Lies Inside (26 page)

“What would you want?” He started tracing circles on Lucy’s thigh as she tried to concentrate on the question, as well as the road.

“I don’t know. I love the Four, but maybe something a little more practical.”

“I think I can live with some sort of SUV, but something small enough to have decent gas mileage but big enough for the girls and their car seats would be nice.”

Lucy smiled at the thought of him including the girls in almost every facet of their future. “I can’t even imagine how much fun your mom is having with them. They were going on a major shopping spree today.”

They pulled up to the O’Malley household to see Jack and Aiden taking boxes from the back of the Four. There was a delivery van with two very exhausted looking movers exiting as the boys made their way inside.

As soon as Lucy turned off the engine, Rylan sauntered up to them. “I’m kidnapping Finn.”

Lucy scowled at Rylan as she latched on to Finn while working her way to the passenger’s side. Rylan grimaced. “Okay, so not the best choice of words, but I’m taking him for a couple of hours. The boys have taken your stuff upstairs, so you have some unpacking to do. Plus, the girls’ room is still a work in progress. Mom went a little overboard.”

“But, Ry—”

“No buts. You,” she said, pointing to Finn, “in the car.” She looked at Lucy and added, “You, in the house. We’ll be back by dinner.” She shoved Finn’s head down as he got back into the passenger’s seat, ripped the keys from Lucy’s hands, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. They tore out of the driveway before Lucy even had a chance to say goodbye.

“Where are they off to, Luce?” Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“I have no idea.” She put her arm around his waist as they walked into the house.

“She said something about dinner later and you needing to wear the dress she pulled out of your closet this morning.” Jack reported the details like he was checking everything off a mental list.

“Really? I don’t know if I can find it by then.”

“She said she laid it out on the bed.”

Jack just shrugged before leading them into the house and up to the girls’ room.

Murphy stood in the room, holding a screwdriver in his hand, his brow covered in sweat. His gray t-shirt was wet under his arms and around the collar. An old pair of faded blue jeans with rips in the knees hung low on his waist. Lucy had never seen him like this before. She shifted from one foot to the other as Murphy stared at her, Jack, and Aiden.

“Now you show up when all the hard work is done.” Murphy wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. She was amazed he was almost done putting together the girls’ beds and various other shelves and furniture.

“We were on Rylan’s orders. Sorry, Dr. O. What do you need us to do?” Jack clapped his hands together, ready to get to work.

“I’ve got the beds together, so you are on sheet duty.” He pointed Aiden toward the pile of pink sheets and frilly comforters. “Jack, can you help me unpack the dresser and get it moved?”

“Sure.”

A large white dresser matching the two four-poster twin-sized beds sat against the wall, looking like it was wrapped in a plastic cocoon. Lucy imagined Jack would have fun ripping and stretching that stuff all over the room.

“What about me? What can I do?”

Murphy came and put his arm around Lucy’s shoulder. “You, my dear, get a pass, this time. I think you have some unpacking of your own to do.”

She unconsciously wrapped her arm around his waist as he pulled her in to kiss her forehead.

“I—I—” She cleared her throat. “I think I need to wait for Finn. I don’t want to disturb whatever
feng shui
he’s got going on in there.”

Jack notice her blush and started chuckling, causing Lucy to shoot him a death glare. She was ever so thankful Murphy was oblivious to her uncontrolled hormones.

“Well...I think the rest of the girls are in the kitchen. We should be finished up in a little while.”

“I’ll go see what they’re up to then.” Lucy left Murphy’s side only to stick her tongue out at Jack as she left the room.

Lucy walked into the kitchen and saw Claire and the girls having a snack at the kitchen table. She snuck up and stole the chair next to Chloe.

“Looks like you two are going to have a pretty cool room.”

“Yep and I got all new clothes, and I got a new doll house. Daddy Murphy is gonna put it together for me.”

“Daddy Murphy?” Lucy thought it seemed a little strange coming out of her mouth that way.

“He’s our new daddy, and she’s our new mommy.” Chloe blew Claire a kiss, which she hurriedly returned. “I don’t want my old mommy and daddy anymore. They hurt me and you and Finn.”

“Come here.” Chloe crawled up into Lucy’s lap as she wrapped her arms around her. “We’ll get through all this bad stuff together. We’re all a part of a family now. Me, you, and Olivia are all going to be O’Malleys now.”

“‘Cause you’re gonna marry Finn, and they’re our new mommy and daddy?”

Lucy smiled and nodded, kissing the top of her head. “That’s right. That makes us all family, and in this family, we all have each other to love us and take care of us like real families should.”

“That makes you my big sister?”

“I guess so, and so is Rylan. Then Finn will be your brother. And I’m sure Aiden would be more than happy to be a big brother, too.”

“What about Jack?” Lucy could see the corners of her mouth draw up.

“Jack, too, if you want him.”

“Good. I like Jack. He gives good horsey rides.”

Lucy laughed softly. “I guess he does.”

After awhile, Jack came down and ushered Lucy to her room so she could get ready for dinner. She had no idea what was going on, but when Rylan got something in her head, there was no stopping her.

