Over the next few weeks, Lucy hardly saw any of the boys. They had not sought revenge on Rakes yet. She was sure it was because Howard was hard to catch, and when they did he was too inebriated to start a war. She also wondered if it was her lost popularity with the brothers… Jack still smiled at her, and seemed to understand her plight but even the boy was conflicted.
Then one morning, Lucy walked down the stairs to see a petite redhead, dressed smartly lounging on one of the bar stools, taking a drag.
The woman noticed her and set down her cigarette in the ashtray. She stood, smoothed out her skirt and held out her hand, "You must be Lucy," she greeted. Lucy approached her, Emmy situated on her hip- Lucy shook the woman's delicate hand, "I am," she shook her hand.
"Maggie," the woman finished. She resumed her seat on the stool and her cigarette, "Forrest just hired me to help with the restaurant," she explained, "He told me you could show me the ropes."
Lucy's heart sank. She didn't see the need for additional help at the restaurant. Between her and Hal and the occasional hand from Forrest or Jack, they were doing just fine. Why would they need this woman?
"Not much to learn," Lucy admitted, "Ever worked a store or restaurant before?"
"Not quite," the woman smiled kindly. Her smile slowly faltered, "This might seem forward, seeing as how we just met and all, but what happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
Lucy didn't notice the healing wounds on her visible skin anymore. And neither did anyone who was in Franklin County for that matter- people knew.
Lucy paused, readjusting her daughter as she found her answer, "A bad day," she answered. The woman nodded, "Sorry," she muttered, finishing off her cigarette.
"Where are you staying? The Vermont?" Lucy asked about the only hotel in town.
Maggie nodded, "Well, I was. But when Forrest took me on- he said I could live here if I needed…til I got on my feet here…"
Lucy's stomach churned. There were no open rooms upstairs, "Oh… yeah, he's a good guy, Forrest, once you get past the quiet," Lucy tried to make light. "If you'll excuse me, I have to feed her," she acknowledged her daughter and returned up the stairs. It wasn't true. She'd just fed her daughter. But Lucy felt threatened, and betrayed. She told herself she was being silly- that Forrest was probably doing this for her, so she could spend more time with her daughter and get away from The County Line more, but she couldn't shake her bad feeling. She set Emmy down with a toy and began to pace.
She didn't know how long she had been pacing, thinking when she caught sight of the Model A clunk up the drive and Jack and Forrest come into the County Line.
It took another unknown amount of time for Lucy to gather her skirts and head back downstairs. When she reached the bottom step, she heard Forrest call her name, "Lu."
Instantly, she found him in his office and she went to him, "Forrest," she nodded. Her mind searched for the right way to say: didn't think we needed help that didn't sound so defensive. But he beat her to it.
"Maggie told me she asked for your help," he drawled.
"Actually she told me that you said I'd help her," Lucy replied. Sighing, she continued, "I mean…I'll help her…" she shifted her weight, "I was just…surprised…is all…"
Forrest nodded, but it didn't seem to be for an understanding of her, "You be nice to this woman, Lu… she works here now…like family…" he told her, like he was scolding a small child.
"She's not family," Lucy retorted. It was harsh, but it was how she felt.
But Forrest didn't respond. He turned back to his desk and the paperwork upon it.
Lucy suddenly felt the need to lash out, like a small child who didn't get their way, but she couldn't find the words to express how she felt. "Could you watch Emmy for me?" she asked suddenly.
Forrest turned around to look at her, waiting for the reason why.
"I'm taking Jack…we're gonna bring Howard home."