The Marshall Boy

Thirty-one.

Thirty-One.
Lucy.

I spent the night at Blake's: but he was going somewhere with his Dad today so I left his place about an hour after he did. I stop by at Bob's so I can get some breakfast for lunch, since I don't feel like making anything after my cooking fiasco yesterday. I'm feeling very refreshed, and happy: until I walk in everyone stops talking and stares at me. It's the same way they treat Blake; like a danger. I'm used to the judgment, being the Vaughn's daughter, so the whispering doesn't faze me as I order my regular breakfast order and check my phone. There's a few missed calls from Mom, one from Mimi, and another from a number I don't recognize. I furrow my brow in confusion, as the raven haired girl rings up my order. I give her my money, but I'm distracted.

"Are you alright?" Her voice is a high pitch but she says it gently, and it's what causes me to look up at her. It's a girl who was a sophomore when I was a senior; I think her name was Faith. She's eyeing me like she's worried so I send her a small smile.

"Yeah, thanks." I respond, as I take the food bag from her.

"Lucy?" She calls, and I turn back to look at her over my shoulder. "For what it's worth; I think Blake is a really great guy." She flashes a small smile, then it's gone. I send her one back, and nod before I walk out. She should tell him that. He needs all the support he can get with all the town gossip going on. As I drive home, I'm confused as to why after he's been in town for a few months, she finds it necessary to tell me this now. I'm even more confused when I pull into my driveway, and see Mom's car parked in its usual spot. They aren't supposed to be home until tomorrow. I frown as I hop out of the Jeep, and head toward the house. Once I'm in the door, Mimi is there, a relieved expression on her face.

"Oh, Lucy, are you alright?" She pulls me into a hug, squashing the bag of food to my chest.

"Why are you home so soon?" I inquire, as she pulls away. I hear Mom upstairs, then I hear her yell my name.

"Where have you been?" Mimi whispers, and I open my mouth to answer but my confusion stops me.

"What-" I start but she grabs my arms as Mom's footsteps are heard on the steps.

"Lucy, where were you?" She asks, more frantic.

"Blake's." I whisper back, and her eyes slam shut.

"Lucy!" Mom's voice is so relieved and she hugs me in a death grip, but I stare at Mimi over her shoulder. "Oh thank God." Mom's crying, and I'm so confused I can't even hug her back.

Mimi meets my eyes, and she mouths something to me she's never mouthed before. "Lie." I feel like she's punched me. I never lie to Mom; though recently I've been hiding more than my fair share of secrets.

"Where were you?" Mom asks, and she's been crying. Her eyes are blood shot, and she seems to be feeling a million emotions all at once. My eyes meet Mimi's and she nods once, her eyes steel.

"I went to get breakfast." I present the smooshed food bag, and she sighs in relief before tears pool her eyes and she nods. It's as if I can see whatever weight just crashed into my Mother, and I'm still so confused as I stand there numbly.

"C'mon," Mimi beckons Mom, and she goes to her. She's not my Mom right now, she's a daughter who needs her own Mom. "You need to rest." Why? I want to scream. Dread is pooling in my stomach; as if my body knows something awful has happened, and it preparing itself for the shock. Is a family member dead? Oh god, is my Dad okay? Mom still loves him: but she wouldn't let me see her this torn up. She'd be comforting me. It's not Dad. This is something darker, something bigger.

Mimi helps Mom to her room, and I'm alone for what seems like an eternity before Mimi appears before me again. I'm still standing mutely, holding my bag of food which is surely cold now. Mimi eyes me warily, before she walks forward and places her hands on my arms.

"Lucille," She never uses my full name. "What time did you meet Blake last night?"

"What?" I blurt, and she looks me straight in the eye, willing me to focus.

"What time?" She repeats, and I blink a few times.

"I got off at midnight, but he came by the bar twenty minutes before then. We were apart for twenty-five minutes after that." I rattle on, and her eyes close briefly as she mutters something about that not being enough time. "What is going on?" I demand.

Her eyes open, and her grip tightens on my shoulders. "The Minister is dead, Lucy. He was murdered last night" I don't react. I'm too shocked. David is dead? Why would anyone have any reason to kill the Minister? My head is spinning. The first man my Mom was starting to care for since Dad, the man who was kind to everyone, the man who bailed me out of so many awkward dinner situations, the one person besides Bobby, Mimi and me that believed in Blake...Blake. Oh no.

I'm shaking my head because Mimi knew where this would go. All the people watching me this morning, Faith's words, the random number calling me.

"No." I breathe, as I drop the bag of food.

"Lucy." Mimi's grip tightens further, but my mind is reeling. "Lucille." Mimi tries to keep her voice level.

"I'm his alibi." I tell her, and her eyes steel again.

"You can't get involved." Her face is stone, resolute. "Lucille, you can't." Her voice cracks with the word, but I'm already out of her arms.

"He didn't do this!" I shout, as I look around for my keys. I dropped them somewhere, I need to go to him.

"Lucy!" She grabs my cheeks, forcing me to focus on her. "I know he didn't." Her words stump me, and I stop struggling. "Someone is framing him: and if you throw yourself into the lion's den for him, that person will get rid of you." Her words cause a shiver to wrack my body, and I feel tears fill my tired eyes. I don't care. I want to scream. I need to help him. I love him. I want to shout it to the entire world. I haven't told anyone, but I love him. I need to help him. The reasonable part of my brain is screaming at me to go change into my pajamas, to climb into bed with Mom, and to cry with her: but every other part of me is screaming to do what's right. To help Blake Marshall.

There's a buzzing in my ear, and I look around the room for where it's coming from. I finally realize it's coming from the pocket of my North Face; it just took a minute for my numb body to realize it. My shaking hand reaches into the pocket, and when I see the name on my phone I don't hesitate to answer it.

"Hey." I breathe, feeling a sob of relief threaten to exit my body: but it's not Blake's voice; it's Jack's.

"Lucy," He breathes in relief. "Are you alright?"

"Where is he?" I turn from Mimi, and when she touches my shoulder, I flinch hard. I'm too wired to be touched right now.

"He's okay." Jack's voice is tired, and he's dancing around my question. "He wanted me to call you. He doesn't want you to come here." He says steadily. Of course he doesn't. I'm his only alibi: but I'd be in danger.

"No," I hear myself say, my voice as determined as his. "I'm his alibi."

There's silence on the other end. