Chapter 9

Ricky walked to the corner store and sat at the counter. He ordered a cup of coffee and just stared at it, just like he had stared at his bacon and eggs 10 minutes prior. He didn't know what to do about this predicament. He loved Lucy so much and prayed with every fiber of his being that she would talk to him. He knew it would help her so much and they could move past it and move on with their lives.

Discreetly wiping a tear from his eye, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Fred. He didn't know how Fred was going to treat him since he yelled at Ethel a few moments ago.

"Hi Rick. Thought I'd find you here."

"Hi Fred. Take a seat."

"Don't mind if I do."

Fred and Ricky sat quietly, getting lost in their own thoughts. Fred looked over to see Ricky trying to subtly wipe tears from his eyes. He knew that his life was in bad shape.

"Rick, I'm sorry about the way everything's been going for you."

"Hey, look Fred, I'm sorry for the way I talk to Ethel. I'm jus' frusrated at Lucy not talkin' to me and I had to yell at someone."

"Well, I'll be honest with you. I was listening at the back door and I heard what Ethel said to you before you told her to get out. She knows that Lucy isn't talking to you and I don't think that she should've thrown that in your face. Although, both of you did have some good points, the most important part is that we're all there for Lucy. I know you told Ethel that you just want to be there for her, but I think you need other people to help out so that you don't get overwhelmed."

"You're right, Fred. I've been a cad. I never should'a said that to Ethel. Of course, Lucy needs all of us. I'm just 'yealous. I jus' wunt her to talk to me. Before this, we use to talk bout everythin' and now, she can't even look at me. I dun't wunt to lose her, Fred. She's the bes' thin' that's ever happen to me. I love her more than my own life, but lately, it doesn't seem like she feels the same way."

"It might feel like that, but take it from me, there is no one on this earth that Lucy loves more than you. I may have been doing a little more eavesdropping and although I can't tell you everything that Lucy told Ethel, the one thing she said was that she loves you so much, that it hurts her to keep this from you, but she feels like she's protecting you."

Ricky had never heard Fred talk like this before, but hearing it made him feel a little bit better. How could he ever doubt Lucy's love for him, but with the way she's been acting, it was hard to tell if she really did.

"Thanks Fred. I'm goin' home, but firs', I'm stopping at the flower shop and picking up some flowers as a sorry present for Lucy. We're going to talk this out and try to come to some understandin."

"Good boy, Rick. I'll go to your apartment to get Ethel out. You two definitely don't need the east coast version of Hedda Hopper as an audience."

Ricky thanked Fred again, pat him on the back and raced out of the drug store to the flower shop. He felt a little bit renewed and knew that he wasn't going to let Lucy go without a fight.

After Ethel had been practically dragged out of her apartment by Fred, Lucy laid down on the couch and closed her eyes. She couldn't stop thinking about the heartbreaking look that Ricky had on his face before he left. If he only knew that she just didn't want to hurt him and just wanted to protect him from what she feared would really happen. She didn't even understand why she was doing what she was doing, so that meant that Ricky must've been really confused and hurt, as well.

She heard the front door key in the lock and sat up quickly. She wished it was the one person she wanted to see and her heart fluttered wildly, as she saw him walk through the door.

"Hi," said Ricky, shyly, as he closed the door and stood with his back to it. He was so nervous to face Lucy and her possible reaction, that he couldn't move from the spot he was standing in.

"Hi yourself," said Lucy, staring at her husband, as if he were a ghost.

The two stared at each other, willing themselves to move closer, but just stayed planted in their spots. Ricky decided to make the first move and walked over to the couch and handed the flowers to Lucy, all the while sitting far away from her, so as not to disturb her personal space.

"These are for you. I acted like a beast to Ethel and to you, as well. I'm truly sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"Thank you," said Lucy, as she put her nose in the roses and sniffed them. "They're beautiful, Ricky. You really shouldn't have."

"They're pretty. You're the beautiful one. And yes, I should. I acted like a dog. It was wrung to yell at Ethel and I'm gonna go 'pologize, but not before we talk."

"Ricky, I..."

"I know," said Ricky, interrupting her, "you dun't wanna talk, but I think we should. I think we should go see a 'fisachiatrist', you know, a head doctor. I wunt you to think 'bout it firs' before you say yes or no. I wunt to come with you, too. I know you're 'fraid, but you dun't have to be. I'm here for you and nothin' you can say will change anythin'. I dun't wunt you to think you have ta protect me. Please, jus' let me in and we can work this out."

"I don't know, Ricky," said Lucy, as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"I do," said Ricky, as he took his fingers and wiped away her tears, "I know that as soon as we talk 'bout what's buthering you, we can get past it and become 'Lucy and Ricky' again. Whaddya say?"

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you, Lucy, thank you. Now, you din't answer me before. Am I forgiven?"

"Yes and actually, Ethel explained that she really did set you off so when you go apologize to her, she'll be apologizing to you, as well."

"I do love you, Lucy. I promise that nothin' you can say will change that," said Ricky, as he gave her a soft kiss on her lips and walked out the door to the Mertz's apartment.

"I sure hope it doesn't," said Lucy, to herself, as she stared at the door that Ricky walked out of.