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A slow smile spreads across Dad’s face. "I would be honored."

"Why the rush?" Abbie asks, looking me in the eyes.

I reach for Lindy’s hand and give it a squeeze. "We have something that we want to tell you all."

"I am going to have a baby. I want to get married before I am as big as whale," Lindy blurts out.

Everyone is quiet for a moment. Then, Dad gets up and walks over to me. He grabs my arm and pulls me out of my chair. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. "Congratulations, Son. I thought that I couldn’t be any happier than I was when I found out you two were getting married, but to know that I am going to be a granddad has me over the fucking moon."

He releases me and pulls Lindy into his arms. "I love you
, sweetheart. I am so glad that my grandbaby will have someone as wonderful as you as its mother."

"Her mother," I say and my mom starts to sob.

"A little girl?" Maggie chokes out.

Lindy nods her head. "Yes, Samantha Tara Beck."

"Oh my God!" Tara squeals, as she jumps from her seat and runs to Lindy. She jerks her away from my dad and pulls her into her arms. "You are naming your daughter after me."

Lindy has tears running down her face. "Yes. We are naming her after you and m
y dad." She’s speaking to Tara, but looking at her mom.

Maggie is smiling from ear to ear, with tears falling down her face. "Your dad would have loved that baby girl."

We spend the next hour talking about the baby. After a while, the conversation turns to our wedding. I am happy as hell to be marrying Lindy, but I don’t want to listen to all the planning shit, so I am fucking thrilled when Dad decides to go out for a smoke. I follow him out. Chris and Daniel come out right behind me.

Dad lights his cigarette then turns towards me. "I want you two in the house across the road from Maggie and us as soon possible. It’s in good shape, and there is no one living there. You guys should be able to move in pretty quick."

I shake my head. "They want more for the house than it appraises for. The bank won’t approve a loan for over the appraisal price, so we have to cover the difference. I have enough to make the down payment, but not the other."

"How much?" he asks.

"Seventeen thousand."

"We’ll go to the bank in morning. That will be your and Melinda’s wedding gift from your ma and me," Dad says.

I know my Ma and Dad don’t have that kind of money. There is no way I am taking that much from him. "Nope. You can’t do that. I am grown man, with a family of my own. I’ll get the money. It will just take some time."

"You may not have time," Chris says.

I jerk my head to him. "What do you mean? The realtor said that no one has even looked at that house in months."

He looks towards Dad, then back to me. "There was another break in two nights ago. Deidra Williams was attacked. It was bad. The doctors still don’t even know if she is going make it or not."

"What the fuck? Why didn’t anybody tell me? Shit! I haven’t even heard anything about another break-in for weeks."

Daniel shakes his head. "Me neither man, and Tara and I were at Catalina’s last night. Doesn’t Deidra work there? It looks like someone at the restaurant would have at least said something."

"She works there, but they don’t know about the attack. Her parents have told everyone she was in an accident. We are trying to keep this one under wraps," Dad explains.

"Why?" I ask, wondering what about her case is different.

"Like I said, it was bad. Even worse than Kendra. Whoever is doing this shit beat Deidra to a bloody pulp. If she does live, the doctors are not sure if she will ever be the same. We just want to keep a lid on it until we know if she pulls through," Chris tells us.

My dad stomps out his cigarette. "The crazy fucker used a piece of mirror to cut the girl to shreds. She damn near bled to death before they got her to the hospital. I don’t even know how she had the strength to call 911."

"Shit man. You dated Deidra, didn’t you?" Daniel asks.

I shake my head. "I didn’t date her, but we did hook up once."

"I want you and Lindy in that house, as soon as possible. I know you can take care of Melinda, but I would feel better having you both close. Word gets out that Melinda is pregnant or that you two are getting married, and the bastard just may come after her, even if you are at home. If I am right across the street, I can be there in a minute."

I nod my head. "I’ll meet you at the bank in the morning."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"I am going to live in that house when I get big," Lindy says.

Lucas looks towards the house across street. "Nuh huh, I am."

"We can share," she says with a smile.

"Okay."

LINDY

Lucas and I are lying in bed. He has been really quiet since everyone left. I’m not sure what happened when all the guys went outside, but I know that it wasn’t good. I want to ask him what is wrong, but I’ve learned that it’s better to let him work through whatever it is on his own, then he will talk to me about it.

I am just about to fall to sleep, when Lucas rolls towards me and pulls me close. "Lindy, we need to talk."

"Okay," I say through a yawn.

He takes in a deep breath. "I know you’re not going to like this, but I think you need to quit your job."

Wanda told me that Paul was really protective of her when she was pregnant. She figured Lucas would be the same, but this is way over the top. "I don’t think so!"

He gives me a little squeeze. "Baby, I want you to listen to me for a minute. Don’t interrupt, just listen."

