Once Gerard had given Lucy a quick kiss he left the kitchen again.

“Wow, is that guy in love with you.” Alicia said softly shaking her head.

Lucy turned to her. “I feel the same way about him but…” Her voice trailed off not sure how to explain her feelings and concerns.

“But you two have some things you need to figure out.” Alicia finished for her. “That’s very understandable.”

Lucy sighed, “Yeah. Anyway about what we were discussing…”

“Mikey and how he feels about you.” Alicia said. When Lucy nodded she continued. “I know my husband and like I said I do understand he feels bad about what he said back in Kansas. He didn’t mean to hurt you, he was angry at his brother for scaring the shit out of him. God, when they brought that duffel bag here and said they thought it had been involved in a tornado..” She shivered at the memory. “But now he’s just concerned because he doesn’t want to see his brother hurt.”

“He thinks being with me would hurt Gerard?”

“No, he knows you could break Gerard’s heart. It wasn’t too hard for anyone close to Gee to see how much he’d changed when he came back but at the same time it was also easy to see he was hurting. The way you two parted was brutal and we all knew he wanted to make things right. I was so happy when he told me he was going to Kansas to see you.” Alicia suddenly laughed, “And here is me being nosey, how did that go?”

“Obviously okay because I’m here.” Lucy answered.

“Got it, you don’t want to discuss that.” Alicia nodded.

Immediately Lucy felt bad fearing she’d hurt Alicia’s feelings. “That’s not true.” She knew part of the story, the part involving her grandmother and Rafe would have to remain hidden however she still wanted to explain part of it. “I was at a friend’s house for the day. Her husband had driven me home because my truck refused to start that morning. When we got there Gee was sitting outside on my glider with Sam wrapped up in a blanket.”

Alicia’s eyes grew wide. “What? Why?”

“At first he was afraid something had happened to me because my truck was there but I didn’t answer the door so he went inside. That’s how he met Sam for the first time.”

“Okay” Alicia said slowly, “But why…”

Lucy laughed, “That’s exactly what I wanted to know. Matter of fact I asked him why the hell he was sitting on the glider in the freezing cold with my dog wrapped up in a blanket. He explained about going inside but when he tried to leave Sam started whining and since he had a rental car and was afraid she’d make a mess he chose to wrap her up in a blanket and wait outside.”

“That must have looked really weird.”

“Oh yeah.” Lucy smiled, “By the time he got inside his teeth were chattering and it had begun to snow.”

“Then you two talked.”

“After he’d warned up.” Lucy said slowly, “We talked.” Her mind went back to that fateful night.

“And you forgave him.” Alicia said softly.

“I was angry but in a way I understood why he hadn’t told me.” Lucy answered softly. “Of course because I still loved him made that much easier.”

“And now here you are.” Alicia said with a smile.

Lucy nodded, “For Thanksgiving. He said if I didn’t come he’d stay there and we’d have to split my turkey potpie.”

Alicia grinned, “Well I promise my dinner will be much better than a potpie.” She paused, “So I want to run something by you.”

“Okay”

“Has Gee said anything about tomorrow?”

Lucy frowned, “No”

Alicia sighed, “Tomorrow the guys are taping a live performance. It will take them all day. I was thinking it would be nice for us to hang together. Maybe do a little shopping, have lunch.”

Lucy sat back giving this some thought. “That sounds good, I guess.”

It was important to Alicia to be honest. “I’m saying this because I have the feeling Gee is going to want you to go with him tomorrow.”

“And you don’t think I should?”

“I think” Alicia paused, “No, I know you’re already a little overwhelmed by being here. Getting thrust into a situation were you see the band and their fans right now would be a bit much.”

Lucy took a sip of her coffee, “I don’t even know any of their songs.”

Alicia giggled, “Oh, well I’m sure you’ll hear them soon enough.”

After a moment Lucy admitted, “Gee did tell me some of the fans blame me for his break up.”

“Sad but true. I hate when people think they know something and make judgments based on that. But yeah, some of the fans have been pretty vocal on the Net. They think you broke Gee’s marriage up.”

“And that’s part of why you don’t think I should go tomorrow.”

Alicia sighed, “Yeah, but it’s not just MCR’s fans it’s Lindsey’s fans too.”

“Lindsey’s fans?”

“Oh hell.” Alicia muttered, “You really don’t know a lot. Yeah, see Lindsey is in a band too.”

