Beautifully Unfinished

by Beverley Hollowed

  “I saw some of her magazines spreads,” Tucker replied. “Her photos are amazing.”

  “No,” Alison laughed as she hopped down from her stool and disappeared out into the hallways. She returned holding a leather bound folder. “I mean her real stuff.”

  “Ali!” Lucy groaned, embarrassed that Alison was showing Tucker her photographs. “Why is that even here?”

  “I grabbed it from your apartment when I was getting your things,” Lucy replied, matter-of-factly. She set the folder down on the counter in front of Tucker. “This is what I am talking about.”

  Tucker opened the folder and silently flicked through the photographs. Lucy bit her lip, as she nervously watched Tucker and waited for his verdict.

  “Lucy,” he finally said when he reached the end of the folder and looked up at her. “These are stunning. I have never seen anything like it.”

  “See!” Alison said triumphantly. “I told you that you are amazing.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Lucy said, as her face flushed with embarrassment.

  “Oh please,” Alison sighed, as she waved her hand dismissively at Lucy and she turned her attention back to Tucker. “Did she tell you that a gallery in New York want to do an exhibit of her work?”

  “Wow!” Tucker exclaimed. “Lucy, that is amazing.”

  “I never said I was going to do it,” Lucy said as she picked up her coffee and took a long sip.

  “Of course, you have to do it,” Tucker replied. “These photos are far too beautiful to be left lying in a folder.

  “I haven’t decided,” Lucy said, as she walked to the sink and poured the rest of her coffee down the drain.

  “But you’re are going to do it,” Tucker said, as he stood up and walked around the counter to where Lucy was standing. “You have to.”

  “I don’t know if I can,” Lucy said, as she looked at Tucker and gave him a pleading look. “Right now, I need to make sure my dad is okay.”

  “I guess I understand that,” Tucker replied, but Lucy knew by the expression on his face that he was confused by her reaction. “But once he is home?”

  “Right now, all I know is I am going to go get ready to go to the hospital,” Lucy said, as she leaned up and kissed Tucker on the cheek. “I will leave you both to finish off your coffees.

  She smiled at Alison before she headed for the door and up to her room.

  When she reached her room, she was relieved to have a moment to herself to gather her thoughts. She knew Alison meant well, but Lucy really wished that she hadn’t brought the folder with her, or that she hadn’t told Tucker about the exhibit.

  Her photographs were part of her life in New York, and that was her safe place. Lucy wasn’t sure if she was ready for her two worlds to collide. She didn’t know if she would ever be ready for that to happen.

  Forty minutes later, Lucy, Tucker, and Alison were walking into the main entrance of the hospital. As they stepped onto the elevator, Lucy spotted Riley standing on the far side of the reception area.

  He watched her as she waited for the door to close, but Lucy just turned away. She was so hurt by what Riley had done to her, and seeing him, just reminded her of how wrong she had been about him.

  As if Tucker sensed she was upset to see Riley, and about what she had learned the day before, he reached down, took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  Lucy looked up at Tucker and gave him a loving smile. She really couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have met someone as special as him. He was everything to her.

  When they reached Tom’s room, Lucy was pleased to see her father sitting up straighter in the bed.

  The moment he saw them, his face lit up, especially when he saw Alison. Lucy knew Tom had a soft spot for her. She knew Tom was grateful for how Alison looked out for her. He always said he felt happier about her being so far away from home, knowing Lucy had someone like Alison in her life.

  “Well this is a sight for sore eyes,” Tom said, as both girls walked towards the bed, and each took their turn to kiss him on the cheek. “Two beautiful girls to fuss over me.”

  “I hope you have been behaving yourself, Tom,” Alison laughed, as she hugged him tightly. “I hope you are not being too much of a distraction for all these nurses.”

  “I try my best not to be,” Tom laughed. “But what can I say, it the natural charm.”

