He Loves Lucy (33 page)

“Does Japanese sound OK to you?”

“Delish.”

“So is this the end of an era?” Theo glanced around the empty office.

“Thank God,” Veronica said, popping her gum. “Let’s get out of here before he comes back.”

Theo held Lucy’s hand as they walked through the downtown lunch crowd. He kept shooting her sideways glances and smiling. But he was unusually quiet.

“You look like you got something to tell me.”

“Nope.” He squeezed her hand harder. “But I like your shoes. You’ve got the cutest little toes.”

Lucy laughed. “Yeah, and now I can look down and see them.”

“Hey, Lucy! Way to go!” A threesome of young businessmen gave her the thumbs-up as they walked by. One of them whistled. Lucy felt herself blush. It was safe to say that being on the receiving end of whistles, hoots, catcalls, and kissy noises had been a fairly recent development and that she loved every minute of it.

“Don’t you go getting a big head.”

“Ha. I think you’d be more worried about me getting a big butt.”

“Nope. Didn’t even enter my mind.”

Lucy let her head fall back and she took a deep breath of the warm Miami air. She was about to tell herself that things could not possibly be better, but she knew that was a lie. Because things were definitely about to get better with Theo.

She had big plans for the man walking next to her. In just two weeks, their yearlong venture would be done. She’d no longer be his client. He’d already given his notice, so Theo would no longer even be a trainer at the Palm Club.

They were just going to be two regular people who’d decided to become lovers.

And as soon as she and Mary Fran got back from Jamaica, the boy had better watch out.

Office of Doris Lehman, MSW, PhD

“It feels like I’m saving myself for marriage.”

Doris chuckled. “Well, in a way, you are, Lucy. You’ve had limited physical intimacy with Theo these last two months, and a deep friendship and trust had room to form. You’re both entering into this with expectations for a committed relationship.”

“He’s never really come right out and said, ‘I love you, Lucy.’ He said he’s ‘crazy’ for me. Does that count?”

Doris smiled, very nearly looking like she was suppressing a laugh.

“Did I say something funny?”

“Have a little faith, Lucy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that some things are worth waiting for.”

While Lucy mulled that over, she let her gaze wander over to the pint-size geisha gals in their pint-size outfits. She was going to miss the little floozies. And she was really going to miss Doris but didn’t know if it was appropriate for former patients to ask their former therapists to become their friends.

“When I marry Theo, I plan to ask Isaac Olorio to design a gown for me with a kimono theme. I’ve decided that would look really good on me. You’re invited to the ceremony.”

Doris coughed and tapped her chest. “So you’re already planning your wedding, are you?”

Lucy smiled. “Have a little faith, Dr. Lehman.”

The big day arrived, and the irony was that Lucy didn’t even care what the scale said-that was just the final detail. The cameras had been with them at the Palm Club the day before as Lucy completed her fitness evaluation for aerobic capacity, flexibility, and strength, and then she happily walked around in a tankini and let Theo submerge her in the hydrostatic tank. The numbers were being kept secret, like the results of the Miss America Pageant or the Academy Awards, until today, which cracked Lucy up.

Carolina Buendia appeared particularly agitated that morning, and she grabbed Lucy’s arm before the show began and pulled her off into a corner of the set.

“I wanted you to know how remarkable you are and how much I admire you. I wish I were as brave as you… I…” Her fingers shook as she expertly blotted away tears without smudging her mascara. “It’s just that I’ve struggled so much… I’ve had… Oh
God
…”

“Carolina! Lucy!” one of the producers shouted for them from the front of the set. “We need you both out here-four minutes to air!”

Carolina didn’t really need to say anything more, and Lucy stopped her. “It’s OK. I had a wonderful therapist, and she does it all-compulsive eating and bulimia and anorexia, too. Do you want her number?”

Carolina nodded and took a steadying breath. “Please don’t say anything to anyone. The media would have a field day with this.”

Lucy just smiled.

