To her horror, there were more, all of them showing Sara with her eyes closed as Travis did unspeakable things to her body, all of them showing him grinning.
She described to the police that she had only had a soda to drink, he must have drugged it when she went to the bathroom.
“The bartender said that you danced with him and then begged him to take you home, is correct Ms. Wilmington?” The police officer asked sternly.
Sara was puzzled. She was the victim here, wasn’t she?
“Yes, I danced with him, I didn’t feel right, I asked him to take me home because I felt sick and I was afraid to drive, not because I wanted him to Rape me!” She shrieked.
“Listen Ms. Wilmington, you're accusing a former varsity football star, town golden boy, and heir of a very distinguished citizen, of drugging and raping you and so far, we have no evidence anything like that happening. Right now it sounds like you got drunk, you let the boy take you home, and now you regret it. The only thing I can see Mr. Donaldson guilty of is using bad manners by taking pictures of you too, but that seems to be a trend amongst you young kids nowadays.” He concluded as if he had wrapped up the case and there was nothing further to be done.
Sara saw it for what it was, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks was crying rape against the town football hero. “I want to press charges,” She insisted. “He raped me, he can’t be allowed to get away with it.” Was no one going to be on her side? Lucas, the police, no one seemed to believe her.
Sara soon discovered just how many people didn’t believe her. A few days later the cops told her that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to move forward. By then the whole town had found out about what transpired. Lucas refused her calls, and when she had shown up at his cottage behind the main Hudson house, he had slammed the door in her face. Amber Donaldson for her part made certain that everyone knew what a terrible, slut Sara was. Sara was vilified as the whore that came between the star football player and the town golden child.
Everywhere Sara went people pointed and whispered. She stepped out of the waitressing job she had to find her car had been vandalized, the word “slut” scrawled in spray paint. Her only blessing was that Travis had left to stay with an aunt in Minden, about an hour from Carson City.
Although she didn’t remember the appalling things that Travis had done to her, she felt the violation right to her toes. Each night she suffered from nightmares, during the day she jumped at every noise. Her parents had not been a well of support either, both of them telling her that she should have never gone out of her league and dated the rich, Lucas Hudson.
A month later Sara had still not gotten past what had happened. She went to work and then back to her apartment to hide from the world. A few of the Hudson kids had called, but she hadn’t answered. The last thing she wanted was to confuse them. She missed them terribly. Rachel was only about sixteen, and they had been working on getting her driver’s license. Matt was the next oldest, he was in college for accounting, and she missed going over all his classes with him.
Then there was Dalton, the typical middle child, he was funny and smart and could charm the socks of anyone if given the chance, of course, there was Reece, he had always seemed so sad. Especially after Amber had deceived him, he had thrown himself into his work. On one hand he had become a highly successful Veterinarian, on the other hand, he seemed liked he was merely going through the motions.
Last, of course, the oldest was Lucas. Her Lucas. He had been running the Hudson ranching business since his parents had died. He had single-handedly taken a small business and made it international. With clients from several countries wanting his prized steers. She missed cuddling up on the sofa after he came in from the ranch, she missed watching him sleep, but she mostly missed the way he made her feel like she was a cherished treasure. However, now she doubted if he had ever loved her at all. How could he and not even give her the benefit of the doubt? What had she done to warrant such coldness from him? Maybe he wasn’t who she thought he was at all.
She had met Lucas when her parents had moved to Carson City when she was in the third grade. They sat next to each other in class, but she was too timid to say anything. Finally, after the third day of class he had introduced himself. Then at lunch, he had insisted she sit with him and his friends. He was considerate, mannered and funny. He always got an extra milk for her, which was helpful since her mother often failed to give her lunch money. After the first week, she noticed he brought two sandwiches and two packets of chips from home, always making certain she had something to eat. From that moment they had become best friends. Sara was shy and whenever someone gave her a hard time Lucas was there to protect her.
Sara didn’t have to speculate why Lucas was so fantastic; when she met his parents, she knew right away. Jeanine and Cord Hudson were affectionate, loving, committed and each of those kids knew how much they were cared for. Sara loved how swiftly the family had accepted her into it, Lucas’s parents had become like second parents to her.
It wasn’t until they were in their twenties that Sara made her move on Lucas. She just decided to go up and kiss him and see what he would say. As soon as her lips pressed against his soft, full mouth, she was lost. He stiffened in surprise and Sara started to pull back, worried she had misjudged his feelings. Then suddenly his arms folded around her, and he kissed her in a manner so intense that she practically melted right there.
“Damn sweetheart, I’ve wanted to do that for years,” He told her kissing the tip of her nose. Sara felt the tension drain from her body when he had pulled her close again.
“Why didn’t you say something?” She asked, astonished.
“Sweetheart I didn’t want to lose your friendship, I needed you to make the first step, I wanted you to be ready.” It was the perfect answer.
After that Sara and Lucas had been attached at the hip, freely giving into their feelings they had made love that night. It had been Sara’s first time, and she couldn’t imagine it being any better.
