Chapter 26

One week later…

The trial was progressing at a fast pace and it looked like all three defendants would be convicted. The evidence against them was very incriminating and it was becoming very difficult to prove otherwise. With the exception of Beca and Jesse everyone else attended the trial faithfully everyday. As much as she wanted to be there, Beca couldn't bring herself to step back into the courtroom. Luke's most recent revelation was too much for her to wrap her mind around.

Because of the new information Luke provided, Mr. Gambino and the DA's office decided to add to Eli's list of charges. While he wasn't in the stable the night Beca was attacked, he had knowledge of what was going to happen. In fact, he had orchestrated the entire attack. As a result, he was being charged as an accessory in Beca's attack, he was also being charged with Conspiracy to commit Attempted Forcible Rape, Oral Sexual Battery, Sexual Battery, Aggravated Battery and Aggravated 2nd Degree Battery. The DA was going to make damn sure that Elias Babineaux would most definitely be joining his son in the big house and perhaps, if they were in the mood, Bubba and his welcoming committee would roll out the red carpet to cell-block.

Tripp was nervous. He had a special wedding gift for Beca and Jesse and hoped they'd like it. It wasn't something either of them expected and certainly hadn't thought of but it was an extremely thoughtful gift and would help them start their life together as husband and wife.

"Daddy, you have nothing to worry about. They'll love it." Rae told Tripp as she kissed the top of his head and made her way around the kitchen table.

"Sweet Pea, I hope you're right."

"I know I am. Just call them down here."

Throwing his hands in the air as he stood, Tripp said, "Ok, ok."

As he walked out of the kitchen he was flooded with emotions. Beca would soon be married and no longer living under his roof. As he looked at the pictures that lined the walls, he started a precious walk down memory lane.

He could still hear Beca's little girl giggle echoing through the halls of their home. He remembered all the times Beca would burst through the doors of his office and plop down in his lap not caring if he was in a meeting or not. Most people who met with Tripp at his home, knew Beca and also knew that she was the apple of her Daddy's eye. She could do no wrong and there wasn't a room in their home that was off limits to her. So seeing her singing and dancing in the halls or bursting into her Daddy's office was a normal everyday occurrence. Where Tripp was Beca was never far behind.

Beca was a very curious and precocious child. She was always very eager learn always wanting to know how things worked and why things happened. She showed a very keen interest in the horses from very early on and grew to love riding more than anything. Tripp would saddle up and take her with him on rides. She loved sitting in front of him and taking the reigns. The horses quickly found out that even though she was tiny, she was boss and they needed to take instruction from her. Beca was never mean to the horses but Tripp had taught her that she had to be stern so they would listen.

Beca got on a horse for the first time alone at age four and she loved every minute of it. Lucy hated it. She hated that Tripp put Beca on a horse at such a young age and she was constantly worried that Beca would be thrown off and injured. Tripp couldn't be bothered with his wife's fears, the pure joy on Beca's face was evident the minute her butt was in the saddle. She liked sitting up high and the freedom it gave her. Tripp knew then that she was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

When Beca was three Tripp and Lucy sat her down to explain that a new baby was coming. Initially, she was excited but as time went on she changed her mind. She had been around Jesse and Jamie enough and decided that Jamie just made way too much noise and she didn't want to be bothered.

"I don't want a baby in our house." When she announced to Tripp and Lucy over dinner one evening. "Babies make too much noise. I like the quiet."

"But sweetheart, this new baby will grow up to be your best friend." Tripp told her.

Beca shook her head, "No, Jesse's my best friend." she said very matter of fact.

"I thought Amy was your friend." Lucy said.

"She is my friend but she's a girl Mommy." Beca told her. "Jesse's a boy and he's my bestest friend. I'm gonna marry him one day."

"You are?" Tripp asked.

"Yes. Nanny Nora says I can."

Tripp and Lucy laughed. While Jesse and Beca were inseparable they in no way thought that they would marry.

The baby was coming regardless and there was nothing Beca could to do to stop it. A few weeks later, Lucy delivered a screaming seven pound fourteen ounce baby girl named Raelyn Theresa. She was more than two pounds heavier than Beca was at birth and a whole lot louder. She had a way of making her presence known to anyone and everyone who would listen. Beca was not a happy camper. She stomped her foot and said, "I don't like her!"

