves, sitting around the kitchen table playing cards to pass the time while Guelda was out running errands and the minister and his wife were visiting parishioners at the local hospital. "Don't you think we should be making some kind of plans in case Rufus doesn't come back soon? Aren't you even the slightest bit concerned?" He could easily imagine what she left unspoken...if something happened and Rufus doesn't return at all...
Laying down his cards, Wyatt took her hand and squeezed gently. "Lucy, I have every confidence between the two of us, we'll be fine. C'mon, you're the smartest woman I know, and so much more capable than I think you sometimes give yourself credit for, plus don't forget, I've had a little experience with undercover ops in the past. We got this, sweetheart, no matter how long we're here for, whether we go home tomorrow or even if, well, even if it turns out to be for the rest of our lives. Alright?"
Cheeks pinking at his compliment (and probably the impulsive endearment), she gazed into his eyes intently for a long moment, before taking a deep breath and nodding with a shy smile, instantly setting Wyatt's mind at ease that they were on the same page. A second later, Lucy grinned mischievously but didn't speak. When Wyatt stared at her curiously, she relented and mused aloud, "It just occurred to me, and of course, Rufus would probably know better than us, but didn't Marty McFly go back to 1955? Does that mean I can call you..."
Wyatt ruthlessly cut her off by putting his hand over her mouth and warning, "Do not call me Marty." Her eyes gleamed with laughter, breath warm against his palm and when it seemed like she was about to protest, he pretended to frown in disapproval, secretly enjoying the sound of her giggles when he removed his hand. The rest of the day, every time Wyatt looked at Lucy, she would mouth the word "Marty," and he only shook his head, pleased he could make her smile.
By the next morning, Lucy was getting around well enough that when the housekeeper announced at breakfast she might've found them a place to live, a relieved Wyatt was more than ready to go–not that he didn't appreciate everyone's kindness. Once they finished the hearty Southern-style breakfast Guelda prepared for them, the two of them got cleaned up before accompanying her to a small restaurant on Main Street called "Maggie's Diner," where a sign in the front window proclaimed in a fancy looping script, "Best Pie in 6 Counties."
"Maggie not only runs the diner, but owns the whole building, including the apartment upstairs," Guelda informed them, holding open the door as a bell tinkled musically above their heads. Despite just finishing a meal fit for a lumberjack, Wyatt's mouth watered at the enticing smell of food and freshly-made coffee in the air. From what he could see, the whole place was so clean, it practically shone and nearly every table was full. Apparently, this Maggie ran a tight ship, he thought approvingly.
Just then a diminutive older woman with twinkling blue eyes and impossibly blonde hair done up in the puffiest beehive Wyatt had ever seen walked through the swinging kitchen doors. "Well, Guelda Scott, who have you brought to see me this morning?" she asked in a soft drawl, openly staring at them with interest. He immediately stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Ma'am, I'm Wyatt Logan, and this is my wife, Lucy," he answered, a bit surprised when the older woman took his hand with a surprisingly strong grip and shook it firmly before offering her hand to Lucy.
"Well, now, of course you are," she responded warmly, and at the confused expression on their faces, she explained, "My friend, Guelda here, told me a bit about you and your pretty little missus and the trouble y'all ran into. I felt so bad about your misfortune here in Darlington that when she said y'all needed a place to stay until you get back on your feet, I asked her to bring you here. Now just hold on a second while I tell my short-order cook, Sam, to hold down the fort."
Before they knew it, Maggie led them outside and up the steep steps that ran up the side of the diner to the second floor. Pulling a shiny gold key from her apron pocket, she unlocked a door at the top of the steps and ushered them inside. Looking around, Wyatt immediately liked when he saw. Although not very large, just two rooms and a bath, like the diner downstairs, everything was spotless and smelled of lemons.
The surprisingly spacious room they were standing in had a row of sparkling windows that overlooked the street below, and contained a worn (though comfortable looking) sofa, a recliner, two side tables with lamps, and there was a small black and white television on a stand in the corner. In the opposite corner of the room was the kitchen nook, complete with a refrigerator and compact gas stove, and instead of a table and chairs, there were two stools in front of a grey Formica counter that divided the kitchen from the living room. The walls were painted a soft yellow, with some kind of flowery stenciling running along the top.
To the left of the kitchen, a narrow hallway led to a modest-sized bedroom, just big enough to hold a double bed and a long, low dresser with a mirror. Directly across the hall was a tiny bathroom done in shades of pale blue and white. Maggie took a couple minutes to point out all the amenities, and then she and Guelda left them alone in the bedroom to look around. "I like it," Lucy whispered, "It's small, but very clean," and Wyatt squeezed her hand in agreement.
