Chapter Seven
First of all, I want to say thank you so much for your incredible support of this story. I have been so pleasantly surprised by how much you have embraced it. I know that I take FOREVER to update. I'm trying to be better. Your reviews and comments are so helpful in motivating me! Please continue to let me know what you think…
FYI for this chapter – Lucky is not a recovering addict. However, I'm going to weave Luke's addiction into the history. You'll catch on .
(Lulu's POV)
"Earth to Lulu..."
I looked up from the bouquet of roses in my hands to meet Maxie's stare. Unlike our last encounter, the color in her face was back and she seemed to be stable on her feet. I breathed a sigh of relief, because I needed my partner on her game to get through the day in front of me.
"It's a good thing that Robin gave me those anti-nausea pills to be here, because apparently my business partner is going to spend the entire day in some sort of creepy staring contest with the bridal bouquet. What's going on?"
"My brother is getting married," I covered, adjusting the ribbon around Kristina's bouquet, which I had been asked to bring to her before I got lost in the memory of kissing Dante. "I'm just savoring the moment."
"Bull," Maxie argued, pulling the bouquet from my hands. "You don't have a romantic bone in your body when it comes to weddings. In fact, I know for a fact that the looming trip you're going to have to take down the aisle in that bridesmaid dress that you hate wearing is making your skin crawl. So what gives?"
"Nothing…" I stalled, unsure of whether or not to tell Maxie about Dante. I wanted to confide in my best friend about my feelings for him, but not minutes before we were set to greet hundreds of wedding guests. Fortunately, Lucky walked into the sanctuary and cleared his throat before Maxie's interrogation could begin.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Just working," I answered.
"All night?" he continued his line of questioning.
"No, just since 5 a.m.," I answered.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah," I remarked with a frown. "Why?"
"I noticed that you never made it home last night, Lulu."
I swallowed hard. Although what happened between Dante and me the previous night never went beyond kissing, I did fall asleep on his couch and didn't wake up until sunrise. I snuck out while he was still asleep, but decided against going home, opting to spend the night in my office instead. I had hoped Lucky wouldn't notice, but my luck was apparently running out.
"I went to check on Maxie after the rehearsal dinner, and I just spent the night at her place," I fibbed, looking to my friend for her affirmation.
"Right, slumber party with the flu-ridden wedding planner," she sighed, barely looking at either of us. "I have to go check on the bride."
She practically flew out of the room, which was not abnormal for a workday at a wedding. However, it was strange to see Lucky's reaction to her departure. The expression on his face was suspicious, but his eyes showed only remorse.
"You know, I should really go make sure Ethan doesn't forget to wear those cufflinks Kristina gave him," I remarked, taking a step to follow Maxie. I didn't get very far before he grabbed my hand.
"Is she okay?" he asked softly.
"She's fine," I countered with uncertainty. He seemed so upset that I had not made it home the previous night, but that anger quickly faded to concern when Maxie left. "You're the one I'm worried about. What's going on, Lucky?"
(Lucky's POV)
I desperately wanted to be able to open up to my sister. She would know exactly what to do to heal my relationship. But I knew she was lying to me about her whereabouts the night before, and that felt like a betrayal. Why should I have gone out on a limb to clue her into my life when she was clearly shutting me out of hers?
"It's nothing," I covered. "Don't you need to get Ethan ready to go? Something about cufflinks…"
She nodded and left the room, allowing me a moment of solitude. I wasted no time in pulling my flask out of my breast pocket to relieve my stress. Between Lulu and Dante screwing around behind my back, Maxie's refusal to talk to me and my brother's nuptials looming, I felt like everything was spiraling out of control.
"A little early in the day, don't you think?"
I rolled my eyes and turned to face another person who was doing absolutely nothing to improve my mood. "I don't see how that's any of your business, Johnny. In fact, why don't you do us all a favor at leave?"
"As much as I'd like to, your brother enlisted me to serve as an usher. Although, if you keep drinking like that, I might need to step in as the best man," he remarked.
"I'm an adult, and it's a celebration," I countered. "Mind your own business."
"With your family history, I would think you'd be a little more careful around alcohol."
"Watch it…" I growled a warning his way.
"Look, I'm not trying to be an asshole. Really… but I was with Lulu when your dad did his first stint in rehab. I know what it did to her. I won't stand by and watch her go through that again."
That was enough to put me over the edge. I did not need to be reminded about my father's drinking habit and how it affected my family. I lived through it. I was the one that first confronted him about his problem. I was the person he used as an emotional punching bag while he deflected his guilt about it. And I was the one who held my mother's hand while we waited to find out whether or not he would survive after he wrapped his car around a tree. Every part of it was burned into my memory.
Even after his time in rehab, we never knew whether or not he was going to start drinking again. To that day, I was still not convinced that he had been sober when he and my mother were killed in that car accident. Regardless, I did not need the lowlife that used to date my sister reminding me about my family history of addiction.
I grabbed Johnny by his jacket and shoved him against the wall.
"Don't try to lecture me about right and wrong, and don't you dare lecture me about what's best for my sister!"
Before Johnny could respond, I felt someone grab me by the shoulders and pull me away from him.
"He's not worth it, Lucky," Dante instructed. "Mac will have your badge for this."
