Chapter 8
It was a typically beautiful fall Saturday in San Diego, sunny and with just a touch of crispness to the air. Wyatt and Jamie were on their way to pick up Lucy, and the little boy was practically vibrating, he was so happy. He had purposefully waited until this morning to tell his son what the plans for the afternoon were, afraid the child's excitement and anticipation would reach Christmas Eve levels. That had turned out to be a wise decision.
Wyatt had just woke up when Jamie wandered into his room, rubbing sleep from his eyes with small fists and rocking some serious "bed head." "Mornin', Daddy," he had mumbled as he climbed into his dad's bed and snuggled up against him. It was a weekend ritual they had both enjoyed since Jamie was old enough to move from a crib into a youth bed, and Wyatt was dreading the day when the little boy would decide he was too big to be cuddling with his dad. (Hopefully, that day was still a ways off.) Pressing a kiss to the top of his son's head, Wyatt cleared his throat and said, "Hey buddy, what do you want to do today? Any place special you'd like to go?" Jamie turned drowsy blue eyes to him, and replied, "I don't know, Daddy, my brain is still asleep."
Wyatt took a deep breath, and asked, "How would you like to go see a movie and get pizza for supper, and take Miss Preston with us?" Jamie's eyes popped open, and he shrieked, "What? We're gonna see Miss Preston today? We can take her to a movie with us? And get a pizza with us? Yes, Daddy, yes, yes, yes!" Wyatt winced at the boy's (expected) earsplitting response, but couldn't contain a big grin as Jamie started hugging him around the neck (jeez, kid actually has a pretty good grip). "Hey, hey, Jamie, son, let's take it down a couple notches, okay?" But he was pleased to see the little boy so excited.
The pair had laid there for a little while longer as they talked about what movie they should go see, and where to get pizza afterwards, when Jamie had put a small hand on his dad's cheek and told him, "You're the best daddy I got." Wyatt got a little choked up, but managed, "Well, you are the best little boy I got." That made his son giggle. "Daddy, I'm the only the little boy you got!" And then Wyatt gave Jamie a little tickle on his belly, and they both laughed before getting up to have some breakfast.
Wyatt had texted Lucy the day before with some suggestions for the afternoon, and she had responded back her agreement (and address). The hours between telling Jamie the day's plans and leaving to pick her up had been (predictably) filled with non-stop chatter from the child, and Wyatt let out a relieved sigh when it was finally time to leave. He had been vaguely surprised to realize Lucy lived less than fifteen minutes from them (well, that was convenient...what?). He easily found her apartment, and parked his Jeep behind her car, and before he even opened his door, his son had gotten out of the back seat and was waiting impatiently on the sidewalk. "C'mon, Daddy, hurry," he urged his dad, bouncing up and down slightly.
Wyatt took his son's hand and they walked up the front steps. "I wanna ring the doorbell, Daddy, okay?" and he pushed a chubby finger against the button. The door opened, and Wyatt's heart gave a funny little jerk at the sight of her standing there dressed casually in skinny jeans, a white tee and some kind of big fuzzy gray sweater. "You just saw her a couple of days ago," he chastised himself.
Jamie tugged on Lucy's arm, and when she crouched down to see what he wanted, gave her a tight squeeze around the neck. "Miss Preston, we're gonna go see a movie, it's called "Storks" and get popcorn and juice, do you like popcorn? and you can sit beside me, and we can get pizza for supper, and you are going with us! Do you want to go with us to see the movie, Miss Preston?" The whole time the little boy was talking, his small hands were petting her hair, but Lucy didn't seem to mind. She was focused on Jamie, nodding and smiling and listening to his every word, and it occurred to Wyatt that some women probably wouldn't appreciate getting their hair mussed up by a five-year-old. But, as he was starting to figure out, Lucy Preston was no ordinary woman. Some hint of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because when Lucy glanced up at him, she blushed and gave him a shy smile. He cleared his throat, and asked, "Are you ready to go?" She nodded, and picking up her bag, locked the door behind them.
Lucy opened the car door for Jamie, and looked suitably impressed when he told her that he could buckle himself in. Once she and Wyatt were settled in the front seat, she turned slightly toward the back seat and started a conversation with the little boy about different movies he had seen. Wyatt kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye, enjoying the way she laughed and talked with his son, who was soaking up the one-on-one attention from her like a small sponge. He was a little bit sorry that the movie theater they had chosen was only a short drive from Lucy's place. It felt different, and yet somehow right, to glance over and see a woman sitting beside him in the front seat, and he found he quite liked it.
Wyatt tried to pay attention to the screen, he really did. But watching Lucy watch his son watch the movie was far more entertaining. Jamie had been thrilled with the whole experience: the movie, the popcorn and juice, and most of all, the woman he was snuggled up against at the moment. Every time the little boy laughed, Lucy looked delighted, and then about halfway through the movie, Jamie yawned a couple times, and just minutes after that, burrowed his head in her lap and nodded off.