“I didn’t know that.” Lucy said softly.

“She plays bass.” Alicia explained, “Like me.”

“You’re in a band?”

“Oh no.” Alicia smiled, “At one time I wanted to but once I met Mikey that changed. Taking care of my boy is a full time job.”

Lucy sat back staring into the cup of her lukewarm coffee. “Maybe that’s what Gee wants too.”

Alicia frowned, “You mean you think he might want someone to take care of him?”

“Not exactly take care of him but you know, not have a career, someone who will stay home and take care of things.”

“I think.” Alicia said softly, “That you are over thinking things. Gee never minded that Lindsey was in a band as a matter of fact when they were first married the bands toured together. I really in my heart don’t believe Gee was attracted to you because he was looking for a stay at home wife.”

Lucy’s good mood started to evaporate. “I’m still not sure why he was attracted to me in the first place.”

“Who can explain love?” Alicia said with a smile. “Why we’re attracted to people can sometimes be a mystery. Besides I do know at least one more thing about you. You’re a photographer so you do have a career.”

“Gee told you that?”

“It was hard to get him to talk about you because he was hurting but I did sorta press him a few times. He told me you take beautiful photos. Matter of fact he went out and bought the book of ghost towns with your photos. He brought it over and showed me.”

“He did?”

“Yep, he was very proud.” Alicia nodded.

“I’ve been taking photos for the Kansas State Historical Society for a few months.” Lucy said wanting to share that info with Alicia.

“How cool.”

“And I have a website now and actually sell some of my photos.”

“I definitely want to see it.” Alicia stood up. “But right now I guess we should get started on dinner. Wanna peel potatoes?”

“Sure.” Lucy nodded, “I’d be happy to.”

Alicia was at the stove working on the green bean casserole when she asked “So…if you don’t mind me asking because I’m still trying to fill in the blanks, what exactly did Gee tell you about himself?”

The peeler in Lucy’s hand stilled, “You mean when I first met him?”

“Yeah.”

“He told me he was a writer who had needed to get away.”

Alicia rolled her eyes, “Well, he sorta was telling the truth. He is a writer.” She turned to look at her guest. “He not only writes songs he writes comic books too.”

Lucy nodded, “This morning when I was waiting for him to wake up I was in his sturdy and saw some of them. Gotta admit I was surprised.”

“Didn’t think he’d write comic books?”

“Well, I guess I was surprised because when he was with me in Kansas he was really working on a novel.”

Alicia set down her spoon then turned to Lucy, “Really?”

“Yes, and it was very good. I didn’t have a computer back then so he was writing in longhand and I was typing it for him.”

“What’s it about?”

This was harder for Lucy to answer. “Well, it’s sorta a horror book but it has a twist. I don’t really want to tell you because I’m actually hoping he’ll finish the book and maybe get it published.”

“It’s that good?”

Lucy smiled, “I think so.”

Glancing over and seeing Lucy still had quite a few potatoes to peel Alicia decided to take the opportunity to talk to Gee. “Hey, I’ll be back in a minute.” When Lucy nodded she quickly wiped off her hands then went in search of her brother-in-law.

___________________________________________

“So how long is she staying?”

Mikey and Gerard were seated outside on the patio watching the dogs. This was the first time Mikey asked anything about Lucy and the way he phrased the question struck a nerve with Gerard.

“I don’t know.” He answered slowly. “But I hope forever.”

Mikey’s body tensed. “Gee, you honestly haven’t known her that long.”

“What I do know.” Gerard said trying to contain his anger, “Is that I love her.”

Alicia, who had just walked out onto the patio heard that statement.

“And she loves you.” She said placing her hand on Gerard’s shoulder.

He gave her a small smile. “How do you know?”

Alicia laughed, “Because she told me. Now I want to talk to you about something. It’s about tomorrow…”

“The taping.” Gerard nodded. “I’m taking her with me.”

Alicia had been afraid of this. “Gee, I’ve asked her to go shopping with me and I really think that’s what she should do.”

Gerard frowned, “But I want her to see what I do. I want her to know every part of my life.”

Taking a seat Alicia nodded, “I understand that but what you need to understand is that right now Lucy is overwhelmed. From listening to her, I get that. And I know she’s upset that some people blame her for her marriage breaking up. If you take her tomorrow the rumors will just start up again.”