"I don't give a damn!" I argued as I pushed myself out of Dante's grip. In the midst of our struggle, my flask fell out of my pocket and landed on my partner's foot. I must have been feeling enough of a buzz to impair my coordination, because he was able to kneel down and grab it before I could get there.
"Why don't I hold onto this for a bit…" he remarked, shoving it into his chest pocket.
"I don't need your judgment," I mumbled, shoving away from him. My so-called best friend was another person that I was ready to hit if he got in my way. But when I looked past him, I saw a small crowd gathering in the hallway. As mad as I was, I couldn't ruin Ethan's wedding. So instead of getting into it with my sister's former or current lover, I straightened out my clothing and walked out of the room.
**
(Maxie's POV)
We had made it through a Corinthos wedding ceremony without gunfire or a police raid. It was definitely a relief considering some of the scenarios I had dreamed up in my head. Granted, nothing was ever perfect. There were some tense moments throughout Ethan and Kristina's nuptials.
Sonny cornered Kristina before walking her down the aisle with one last ditch effort to get her to agree to make a run for it. She refused, practically screaming at him in the process. Fortunately, the pianist that I hired was exceptional and chose that moment to play a rather loud number.
There was also something going on with Michael's girlfriend. Just before he was supposed to escort Lulu down the aisle, she snuck to the back of the church and pulled Lulu aside for a one-on-one pow-wow. The girl obviously had some jealousy issues, which is insane, because Lulu and Michael are cousins. Either way, Lulu settled her down in hushed tones before taking her place for the processional. She made it down the aisle, but she looked really pale doing it.
Then there was the drama of my own love life. While I remained stationed at the back of the sanctuary for the duration of the ceremony, I could feel Lucky staring a hole through me. He was onto me. Even if he didn't know I was pregnant, he knew something was wrong. It was a lot easier to avoid him during the formal ceremony. But the reception was going to be a whole different story.
I didn't even know if avoiding him was what I wanted to do anymore. Yes, I was really angry with him. But the reality of the pregnancy was hitting me. Although I had great support from Robin and Lulu, I really wanted to have Lucky in my corner, too. I was sick of loving him in secret, but if my only alternative was having this baby alone, I was not willing to take it. I knew that I was not capable of raising a child by myself – not emotionally, physically or financially.
"Ms. Jones…"
"The reception isn't starting for another few minutes. If you could please wait outside with everybody else, that would be great," I started, turning my attention to the centerpieces in front of me without turning to look at the visitor.
"I am not a wedding guest. I was hoping we could talk business."
I did not have time for any distractions since Lulu was busy getting her picture taken with the rest of the bridal party. I spun on my heels and practically smacked right into Mr. LeMontagne.
"Oh, it's you," I exhaled. "Can we do this some other time?"
"I've given you ample time to consider my offer," he replied.
"I know, and I'm really sorry," I continued rushing around the room to make sure all of the last minute details were taken care of, "I have not even had the time to talk to my partner about this…"
"Right, the partner," he sighed. "Funny, because I looked into it a little more, and it seems that you owe majority share of your company. I believe it's a 60-40 arrangement. If Miss Spencer had footed more of the startup costs, she would get more of a vote, don't you think? As far as I see it, this is your decision to make."
"How do you know that?" I questioned. Lulu and I were the only ones who knew that we did not finance the company equally in the beginning. She was stuck paying off some college loans, so we agreed that I could put in a little extra money and we would work it out later.
"It's a matter of public record," he answered. "Listen, you are obviously very busy, which I expected. I brought another copy of the papers. I even left the price blank. Put in whatever amount you would like. I'll be happy to get out of your hair as soon as you sign."
"Mr. LeMontagne," I groaned, ripping the papers from his hands. "This is not a good time."
"I don't take no for an answer, Ms. Jones," he reiterated, this time with more force. "And the way I see it, you are not in a position to turn down a substantial payout. Babies do not pay for themselves, and it is incredibly difficult for a single mother to raise them without going into significant debt."
"That sure as hell is not public record," I mumbled, shocked that he knew about my pregnancy.
"I have my ways of finding information," he replied arrogantly. "I also know that your bank account is practically hemorrhaging right now, what with the substantial cost of running a business and trying to pay off the massive debt that you incurred to start it up."
"Do you know how expensive day care is? Not to mention the medical bills, and with your heart condition, your pregnancy is not going to be without risk. Besides, you should not be working these ridiculous hours. It puts you and your unborn child at risk. You can take the enormous amount of money you receive from the sale and start a new company with Miss Spencer – one that will give you more flexibility. You are not in any position to turn this offer down."
His words were reverberating in my head. They described every fear I had been having since I found out I was going to be a mother. And while I hoped that I would not have to be a single parent, I had no assurance that Lucky would be interested in raising our child together. It would require him to bring our relationship out in the open. Even if he got over the fear of what Lulu would think, part of me worried that he had a more substantial reason for wanting to keep our secret. What if he was really ashamed of me? What the secret is what made him want me?
The offer in front of me was something out of a dream. And Mr. LeMontagne, while forceful, was correct. Lulu and I could start a new business venture. We could have a life again. And, let's face it, Lulu was not a huge fan of weddings. We could find something easier, something we both wanted to do.
"Okay," I exhaled, looking down at the papers in front of me. "Do you have a pen?"