Page 112 of Perfect Three

“It was nothing.Just had a silly thought, that’s all.”

Nothing more was said for a few minutes, then Sebastian pulled her tight into his arms.He had a hand holding her head against his body.“Let it out, Lou.Don’t hold it inside any longer.”

Lucy tensed.Surely, he doesn’t know.He couldn’t possibly read her mind.

Jack took a hand, his fingers rubbing against it.“Sweetheart, it’s okay.It’s time to grieve.”

“No!”

“Yes, my darling.It’s finally time to move on, sweetheart.”Sebastian’s tender words undid her.“It really is.”

Those few words were like a sledgehammer against the wall she’d built.She burst into heart-wracking sobs.Sobs for the mother she’d lost, the pain of watching her slowly die.Her own life she’d been forced to postpone all those years, and then the pain of rebuilding it.It was all there bursting out of her like cleansing rain.

The two men held her, their arms, their strength cocooning her, sharing her pain until she finally felt her tears dry up.No one spoke.

Sebastian carefully stood then lifted her.He carried her upstairs where Jack ran the bath.Tenderly stripping her off, the three of them squeezed into the tub.

Lucy was too drained to do anything except lay there cradled by them both.

They dried her off and Jack carried her into the bedroom, laying her in the middle of the bed while they climbed on either side.

Wrapped in their love, Lucy fell asleep.When she woke through the night, she felt different.The pain of loss was still there, but it didn’t hurt as much.

She’d finally let it go.

Chapter Forty-Six

One day at the endof November, Allison dropped over to talk to Lucy about the twins’ upcoming birthday.They talked about what Lucy could buy as gifts, and Allison grabbed a dozen eggs as she was leaving.Lucy noticed that she rarely asked after Jack and Sebastian.When they were all together, Allison appeared friendly, but still Lucy knew there was an undercurrent that pervaded the atmosphere.Everyone tried to ignore it, but everyone knew it was there.It simmered quietly in the background continually.

It finally came to a head at the twins’ birthday party.

Lucy and her men had been together for almost a year when the twins’ fifth birthday came around during the second week of December.Their birthday wasn’t until Thursday, but Allison had fifteen of their little friends coming over for a party.She’d given Lucy an invitation earlier in the week—Sunday Barbeque at 3:00 PM.

Now it was Sunday.She and the men drove over to Allison’s.

Allison had suggested that they have a barbeque dinner with any parents who wanted to stay.Judging from the number of cars in the street, it seemed a lot were taking advantage of the offer.

---