  Lucy smiled as she took her seat next to her father. It was wonderful to see her dad so happy, and not worrying about her for the first time since she came home.

  “So when is that man of yours going to make you an honest woman?” Tom asked Alison the same question he always asked her.

  “I don’t know, Tom,” Alison replied with a grin, as she too gave him the same answer she always gave him. “He knows my heart has already been stolen by an older man.”

  Tom threw his head back and laughed out loud. It was the first time Lucy had seen him happy in such a long time.

  “Tucker,” he said as he caught his breath. “You are going to have your hands full with this pair, this weekend. Double trouble, that’s what these two are.”

  “Oh, I think I can handle them,” Tucker chuckled as he gave Lucy a wink.

  “Just keep them away from the margaritas and you should be okay,” Tom laughed.

  “I will bear that in mind,” Tucker replied.

  The four sat there for the afternoon, chatting and laughing. It was the first time Lucy could remember that she felt truly happy. That she wasn’t holding herself back.

  Later that evening, as they drove back to Tom’s house, it struck Lucy. As hard as it was coming back to River Springs, it had been exactly what she had needed. Finally, she was getting closure to her past, and for the first time in nine years, she could see a future.

  That night they ordered a takeaway, and Tucker went out and picked up a couple of bottles of wine.

  They spent the night in Tom’s, talking and telling stories about when they were all younger. Lucy talked about growing up in New York, and how she had loved the idea of moving to a smaller town with her dad.

  “Why have you never come home before now?” Alison asked, feeling a little braver with a couple of glasses of wine inside her.

  “It’s a very long and boring story,” Lucy simply replied as she glanced over at Tucker. “Nothing worth talking about now.”

  “What about when you have to come back to New York?” Alison asked. “Will you miss it here?”

  “I don’t know what is going to happen,” Lucy replied honestly. “If you had asked me a week ago, would I have ever felt like I belonged in this place, I would have said no, not at all. But that has changed now.”

  She looked over at Tucker, and he gave her a smile.

  The truth was, Lucy had no idea what her future held, but the one thing she did know was, she wanted Tucker to be a part of it. But how that would happen, she had no idea.

  Chapter 22

  “So what’s the plan for today?” Tucker asked, as he sat on the edge of Lucy’s bed and tied his shoe laces.

  “I am going to take Alison to see the sights,” Lucy replied with a yawn, as she rolled onto her side. “She said she wants to see the town.”

  “Will you be okay?” Tucker asked, as he turned and gave her a worried look.

  “I will,” she said, as sat up as kissed his cheek. “Alison will be with me, so stop worrying.”

  “I’m not worrying,” Tucker replied with a guilty smile.

  “You know, you’re a dreadful liar,” Lucy grinned. “But I will be fine. I promise.”

  “If you need me to take another day off, I will,” Tucker offered. “I really don’t mind.”

  “Tucker, I love that you want to protect me,” Lucy said as she softly pressed her hand to his face. “But I need to let go of the past, and that means I can’t have you wrapping me in cotton wool. You can’t protect me forever, so I need to learn to stand on my own two feet.”

  “I know, it’s just…” he
stopped as he searched for the right words.

  “I know,” Lucy replied.

  “Just be careful,” Tucker sighed.

  “I promise,” Lucy said, then kissed him again.

  “So where do you want to go?” Lucy asked Alison, as they walked down the steps of Tom’s house.

  “Where do you suggest?” Alison asked, as they made their way down the front pathway.

  “To be honest,” Lucy replied. “It’s been so long since I was last here, I’m not sure what is still here and what’s new.”

  “Then let’s explore,” Alison suggested. “You have your camera, and who knows, we may find you some inspiration.”

  “I know what you’re doing,” Lucy laughed, knowing exactly what her friend was trying to do. “I am not that stupid.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Alison said, as she tried her hardest to look innocent. “I just want to see the sights.”

  Lucy just laughed and linked her friend.