One night as Lucy tried to calm a screaming Raelyn in the nursery, Tripp was reading books to Beca in her room. It was their favorite thing to do before bed. Beca usually selected several books to read before climbing into bed to listen as her father read. Because she was so active, Beca usually didn't make it through the first book, having nodded off somewhere between 'Once upon a time…' and the second or third page into the book. This particular evening was different, Beca was wide awake and she was mad.

Covering her ears with her tiny hands to block out the noise of Raelyn's wailing, Beca said, "Bring her back she makes too much noise."

Tripp chuckled, "We can't bring her back but how about we go see if Mommy needs some help."

Tripp scooped his young daughter up into his arms and walked into the nursery. Lucy was beside herself pacing the room and Raelyn seemed more than content to wail her sad story about how hard her life was. He sat in the rocking chair, Beca on his knee and motioned for Lucy to bring the baby over. As soon as she was laid on her Daddy's chest she seemed to settle but she wasn't quite finished crying.

Beca started to sing while rubbing Raelyn's back. Tripp noticed that the baby started to settle almost instantly. She wiggled into a more comfortable position and the crying stopped.

"Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes.
Rest your head close to my heart,
never to part,
baby of mine."

"Why did you stop singing? Rae likes it."

"I can't 'member all the words." Beca said sadly. "Can you help me Daddy?"

"Of course I can." he reassured her. "Are you ready?"

Beca nodded her head as a sweet little smile lit up her entire face.

"Baby mine, don't you cry.
Baby mine, dry your eyes.
Rest your head close to my heart,
never to part,
baby of mine.

Little one when you play,
don't you mind what they say.
Let those eyes sparkle and shine,
never a tear,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you
they'd end up loving you two.
All of those people who scold you
what they'd give just for the right to hold you."

Beca rubbed Rae's back as she continued to sing with her Daddy. Maybe Raelyn wasn't so bad after all.

"From your head down to your toes,
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you,
they'd end up loving you too.
All those same people who scold you,
what they'd give just for the right to hold you.

From your head down to your toes
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.
Baby of mine"

Tripp kissed Beca on the top of her head. "See, Raelyn was crying because she wanted you to sing her to sleep."

Suddenly Beca was extremely proud of herself. She might be little herself but she was able to make her baby sister stop crying, something even her mother couldn't do.

Since both girls were comfortable, Tripp decided to finish reading Beca's bedtime story and soon after they were all asleep in the rocking chair. When Lucy went in to check on them she was greeted by the sweetest sight and managed to capture the Kodak moment without waking them. The picture was framed and given to Tripp on Father's Day that year. It was one of his favorite and most treasured pictures.

Tripp shook his head and brought himself back to the present. Where had the time gone? His baby girl was all grown up and ready to become a wife but he wasn't ready for her to be gone yet.

"Beca! Jesse! Come down here for a minute please." Tripp called from the bottom of the stairs.

"We're coming!" Beca answered.

Tripp laughed and said to himself, "Yeah, I'll just bet you are!"

Minutes later, Beca and Jesse came down the stairs hand in hand wondering why Tripp was waiting for them at the bottom of the staircase.

"Hey Dad, what's up?"

"We're going to take a ride." He said motioning them to the front door.

"Where are we going?" Jesse asked.

"Not far."

"So, you're not going to tell us where we're going?" Beca asked.

"Nope, just get in the truck and enjoy the ride." Tripp told them.

Tripp's eyes twinkled as he backed down the driveway and out onto the road. They rode in silence until Tripp pulled into a long gravel drive.

"Dad, this is our property. What are we doing out here?"

Tripp motioned for them to get out of the truck. He grabbed a large tube from the backseat before closing the door. He closed the door of the truck and started walking. Curious about what was going on, Beca and Jesse followed him. They walked hand in hand following her dad to a clearing. When Tripped turned to face them, they stopped.

"This is for the two of you." Tripp said handing them a piece of paper that had previously been in his back pocket.

Beca unfolded the paper and started to read. "Dad, I don't understand. This is a deed and land rights for 250 acres of property located at 15050 N. Chinquapin Acres Road. That address doesn't exist."

Without answering, he smiled and handed her the tube. Jesse held the tube while Beca pulled the papers out. What she thought were just papers was actually blueprints.

"It does now."

"What are you talking about?" Jesse asked.

"This is my wedding gift to you." Tripp said motioning around them. "And those are the plans for the house I'm having built for you."

Beca and Jesse were speechless as they gaped at the plans. The house was a huge rustic yet traditional Craftsman style house with a large front porch and stacked stone columns just like Beca always said she wanted.

