Finally, another chapter! I am so sorry it took so long for me to update. I've been very busy with school work. I'm going to class three times a week and I get a new homework assignment each time. So, I've been very busy with school work. Now, I'm trying to juggle my two classes, plus the work I get, and finding time to write chapters. Sorry for any slow updates that can and will happen in the future.
If anything should happen to Toby, it will be Spencer's fault. That's the only thought running through Spencer's head during the car ride over to Toby's. When she looked back into the backseat, Lucy was there gazing out the window. Hopefully, Spencer made the right decision by doing this.
The car pulled up into Toby's driveway and Spencer looked up at the small house. It may look small on the outside, but the place is actually really nice on the inside. Spencer's been over a few times before. Toby once made dinner for her when Lucy went to see a movie with Matthew. He invited Spencer over to his place and he cooked for her. It was really nice.
Lucy jumped out of the backseat and looked up at the house. She has never been here before, but she's real excited. They're going to be staying with Toby now, which means they don't have to leave Rosewood. Well, for now. That's how Spencer put it. Her mind is not completely made up about staying in Rosewood. It would take awhile to get a good flight out of Rosewood right now anyway. Toby walked them through the front door and showed them around the place.
There's only one real bedroom, but there is another room that's connected to the master bedroom. Tomorrow, Toby could probably get a bed in there for Lucy to sleep on. For tonight, she and Spencer will sleep on the double bed in his bedroom. He'll sleep on the couch. Manson came running out into the family when they walked through the door. Lucy shrunk back into her mother's hold while the dog came up to sniff her face. Lucy let out a shriek of giggles when Manson started licking her face.
"Easy, Manson," Toby snapped his fingers at him. "Go lie down."
"Where's the potty?" Lucy asked.
"It's right in through that door," he pointed to the one across the room.
Lucy skipped off towards the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Spencer hadn't said anything yet. She's been busy checking out the place.
"There's only one bed, but if you do decide to stay here for good, we could get another one. I could probably fit a single bed in the conjoined room."
"What's the conjoined room originally supposed to be? Spencer asked.
"A game room, but I don't play many games. That room is pretty much empty."
"So, you could turn it into a spare room for Lucy?"
Toby nodded, "yes, I could. If you decide you want to stay that is."
"I still don't know about this, Toby," she shook her head, looking around. "If he's here in Rosewood, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to me."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't, but I have to believe that nothing will happen to me. I have to believe that nothing will happen to you or Lucy either. I just have to."
"Mommy," Lucy came out of the bathroom. "I'm tired."
"I know, sweetie. Why don't you go on back in the bedroom and I'll be there in a minute?"
Lucy nodded then turned to walk down the hallway. When Spencer turned her gaze back to Toby, her eyes brimmed with tears.
"I'm scared," she admitted, letting out a shrill cry. "I'm so scared. This guy is seriously dangerous. Lucy is so small and I don't want anything to happen to her. I'm really, really scared."
"I know," Toby wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her head against his chest.
"There is no safer place for you than right here with me," he said. "I'm here to protect you. You're always saying how you need a safe place. I can be that. I can be your safe place. No matter what, I'll be here for you."
She smiled slightly and said, "I love knowing that."
"Mommy!" Lucy called from the back bedroom. "Will you read me a bedtime story?"
"Yeah, I'm coming," she answered. Spencer leaned in to kiss Toby lightly on the lips and said, "goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Spencer pulled away from Toby's grip on her hand and walked down the hallway to the back bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. She pushed the door open more and saw Lucy sitting up in the big bed. The tan pillows were all lined up behind her. Even the ones that were for Spencer's side of the bed. She could see that light tan sheets sticking out from underneath the brown comforter. Spencer walked over to the side of the bed and took a seat. Lucy had one of her books already clutched in her hands.
"The Very Hungry Caterpillar," Spencer read the title.
"Matthew loves that book," Lucy said.
"Did Matthew let you borrow his copy?"
Lucy nodded, "since I don't have my own copy. Plus, when I would go over there, aunt Hanna would catch me looking at it all the time. Eventually, she convinced Matthew to let me borrow it for a few days."
