Chapter 31
By the time they returned home Zoe not only wore out her excitement but had fallen asleep. Sarah gathered her up and carried her inside. Ulima greeted them as they entered but fell silent when she saw the little one was out. She had made sopapillas as a special treat but they would have to wait.
“Do you need help?” Lucas asked.
Sarah shook her head before heading upstairs to lay her down. Daisy yapped circling her feet and trailed
after her. Lucas waited anxiously wondering if Sarah would come back down. Perhaps they could finally talk.
When she didn’t he quietly went in search of her only to find her lying on the bed beside Zoe also fast
asleep.
As he peered into the room only Daisy stirred. Curled up beside Zoe the corgi raised its head, its large ears
perked up. When Lucas didn’t say anything, the pup dropped its head and went back to sleep.
Lucas gazed at the three-year-old and her mother both comfortably asleep. He leaned against the wall drinking in the sight. Both looked so content. He was glad Sarah could at least sleep comfortably even if being back made her anxious. Though the car ride out had been awkward Sarah relaxed during the tour. Her
smile was less strained and she didn’t flinch every time he stood beside her.
Baby steps.
He kept telling himself that but it wasn’t easy. His arms itched to hold her to finally know whether or not she fit in his embrace the way he imagined. But she wouldn’t allow that. She barely allowed him to be in the same room. Lucas had no choice but to take it slow but…he only had two weeks. One slip-up she could disappear forever with their daughter and he would have no one to blame but himself.
With a sigh he stepped out of the room quietly closing the door. What could he do?
“Never thought I’d see the day you were completely whipped,” Alan commented.
Lucas turned to look at him as he stood at the top of the stairs. He glared but couldn’t argue. From the moment he saw Sarah at the party she consumed his thoughts. And Zoe…Lucas leaned against the wall.
remembering his words four years ago.
“… If she ends up being pregnant, get rid of it.”
How could he have been so stupid?
Sarah was a wonderful mother. Gentle, caring, firm but understanding. He was fairly certain she had no idea how beautiful she was when she smiled and played with Zoe. She was already beautiful, but with Zoe she was drop-dead gorgeous. God, he had been so blind.
“Luke?”
“I need to know everything,” Lucas said. “I don’t care how…just get me the information. Everything about
Sarah…and Zoe. Please.”
“Yeah okay,” Alan nodded.
No doubt Zoe’s statement from the morning still resonated. It had been quite a shock to all of them. With the
advances of modern medicine one seldom heard about such complications during pregnancy or birth. Yet,
that didn’t mean they didn’t happen and not everyone was as lucky as Sarah and Zoe who both managed to
survive.
While Sarah and Zoe napped Lucas nervously paced the house. Suddenly everything seemed dangerous and
potentially hazardous. How could he protect them from everything? Finally exhausted he collapsed on the
couch. This much worry would be the death of him.
“Señor.”
Lucas jerked to attention as Ulima offered him a warm cup. With a nervous smile he accepted taking a drink
before he really looked at what was in the mug. He frowned. The taste was similar to coffee but…not…
“Dandelion coffee,” Ulima said. “Señora taught me how to make it. It is very good and very healthy. Señora
loves it.”
Lucase hesitated but drank it, “So you remember how Sarah likes her tea?”
“I remember a few things,” Ulima nodded.
“And food preferences?”
Úlima smiled, “Señora always liked it when I made something special. She used to say life is too short to eat
the same boring things.”
Lucas’s lips twitched with a smile. So Sarah liked ethnic foods. He wondered when that started. Alan did say
she went to Paris to do research for one of her books, perhaps then?
“You two seem to get along well,” Lucas said. “Why did she let you go?”
Ulima grew pensive before answering, “I think…I made a mistake.”
“Mistake?”
“Yes…I felt sorry for her…alone in this big house. I started to pity her and I think that was more painful to her than being alone,” Ulima cautiously said. “Señora didn’t want pity…and I don’t think she likes others to see her
pain. She is a very private person. She prefers to suffer in private. She doesn’t like to bother others with
it.”
Lucas grimaced. He understood that. He preferred to face his problems on his own too but he usually made them worse. If it wasn’t for Alan Lucas wasn’t sure he would have been able to solve any of them. But Sarah shouldered everything alone: his neglect, society’s ridicule, her pregnancy and raising Zoe, being an author.
He didn’t even know that kind of strength existed.
“Ulima, do you have children?” Lucas suddenly asked.
“Yes, two daughters. They are grown now.”
“Does it ever get easier?”
“Señor?”
“I mean, do you ever stop worrying?”
2/3
“No, señor. I’m afraid not. You worry more.”
“Terrific.” Lucas sighed sipping the dandelion coffee.
“Señor?” Ulima hesitated: “You are not going to leave her alone again, are you?”
Lucas’s gaze snapped toward her. Her face was a mask of worry. She truly cared for Sarah and Zoe.
Considering the past he couldn’t blame her for doubting him.
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