"It'll be ready to move in by your wedding day." Tripp told them.

"How? We'll be married in a few months and all that's here is the slab." Jesse said pointing out the obvious.

"Jesse, my boy, that's for me to worry about. I promise you, it'll be done." He said as he hugged Jesse.

"Thanks Daddy." Beca said as she hugged the two most important men in her life. She had wondered about what their living arrangements would be after they married. She just assumed that they would live in the tack house for a while before either buying or building their own home. Now she didn't have to worry because once again her dad had come through for them.

Dress shopping...

It had been an interesting morning at the bridal shop. Beca selected her dress and the bridesmaid's dresses. Her mother was not happy about the dresses or the color scheme Beca chose. She was sure Beca was intentionally being difficult when in reality she was just getting into the whole bride thing.

Since they were out and having a good time, they decided to head to the florist. Lucy thought for sure she'd get her way there since Beca wasn't a flowery kinda girl. Lucy had ideas based on the colors Beca selected. They weren't the colors she would have chosen but she felt could work with them.

When they entered the shop Beca, Rae and Amy set out to start looking at what arrangements were available while Lucy spoke to Nicole and Michelle, who were standing behind the counter. M'Lynn Thibault had the best floral shop in all of Natchitoches, but most importantly, M'Lynn also happened to be one of Lucy's best friends.

M'Lynn walked over to where the girls were seated, offering them a warm greeting before she congratulated Beca on her engagement then ooh'd and aah'd over her ring. When the pleasantries were out of the way, M'Lynn showed Beca the portfolios of all the floral arrangements she had put together for other weddings.

Beca flipped through the book while her mother and M'Lynn chatted nearby over a cup of tea. Beca snickered when she heard Lucy telling M'Lynn in elaborate detail what she wanted and envisioned for the wedding.

Without looking up from the portfolio Beca said, "Not your wedding Mom."

"Rebeca, let me help you with this...Please." Lucy pleaded.

"You are helping. You're going to give Mrs. M'Lynn Daddy's credit card after I've made my decision."

"'Ruh roh Raggy'…run for cover. Momzilla's in da' house!" Amy whispered to Rae.

Rae and Amy snickered. This was getting good. Politely, M'Lynn excused herself so Lucy and Beca could have their moment in private. She didn't feel the need to hover or get involved in the family bickering.

"What do you really know about flowers?" Lucy asked Beca.

Beca gave her a shitty grin, "I know that what I want isn't in this portfolio." she said as she closed the book. Pulling her phone from her back pocket, she motioned for M'Lynn to come back to the table.

"Mrs. M'Lynn, these are the bridesmaid's dresses and this is what I have in mind for the flowers. Can you do this or something similar?" Beca showed her a pictures she found on Pinterest. Rae and Amy crowded around so they could see too.

"That's so badass!" Amy said high fiving Beca. "Damn girl...you got a Pinterest board too! You really are taking this bride thing seriously."

"Beca! Those are some amazing floral arrangements!" Rae beamed. "And kudos on the Pinterest board Sis."

Beca smirked. She knew this was going to infuriate her mother even more but this was her wedding and she had every right to make the decisions whether Lucy liked them or not.

"Beca, that's gorgeous! I love it and yes, yes, I can do that!" M'Lynn said excitedly.

"Let me see that." Lucy said asking Beca to show her. Lucy looked at the picture and gasped. "Rebeca! You can't be serious about this?!"

"Mom, what's wrong with what Beca's chosen?" Rae asked her arms folded defensively across her chest.

"It's God-awful, that's what!"

"It's different. You should know by now that I'm not going to go for all that traditional hoopla." Beca said.

"What about roses Beca?" Lucy asked. "All brides should have roses."

"I don't want roses." Beca told her.

"Tulips?"

"No." Beca told her.

"Orchids? Peonies?"

"No and No."

"Rebeca! You're being stubborn!"

"Gee...I wonder where she gets that from?" Rae whispered to Amy.

Amy grinned and rolled her eyes. "Not a clue!"

"Look Mom, I showed Mrs. M'Lynn what I want, which means we're finished here." Beca said getting up and walking toward the door. She turned around and said, "Thanks Mrs. M'Lynn, if you would, please call my dad for his credit card information."

"Sure thing Beca. I love what you've chosen and cannot wait to see it all on your wedding day. It's going to be gorgeous."

"Thanks Mrs. M'Lynn!" Beca said smiling.

