to the hospital. The days that followed were like a blur and then I learned that our baby had died. I died that day too. My mom came for me and demanded that I come home with her. I didn’t understand why because nothing had changed, but I wasn’t given a choice.”
Darcy noticed the look that crossed Lucien’s face. “What are you thinking?”
“People don’t do things without a reason. I’d like to know what reason your mom had to get involved.”
Darcy had never really thought about it that way. It was a question she was going to demand her mother answer.
“Did the man that came to see you know you were pregnant?”
Darcy nodded.
“Any idea how he knew that?”
“Heidi. She was in the bathroom the day I took the pregnancy test. I’d bet money she fished the test out of the trash. At the time I just thought she was being her typical creepy self, but later I realized she had to be the link to the man.”
Anger turned Lucien’s voice hard. “Makes sense.”
“I’m sorry that you learned about our baby in the way that you did.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there at your side. If I had known, I would have been.”
“I don’t want to keep running from you. I’m so tired of running, Lucien.”
He ran his finger along her jaw. “We’ve both been hurt and are way more cautious this time around. You said once that we aren’t the same people we were. We’re not, but I want to get to know the person you’ve become. I still want you in my life, Darcy.”
“I want that too.”
“I’ve no other secrets, do you?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then let’s take it day by day.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Have you had lunch?”
“No.”
“Good, then I’ll whip something up in the kitchen and you can comment on my culinary skills.”
“You can forgive me that easily?” she whispered.
“Can you?” he asked.
Her reply was immediate and heartfelt. “Yes.”
He pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Me too. Come on. I’m starving.”
The following evening, Darcy sat across from Lucien at Tapas. They were doing exactly as Lucien had suggested, taking it a day at a time. She watched as he placed the order for their drinks before he turned his attention on her.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, but being a stubborn prick, I kept myself from doing so.”
“What?”
“How did you manage college?”
Her reaction to that question surprised her. A lump formed in her throat and her eyes burned. Lucien noticed when he gently asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t think you cared.”
“I’ve always cared.”
She accepted those words with the same sincerity with which they were offered. She collected herself before she answered him.
“Sister Margaret arranged it.”
His look of disbelief brought a chuckle from her. “How did that happen?”
“When I turned eighteen, she summoned me. Told me she had it all worked out and that all I needed to do was accept.”
“Why? Not that I’m not glad she gave you the opportunity, but that isn’t like her.”
“That’s exactly how I felt. She claimed it was because I had suffered through a lot, but I don’t know. I always had the sense that it was penance for something.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Like you said, she wasn’t that kind of person, so why take the interest? People don’t change overnight, and yet she did a complete one-eighty when she offered me a chance to change my life. And it did—going to college took my life in a direction it never would have gone.”
It was the thoughtful look on his face that made her ask, “What are you thinking?”
The waitress returned in that moment and they waited for the wine to be served and for her to move on before he replied, “It just seems odd that two people in your life known for their disinterest suddenly take an interest in you. Why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve thought about what could have motivated Sister Margaret and the only thing she seemed to care about was St. Agnes. Maybe she thought I was going to seek restitution because I fell there.”
Lucien lifted his glass but Darcy could tell he was mulling over her words. “Maybe. Doesn’t explain your mom.”
“Unless Sister Margaret asked her to come for me, maybe compensating her to do so. My mom would do just about anything for money.”
His response was barely audible. “Bitch.”
And then he sobered. “I’m sorry you went through that alone. There were several times I almost came back during that first