LOGIN"It's not clean." Lucille handed over a soapy fork back to the boy doing the dishes." "But I've scrubbed it like ten times." He whined."Not all the stains can be seen. With all the lather on it. Sometimes you've got to feel for them. See." She took his hand and grazed his fingers over the fork. "Yeah I get it. I feel it.""Exactly." She smiled. "What's the time?" She turned around. "Mrs. Hanney. What's the time please?" "8:23 pm.""I've got to go." "Oh Miss Lucille, you don't have to." Mrs Hanney said. It made her smile seeing the way she talked and laughed with the kids. They all loved her. Lucille tries to visit any orphanage she can at least once a month. "I'd love to. But I can't.""Thanks aunt Lucille." "No problem kiddo." She smiled. "I'll see you when I can." She gave him a side hug. "I'll go see the others before I leave." Lucille gripped the steering wheel on her drive there. Nervous and not sure how he would re
Inaudible chatter and the subtle sound of cutlery scraping and hitting plates filled the large dinning hall. The table Nick had chosen was a bit hidden from the others. He sat relaxed in his chair, assessing her while she looked at the menu. He couldn't help thinking about how she fired that woman. She doesn't take mistakes lightly, clearly. He could also understand her reason. He smiled; she called him dangerous. The ice cold flame in her. He found out something new every time he met her. He'll have to be careful. Yet, poor Trish. Was that her name? "You didn't have to fire her you know." Lucille put down the menu. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "If you feel that bad, you can hire her." He chuckled. He wasn't going to do that. "My place could use a bit more cleaning." "He tells jokes." She pointed out. "And laughs."He smiled. "Yes well, I prefer to leave the joking around to the CEO." "You mean your father?""Same thing." The waiter
All those questions had given her a headache. And she didn't feel like talking to anyone, so she decided to spend an hour or three in her own house. Lucille fell asleep on the couch. Thirty minutes into her nap, she woke up with a start at the sound of a knock on her door. "I'm coming!" She called out. Dragging her feet. Wes stood before her, looking broken. Heart broken and confused. A very sad look on his face as he asked, "You're pregnant?" It stung, it stung her to see him look like that, and hear the words come out of his mouth. A lump formed in her throat. Her eyes burning with welling up tears. "Who told you?" "I got a call from one of the kids. I was worried when no one could find you. So when he told me you were there, I went right over, but you'd already left." The pain was in his voice. "They kept asking if it was me. If I'm the father of your baby. Tell me Lucille, are you?" She looked up, blinking away the tears. Her answer lodged in her t
Madison tapped her index finger against her mouth restlessly. Nina sighed in disapproval of her mother's clear sign of angst. She rolled her eyes. "Oh mom, come on. It's okay to be calm." "I can't help it. I'm not your father. And I am very upset.""Clearly." Nina smiled. "Charles!" She called out. "Could you please ask Mattie to fix mom a drink. Preferably something strong." "Vodka." Quincy spoke. Watching Madison glare at her daughter. "Vodka! For two. Daddy wants one too.""Right away Miss." The door bell was rung on his way back from delivering the message. Charles drew back in surprise. "Miss Lucille." She raised her hand over her mouth, signaling him to be quiet. "Miss Lucille, the whole house has been worried about you." He chose to whisper instead. "There's never been any need to worry Charles. I needed some time to myself. How else would I come back looking so pretty." She kissed his cheeks. "Beyond pretty Miss Lucille."She smiled. "
A sigh escaped Geegee's mouth after Nina told her what happened. "So she left? And you don't know where she is? You do don't you? Of course you do." She didn't wait for Nina to answer. And Nina wasn't going to. "Of course she'd leave. I mean it's all so overwhelming." Another sigh. "Do you think she's mad at me? Is she mad at me for telling you?" "Oh no, of course not." Nina waved her hand. "If anything you made it easier for her. Can you imagine if Madison or you weren't there. All the people she'd have to tell. Daddy, me, you." "Yeah." She nodded. "You're right." "I can't even imagine what it took for her to tell Nick. Mom and daddy told his parents, daddy found out like he always does, you guys were there and you told me. I can't even." "Yeah. And how they would have all reacted. You didn't see her that morning Nina. She was crying and not hiding it. I mean you know how she is. I was just so... I didn't even know what to do." A dash of anger
Entering into the dust covered house, Lucille dropped the bags she had been carrying on the floor. Looking around and thinking about all the work she'll put into cleaning the place, before heading back out to her car to grab the rest of her things. Every furniture in the livingroom was covered in white sheets. As was the rest of the house. She moved her bags of clothes and groceries to the dinning table, ready to do as much cleaning as she can before- candles. She forgot to get candles. With the power out, she had to get some source of light. And using candles felt like fun. She'd have to keep cleaning to day time. She strode out the door. Maybe a flashlight or two. When she got back it was almost dark out. She pulled off all the white sheets on all the furniture and washed them. Her radio playing music she sang along to. when she was done, she came back into the dark house, lit the candles, found a blanket and snuggled on a chair, staring at the burning candle and thinking a