"Beca, please don't forget to email those pictures to me." M'Lynn reminded her.

"I've already sent them. They should be in your inbox now." Beca said as she walked out the door. Rae and Amy followed.

"Bec... you're lucky she didn't skin you alive!" Amy said.

Beca laughed. "You're kidding right?!"

"Umm...no! Did you see the look on her face?"

"Skinning me alive would be far too messy for my mom."

"She was shooting daggers at you sis."

Amy giggled, "Yeah, if looks could kill you'd be floppin' on the ground and bleedin' profusely from the head right now."

"If looks could kill I wouldn't have made it to my 1st birthday. Shit, I'm lucky I made it out of her uterus." Beca said as she and the girls laughed.

"Ain't that the God's honest truth!" Amy said.

"Let's get some ice cream." Rae said pointing to the ice cream parlor next door to M'Lynn's. "We got a lot accomplished in a relatively short amount of time and deserve a treat."

Back at M'Lynn's ...

"For the life of me I don't know what's wrong with that girl." Lucy said as she rubbed her forehead.

"She reminds me of someone I once knew." M'Lynn responded with a wink.

Lucy put her well manicured finger in the air. "Oh no ma'am! Don't you dare compare Rebeca to me. I was never like that. She's all Robicheaux!"

"Oh, I don't know about that." M'Lynn choked back a laugh. "She's not doing anything that any other bride hasn't already done. She's exercising her right to make all the decisions for her special day. You need to let her spread her wings and fly Lucy."

"Wings? Don't you mean feathers?" Lucy spat. "This wedding is going to look like a cheap clown show."

"No, it won't. I've seen the arrangements she's chosen."

"What she's chosen is going to make the Beverly Hillbillies look like high class white trash."

"Umm, Luce...that's where you're wrong." M'Lynn told her. "I know my trade. Please give me some credit. Everything is going to look amazing."

"Do you know she wants the girls to wear boots with their dresses?"

"So what! Lucy, her vision is beautiful. It's going to look amazing when it's all put together."

"Next thing she'll spring on me is mason jars, backwoods moonshine and checkered table cloths!"

"If that's what she wants then let her have it." M'Lynn said rubbing Lucy's back. "You have to let her have the control."

Lucy sighed as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Just relax. You should be happy that Beca is taking the reins and the initiative where her wedding is concerned."

"I just really thought she'd let me plan this."

"It's not your wedding to plan. It's hers." M'Lynn told her. "You've had your chance, now let her have hers."

"Guess I need to put my big girl panties on and admit defeat huh?"

"It's far from defeat." M'Lynn told her. "Look, I have to get back to work. See you at Bridge on Friday?"

"Yeah sure. See you Friday." Lucy said looking defeated as she hugged M'Lynn before walking out of the shop.

Lucy was quiet the entire ride home. The girls cut up and joked while Lucy sulked. She couldn't believe that Beca wouldn't let her make any decisions. She knew it was Beca's wedding but if she was honest, she never imagined her getting married let alone making all the decisions that brides do. Part of her was happy that Beca was settling into the role of bride and making all of the decisions but the other part just wanted to do everything for her so that it was absolutely perfect. At the rate Beca was going, in Lucy's opinion, the wedding was going to be the talk of the town not because it was picture perfect, but because it was a train wreck of epic proportions.

When they arrived back at the house, Tripp walked out onto the porch to greet them.

"Hey Dad!" Beca said excitedly. Her mega watt smile lighting everything up.

"Hey baby! I take it from the smile on your face that it was a successful shopping trip?"

"It was! Look Dad." Beca said showing him a picture of her dress. "I wish you had come with us."

"Oh Beca…I love it! It's gorgeous!" He said kissing her forehead. "I'll go to your fittings, I promise."

"It was the only one she tried on Dad." Rae told him.

"The only one huh?"

"It was the only one I could picture myself marrying Jesse in." She beamed.

"Well, I think it's perfect!" Tripp he said hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head. "Did you pick out dresses for the girls?"

"Sure did." She said flipping through the pictures on her phone. "Look!"

"Wow, very pretty. Interesting color palette too." Tripp nodded. "You got a lot done today."

"We also went to Mrs. M'Lynn's and picked the flowers..." Beca whispered, "...but Mom doesn't like them."

"Let me tell you a secret." Tripp said leaning in close to Beca's ear, his eyes twinkling. "Mom doesn't have to like them."

Beca kissed his cheek. "Thanks Dad. Mrs. M'Lynn is going to be calling you for your credit card."