Once they rejoined the women in the front room, Maggie got right down to business. "Alright then, to be perfectly honest, I usually get $10 a week rent for this place, which includes utilities, but seeing as how you're in a tough spot at the present time, and seem to be a real nice young couple, I'm going to ask $7 a week. And no rent due until you draw your first paycheck, which since Guelda tells me that you've already found a job over at Jimmy's, should be in another week or so. How's that sound?" As far as Wyatt was concerned, it sounded perfect. And just like that, they were living together, and Maggie became a trusted friend.
End Flashback
Perhaps most important to him was the air of peaceful contentment Lucy wore as easily as a favorite sweater as the weeks went by and living beneath the burden of Rittenhouse lessened. She was radiant with a happiness Wyatt found impossible to resist, so it was little wonder he fell deeper in love with her every day, although neither one of them had actually said those three little words aloud yet. But soon...
In the meantime, Wyatt reminded himself, the faster he finished with this car, the more time he'd have with Lucy–a nice long holiday weekend. It sure was a beautiful car, top of the line, and three months ago, new-on-the-job Wyatt had been surprised when his boss, Jimmy-owner of Jimmy's Auto Repair–called him up front and with a wink, casually tossed him the keys. He'd stared at the older man in disbelief for a couple seconds before a slow grin spread across his face. Not only was the Mayor was one of Jimmy's best customers, he was known to be very particular about his automobiles, and Wyatt felt ridiculously proud to be trusted with the brand-new vehicle.
Thank God he knew his way around "vintage" cars, he mused, once again grateful for the recommendation from Wendell, because otherwise, cheap rent or not, he and Lucy might have starved the last three months. Considering his extensive military background, Wyatt was probably better suited to a job in law enforcement, but after what happened to Ryan Millerson and his wife, he and Lucy thought it prudent they keep as low a profile with the local police as possible for the duration of their stay (however long that might be).
Not only that, but the money actually wasn't bad–$2.50 an hour, which was more than respectable for 1955. Every Friday, he took home his paycheck of around $100, and so far, they'd lived fairly comfortably, if not extravagantly. Although he'd never voice it aloud to a modern, independent woman like Lucy, Wyatt was secretly pleased to be able to take care of her, gladly putting in 45 hours a week at the shop, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Monday through Friday and a half day on Saturdays. Except for tomorrow, which was Christmas Eve.
Jimmy had unexpectedly come in the shop earlier in the day, and in addition to handing Wyatt and the other mechanic, John, each a Christmas card containing a crisp $5.00 bill, announced that the shop was closed tomorrow and the guys were getting paid for the half day. Pleased at the thought of a two-day weekend, Wyatt had been even more grateful for the bonus, because he already knew exactly what (and who) to spend it on.
Completely disregarding the fact he and Lucy had decided weeks ago not to exchange Christmas gifts to save back some money, Wyatt had his eye on a dainty gold necklace with a tiny garnet chip (her birth stone) in the center that he'd seen in the front window of the jewelers shop on the corner. After putting a small deposit down on the necklace, he'd been saving back his pocket change for weeks, and the extra $5.00 from Jimmy would more than pay the balance in full.
And knowing Lucy, it was a foregone conclusion she'd fuss at him and pretend to be upset, but he was pretty sure she would secretly love it. It was important to Wyatt that he do something a little special for their first Christmas together, since they were stuck more than sixty years in the past, away from everyone and everything familiar except each other.
Even for someone as knowledgeable as Lucy, Wyatt was well aware adjusting to life in 1955 hadn't been easy at first, especially when you factored in the added stress of worrying her mother would somehow figure out where–when–they were hiding and send Emma in the mother ship after them. Eventually, though, time passed, and when there was no sign of anyone or anything remotely Rittenhouse, they gradually relaxed their vigilance and comfortably settled into posing as a young married couple in the '50's.
Everyone had been so kind and accepting of "Mr. and Mrs. Logan," it went a long way towards easing Wyatt's mind whenever he worried about their uncertain future. On the increasingly rare occasions when he and Lucy discussed their situation, they did agree that of all the places and times they'd visited since these missions began, in light of the friendly reception they'd received here, there were far worse places to be stranded than a small town in 1955 South Carolina–like 1754 Pennsylvania or 1894 Chicago or 1944 Germany during WWII...
The drastically slower pace of life was unexpectedly appealing–a welcome respite from their dangerous, insane, frantic lives in 2018. Naturally, they missed some of the 21st century conveniences everyone took for granted–things like ATM's, the internet, cable television, Starbucks–and definitely one of the biggest adjustments was living without their cell phones. Still, even if they hadn't left them in the lifeboat when they'd arrived back in September, the iPhones would be useless without the means to recharge the batteries.