Sara couldn’t make sense of how they had gone from such a sweet love to this? Why didn’t Lucas trust her, or believe her? She had never given him any reason to not trust her, then why, when she needed him most had he turned his back on her. The only answer she could come up with was that she must have loved him more than he had ever loved her.
That realization caused Sara’s heart to harden, a part of it iced over and ceased to function.
“Wait, hold the phone, are you telling me that little bastard got away with it? Hell no, where does he live, I’ll get my bat and show him a thing or two.” Synclair sneered.
It took Sara a moment to shake off her memories. Looking at Synclair, she could tell the woman meant it too. Rachel had told her stories of how good Synclair had been at wheeling her bat in her bar back in Vegas. So, Sara had no doubt that Synclair could make good on her threat.
Sara reached across the table and squeezed Synclair’s hand and smiled, it was good to have a real friend.
“No there’s more,” Sara explained. Taking a generous gulp of her wine she went on.
Three months after she had been raped, Sara was gradually starting to pull herself together. She had stopped dressing in sweats every day and no longer hung her head around town. It seemed Amber was the only one still making sneering remarks, for the most part, the city had moved on.
Then it happened. One night Sara had arrived home from work to a message from a detective at the local police station. When Sara called him back, he explained that Travis had been arrested for drugging and then raping several college girls in Reno. His high-powered attorneys had already made a plea deal for him, six years, in prison but no trial. It didn’t seem long enough to Sara. He was going to be put off for six years while she and his other victims were going to be dealing with the aftermath of this for their whole lives. Still, it was something.
As word spread, suddenly people were saying hello to her in the streets again. The same town that had snubbed her now
rallied behind her. She got cards, letters, fruit baskets and even a car from the local dealership. Sara felt uncomfortable accepting the car, but she hadn’t been able to drive her own since it had been vandalized a few months back. In fact, Amber was the only one swearing up and down, and she and all other girls had been lying, except now no one was taking notice.
While Sara still felt hurt by how people had turned on her, she was thrown for a loop when, Carl, who owned the Diner Sara, had worked for, had died. She had loved Carl. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he was the only one willing to hire her after the scandal with Travis. He had never let anyone mistreat her at work and always made sure she took food home with her to eat. When Sara was informed that he had left the Diner to her, she was shocked and overwhelmed. While she had worked in a Diner and had helped out with staff and a little inventory, she had no clue how to run a business. Lucky for her, she was a quick learner.
A week or so afterward she had just finished up her first day as the new owner of “The Grub Stop.” It seemed like the whole town had turned out to support her launching, it went a long way toward alleviating the hurt she had suffered before by them. She was about to lock up when she saw Lucas standing outside the door.
For a moment, she panicked and searched for a place to hide. However, Lucas must have sensed her intentions because he made certain once his green eyes captured hers, he refused to let her look away.
“Open the door, Sara.” Lucas directed.
Bossy man, Sara grumbled. Who gave him the right to give her orders, she wasn’t the floor mat she had once been.
Shaking her head, Sara backed up from the door. “We’re closed Hudson, I suggest McDonald's.” Proud of herself, she raced back through the kitchen and into her cramped office.
After waiting, what she thought was an eternity, she walked back out to the front of the Diner. She let out an exhale of relief to discover that Lucas Hudson was nowhere to be seen.
She immediately let herself out and turned to lock the door. Upon turning back to leave she ran smack into a brick wall, peering up, she realized it was more like a Hudson brick wall.
“Jesus Lucas.” She scolded as she backed up against the cold glass of the door. Unfortunately, the man still looked as handsome as ever, but she refused to be drawn back in, it had taken her time to build up the walls around her heart, and she was keeping them there.
“Sorry, Sara, I parked around the side, I figured you’d come out eventually,” He declared smiling.
Not amused, Sara pushed him away and turned toward her car. She knew what this was about, she knew what he was going to say, and she didn’t wish to hear it.
“Sara, Sweetheart wait,” Lucas called out rushing to catch up. Once he did he grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him.
Sara wasn’t having anyone of it. All the pain and anger surged up and streamed out before she could stop it. “Do. Not. Touch. Me” She spat shoving him will all her strength.
Lucas immediately lifted his palms in capitulation, “I just wanna talk sweetheart please.” He sounded so miserable, so tormented.
Well, Sara reflected, it was nothing like what she had gone through.
“Don’t call me sweetheart Lucas, you don’t get to call me that anymore,” She shrieked, not appreciating the deafening note of her own tone.
Guilt crept across his lovely face. “Okay, okay, Sara please I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.” He took one step in her direction which Sara countered with a step back.
“What could you possibly have to say, Lucas, huh? What?” She demanded, she planted both fists on her hips and waited.
Lucas opened his mouth and shut it, at least, ten times with no sound. Exasperated Sara threw her hands up. “What? That’s it. You accuse me of fucking your best friend, reject me, when I pleaded, no BEGGED you to help me and all you can do is gulp air like a fish. Fuck off Lucas.” Sara shouted surprised at her own profanity. But she was fed up, she didn’t want to hear is lame excuses, it was too late.