Wyatt started to move him, but Lucy put her hand on his to stop him, whispering, "It's okay, I got him," and carefully pulled the sleeping child closer to her. Wyatt impulsively leaned over and murmured in her ear, "You're going to spoil him," and before he could pull back, she turned her head and gave him a soft smile in response. Lucy was so close, he could feel her soft exhale drift gently across his face, and when their eyes met, in that very instant, he wanted desperately to kiss her. Her dark eyes widened slightly at his intent dark blue gaze before fluttering shut as she leaned toward him but just as her lips met his, Jamie abruptly woke up and began squirming around, nearly smacking his head on Wyatt's chin. Lucy blushed and bit back a giggle at the look on Wyatt's face. "Great timing, kid," he muttered when his son looked up at him and whispered, "Don't you like the movie, Daddy?" Lucy's shoulders shook just a little as she tried not to laugh at his expense. Her amusement faded, though, at the intense expression on Wyatt's face as he stared at her lips, and taking a deep breath, turned her attention back to the screen.
The small clusters of people milling around the multiplex lobby had grown in number by the time they left. Lucy had taken Jamie's hand while Wyatt threw their trash away, and when he turned around and saw how drowsy the little boy still was, quickly bent down and picked him up. Jamie sighed, "Thank you, Daddy," and laid his head on his dad's shoulder. A couple of teens rushing past bumped into them, and he felt Lucy sway beside him. Without thinking, he reached for her hand, and holding it firmly in his, managed to get the three of them through the worst of the crush. When they finally got outside, the crowd had thinned out somewhat, and Wyatt realized he was still holding her hand. As he started to let go, she tightened her grip on his hand (are we holding hands?), and they walked in comfortable silence back to Wyatt's Jeep.
Father and son had decided to take Lucy to their favorite pizza place, Galelli's, for supper. Wyatt explained to Lucy on the drive there that he and Bam Bam and some of the other guys from Pendleton had been eating there for years, and swore it was the best pizza in San Diego. Jamie chimed in from the back seat, "Yeah, Miss Preston, and Miss Nina always gives me extra pepperonis!" At her questioning look, Wyatt clarified, "Nina and her husband, Frank Galelli, are second generation owners, and a couple of the finest people around."
Although it was only around 5:00, Galelli's waiting area was starting to fill up with their Saturday night regulars. As they stood just inside the door waiting for the hostess to seat them, they heard, "Wyatt Logan, is that you?" and then Jamie exclaimed, "Miss Nina! It's me, Jamie!" and the little boy let go of Lucy's hand and darted over to reach up and hug an attractive dark-haired older woman. As the woman straightened up, she kept her arm around the child and turned to face Wyatt and Lucy, her dark eyes very discreetly looking Lucy over.
Wyatt winced slightly as he caught Nina's interest and hoped that Lucy hadn't noticed. He really should have known this would happen since it was the first time he had ever brought anyone besides his son to the restaurant since before Jess passed away. He relaxed though when he saw her nearly imperceptible nod and the faint approval shining in the older woman's eyes as she said, "And who is this lovely young woman with you tonight, Wyatt?" Before he could answer, however, Jamie responded, "Miss Nina, this is Miss Preston, my teacher." When Lucy smiled and stepped forward to shake hands, Nina pulled her into a hug, and over Lucy's shoulder, mouthed the words, "It's about time!" at Wyatt. He shrugged, a sheepish expression on his face.
Lucy was charmed by the restaurant's colorful decor, mouth watering smells, and most of all, its owner, Nina Galelli. She had noticed the other woman's (very) subtle scrutiny, and far from resenting it, she not only understood, but appreciated, Nina's protectiveness towards the Logans. Although Wyatt hadn't said anything, the other night when she and Jamie were in his room, the little boy had confided that she was the only lady who had ever been invited to their home, "except for Aunt Julie." So, without being told, she comprehended that tonight was a pretty big step for Wyatt, and that pleased her very much.
Nina waved the approaching hostess away, and seated the three herself at a large, roomy booth near the back. Wyatt rolled his eyes when his son insisted on sitting beside Lucy, saying, "Daddy, you sit on that side," but he acquiesced with good grace. Apparently Jamie was moving rapidly past the "attachment" stage of his fondness for his teacher right into "possessiveness." Amused by the idea, he watched his normally shy child's animated conversation with his (not) date, and it crossed Wyatt's mind how important she had become to his son in an amazingly short period of time (and maybe not the only Logan she was important to).
After they had been sitting a little while, Lucy asked, "Shouldn't we be placing our order?" "No need," Wyatt assured her, "Nina will bring us our usual." And sure enough, within a few minutes, a large basket of warm bread sticks and their beverages were delivered to their table. A large pizza with a generous amount of pepperoni arrived after that.