It was a relaxing show, and she and Theo joked a lot and video was played of Lucy’s year of progress. When they showed a clip of Lucy’s first workout, it was a challenge for her to watch. The woman in the snug pink sweatpants was her but not her. Yes, it was obvious that she’d been a mess on the outside. But Lucy knew that mess originated on the inside, where no one could see. And it felt wonderful not to be that angry, lonely, ashamed woman anymore.

With a drumroll from the band, Lucy stood in between Carolina and John while Theo broke the seal of the envelope.

“In fifty-one weeks, Lucy Cunningham’s percentage of body fat has gone from sixty-nine percent to fourteen percent, from a dress size of twenty-two to a size eight.”

The audience gasped.

“Her waist was forty-two inches; now it’s twenty-eight. Her hips were fifty-one and a half inches; now they’re thirty-eight inches.”

Carolina asked the studio audience to hold their applause, and Theo continued.

“This is really amazing-her upper right thigh once measured thirty inches around, bigger than her waist is now. That same thigh is now twenty-one inches around.”

“Holy shit!” John Weaver’s hand slapped up to his mouth the instant after the words slipped out.

Lucy giggled, glad this FCC fine wouldn’t be her fault.

Theo tucked the envelope in his shorts pocket and addressed the camera. “Now, before Lucy gets on the scale, I want everyone out there to remember that if she doesn’t hit one hundred and thirty pounds today-and chances are she won’t-that does not mean she didn’t reach her goal.”

The crowd nodded and manufactured a variety of supportive sounds.

Lucy knew he’d said that for her benefit. He still planned to see her naked, no matter what the scale said.

They came pretty close. Lucy’s final weigh-in put her at 139 pounds, for a total loss of ninety-one pounds.

She’d take it.

Lucy and Mary Fran’s flight to Jamaica left Miami International the next morning at seven. Lucy had decided to surprise Theo at his house the evening before. They had agreed to wait until she got back from Jamaica, but she couldn’t do it. She wanted him now. She didn’t want to wait another second.

She pulled into the driveway of his house on DeLeon and gingerly got out of her Toyota, trying not to get her panties all twisted up. She was wearing only a trench coat tied at the waist, a pair of three-inch heels, and some very slippery and very crotchless lingerie Gia had brought her from Paris. It took Lucy several attempts to figure out which holes were intended for her legs, but once she’d done that, the effect was shocking.

At least she hoped it would shock Theo.

She’d come by this evening because she knew Buddy was at an away track meet and wouldn’t be back until late. It was the perfect opportunity.

Lucy went to the front door and knocked. There was no answer. She peered into the garage and saw Theo’s car tucked inside. Maybe he’d gone on another run, though they’d done five miles together that morning. She thought she’d check around back, just in case he was working in the yard, and she was suddenly struck by an idea-why not just ditch the coat? Why not just go for the full effect? If she was going to shock Theo, why not just go ahead and shock the man all the way?

Lucy giggled as she untied the belt. By God, she was desirable and beautiful, and she was going to flaunt it! She’d be thirty years old in a few days and she’d never flaunted jack shit! She’d worked awful hard to get this flauntable body, and soon she’d be past the flaunting age! If she didn’t do it now, when would she?

Lucy draped the trench coat over the fence, then scurried inside the gate before anyone could see her from the street.

And then Lucy halted, frozen, in her underwear-because Theo was standing in the middle of his backyard with what appeared to be a very attractive woman in his arms.

Theo must have sensed Lucy’s presence, because his head popped up, and he saw her. He blinked. Bunked again. Then his mouth gaped open and his arms fell to his sides and he took two steps away from the woman, who seemed to be a bit unsteady on her feet.

Of course, the woman noticed Theo’s shock, so naturally she looked over her shoulder to see what he was staring at with such astonishment. And logically, she did what any woman would do under the circumstances. She screamed bloody murder.

So did Lucy.

Lucy bolted out the gate and threw on her L.L. Bean trench coat and cinched the belt so tight it nearly cut off her circulation. Then she paced in the driveway, trying to get her brain to wrap around everything that had just happened and what it meant.

“Lucy. Uh. This is not exactly what you might think.”

She whipped her head around and saw Theo standing at the open gate with the woman at his side and OK, Lucy had been wrong. The woman wasn’t very attractive-she was drop-dead beautiful!