"It’s not going to do any good. I am not quitting my job. I went to school for four years to learn to teach, and that is what I am going to do. I am pregnant, not sick. I will be fine." I try to sound as determined as I feel.

"This is not about you being pregnant. Well, not entirely."

I look to him. "Then, what’s it about?"

His eyes narrow. "If you would listen for just a damn minute, I would tell you."

I finally nod my head, and he starts to tell me what Chris and Paul had told him when they were all out back.

I interrupt him. "Is that the same Deidra from Catalina’s?"

"Yeah, it is," he says in a soft voice.

"Oh, my God! I was such a bitch to her."

He squeezes me tight. "This has nothing to do with you, so don’t even go there."

I get quiet and listen to the rest of what they told him. By the time Lucas is done, I feel like I am going to be sick. "I hate that this happened, but I still don’t see what it has to do with me working."

"Baby, think about it. I was with Deidra only one time, and it happened close to a year ago. We are getting married, and you are having my baby. Whoever is doing this shit nearly killed her. I don’t want to even think about what that sick bastard would do to you." Holding me close, the worry, the anger … it all comes through.

"I still don’t know why you want me to quit work. No one is going to come into the school and hurt me."

He gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. "You’re probably right, but I don’t want to take the chance. I would fucking die if something happened to you."

I shake my head. "Lucas, nothing is going to happen to me."

"Please, Lindy. If you won’t do it to protect yourself, then do it to protect our baby. Think about what would happen to her if the Mirror Man got his hands you." He is begging now.

I look into Lucas’ eyes, and they are filled with fear. I have never seen him so scared in his entire life. "I don’t want to quit my job," I whisper.

He is quiet for a moment. Then he gives me another tight squeeze. "I’ll get dad to talk to the school board. See if they will agree to give you a leave of absence, until this guy is caught."

"How long will that be?"

"I don’t know, but they are close. Dad said that they found something, but he couldn’t tell me what."

I finally nod my head. "All right. If your dad can get the school board to agree to me taking a leave, then I’ll do it."

"Thank you, baby." He places a gentle kiss on my lips.

I snuggle into him and think about what I just agreed to. There will be no way that we can get a house now. We’ll be fine here, but I really wanted to have our own home before the baby was born. I can’t stop a tear from running down my cheek.

"What’s wrong, baby?" Lucas asks.

I shrug my shoulder. "I just wanted to get that house across from Mom’s. Now, there is no way we will ever save the money."

Lucas smiles at me. "We’ll figure out something, baby."

LUCAS

I am waiting outside the bank when Dad pulls up. He gets out of his car and walks to me. "You ready to get your house, son?"

I smile. "Yes, I am."

We go into the bank and talk to the loan officer. Dad pulls his normal magic and gets the paper work rushed. In less than two weeks, Lindy and I will be living in a home of our very own. As soon as the paperwork is done, Dad and I drive over to the Waffle House for some breakfast. I wait until our order is placed before I ask Dad about talking to the school board.

"I won’t ask shit, but I will tell them that they are going to give her a leave of absence. If they try to argue, I’ll let them know that I will go public with the fact that a threat to one of their teachers is being ignored. I’ll also remind them they are putting the entire student body in danger. They won’t want me to do that." He takes a drink of his coffee. "I doubt that I can get her a paid absence though. Will you guys be okay for money?"

I nod my head. "We’ll be fine. The house payment is actually less than our rent, so I’ll be able to cover it. I don’t know how much it will cost to break the lease, but I’m hoping that the old man that owns the place will give us a break considering what is going on."

"Johnny Whitley is your landlord right?"

I nod again. "Yeah."

"I kno
w Johnny. I use to mow his yard when I was just a boy. I’ll talk to him. He’ll help you out. He’s a good man," Dad says as the waitress sets down our food.

I am just about done with my bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, when Kelsey walks through the door. "Fuck."

"What?" Dad says, as he looks around the restaurant. As soon as he sees Kelsey, he starts to shake his head. "That little bitch better not come over here."

"She will," I say through gritted teeth.

I am right. She walks straight to our table and smiles at me. "Hey, Luke. How have you been?"

"What the fuck do you want, Kelsey?" I ask, loudly.

The smile never leaves her face. "I just wanted to see how things are going for you. I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. I missed you."

"How I have been is none of your damn business."

"You seem to be in a bad mood. You and Lindy aren’t having trouble, are you?" she asks with a sarcastic smile.

Shaking my head, I don’t bother to hide my own sarcasm. "No. Lindy and I are perfect. She and I are getting married in two weeks."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, her face turns white as a sheet. "You are marrying Piglet?"

"Her name is Lindy!" I’m nearly shouting. "Yes, we are getting married, and she is going…"

Dad cuts me off. "You need to walk away right now, Miss Reynolds." His voice is quiet, tight, leaving no doubt that he means every word. "If you don’t, I am going to come up with a reason to haul your ass in. This time, I will make sure that your paperwork gets lost. That way your Daddy will not be able to get you out so quick."

