Bikeriders Serenade

A Healing Heart

It was a cold, rainy Thursday morning when Austin stirred from sleep, feeling the soft rustle of movement beside him. Slowly blinking his eyes open, he was greeted by the sight of Lucy sitting on the edge of the bed, her shoulders trembling and tears streaking down her face. Concern immediately replaced the sleepy contentment he had felt just moments earlier.

"Lucy?" His voice was thick with grogginess but softened by concern. He sat up slowly, his brow furrowing as he reached out to her. Gently, he pulled her into his arms, feeling the warmth of her body as she melted into his embrace. “What’s wrong, beautiful?” he whispered, brushing a tear from her cheek, though the sight of her crying had already begun to stir unease in his chest.

For a moment, she remained silent, trying to hold back the sobs threatening to spill over. Then, as if unable to hold it in any longer, Lucy broke down completely, her tears soaking into his shirt as she clung to him. “I miss him so much,” she managed to say between sobs, her voice barely above a whisper.

And then it hit him. The realization dawned with a sharp pang in his chest. Two years. It had been exactly two years since they lost the baby. The baby boy they had been so excited to meet, only to have that dream taken from them in an instant. The grief that had once consumed them both came rushing back, raw and undeniable.

“Oh, baby…” Austin whispered, his own throat tightening as he pulled Lucy even closer. He cradled her against his chest, her small frame almost curled up in his lap now, his arms wrapped tightly around her as if trying to protect her from the pain that was too deep to shield her from.

He didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to take away the ache that still lingered between them after all this time. He wished he could. All he could do was hold her, letting her cry, letting her release the grief she’d been holding onto. His heart ached with the weight of their shared loss.

As Lucy’s sobs quieted, Austin pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head and murmured, "I’m here, Luce. We’ll get through today, together."

After a moment, as her breathing slowed and her body grew heavier in his arms, Austin glanced at the nearby clock. The morning had barely started, but it already felt like they had lived through hours of heartache. He knew they needed time, time to sit with the memories, time to honor their loss without the distractions of the day.

Carefully, he reached for his phone on the nightstand, never loosening his hold on Lucy. He quickly dialed Vicki, his stepmom, knowing she would understand.

"Hey, Vicki," he said quietly when she answered. "Can you come pick up the kids? We... we need some time today." His voice cracked slightly, but he cleared his throat, trying to stay strong for Lucy.

Vicki didn’t need any more explanation. "Of course, sweetheart," she replied gently. "I’ll be there in about an hour."

Austin ended the call and set the phone down, turning his full attention back to Lucy, who was still tucked against his chest, her breathing now steady but her face streaked with dried tears. He brushed a lock of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead, whispering, “Rest love. I’ve got everything taken care of.”

An hour passed in a quiet haze. Lucy, exhausted from the weight of her emotions, had fallen asleep against him. Austin laid her back down gently, watching her for a few moments before slipping out of bed to get the kids ready.

He found the kids still in their pajamas, playing quietly in the living room. Trying to maintain a sense of normalcy, he smiled and greeted them softly. "Hey, you guys. Guess what? You’re going to spend the night at Grandma’s today. Doesn’t that sound fun?"

Lori, always the more inquisitive of the four, tilted her head and asked, "Why, Daddy? What about Mommy?"

Austin knelt down, brushing a hand through her hair. "Mommy just needs some rest today, sweetheart. But you’ll have fun with Grandma, I promise."