“I don’t give a shit about that.” Gerard answered hotly. “She’s a part of my life.”

“Yeah, he wants her to stay here forever.” Mikey muttered.

Alicia turned to glare at her husband, “Of course he does, he loves her.”

“Thank you.” Gerard said to his sister-in-law, “For understanding that.”

Now she turned her attention to Gerard, “So, you need to take things slow with her. You’re lifestyle is very different from any she’s ever known. Give her time to feel comfortable around your family before you thrust her into difficult situations.”

“But I don’t want to hide her, I mean I don’t want it to seem like that’s what I’m doing.”

Alicia smiled. “Gee, she and I talked about this. She understands you aren’t trying to hide the fact you two are together. Besides, tomorrow will give us time to bond. I really like her.”

Gerard smiled, “I’m glad.”

“So, why don’t you go check and see how she’s doing peeling the potatoes?”

Gerard got to his feet, “Yeah, okay.”

Alicia waited until the sliding glass closed to speak to her husband, “Okay, you really need to stop this.”

“Stop what?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Gee is in love with her and if you don’t support him it won’t go well.”

“I always support my brother.” Mikey said angrily, “I just think he’s making a mistake rushing into things with this woman.”

“This woman” Alicia said narrowing her eyes, “Is named Lucy. And in my heart I believe she and Gee were brought together by fate. From what I’ve gathered they both needed each other desperately.” She reached out to touch his arm. “Come on Mikey, think about it. Gee was on such a destructive path before he met her. She changed him and you can’t deny it was a change for the better. Think about how he is now. He’s focused on his work, he’s a great dad, he’s turned his life around. And I honestly don’t believe any of that would have happened had he not met Lucy.”

“But all of that has happened since he’s been back and she wasn’t here.” Mikey said refusing to let go of his uncertainly.

“Honey” She said softly, “Be honest, while Gee has been doing so much better we both could see the sadness in his eyes. He missed her but he loved her so much he knew he had to get his life in order before he could go back to her. And that’s what he’s done. Now he’s got her back in his life and he’s completely happy. Why do you refuse to see that?”

Mikey sighed, “It’s not I refuse to see that…” He paused a moment. “It’s just I’m worried, what if it doesn’t work out between them? How would Gee react to that?”

Alicia knew she’d been right about her husband’s feelings. “Hopefully we’ll never have to find out. It’s my hope they work through their problems and stay together. But you not accepting Lucy will cause a riff between you and Gee and I know you don’t want that.”

Mikey stared out across the yard. “Yeah, you’re right, I don’t want that.”

“Good.” Alicia smiled, “Then work on being nicer to Lucy. You know she asked me how you feel about her.”

He turned to look at his wife, “She did?”

“Yeah, I’m sure she still senses the tension between you two.”

_____________________________________________

“That’s a ton of potatoes.” Gerard said looking over Lucy’s shoulder.

She giggled, “Yeah, I get the feeling we’re feeding an army. How many people are gonna be here?”

“Just the four of us, Alicia's mom and my mom and dad.” He said pulling out the chair next to her to take a seat. “My guess is that ma will get here first. She always does.”

Lucy was confused, “Aren’t your parents going to come together?”

Sadly he realized once again how much Lucy didn’t know about his life. “My parents are divorced.”

“Oh” Lucy glanced back down at the potato in her hand. “Sorry.”

“Happened a long time ago.” Gerard said with a shrug. “But I can’t wait for you to meet them. I know they’re gonna love you.”

“You can’t really know that.” Lucy said softly.

He reached out to place his finger under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. “Yeah, I can and do know that. Both of my parents have always supported me. When they see us together, see how much we love each other, then they will see how happy you make me and they’ll love you too.”

Lucy sighed, “In a perfect world.”

While he understood she was nervous about meeting his parents he hated that she had so many doubts. “It is a perfect world because you are with me.”

She blinked rapidly then tried to find a way to slightly alter the conversation, “I don’t even know your mother’s name.”

“Ma is Donna and Dad is Don.”

This caused Lucy’s lips to slightly curve into a half smile, “Don and Donna?”

“Cute, right? Guess they caught a lot of shit about that when they first hooked up.”

“Too bad their marriage failed.” Lucy said looking back down at the potato in her hand.

“There were a lot of things wrong in the marriage.” Gerard said sadly. “But because of me and Mikey they’ve remained close.”