“I was wrong, Sara,” He roared back. Closing the distance between them he backed Sara up against her car and then picked up her up to sit on the hood. Quickly he stepped between her legs and caged with his thick arms. He was so close that she could smell the Obsession cologne he always wore. It made her feel giddy to be this close to him again, her nipples stiffened, and she felt a familiar longing in her core.
Angry at herself for being affected by him, specifically after everything that had taken place, she glowered up at his serious face.
“I was wrong babe, I loved you, do love you so much, I was feeling sick because of our argument the night before. I was about to go find you and tell you that you were right, I was taking our relationship for granted, I wasn’t actually trying, then Amber was at the door, I looked at those pictures, and I lost it. It was like my whole life crumbled before my eyes. Travis was my best friend, we were like brothers, so when he showed up after Amber, I let him persuade me that you were the one encouraging the action. I couldn’t deal with the alternative, I couldn’t face the fact that my best friend would want to hurt me to get back at my brother for divorcing Amber or was jealous or whatever his deluded reasons were. Then when I found out that you went to the police, Travis convinced me that you were only crying rape so that I would take you back.”
Sara felt sick. Sick and angry, “Well, poor you Lucas, poor you. You lost your girl and your best friend.” Incensed she thrust him away from her and leaped from the car.
“I was raped Lucas, raped, and I begged you to help, I begged you to believe me, you didn’t even ask, you didn’t even try to give me the benefit of the doubt, had you really loved me you wouldn’t have even thought twice.”
Sara saw Lucas hang his head in shame then it snapped up as she finished,
“No, I loved you, I still love you, Sara, I was an idiot, but you can’t doubt that I loved you.”
“Really, I can’t, well I do, I don’t believe you loved me Lucas, not the way I loved you. Did you know Travis tried to tell me you were cheating on me, I didn’t even give him one ounce of credibility because I knew you would never do that to me, I trusted you, that’s love, Lucas? You didn’t trust me, you didn’t defend me to your friend, so no Lucas, I don’t think you ever loved me, I believe that you just wanted someone around to help with your siblings, so you wouldn’t be alone.” Sara cried, tears streaming down her face.
Dammit, know he’d made her cry, she was trying so hard to be strong, especially given the news she had gotten today. If their relationship had been healthy then nothing Travis said should have been able to make Lucas doubt her, nothing.
“Please Sara, give me a chance, I’m begging for a chance.” Sara looked at Lucas stunned. Lucas Hudson had never begged for anything, Sara had always been the one to smooth things over, she had been the one to initiate all the affection and contact with him.
She shook her head, the pain in chest growing by the second. Her hands itched to touch him and console him but she refused to go back to who she was. “I can’t do this with you, Lucas, too much has happened. Whatever was wrong was wrong before Travis came into the picture. How do I know you won’t run out on me again?” Sara knew she was baiting him, but it was the only way to make her heart see how unreliable he was.
Lucas grabbed her shaking hands and looked into eyes with those mesmerizing Hudson green orbs. “No, never, nothing you will ever do will make me leave you again, I love you, I’m going to show it to you, I’m ready.” The determined look on his face so full of love pulled at her heart.
“You’re ready?” She asked.
“I’m ready,” He answered his signature dimpled smile reaching across his handsome face.
“I’m pregnant,” She replied stoically. Lucas dropped her hands and stepped back from her like he’d been slapped.
Even though Sara had expected this reaction it still hurt to see him put distance between them. She willed her heart to take notice so that it never again considered
Lucas anywhere near it.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you can love this child and me, Lucas because I’m keeping this baby. Tell me you can look at me and not resent this innocent child because we’re a package deal.” Sara said never wavering. This was no longer about just her, she was pregnant. Sure she had been shocked when she had gotten the results back from the doctor today. Sara didn’t care how this child was made, it was her baby, and she would raise this child right, with love and affection. She would learn how to be strong so no one and nothing could ever hurt him or her. She would be the parent she always wished she had, and she didn’t need a man to make it work.
Lucas refused to look at her. She knew he couldn’t do it. She knew there was no way Lucas could see her child and not think of Travis, just like she knew that there was no way she would ever let her child feel anything else but wanted and loved.
“Well?” She demanded. She watched as Lucas took another step and then another until he was jogging to his truck and speeding out of the parking lot.
“Goodbye, Lucas,” She whispered as she fell to her knees and cried.
**********
“Holy shit, that’s depressing Sara,” Synclair told her.
Sara smiled as she watched her friend dab her eyes with her napkin.
“It was a long time ago, and I don’t regret my son at all. He’s my whole world. I know when people look at him they see Travis’s blue eyes, but where Travis was cold, Logan’s eyes are full of life.” Sara explained.
Synclair didn’t seem satisfied. “I can’t believe those assholes just let you walk out their lives, after everything you did for them after their parents died, Sara. I’m seriously going to be kicking some Hudson ass when I get home, they left you alone.” Sara could tell Synclair was upset.
“Look,” Sara murmured, “After that last confrontation with Lucas I kind of shut everyone out, it was just as much them as it was me, I was embarrassed and hurt, besides they haven’t exactly abandoned Logan or me.”
Baby Mine: A Hudson Family Series- Book Two- Lucas and Sara Page 3