On the plus side, though, Wyatt could scarcely believe gas was only 23 cents a gallon (no wonder everyone drove big-ass eight-cylinder cars and trucks), and trips to the grocery store were like a living history lesson that Lucy especially found fascinating. Bread costing 18 cents a loaf? Less than a dollar a pound for coffee? Sure, food in this decade was rather plain compared to the dizzying variety of choices in their time, but quite plentiful in post-war America, and as Lucy thoughtfully pointed out, much healthier.
Any worries they might have had about being bored without all the diversions they were accustomed to at home were quickly put to rest. For a town of around 6,500 residents, there was a remarkable number of free or inexpensive things to do, nearly all within walking distance. They took long walks around town, attended football games on Friday nights at the local high school where Maggie's oldest grandson was the starting quarterback, treated themselves to a movie almost every Saturday night, and Wyatt even went fishing a couple of times with his boss. And when the weather began to cool off, they stayed inside and sometimes watched television (when they weren't otherwise occupied). While college professor Lucy never missed a game show called "The $64,000 Question," Wyatt got hooked on "Dragnet" and for rather obvious reasons, was a big fan of "I Love Lucy."
Rather surprisingly, since he wasn't (and never had been) overly fond of organized religion, Wyatt found he didn't mind attending weekly church services where Guelda's employer preached, especially once someone there noticed that Lucy could sing, and she was invited to join the choir-something she enjoyed very much. That let to the minister's wife finding Lucy a job at the Darlington Public Library a couple mornings a week. It didn't pay much, only 75 cents an hour, but the money was secondary to the pleasure she got out of being surrounded by her beloved books.
Gradually, as he and Lucy grew more comfortable with their surroundings, they made the effort to socialize with other people and began making new friends–although naturally, none of them could ever replace Rufus, Jiya, Denise Christopher or even Connor Mason in their hearts. Just last week, they'd been invited to supper by his co-worker, John, and his wife Helen. After enjoying a delicious meal (Helen was an excellent cook), the two young couples were playing cards when John tried to coax Wyatt into joining his weekly bowling league, which greatly amused Lucy. Ignoring the delighted smirk on his "wife's" face, Wyatt politely promised to think about it and rapidly changed the subject.
Later that evening, while they were getting ready for bed, Lucy couldn't resist kidding him. "Oh, c'mon, Wyatt, you should do it...might be good for you to hang out with someone besides me one night a week, and I bet you'd get to wear one of those sexy bowling shirts and everything," she teased, dark eyes dancing with humor. She squealed when he suddenly grabbed her around the waist and putting her arms around his neck, nuzzled his clean-shaven jaw (no respectable young man in the '50's went around scruffy). God, he loved this woman–although he hadn't gotten up to courage to tell her so yet.
Without warning, he lifted her into his arms and growled, "I'll show you sexy," before gently tossing her on the bed and settling himself between her slender thighs.
"Yes! My nefarious plan worked perfectly, then," she retorted breathlessly, moving restlessly under him and wrapping her hands around his neck, Lucy drew his lips to hers, effectively putting an end to the bowling conversation.
Wyatt finished up the Bel Air and called the Mayor's office to leave a message the car was ready to be picked up because the shop would be closed over the long weekend. Since John had already wished him a "Merry Christmas" and gone home about an hour ago, Wyatt took a few minutes to put away his tools and get cleaned up.
The Mayor himself came in to pick up the car a few minutes before closing. After paying the bill, he shook Wyatt's hand and thanked him, and then did something startling. Reaching in his suit pocket, he pulled out a $20 bill and handed it to Wyatt, who politely tried to refuse, but the man was adamant.
"Now, Wyatt, you've been taking excellent care of this beauty for months now, and she's never looked or run better. Jimmy and I go way back, since grade school, and I know he pays a fair wage, but I wanted to show my appreciation for your hard work. So, thanks again, and Merry Christmas, son." Giving Wyatt a wink and a hearty pat on the back, he was gone, leaving Wyatt to stare after him in wonder. What a kind thing to do.
Shaking his head in amazement at the unexpected windfall, he hurriedly turned out all the lights and locked up, intent on getting to the jewelers before they closed. A few minutes later, Wyatt was waiting patiently in front of a gleaming display case while the salesgirl went in the back to get Lucy's necklace, when a selection of wedding bands caught his eye. Back in September when they first arrived, Maggie had noticed that neither he or Lucy wore a wedding ring, and uncomfortable with lying to her, Wyatt had mumbled something about the "car thieves" and swiftly changed the subject. But here it was Christmas already, and they'd been pretending for months to be married, and the money from the Mayor was just burning a hole in his pocket...