Kelsey looks to Dad. "You can’t do that. I’m not doing anything wrong."

"You are harassing my son. I will do whatever is necessary to get you to leave him alone."

"Fine!" she says and turns to walk away. She stops a few feet from our table and looks back towards me and says, "You will never marry her." With that she walks out of the restaurant.

I shake my head. "I cannot believe that I ever touched that woman."

Dad is looking out the window, watching Kelsey get in her car. When she drives off, he turns toward me. "Don’t tell that girl Melinda is pregnant. There is something off about her. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to hurt Melinda if she knew about the baby."

"She is going to find out soon. Lindy is already starting to show. Plus Lindy was at the doctor Friday. I went with her. People saw us together at the gynecologist. You know the way this town works. I bet damn near everyone already knows."

Dad blows out a frustrated breath. "Yep. Word spreads fast around Warrington. All I can say is that you better keep your eye on Melinda. If you can’t be with her, make sure that Chris or I am. Hell, even Abbie will do. That woman is hard as nails. Just don’t leave Melinda alone."

I nod my head. "I won’t, Dad."

He pulls out his wallet and throws a twenty on the table. "Come on. Let’s get over to the school board. I want to get this shit done."

We drive straight to the board of education, and it only takes Dad twenty minutes to get Lindy’s leave approved. After that he takes me back to my bike. I am climbing on when Dad calls my name.

"You do whatever you need to do to protect our girl."

I nod my head. "I will, Dad. I’ll protect her with my life."

LINDY

The bell has just rung, and I am getting my things together. Lucas should be here any minute. I cannot believe that he will not let me drive myself to work, but he is so worried that something will happen that I pretty much do whatever he asks. I am sticking some papers that need to be graded in my bag when I hear someone walk into the room. I turn my head, and Mr. Reynolds is coming towards me.

He stops a few feet from my desk. "Officer Beck came by the Board of Education this morning. He has requested that you be given a leave of absence."

I nod my head, because Lucas has already told me that my leave was approved. The way I heard it, Paul did not ask anything. He demanded.

"The Board agreed. However, I refuse to hold this position for you. Since you are unable to fulfill your duties now, I doubt you will be able to later."

"That is not fucking true." Lucas says as he walks into my classroom.

"You are in an elementary school, Mr. Beck. We do not use language like that here," Mr. Reynolds says, with a sneer.

"I’m pretty sure that you are not supposed to lie in school either, but I don’t know. Maybe things have changed since I went here. Back then, we use to get in trouble for not telling the truth," Lucas says with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"I am not sure what you are talking about."

Lucas just shakes his head. "I was in the room when my Dad talked to the head of the school board. They guaranteed that Lindy would have a job when this shit is all over. If they break that promise, we will make sure everyone in the damn state knows about it."

"The Board does hold some power over the employees, but they cannot guarantee
someone’s position. Especially someone who is not yet tenured. Everyone knows how deep of a cut our budget has taken over the last few years. They will understand having to let one teacher go."

"You’re right about that, but I doubt they will understand getting rid of a woman who was under police protection. That will go over real big in town," Lucas says.

Mr. Reynolds shakes his head. "That is another thing. The person committing these crimes may never be caught. How can we allow Ms. James to ever come back to work, knowing that it could lead to one of our students being hurt? We all know that this person is after women you have been with, and you have obviously been with her."

"My Dad says they are close to catching the Mirror Man, so you won’t have that to worry about that much longer," Lucas tells him.

"Fine!" Mr. Reynolds shouts so loud that it makes my ears ring. He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out an envelope. He lays it on my desk, and then looks at me. "These are leave of absence forms. It is effective immediately. Just let the Board know when you are ready to come back."

He walks out of the room without saying another word. I look to Lucas. "That was weird. I’ve never heard him raise his voice before."

Lucas walks over to me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. "He knows when he has been beat, baby. It just pissed him off. Now hurry up and get your shit. I got a surprise for you."

*****

I am on the back of Lucas’ bike, with my arms wrapped around him. We turn onto the street where we grew up. Instead of going to either of our parents’ homes, we pull into the driveway of the house that we wanted to buy. He cuts off the bike and I crawl off. "What are we doing here?"

He climbs from the bike and grabs my hand. Pulling me towards the door while fishing for a key in his pocket, Lucas opens up the door and we walk in. I look around the room. There is a welcome home banner hanging on the back wall. I look at Lucas, and he has huge smile across his face. "What? How? I thought we didn’t have enough money?"

"Dad and Ma helped. It’s our wedding present," he says, as he wraps his arms me.

"Oh my God! Paul and Wanda did this? I don’t know what to say." The words barely come out as a whisper. I am just too shocked to speak.