She had laid out the dress Lucy had found that morning. It was a dark-blue, sheer, spaghetti-strap, knee-length dress with a black lace overlay. She paired it with a pair of black strappy sandals and diamond stud earrings. Lucy rarely wore necklaces, so Rylan didn’t set one out for her.

Lucy looked in the mirror to find her waves were slowly returning. Her hair was still a deep black, but it didn’t look half bad against the blue in her dress. Still, she’d have to fix it before the wedding.

The wedding. She knew Claire planned to keep Finn and her occupied for hours tomorrow, going over every little detail. Hopefully, that would be all it took, but Lucy suspected she was in for a rude awakening.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Rylan entered, looking perfect as always in a blue strapless cocktail dress. Her hair styled fashionably to perfection made Lucy feel a little inadequate.

“You’re perfect, Lucy. Jack let you know I’d laid out the dress?”

“Yep. You torture the boy, you know.”

“He knows it’s worth it.”

Rylan came over and gave Lucy a hug. When she pulled back, Lucy saw that familiar sparkle in her eye. It was time for her to spill it.

“Rylan, ‘fess up.”

“What?” She turned to play with her hair in the mirror.

“You know what. You disappear with Finn for hours, then make me get all dressed up. What’s going on?”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

“Where’s Finn?”

“I think he’s down in the garden. Maybe you should go get him for dinner.” Lucy scowled at her. “What? It’s just dinner.”

“Fine.”

Lucy left the room with more than a few questions. They all melted away as she stepped into the garden.

The sun had just slipped below the horizon, leaving a low orange glow on the horizon. As she made her way through the maze of flowers, a million twinkling lights flickered, weaving a magical glow all around the garden. As she twirled around to see each of the lights sparkle, she caught a glimpse of a familiar wisp of milk chocolate brown hair.

She practically ran into his arms, her fingers tangled in his newly colored strands.

“I guess that means they got it right. You like it?”

“I love it. How long did it take?”

“The hair only took about an hour. Then we went and pick up some new threads.”

Lucy stepped back to look at his new clothes. The rolled up sleeves of his midnight-blue dress shirt revealed his muscular forearms, and several of the top buttons of the shirt were left undone to give her a peek at his amazing collarbones. A pair of black tailored pants completed the ensemble.

“Now I understand why she insisted on the shirt. You look beautiful.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “But there’s something missing.” He spun Lucy around to rake his eyes over her once more.

“Everything is as perfect as always. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“Finn...Come on, your mom will kill us if we’re late for dinner.” Lucy started to pull him away, but he wouldn’t budge.

“I think I know what it is.”

Lucy saw him reach in his pocket before he got down on one knee. She inhaled quickly, her right hand flying her chest while Finn held her left hand securely in his right. She knew she needed to breathe, but it was becoming increasingly difficult when she saw the blue velvet box.

“I know we haven’t done any of this the normal traditional way, but there was one thing I didn’t want to miss.”

Lucy let out a small breath as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Outside of my family, you have been the most important person in my life since the day we met. Even though we were apart for so many years, you were never far from my heart. I never imagined you would ever forgive me, let alone let me back in your heart.”

“You never left it.”

Finn ducked his head, licking his lips before curling them into a smile. “I know we have a long way to go before reaching our happily ever after. I do promise to love you forever.”

He lifted the lid of the box to reveal what had to be the most beautiful square diamond that ever existed. That brought even more tears to her eyes. She wiped them away so she could see every detail of his face.

“Lucy, make my world complete by accepting this ring and agreeing to become my wife.”

“Of course, I will.”

He slipped the ring onto her finger where he hoped it would stay for the rest of her life.

“It was my grandmother’s ring. My mother thought it would be perfect for you, and I would have to agree. I think it was always meant for your finger.”

“She was right.” Lucy brought him up off his knee, capturing his lips in needy kiss. She tangled her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, deepening their connection.

Reluctantly, they came up for air, resting their foreheads together.

“You are incredible.”

He laughed. “You think?”

“You are to me.” She kissed him softly. “The only one for me. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He kissed her again but abruptly pulled back to look over her shoulder. “We’re not alone.”

Lucy turned to see both of their families standing outside in the garden. Rylan came to Lucy’s side and hugged her.

“See, I told you that you’d like it.” She pulled back to look at Finn. “He looks good, right? The hair, the clothes?”

“It couldn’t be more right, Rylan. I’m sure you deserve all the credit.”

“He’d be lost without me, you know.” She wrapped her arms around Finn’s neck as he rolled his eyes.

“We all would,” Jack said as he slipped his arm around Lucy’s waist.

“You did good, Jack. I’m sure you strung all these lights.”

“Yep, at least they’ll be ready for the wedding, so that will be one less thing we’ll have to worry about.”

“I guess you know it’s a garden wedding then?” Lucy asked as Rylan pulled her from Finn’s side.

“Only if that’s what you want?” Rylan said nonchalantly. Lucy knew the truth though. Rylan was just as excited as Claire was.

“It’ll be amazing. Just like everything else.”