Open Your Heart

LUCY

That night, Lucy picked up Lily and Olivia from Lauren’s. She went home, fed them, got them baths, and settled them into their beds.

“How was your first day of preschool today?” Lucy asked.

“It was fun, Mommy,” Lily said.

“That’s good, baby. I’m happy you had fun,” Lucy said.

“Mom, are you lonely?” Lily asked.

“Me lonely? No. Why would I be lonely when I have you and your sister?” Lucy said.

“Because you don’t have a special guy,” Lily said.

“Lily, I’m fine,” Lucy said.

“Mommy, I want a daddy,” Lily said.

“Honey, you had a daddy,” Lucy said.

“I want another one. I want you smiling for someone who is not family,” Lily said.

“Honey,” Lucy said.

“Mommy, I love you,” Lily said.

“I love you, baby,” Lucy said. She kissed Lily on the forehead and hugged her. When Lily fell asleep, Lucy made sure the house was locked up, then showered and went to bed.

***

Lucy saw that she was in a field of flowers.

“Hey, my wife,” a guy said.

“Brad?” Lucy asked.

“Yes, baby, it’s me,” Brad said.

“Oh my god!” Lucy said. She ran to him and hugged him tight.

“You are still as beautiful as ever,” Brad said.

“I miss you so much,” Lucy said.

“I know, baby, I’m always with you,” Brad said.

“Lily misses you too,” Lucy said.

“I know, and Olivia is so beautiful, like you are,” Brad said.

“I wish you could be there for her,” Lucy said.

“I am, baby, you just can’t see me,” Brad said.

“Oh Brad, I wish you were here with me,” Lucy said.

“I am here with you and I always will be, not physically but in your heart, with our girls,” Brad said.

“I guess you know what your parents tried to do?” Lucy asked.

“Yes, baby, I can’t believe they went that far,” Brad said.

“Oh Brad, I don’t know how I can go on without you,” Lucy said.

“You have been baby, for our girls. But now it’s time to live for you,” Brad said.

“What?” Lucy said.

“I know you closed yourself off to love and I know your brothers want you to find someone. I agree with them,” Brad said.

“Brad,” Lucy said.

“No baby, hear me out. If you think finding someone to fall in love with and marry is going to hurt me, it isn’t.

“I want you to find that special someone. In fact, I know who the one is,” Brad said.

“Who?” Lucy said.

“Baby, you met him a year ago, but that’s all I’m going to say. When you see him again, you will know,” Brad said.

“Brad, I can’t love again, not after you. You were everything to me,” Lucy said.

“Baby, you have to move on with your life. I want my baby girls to have a dad. I can’t be that dad, and I want you to love again. Please baby, do it for me,” Brad said.

“I don’t know if I can,” Lucy said.

“I know you can, baby,” Brad said.

“Brad,” Lucy said.

“Baby, I don’t want you to be alone forever, I don’t want you to be a single mom,” Brad said.

“I don’t know,” Lucy said.

“You are a strong woman, baby, you can do it. I love you, I will always love you, and I will always be with you. I know you won’t forget me.

“I know you think you would be replacing me, but I know it’s not like that,” Brad said. He hugged her and kissed her softly.

“Goodbye, my love,” Brad said. He kissed her again and walked away. She stood there, crying.

***

Lucy woke up and saw she was in her bed. She lay there staring at the ceiling. She wondered if it was true that her husband wanted her to move on.

Lucy got her girls up and dressed and fed and took them to Lauren’s house. She walked in with them.

“Morning kids, morning sis,” Lauren said.

“Morning,” Lucy said.

“Lily!” Bentley said.

“Hey Ben,” Lily said. They went to play. Lucy sat down at the kitchen island.

“What’s up?” Lauren asked.

“Just a dream I had last night, or a vision,” Lucy said.

“What was it about?” Lauren asked.

“I was in this field of flowers and Brad appeared,” Lucy said. She told Lauren everything about the dream.

“He’s giving you a sign to move on,” Lauren said.

“Yeah, but who is he talking about, I wonder?” Lucy said.

“Hi Lucy,” Brittany said.

“Hi sweetie, how are you?” Lucy asked.

“I'm okay,” Brittany said.

“That’s good,” Lucy said.

“Bye,” Brittany said. She ran off and Lucy sat there. Her eyes widened and she looked at her sister.

“Her dad,” Lauren said.

“Kevin?” Lucy asked.

“You met him a year ago,” Lauren said.

“I don’t know,” Lucy said.

“Sis, is there any other guy you met a year ago?” Lauren asked.

“No,” Lucy said.

“It’s him,” Lauren said.

“Oh god,” Lucy said.

“But he’s got a girlfriend now,” Lauren said.

“Well then, that’s a sign that I’m meant to be alone,” Lucy said.

“Luce!” Lauren said.

“I’ve got to go to the shop. Bye,” Lucy said. She went out the door and went to the shop. She opened the door and went in and saw something that shocked her.

She got her phone and called the police. She stood outside and waited. A car pulled up and Kevin got out.

“Lucy, are you all right?” Kevin asked.

“I’m fine, my shop isn’t,” Lucy said.

“I’ll go check it out, okay?” Kevin said. He went into the shop. Lucy saw her brothers pull up.

“Sis!” Mark said.

“You all right?” Marco asked.

“We heard it over the police scanner,” Mitch said.

“You hurt?” Michael asked.

“Sis,” Maxwell said.

“I’m fine, guys. Kevin is checking it out,” Lucy said.

“I’m going to help,” Mitch said.

“Me too,” Marco said. They went in. Mark hugged her. Maxwell and Michael stood with them.

“Why would someone do this to a flower shop?” Lucy asked.

“They must have been looking for money,” Mark said.

“Oh my god, Lucy, what’s going on?” Amy asked.

“Someone broke into the shop,” Lucy said. They heard a commotion and Kevin, Marco, and Mitch came out with a guy.

“Found him in the back room,” Kevin said.

“Why did you break into my sister’s shop?” Mark asked. The guy didn’t say anything. Kevin cuffed him as he read him his rights and put him in the squad car that had pulled up.

“Looks to be a homeless guy,” Marco said.

“Kevin found drugs on him,” Mitch said.

“What’s the state of the shop?” Amy asked.

“It’s going to have to be closed for the time being, until we can see what all he did in there,” Kevin said.

“Amy, I’ll pay you while we are closed so you won’t lose your paycheck,” Lucy said.

“Okay, thanks Lucy. Kane and I just bought our house so we need all we can get to get what we need,” Amy said.

“You guys got a great deal on that house. I’ll be over later to help you guys paint,” Kevin said.

“That’s okay, Kev. Kane has some of the guys from work coming to help. He didn’t want to bother you after you have been working all day. He wanted you to spend time with the kids,” Amy said.

“I better get to work here. Mitch, Marco, let’s go,” Kevin said. They went back inside. Mark held Lucy close.

“I can’t believe this,” Lucy said.

“It will be okay sis. After they are done, Max and I will get our crew in to do cleanup,” Michael said.

“We will help you get it back into shape,” Maxwell said.

“I love you guys,” Lucy said.

“We love you sis,” Mark said.

“Yeah, we love you, sis,” Michael said.

“Love you, sis,” Maxwell said. They all stood there talking.