“This is Jenna Tolliver, my old friend from medical school I told you about, the one who got engaged a while back.” Theo took a step closer to Lucy. “She’s going through a rough patch and came by to talk, Luce.”

Jenna stepped forward and held out her thin, pale hand. “Hello, Lucy. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I’ve been watching you all year.”

Well now, wasn’t that pleasant of her? But all Lucy could wonder was how does a woman greet a potential rival when the rival knows her body fat percentage and the circumference of her thighs and had just seen her in a pair of baby pink crotchless French-cut boy shorts trimmed in black lace with a matching demi-bra? What was the appropriate response in this situation? Lucy was fairly certain it didn’t involve shaking the woman’s hand!

“He’s mine. Hit the road,” was the response Lucy settled on, which she could not
believe
. The awkward silence that followed was cut short by Theo’s snort, followed by his loud laughter. Jenna began to giggle.

Norton chose that moment to exit the backyard and sit next to Lucy’s feet, which were planted wide apart on the driveway. It was as if the cat was choosing sides, and Lucy decided she’d never forget his loyalty to her at this crucial moment.

Jenna came closer to Lucy, which sent Norton spitting and skittering away. Then the beautiful woman invaded Lucy’s personal space by kissing her on the cheek. She gave her a stiff smile. “Good luck to you,” Jenna said, walking by. “Have fun in Jamaica.”

Lucy watched Jenna get into the Acura parked at the curb, then drive away. She turned her attention to Theo.

He didn’t look a bit guilty. Of course, he was busy staring down the deep vee in her raincoat while a crooked smile spread across his face. Lucy adjusted the lapels and sniffed. “So? Tell me what I’m misinterpreting here.”

Theo’s smile grew wider. “Can I see those underpants again?”

“No!” Lucy hugged herself and made sure the coat was closed from shin to chin. “The moment has been ruined.”

“Her fiance dumped her, Luce.” Theo shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “He strung her along for nine months, told her he was getting a divorce, then didn’t follow through. She was pretty devastated.”

Lucy nodded. “And she came to you for advice?”

“Yeah. And a shoulder to cry on.”

“I saw that part.”

“Jenna doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. She hasn’t for a long time. You are what matters to me.”

“That’s good to hear. Well, I need to go home and get packed. I just wanted to say good-bye.”

Theo moved close and caressed the side of Lucy’s face. She felt the heat of his touch warm her skin and she automatically turned her mouth into his hand. It was a reflex. Theo’s pinkie stroked along her bottom lip.

“You know, Luce, that outfit you’re wearing is the way a woman says hello, not good-bye.”

“Ha. Well, maybe it was a see-you-later. Just try to be good while I’m gone, OK?” Lucy kissed Theo hard on the mouth and turned to get in her car.

“Are you going to pack those undies for Jamaica?”

Lucy laughed. “I don’t think Mary Fran would be as appreciative as you.”

“Right.” Theo held open the car door for her. “Is she at your place now?”

Lucy scowled at him. “Yeah. She’s packing. Why?”

“Just tell her I said to have a nice trip.”

Lucy shook her head, then looked up at Theo, leaning on the car window, relaxed and long and handsome and sweet and smiling at her like he loved her.

She knew he loved her-even if he couldn’t say it. It was all over his face. She was so sure of it, it didn’t even bother her that she’d just seen him hugging his ex-girlfriend.

Well, not much anyway.

“You’re going to miss me, aren’t you?”

“So much, Lucy.” Theo leaned down and kissed her one last time. “Until then, baby.”

Theo watched Lucy drive down his street, and as soon as she made the corner he pulled out his cell phone.

“Mary Fran? You’ve got to make sure she packs the bra and panties she’s wearing tonight. This is critical. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“What bra and panties? Where is she? I don’t have any idea what she’s even wearing-and how do
you
know?”

“Just do it, Fran. Stick them into her bag when she’s not looking. Did all my stuff fit in your suitcase?”

“Good Lord. Yes, Theo.”

“Just do this one little thing for me, and I swear I’ll owe you for the rest of my life.”