It was just after 5:00 when he let himself in the front door, and taking off his jacket, he grinned at the sound of Lucy singing drifting down the hallway. All I Want For Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey, if he wasn't mistaken, a decidedly modern Christmas song compared to what played on the radio. She'd already plugged in the lights on the small Christmas tree that sat in front of the windows, and the light pine scent of the fresh-cut tree mingled with the smell of their dinner simmering on the stove.
Standing there in the snug little apartment, surrounded by the sights and sounds and smells of this life the two of them had created, not merely out of necessity, but love as well, it struck Wyatt like a fierce bolt of lightning that he was home. It didn't matter when or where in time he was, home was anywhere Lucy was because she was his home, everything he could ever want or need in this life. Weeks ago, as the days passed without any sign of Rufus (or Rittenhouse, for that matter), an idea had taken hold of him that he hadn't shared with Lucy. Until now.
Sticking her head out of the bedroom and catching sight of Wyatt, Lucy flew down the hallway into his arms, kissing him enthusiastically, before leaning back and beaming at him. "You're finally home! Did the Mayor's car take you longer than usual? Good news-Maggie sent up a whole pot of chicken and dumplings for dinner, her grandma's recipe she said, and there's apple pie for dessert because she knows it's your favorite and...Wyatt? Is something wrong?" Lucy's voice trailed off, a puzzled expression on her face.
The words fell impulsively from Wyatt's lips as he fumbled with the small square box in his pants pocket. With shaking hands, he popped the lid open and taking a deep breath, asked "Lucy, I know this might seem kind of sudden and we haven't talked about it at all, but will you marry me?" showing her the delicate gold band that was set with three diamond chips. She stared at him mutely, whiskey eyes widened in shock.
Starting to feel slightly nervous, he put his hand on her soft cheek and confessed, "I've been in love with you for months now and just don't want to pretend any more–I want you to be my wife for real, and I want to be your husband, Ma'am, if you'll have me." His heart sank as Lucy took a shuddering breath but didn't speak. Oh, God, had he overstepped or misjudged her feelings? Lowering the ring box, Wyatt's other hand dropped from her cheek and he started to step back when without warning, she threw herself at him. "Yes! Yes! I love you, too, so much-I have for a long time, so yes! Of course I'll marry you," she cried against his neck, clinging desperately to Wyatt. He held her trembling body tightly, pressing gentle kisses to her soft hair and murmuring words of comfort until she gradually calmed.
Pulling out of his arms, Lucy self-consciously swiped at her tear-streaked cheeks, and solemnly gesturing to the sofa, asked him to sit down. "I guess I'm not the only one with a Christmas secret," she began, and at first Wyatt assumed Lucy was talking about a gift and sought to reassure her.
"I'm actually glad to hear that," he smiled ruefully, "Because I know we agreed not to buy each other anything for Christmas, but then I saw something that I thought you'd like, and got it anyway..." Wyatt's voice trailed off when Lucy pressed her lips together and began to shake her head vigorously. "Sweetheart, why are you shaking your head? I don't understand," and then his world tilted on its axis for a brief second when she abruptly took his hand and placed it on her flat stomach. What? Wait a minute–did that mean what he thought it did?
"I'm pregnant," she whispered, smiling at him hesitantly, placing her hand over his where it rested on her stomach and squeezing lightly. A baby...they were going to have a baby? The sheer joy on Lucy's face left no doubt how she felt about an unplanned pregnancy, and he knew his next words were crucial.
Swallowing thickly, Wyatt leaned in and kissing her tenderly, said, "You have made me the happiest man in the world, Lucy Preston, by agreeing to be my wife and soon, you'll be the mother of my child," and then she started crying again. In between tears, Wyatt slipped the gold band on her left hand, relieved when it fit perfectly. Looking at the ring gracing her slender hand, all his worry about their future melted away, and Wyatt knew without a doubt whether or not Rufus returned, exactly where and when he and Lucy would spend the rest of their lives...
A/N: I was thrilled with the response to the first chapter of this story, and hope everyone enjoys this second part as well. Believe it or not, when I started writing this chapter, I actually hadn't decided whether or not Wyatt and Lucy would remain in the past forever. But after all, this is an AU, and the more I wrote, the clearer it seemed what their choice would be (helped along, no doubt, by the pending arrival of baby Logan, lol).
As a special surprise, I'm pleased to announce that I have about two-thirds of an epilogue to this story written already-just a little glimpse into their lives a few years from now-and hope to post it tomorrow or the next day. As always, the wonderful support from all of you is very much appreciated. Thanks! :))