“That’s good.” Lucy finished peeling the potato then picked up the last one. “So, Sam is getting along, OK?”

Gerard sat back with a laugh, “She’s in little doggie heaven here. Mikey and me were watching all three dogs tear around the backyard chasing each other.” He saw she had the last potato. “Finish up and we’ll go out to the patio.”

Lucy frowned, “I’m not sure if I’m done here.”

“We’re done for now.” Alicia said walking back into the kitchen. “I’ll just fill the potato pot with water.” When Lucy placed the last potato in she carried the large pot to the sink. “Okay, then.” She smiled, “Lets go.”

_____________________________________________

Gerard had predicted correctly…Donna arrived first. Lucy was in the dinning room helping Alicia set the table when the Way brother’s mom entered the house.

Lucy who had heard the doorbell was listening closely and heard the boys greeting their mother.

“Take a deep breath.” Alicia said softly from across the table.

“That obvious?” Lucy asked nervously.

“It’s gonna be fine. Donna’s great. It’s Don you’ll have to watch out for. He’s got a wicked sense of humor.”

“Got it.” Lucy nodded. She sighed when she heard Gerard calling her name as he led his mother towards the dining room.

“Ma, this is Lucy.” Gerard, who’s arm was around his mother, said with a smile.

Lucy’s eyes grew wide. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected but the smiling, bleach blond, brightly dressed woman wasn’t it. “Uh, hello.” She said walking over towards them.

Donna eyes Lucy up and down. “So you’re the tornado woman.”

Gerard’s arm dropped from around his mother’s shoulder. He wasn’t sure how Lucy was going to take the comment but he immediately went to her side.

Lucy was thrown only for a moment. “Actually I believe your son is the one who brought the tornado with him.”

Donna threw back her head and laughed, “That sounds like him.” She moved closer than gave Lucy a quick hug. “Nice to meet you."

“Nice to meet you.” Lucy answered.

Donna turned to her son, “I made cannoli, They’re in the car. Run out and get them.”

“Sure, Ma.” Gerard gave Lucy a smile then went to do his mothers bidding. Mikey followed in his wake.

“So” Donna said turning back to Lucy. “Let’s take this opportunity to talk. I want to know all about you.”

Lucy shot a quick glance at Alicia.

“Good idea.” Alicia told her mother-in-law. “You and Lucy go sit out on the patio. I’ve got to check on the dinner.” While she understood Lucy was nervous she trusted Donna wouldn’t say anything to upset her.

_____________________________________________

“Where do you want these?” Gerard asked as he entered the kitchen.

Alicia turned to see he’d carried in the large box of treats from his mother’s car. “Just set them on the table in here for now.”

Mikey opened the box as soon as his brother set it down.

“Michael.” Alicia folded her arms.

“Hey, I just want to try one. Wouldn’t you hate to sever them to our guests if they aren’t any good?”

“Like your mom would make a bad cannoli.” Alicia said rolling her eyes.

Gerard had moved so he could glance back into the dining room. “Where’s ma and Lucy?”

“Out on the patio talking.”When Gerard started to leave the kitchen Alicia spoke up. “Why don’t you let them talk for a few minutes alone?”

“Because I don’t want ma to say anything that will upset Lucy.” He answered honestly, “You know sometimes things ma says come out sounding wrong.”

“I don’t think so.” Mikey said defending his mother.

Gerard folded his arms. “Oh come on. You know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean.” Alicia nodded, “But if you want Lucy to be a part of your life she’s gonna have to deal with your mother. Besides I think Lucy can hold her own.”

__________________________________________________

Donna placed her sunglasses on then settled back in her chair, “So Lucy, tell me about yourself.”

Lucy folded her hands on the table. “I’m not sure what you want to know.”

“Everything.” Donna answered. “Because I right now I know pretty much next to nothing. Matter of fact I probably got more information out of Mikey than Gerard.”

“What did Mikey say?”

Donna sighed, “That you’re a widow.” Her voice lowered, “I’m very sorry about what happened to your family.”

Lucy glanced away. “Thank you but it was a long time ago.”

“I’m sure that kind of pain never really goes away.” Donna said kindly.

“No, not really.” Lucy whispered. “Losing my child was more painful than anything I could ever imagine.”

Donna nodded sympathetically, “I believe that.”