"That was very nice of both of them," Spencer said. "Now, let's see just how hungry this caterpillar is."
Lucy smiled and leaned her small frame against her mother's body. Spencer pulled the blankets up around the both of them and snuggled up with Lucy as she began reading the story.
"In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf," Spencer read.
The bedroom door creaked open causing the two ladies to look up. Toby stood at the entrance of the room.
"Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make sure you guys were all settled and if you needed anything"
"We're fine, thanks."
"Mommy's reading me The Very Hungry Caterpillar," Lucy said.
"Really," Toby smiled in amusement. "My mother used to read that to me when I was a kid. I used to love that book."
Lucy turned to Spencer, "mommy, can Toby listen in on the story?"
Spencer smiled and looked at Toby. He blushed and smiled shyly at the thought of listening to a bedtime story. He wasn't lying when he said he liked that story. Every night before he went to bed, his mom would read that book to him. He loved it mostly because he got to spend time with his mom.
"I-I don't want to intrude on your mother and daughter time."
Spencer rolled her eyes, smiled, and patted the end of the bed, "come on, hop on."
A big childish grin lit up Toby's entire face. He walked over and sat at the end of the bed. Spencer cleared her throat, licked her thumb, and flipped to the next page. Toby and Lucy sat there listening to her read. Listening to Spencer's voice gave Toby a calm feeling. It almost made him feel like a little kid again. He smiled whenever Lucy made a comment that if the caterpillar keeps eating, he's going to get fat. He laughed whenever Spencer read, "but he was still hungry!" In a high pitched voice.
"Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out…"
"He was a beautiful butterfly!" Lucy read along with Spencer. "I just love that story."
"Me too," Spencer said.
She closed the book and set it on the nightstand. Lucy moved over to the right side of the bed to lay down. Spencer pulled the covers up over her daughter and tucked her in. Toby stood up from the end of the bed and slipped quietly out of the room. After making sure Lucy was all tucked in, Spencer went into the bathroom to change into her pajamas. When she walked back into the bedroom, she caught Lucy fast asleep in the bed. Spencer smiled at how peaceful she looks.
Out in the family room, Toby got out some blankets and a pillow from the closet. He already pulled the couch bed out and had a sheet on it. Now, he just has to add the blankets and pillow. After making the bed, he took off his shirt and crawled under the covers. Tonight seems like it will be one of those nights where he doesn't sleep. Not because he's sleeping on the couch bed. His mind kept wandering to the message Spencer got earlier that evening. Who was it that sent that message to Spencer? She wouldn't tell him who Lucy's father is. If he could figure out who the father is, he could work to stop this guy. He understands that Spencer isn't ready to talk about it. When she does want to talk about it, he'll be ready to listen and help in anyway he can.
His thoughts got interrupted when he felt the left side of the bed shift. Somebody was climbing under the covers. He turned over and the first thing he saw were Spencer's brown eyes. She snuck out of the bedroom and came out here to sneak into bed with him. Not that he Isn't glad to see her, he's wondering why she's not back in the room with Lucy.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
Instead of answering him with words, she smiled and pressed her warm lips against his. He didn't hesitate to lower his hands to her hips and kiss her back. Her hands traced up his hard chest, cupped his face. When his lungs started burning for air, he pulled his face away from her. Spencer was still trying to kiss him. He chuckled and pecked her once on the lips.
"I'm not complaining, but what was that for?"
She curled her fingers in the back of his hair and said, "I just realized I haven't got the chance to enjoy my present yet."
"Oh," his lips turned up into a smile. "Carry on then."
Spencer smiled and they resumed kissing. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she climbed on top of him. Toby wrapped his strong arms around her lower body, kissing her with everything he's made of. He moved his hands under her tank top and started rubbing her bare skin on her back. The warm feeling caused Spencer to moan into his mouth, which ignited him to slip his tongue into the opening of her mouth.
Both hearts are beating at a rapid pace. They kiss for ten, fifteen, twenty minutes before coming up for air. In between breaks, they lay there looking into each other's eyes while they caress each other's face.