"Ok, but Mom was there." Tripp said confused. "She didn't give M'Lynn the card?"

"No, she didn't like what I picked."

Tripp rolled his eyes. "Geez…she sure can be a pickle when she wants to be."

"You married her!" Beca said jokingly.

"I sure did and I can't imagine marrying anyone else. Besides, without her I wouldn't have you and Rae." He said affectionately as he watched Lucy get out of her car. He noted the scowl on her face. "Beca, I think you've broken Mom."

Beca giggled. "Nah, she's just a little bent out of shape."

Tripp escorted Lucy into the house and straight to the kitchen. He took two dessert plates out of the cabinet then removed the glass cover off the cake plate before cutting them each a piece of Nora's famous 'Death by Chocolate' cake. After replacing the lid over the cake, he walked to the freezer for fudge ripple ice cream. He placed a generous size scoop on each slice of cake then returned the ice cream to the freezer.

"Penny for your thoughts." he said as he placed the cake in front of his wife.

"Fucking peacock feathers Tripp! Peacock feathers!" Lucy screeched as she put a very unladylike amount of cake and ice cream in her mouth.

Tripp stifled his amusement. When he was sure Lucy couldn't talk around what was in her mouth he said, "It's what Beca wants and I did tell her she could have everything she wanted."

"Fuck off Tripp!"

"Luce, you swore...again." Tripp said laughing.

"Beca says it all the time." Lucy said making a sour face. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuckity Fuck!"

Tripp was still laughing. "That word sounds so funny coming from you."

"Well, get fucking used to it because I think I'm going to start saying fuck a hell of a lot more."

"Yeah?" he was quite amused by this point. His wife was in very rare form and all because their headstrong daughter put her foot down. A move Lucy should have seen coming from a mile away.

"Yeah, I know now why the fuck Beca says 'fuck' so much." she said reaching in the fridge.

"And why's that?" Tripp's eyebrows were in his hairline.

"Because it fucking feels good." she said while squirted whipped cream all over the cake and ice cream left on her place. She then covered the whipped cream with chocolate sauce and cherries. Before she returned the whipped cream to the fridge, she squirted it in her mouth. "Oh God, that's fucking good." she muttered.

Tripped watched in amazement. Lucy never ate this way nor did she act this way. She always had a napkin neatly placed in her lap and dabbed the corners of mouth in the most delicate and ladylike way. Today she didn't care what she looked like, she wasn't using her napkin. Chocolate sauce was running down her chin and threatening to ruin her pale pink cashmere sweater set. She looked like a 5 year who had just gotten an ice cream cone from the man that drove the ice cream truck and played those obnoxious tunes.

"I just have one question." he asked.

"And what the fuck is that?" Lucy asked stuffing another bite of cake and ice cream in her mouth.

Swallowing his cake he asked, "Is it shark week?"

"Fuck you Rhett Fucking Robicheaux! Do you fucking hear me? Fuck you!" she said pointing her fork at him. "Fuck. You!"

Tripp smiled and mumbled, "And you wonder where Beca gets it from."

Lucy shoveled another bite of cake in her mouth and said, "Shut the fuck up Tripp!"

He grinned and thought, "Well Beca, you've most certainly done it. You've successfully broken your mother. Wouldn't the church ladies she lunches with on Wednesday afternoons just love seeing this feisty new side of Lucy Robicheaux?"

It really was in his best interest that he not mess with his wife any more than he already had, especially since she was in such a foul mood but instead he decided to do something else. Seeing her like this stirred things up inside him. He followed her as she walked across the kitchen to put her plate in the sink.

"What the fuck do you want Tripp?"

He stood behind her and gently kissed her neck. "You." he responded.

"The girls are upstairs and Amy is still here."

"And?"

"And we can't do this right now."

"Why?"

"It's the middle of the afternoon?"

"So."

"You're mighty frisky this afternoon." she said turning to face him.

"Yep!" Tripp said as he walked her backwards towards the kitchen table. "And we're gonna have some afternoon fun!"

Beca, Amy and Rae were hanging out in Beca's bedroom looking at wedding stuff. They were cutting up the way girls planning a wedding do when they heard a crash. Looking at each other and wondering what happened they all ran toward the door to investigate what had just happened downstairs. Beca was the first one out of the door followed closely by Amy and Rae.