  She knew the moment Alison insisted that she take her camera that her friend was trying to get her back into photographer mode, and then maybe, with the help of Tucker, they could get her to agree to do the exhibit.

  The girls headed downtown, and did a little window shopping. Lucy had no idea how many shops there were in town, but then again, when she lived here, she spent all of her time with Riley because she had no other friends.

  Lucy thought about April. She wondered how different their lives would have been if she had tried harder to be her friend. Maybe it wasn’t too late to be her friend now.

  After a couple of hours of shopping and searching the town, Lucy brought Alison into a small coffee shop for some lunch.

  “I could totally get used to living in a place like this,” Alison said, as they both sipped their coffees. “It’s such a lovely town, and everyone is so friendly.”

  “I used to think that too,” Lucy sighed. “But they aren’t always so nice. Besides, I do miss New York.”

  “What will you do about Tucker, when you have to go back?” Alison asked, getting straight to the point. “I mean, I think he really likes you."

  “I haven’t really thought that far ahead,” Lucy sighed, as she picked at her sandwich. “Right now, I need to just worry about my dad. I can’t think about the future till I know he is going to be okay.”

  “Oh my God!” Alison exclaimed, as she clapped her hands excitedly.

  “What?” Lucy asked, as she looked up at her friend, confused and a little embarrassed that people were looking at her.

  “You have fallen for him,” Alison replied. “And I mean the L word, fallen for him. I can see it in your eyes.”

  Lucy could feel her face flush, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her attention back to her coffee.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” Alison continued a little louder than Lucy liked. “You are in love with Tucker. Oh my God, Lucy, I am so happy for you.”

  “Keep your voice down,” Lucy hissed, when a couple of the customers looked in their direction. “And what does it matter if I have. It can’t ever really work; he lives here, and my life is in New York. It’s too messy.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” Alison replied. “You could work from anywhere in the world; you know this. That’s the beauty of what you do.”

  “Coming back here isn’t an option,” Lucy sighed and kept her eyes fixed on the coffee and sandwich in front of her. “Once Dad is well enough, I am going home. I don’t belong here.”

  “Why not?” Alison pushed. “What is it that you are running from?”

  “I am not running from anything,” Lucy said looking up at her friend. “It’s just, I don’t belong in this town, I never have and I never will.”

  The two friends sat in silence for a few minutes. Lucy knew Alison was trying to figure out what to say next, and she sighed.

  “Look,” Lucy said finally. “There are things about me you don’t know, and I know that’s my fault, not yours. This place is not the happy, easy going place you think it is. At least, not to me. I wish I could tell you more than that, but it’s a part of my life that I want to keep in the past.”

  “It’s okay, Lucy,” Alison replied, as she reached out and took hold of her friend's hand. “You don’t have to say anything else. I get it, I promise.”

  “Thanks, Ali,” Lucy said, as she gave her friend a grateful smile. “Let’s finish up here; there is somewhere I want to take you.”

  They two girls finished up their lunch before they headed out of the coffee shop and started walking towards the edge of town.

  When they reached the park, Lucy led Alison along the pathway until they reached what she wanted to show her. She smiled when she saw the old bandstand up ahead.

  It used to be one of Lucy’s favourite places in the world. It was an old wooden bandstand that sat on the edge of a big open area in the park. It sat beneath the biggest cherry blossom tree that Lucy had ever seen and when it was in bloom, it covered the roof of the bandstand in pretty pink flowers.

  Lucy and Riley had spent so many days together sitting in the bandstand. She would have her camera, and Riley would have a book. Some days they sat there for hours without saying a single word, and it felt comfortable. It was here she knew she loved him.

  Lucy had taken a photograph of it once, and it now hung in her studio in New York. Alison loved the photo more than any other one Lucy had ever taken. She had always said one day she wanted to sit on the steps on the bandstand and eat ice-cream.

  Lucy smiled at the memory and waited for her to spot it.