Lucy took a deep breath, “What else do you know about me?”

“Just that my son says he loves you very much.” She glanced back at the house. “And right now he’s probably in there sweating bullets because we’re out here talking.”

Lucy frowned, “Why?”

Donna laughed, “Because I’m sure he’s worried I’m going to say something to upset you. Both of my sons are always thinking that way.”

“Are you?”

Donna seemed pleased by the question. “Not planning on it. Meeting you seems to have helped my son. For that I’m grateful. But I can be brutally honest at times.”

Lucy nodded, “Understood.”

“Good” Donna smiled. “So I want to know if you love my son.”

“Very much.” Lucy answered without hesitation.

Donna smiled, “Okay then, since you and Gerard are in love I want to know more about you. I want to know where you were born, your age, about your life in Kansas.”

Lucy smiled, “This sounds like a job interview.”

“In a way it is.” Donna said softly.

____________________________________________

Gerard didn’t get a chance to talk to Lucy alone until Alicia’s mom arrived and Donna began visiting with her.

“So, how did the talk with mom go?” He asked pulling Lucy into the deserted dinning room.

“Your mom is….” She struggled to find just the right word.

“Weird?”

Lucy smacked him lightly on the chest. “No, I wasn’t going to say that. She told me you were probably sweating bullets because we were talking.”

Gerard moaned, “Yeah, that sounds like ma. Brutally honest.”

“She said she is.”

“What did you talk about?”

Lucy leaned against the doorway. “It was more like an interview. She wanted to know all about me.”

“Sorry.” He said softly.

“She’s your mother so I understand. She’s concerned you might have hooked up with an undesirable.”

His eyes grew wide. “An undesirable?”

Lucy laughed, “Yeah, you know what I mean. She wanted to know if what she’d heard is the truth, that I didn’t know who you were when we met.”

“I told her that.” Gerard said growing angry. “I explained that to her.”

“It’s okay.” Lucy said softly, “I told her about my life in Kansas, how I was living before I met you.”

“You shouldn’t have to keep rehashing that.”

“I honestly didn’t mind. Your mother loves you very much.”

“So what else?”

Lucy smiled, “Well I now get what you mean about your mother saying things that could be a bit misunderstood.”

“Oh hell” Gerard muttered “What did she say?”

Lucy glanced down the hall to make sure no one was listening. “Look, I don’t want you to repeat this. Okay?”

He nodded.

“I’ll admit at first I was a little taken back…”

Nervously he nodded, “Go on.”

“She said she really wished I’d been here yesterday when she was visiting because Alicia’s housekeeper was here trying to tell her something but she couldn’t understand a damn word.”

Confusion showed on his face, “I don’t get it.”

Lucy smiled, “Maria, the Hispanic housekeeper?”

“Oh” He said slowly, “Well, that makes sense. Ma, don’t speak Spanish.”

“And of course looking at me, she assumed I would.”

Now he was beginning to understand. “Lucy, Ma ain’t prejudiced.”

“I know.” Lucy said knowing she needed to explain. “But when she added that it was so annoying that most every housekeeper was Mexican out here, it sorta struck a nerve.”

“Okay, now that really sounds like ma.”

“Look I want you to understand, while I know she didn’t mean that in a bad way…my first job was in housekeeping. For a sixteen year old Hispanic kid from East Compton that was pretty much the only job I could find.”

“Oh” He said softly.

Lucy went on. “And I know had Rafe and I not inherited the property in Kansas, had we never left here that would have probably been the only job I ever would have had. I certainly would never have gone to college, we didn’t have the money. So for me it would have been a job in the housekeeping or food service industry.”

He was beginning to understand more about Lucy’s past. One he hadn’t given much thought to before. “Do you wish you could have gone to college?”

Lucy blinked in surprise. “I never really gave it any thought.” She folded her arms. “Does it bother you I only have a high school education?”

Gerard looked shocked, “Hell, no.”

She couldn’t help but kid him, “Are you sure? Maybe I’m not smart enough for you.”

“Lucy, no.” He answered nervously, “I…” When he saw her smile he stopped. “You’re being evil, aren’t you?”

Lucy laughed, “A little. I know you don’t care about that.”

Gerard pulled her into his arms, “I most certainly don’t. You are perfect, exactly what I want and need.”

She kissed his neck. “Funny, I feel the same way about you.”