Page 22 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Ladies, I think we’ve all earned it,” he said. “Cheers.”

“Oh, I gotta get all of this, George,” Lucy said. “In a minute.”

“Deep breaths. Take a breath.”

Lucy attempted to do that much, taking a sip and handing it back.

“She’s no fun. I don’t realise…” Francine began and let the words stop. “Nah.”

“No, what?” George asked.

“How this ever worked? Like, you’resodifferent. Winston makes sense, but you? Bizarre.”

“I chased her,” George announced. “Quite a bit. Believe it or not, Lucy is adorable when she tries.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Fuck off, Georgie.”

Winston approached, holding an exhausted toddler in his arms.

“I’m gonna put the little man to bed,” he said.

“Come here, sweetie,” Lucy beckoned, kissing his sleepy little head. “You’re all too big now.”

“A whole year,” Francine said.

“Well, I will put him down and then I’m drinking.”

“I’ll have Pat make you one,” George handed Lucy her drink and returned to the kitchen.

“They’re getting along now,” Francine said.

“It took some time, but yes,” Lucy said. “George has always been lovely with Malcolm. It’s sweet. I never thought we’d get here, but here we are.”

Lucy’s phone buzzed. It was Natalie. She was surprised. It was 1 AM there. What was Natalie up to?

Natalie hung up. Butt dial? Then she texted.

Natalie: SOS

“Hey give me a sec,” Lucy said. “It’s Nat. I gotta take this.”

Lucy excused herself to the balcony overlooking Lake Michigan. Patrick and George had the most beautiful compound in southwestern Michigan as far as Lucy was concerned.

“What’s going on, sweetheart?” Lucy asked.

“I’m in hospital and we have been here nearly a day with no answers,” Natalie said. She sounded like she’d been crying.

“What? Why?”

“Where are you? Can you talk?”

“I’m in Michigan. We’re having a party for the new year. We just did a cake smash for baby Malcolm. George and Patrick have been so sweet. I can talk.”

“I need you to handle my parents. Ed and I are beyond help and worried sick. All we’ve told them is that I’m having an ovarian cyst. I need to communicate that we’re going to be here awhile.”

“What is going on, Natalie? You’re not making sense.”

Lucy grew more and more concerned. Natalie sounded spacey.

---