  “OH MY GOD!” Alison squealed excitedly the moment she realised where they were. “It the bandstand. My bandstand. The one from the picture.”

  Without waiting for a reply, she broke into a run and didn’t stop until she reached the bandstand.

  Lucy smiled as she watched her friend. She always thought that Alison was a pretty girl. Her dark hair was a contrast to Lucy’s blonde hair. She was only about five foot tall and had the prettiest smile Lucy had ever seen.

  But as Lucy watched her friend standing on the bandstand, she realised she was such a natural beauty, and she thought that she belonged in front of her camera, not shut away in her office.

  Lucy stopped, sat down on the grass and pulled her camera from her bag. She took shot after shot of her friend as she explored the bandstand. Each one better than the one before it.

  “I can’t believe you brought me here,” Alison said when Lucy finally stood up and walked towards the bandstand, then sat down on the steps. “It’s as perfect as the picture in the studio. You captured its true beauty.”

  “Thank you,” Lucy replied with a sad smile. “This place used to mean so much to me. But now, it just makes me feel sad.”

  “Lucy,” Alison said, as she sat down next to her friend and took her hand. “What happened to you here?”

  “Here?” Lucy asked as she looked at her friend for a moment. “Here, I lost my heart.”

  “To Tucker?” Alison asked in return.

  “No,” Lucy shook her head and smiled. “I lost it to someone who didn’t deserve it.”

  “Is he the reason why you haven’t come back here until now?” Alison asked.

  “Part of the reason,” Lucy replied honestly. “But it was more than that. So much more.”

  Alison didn’t respond, and Lucy was grateful she didn’t push it further. They sat side by side in a comfortable silence. Enjoying the sun and the beauty of their surroundings.

  “You know, “Alison said as she stood up and gave Lucy a grin. “I always said I wanted to sit on this bandstand and eat ice-cream. I am going to go get us some; you can stay here and maybe take some more photos.”

  Lucy laughed as Alison turned and headed off across the park to an ice-cream kiosk they had passed by earlier.

  She lifted up her camera and took a few more snaps as she waited for Alison to return.

  After Lucy had taken about a dozen photographs, she s
et her camera down and closed her eyes. The early summer sun felt warm and welcoming on her face.

  Suddenly Tucker’s face flashed into her mind, and she smiled. She loved how he was worried about her that morning. It felt good to have someone that cared about her like that. She thought about her conversation with Alison, about what would happen when the time came for her to return to New York. She remembered the conversation she had with Tucker about their future, and she remembered what he said about how he had no intentions of letting her walk out of his life again.

  Lucy had no idea what he even meant by that, but she hoped it meant that he had a plan, because she had no idea what was going to happen next.

  She opened her eyes and wondered where Alison had got to, she had been gone a long time. Lucy stood up and stepped up onto the steps of the bandstand to try to see her better.

  Lucy finally spotted her standing next to the kiosk on the far side on the open space, and she was talking to someone.

  Alison was too far away from Lucy to see who it was she was talking to, but still Lucy could feel her heart race a little.

  Instinctively, she brought her camera up to her face and peered through the viewfinder. She hit the button on the top of the camera and zoomed in on Alison.

  The first thing Lucy noticed was Alison’s expression. She was smiling, but Lucy knew her friend well enough to know her smile was forced.

  Alison said something and went to move but the mountain she was talking to stepped in her way.

  Lucy hadn’t seen the person’s face, but a knot in the pit of her stomach told her she already knew who it was.

  She took a deep breath and slowly moved the camera upwards until she reached the person’s face.

  She heart thumped rapidly, and her stomach heaved the moment she saw Trent’s smug grin. She pulled the camera away from her face and closed her eyes. She knew she needed to go to Alison, but she didn’t know if she could face him again.

  She could feel her breathing quicken, and her hands began to shake, but Lucy knew what she needed to do. She lifted up the camera again and once more, she found Alison at the far end of her lens.