Lucy wiped her mouth and laid her napkin on the table and sighed. "You were right. That is the best pizza I have ever had, but I just can't eat another bite." Wyatt smirked, "What a lightweight. Even the kid ate more than two pieces." Jamie laughed at that and rubbed his stomach, "And, Daddy, I ate all the extra pepperonis that Miss Nina gave me." Neither adult seemed to be in a hurry to leave, and so while Jamie was absorbed in a game on his dad's phone, Wyatt and Lucy quietly got to know each other better.
She told him that her parents had both passed away several years ago, and added that her sister Amy was the main reason she had left San Francisco, where she had been born, raised, and lived her whole life, to move to San Diego. Wyatt had been surprised when Lucy mentioned that Jamie's class was the youngest she had ever taught, and she looked gratified when he told her she seemed to be a natural. She admitted that in just a couple months, it was very rewarding to be entrusted with the five-year-olds, and already she was getting so attached to them (maybe one kindergarten student in particular).
Wyatt said that he was originally from Texas and smirked when she raised a dark eyebrow and quipped, "That explains a lot." He shared stories about his days at Pendleton, and made her laugh when he told her about some of the scrapes he and Bam Bam had gotten into over the years. "Bam Bam?" she repeated. "Well, his last name is Baumgardner, and first week of basic, one of the other guys said that name was too much trouble to say, and started calling him Bam Bam, and I guess it stuck. The only people I know who call him Dave are his mom and his wife, Julie." "So, would his wife be Jamie's 'Aunt Julie' he talks about?" Lucy wondered aloud. "Yeah, Bam Bam and Julie are my best friends, have been for a long time. Their two daughters, Annie and Sadie, are a little younger than Jamie, but are like sisters to him."
Looking down at the table, he took a deep breath, and glancing up at Lucy, said softly, "They saved our lives when Jess died. Jamie was less than a year old, and well, to put it mildly, I fell apart, and they jumped in to help and never gave up on us. I owe them everything, but especially my son." Lucy never took her eyes from his face and gave Wyatt a soft smile when he stopped speaking. She reached across the table and held his hand, her dark eyes shining with compassion. He took a minute to compose himself, and clearing his throat, asked her how she liked San Diego.
She willingly changed the subject, and they discussed various sights and places to visit. With a shrug, Lucy confessed that since she had only moved here over the summer, and her sister was pretty busy with graduate school and her own friends, she hadn't actually seen much of her new home city, plus she really didn't have anyone to see places with. Listening to her quiet admission, Wyatt thought Lucy sounded a little lonely, and this time he reached for her hand.
"You know, what with being new to San Diego, and with your sister so busy, maybe Jamie and I could show you around sometime." Lucy beamed at him, squeezing his hand, and exclaimed, "That would be great! I'd really like that, as long as you're not too busy." Holding on to her slim hand loosely, Wyatt rubbed his thumb over the soft skin. "Never too busy for you, Lucy Preston." Her face grew warm as she looked down at their clasped hands.
After a couple hours of conversation, neither one had noticed that Jamie had not only stopped playing his game, he had fallen asleep leaning against Lucy. "Guess we've been here longer than we thought," Lucy said. Wyatt responded, "Yeah, we should probably get going. Nina is going to think we're moving in or something." He stood and put a couple of $20's on the table as Lucy carefully woke his son. They waved at Nina on the way out.
Wyatt pulled up in front of Lucy's place and turning toward the back seat, saw that Jamie was asleep again. "Hang on," he told Lucy, as he turned the Jeep off and got out. She watched as he came around to open her door. Taking her hand, he led her about halfway up the sidewalk to her front door, making sure he could still see his sleeping child. Lucy gave his hand a squeeze, and said, "Thank you for the best day I've had since I moved here." "We had a lot of fun, too," he offered.
They stood gazing at each other a moment, when Wyatt asked in a low voice, "Can I kiss you good night?" At her bashful nod, he put a big warm hand on her cheek and pulled her against him. Lucy met him halfway, and her eyes slowly closed as he tenderly pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were soft and sweet under his, and her hand trembled where it rested over his heart. After a long minute, he leisurely pulled away, and rested his forehead against hers while he tried to catch his breath. "Sweet Lucy," he murmured, running his finger gently down the curve of her cheek, "I have to get Jamie home, but can I call you tomorrow?" Nodding slowly, she sighed against his lips, "Good night, Wyatt," and with a luminous smile, turned and went inside.
Wyatt waited until she was inside to leave. Luckily, Jamie was still sound asleep. (Bad enough her whole neighborhood probably just saw him kiss Lucy, but at least his son slept through it.) He grinned. Willing his still pounding heart to slow down, Wyatt took a deep breath and started the Jeep. As he pulled away from the curb, he wondered how early he could call her tomorrow, because even though he had just kissed her good night, he suddenly couldn't wait to see her again.
A/N: I hope Wyatt and Lucy's first (non) date lives up to everyone's expectations. Been quite a while since I have been on a first date of any kind LOL...oh, and oops, Wyatt is shirtless in bed again in this chapter...what is up with that? My continued gratitude to everyone for their support and encouragement. You are the best! Thanks!