"I love you," Toby said, searching her eyes. "I know I told you earlier, but I don't want you to think I said it just to convince you to stay."
She looked at him for a long time before pressing a loving kiss on his lips. He took a few minutes to kiss her back. This kiss wasn't as long as the ones they shared before, but it wasn't short either. After pulling away, Spencer rested her head in the crook of his neck. One of his arms wrapped around her waist and the other went up to her back, and started rubbing soothing circles.
"I love you too." Was the last thing he heard Spencer whispered before falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Toby rolled over and moved his hand around the bed. A feeling of panic rushed over him when he didn't feel anybody next to him. Last night, Spencer fell asleep beside him. Now, she's not there. He opened his eyes and saw the other half of the bed was empty. Now is not the time to panic. Spencer probably just went back to the bedroom to be with her daughter. What if she took Lucy and left?
Strangely he noticed that Manson had not jumped on him to wake him up. Usually at 8 am, Manson would hop up on the bed and lick his face until Toby agreed to walk him and feed him. The sound and smell of sizzling bacon caused him to sit up in bed. He turned towards the kitchen and saw Spencer standing at the stove frying bacon in one pan and eggs in another. The blueish/gray long sleeve shirt she had on looked familiar. Kind of like the shirt he wore yesterday before taking it off before going to bed. Spencer must've picked it up off the floor and put it over her tank top. If she's cooking breakfast in the kitchen, where's Lucy?
On cue, Toby heard a bag tumbled over on the floor followed by the sound of something pouring out all over the hardwood floor. It sounded like a bag of cheerios being knocked over. Toby turned the other way and laughed when he saw Manson eating the spilled dog food off the floor while his tail wagged wildly behind him. Lucy stood back with a worried expression on her face. Toby chuckled, shook his head then, got up. When Lucy saw Toby coming, she panicked.
"I'm sorry," she said to him. "I-I tried to feed him, but the bag was heavy, so I accidentally knocked the bag over. I didn't mean to make a mess."
"Don't worry about it," Toby smiled. "Manson's a boy and boys eat things off the floor all the time."
"So, you're not mad at me?"
"Of course not. I'm sure Manson would love the extra food you've given him. I'll take care of this, alright? Later you can help me walk him."
"Okay!" Lucy beamed. "I'll go help mommy set the table then!"
Lucy ran off into the kitchen and left Toby to clean up the spilled dog food. Spencer just finished up cooking the eggs when Toby got done cleaning the food. He came in and grab a carton of Tropicana orange juice from the fridge. He poured out three glasses. One for him, one for Lucy and one for Spencer. Spencer already had coffee made for the adults, but she could also use the orange juice. When Lucy wasn't paying attention, Toby walked over and gave Spencer a loving kiss. She smiled and leaned her head against his.
"Well, good morning to you too," she teased.
He smiled and looked at the breakfast on the table, "you certainly know how to make it a good morning."
"Oh, well, you're letting us crash here, so I figured I'd return the favor by cooking breakfast."
"You didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to."
The three of them sat at the table and ate the breakfast Spencer made. Lucy told Toby about the crazy dream she had last night. There was a pony and a talking rabbit. Lucy was riding the pony when the rabbit hopped up. She continued to ramble on about her dream to Toby while Spencer sat there trying not to laugh. Her daughter sure does have an interesting imagination.
After breakfast, Toby and Lucy went to take Manson for a walk while Spencer did the dishes and got ready for work. Since Toby doesn't have to be at work until 4, he can stay home with Lucy until Spencer gets off of work at 3. Right now he's walking around Rosewood Park with Manson and Lucy.
"How long have you had your dog?" Lucy asked.
"I've had him for four years now. I got him after I graduated from college," Toby answered.
"I like him. He's a big dog."
"He is. He's a very big dog?"
"My friend at daycare has a dog. It's a labradoodle and she named her Noodles," Lucy said with a giggle. "Isn't that a funny name?"
"That's a very funny name."
"Mommy told me she had a bunny when she was in middle school, but she only had him for a few months."
"Oh, I didn't know that," he said.