The girls crept down the stairs hand in hand cautious of the possibility that they could be walking into something dangerous. When they got to the bottom of the stairs they they turned toward the kitchen and were faced with the sight of their parents exiting the kitchen. Tripp was covering his junk with a place mat. With Tripp very close behind her, Lucy had a kitchen towel over her boobs and a place mat covering her lady bits.

"OH MY GOD!" Beca screamed as she covered her eyes and Amy's. "Don't look!"

Rae peaked around the corner into the kitchen and immediately covered her eyes. "Beca! I know what the crash was."

"What was it?" Beca asked. "Do I even want to know?"

"Umm...probably not!"

"Break it to me gently...will ya?"

"Well, umm...the can of whipped cream, tablecloth, dishes, place mats, center piece and the candlesticks are all on the floor. They must have knocked everything over…" Rae gagged "...when they were doing it." Rae said with a disgusted look on her face.

"Holy cheese… your parents still do it?" Amy asked the most obvious question in the book.

As the girls looked around the kitchen they heard Lucy's passionate cries. "Oh my God Tripp! Right there! Harder damn it … Harder!"

"I think I need to go. My parents wouldn't want my innocence tainted by such afternoon smuttiness." Amy said. "Peace out bitches!"

"I'm never eating at that table again!" Beca announced as she pretended to vomit.

Rae watched Beca and said, "I may never have sex! I'm seriously scarred for life!"

A few days later…

Tripp took Beca aside and told her about the court proceedings. The case was given to the judge to review and deliberate. All that was left to do was wait for a verdict. Their conversation flowed freely and easily even though the subject matter was one of the hardest things they'd ever have to discuss. While the attack on Beca had been brutal, it brought her closer to her family, her dad in particular. Her relationship with her mom, while not awful, was still very much a work in progress but she wasn't going to give up. She hoped that once she was married and moved out on her own that she and her mom would be closer.

While spending time with her Dad, Beca told him what she had in mind for the wedding venue, it was a discussion that they had as they sat on the front porch swing. Beca curled up into his chest, his protective arms wrapped tightly around her. As they sat in a rare moment of silence, Tripp started to hum 'Baby Mine', the song he always sang to his girls before bed. Beca recognized the tune immediately and relished the memories the song brought. She sat quietly as her dad began singing to her.

When the song was over, they both sat quietly looking up at the stars and enjoying the time they had together. It was these little moments Beca would miss the most once she was married and not living at home.

"Have you and Jesse decided on a wedding venue?"

"Yes."

"So, how much is the damage?"

"Minimal… I think"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"So, where is this venue?"

"We want to get married down by the creek."

"Really?" Tripp asked puzzled. "Our creek?"

"Yeah Dad...our creek."

"Interesting choice."

"Why do you say that?"

"I really expected your mom to talk you into having a church wedding and the reception at the country club."

"Dad, you know that's not me. I'm not that pretentious and stuck up."

"True." he said squeezing her a little tighter. "So, why do you want to have it down by the creek."

"Well there's a couple of reason. We'll be far from prying eyes for one."

"And the other reason?"

"Have you been down there?"

"No, not in a very long time."

"It's absolutely perfect, stunning actually. I love it. It's so tranquil and serene down there."

"So, is that where you go?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you're angry or upset, is that where you go?"

Nodding, Beca said, "Yeah, it is."

"You want to take a ride down there?"

Beca was up on her feet, hand outstretched to her father, thousand watt smile on her face. "Let's go."

After saddling the horses, they rode down to the lake, something Beca and her dad hadn't done together in ages. Tripp was in awe when he saw the beauty of the creek and it's surroundings. Suddenly he understood why Beca had chosen that spot, it was the most beautiful place on the property.

As she dismounted Whiskey and began walking around, arms spread, pointing to the exact spot she wanted the venue. She also explained that she wanted an open, airy feeling but understood the importance of having a cover in the event of rain. What she wanted and what was most important to both her and Jesse was for the indoors and the outdoors to become one if only for their special night. It was a vision her father understood and appreciated. She explained about wanting twinkle lights as a tribute to Jesse's very thoughtful and romantic proposal as well as flowy draperies to soften the hard edges.

"I'll walk down the aisle as the sun begins to set over the creek."

Tripp looked at her in complete awe. "I can see it now and so will Mom. I'll make this exactly the wedding venue you want."

"Thanks Dad. I knew you'd get it."

A/N: So, there you have it. A glimpse into who the real Lucy Robicheaux is and where Beca gets her fiery attitude, even though Lucy will never admit it. I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.