"I keep asking her if I could get a pet, but she always responds with 'I'll think about it,' but she never really does."
"I'm sure she has thought about it."
"I doubt it. She spends a lot of her time worrying about my safety and what's going to happen to us. She's not very happy a lot of the time either. Sometimes when I would sneak into her room at night, I would hear her crying. I don't think mommy even knows that I hear her cry at night."
"Your mother cries at night?" Toby asked.
Lucy nodded, "she never cries in front of me because she always wants to seem strong for me, but I notice when she's upset. I think it's because of my daddy. Though, she hasn't cried as much since you walked into her life. I think you're making her feel better."
"Oh."
"Does Manson know any tricks?" Lucy asked.
"Well, what kind of tricks do you want to see?"
"All Noodle knows how to do is sit, heal, lay down and stay."
"I think Manson knows a few tricks," Toby took off Manson's leash. "Manson, sit."
The golden retriever sticks his tongue back in his mouth and sits down on the green grass. Toby holds out his hand and commands him to shake. Manson lifted his paw and placed it in Toby's hand.
"Wow!" Lucy said. "He knows how to greet people?"
Toby nodes, "he sure does. You want to try?"
Lucy nodded. Toby moved so Lucy was in front of the dog. She stuck out her small hand and commanded him to shake. Again, Manson lifted his paw and placed it on Lucy's hand. Lucy smiled and shook the dog's paw.
"Your dog is smart," she said.
"That's not all. Manson, play dead."
Lucy watched while Manson got down on the floor and rolled over onto his back. Again, Lucy grinned. After showing off a few more tricks, they went back inside. It's a little past noon and Lucy's hungry again. Toby made her a sandwich and cut up a few carrots for her to eat. So she wouldn't complain about the carrots, Toby told her that she could have a pudding cup afterward.
For the remainder of the afternoon, the two sat on the couch watching cartoons on t.v. After 3:30, Spencer returned with a bag of groceries. Lucy got off the couch and went over to greet her.
"Hi, mommy!"
"Hey, sweetie. Did you have fun today?"
"Yes, Toby and I took Manson for a walk and he showed me some tricks. Then, he made me lunch. After lunch, he gave me a pudding cup. Finally, we sat on the couch and watched Tom and Jerry."
"Wow," Spencer said. "It sounds like you two had a big day."
"I need you use the potty," Lucy said.
"Okay," Spencer said. "Just don't forget to wash your hands after."
Lucy went into the bathroom and Toby walked into the kitchen where Spencer was busy putting the groceries away. He leaned against the counter and watched her.
"Thank you again for watching Lucy," she said.
"It was no problem. I'll probably be looking out for her a lot now that you guys are staying here."
"Well, if we ever start to get on your nerves just say the words and we're out of here."
"No," he stood up straight. "I like having you guys here. It's not so lonely anymore."
"You have Manson."
"Yeah," he smiled. "But, I really like having you and Lucy here."
"Good," she smiled back at him. "We like being here."
"I better get ready for work."
"Okay."
"I should get off at 9 tonight, but if you need anything, feel free to call."
"We'll be fine," she said. "If we need anything, I'll be sure to call the station and ask for the handsome officer."
He smiled and kissed her, "good. I'm going to go get dressed for work."
"Okay, have a good day, honey."
"Honey?" he stopped in his tracks and turned around. He gave her a teasing smile, "now we have code names for each other?"
Spencer smiled and blushed, "maybe."
He shook his head and laughed, "I'll try not to stay out too late, dear."
Toby walked down the hall to the bedroom and left Spencer standing in the kitchen with a wide grin on her face. He sure knows how to make a girl smile.
Again, sorry for the long wait. Hopefully this chapter made up for it. You got a romantic scene between Spencer and Toby. You saw some of Toby bonding with Lucy. I hope you have time to update soon, but who knows. Like I said, I have a lot going on. Plus, I need some time to myself where I can just be lazy and catch up on shows. And I'm also still writing You'll Always Be 18 & Beautiful. I just have so much crap going on. Ha ha.
Anyway, thanks for reading and don't forget to review!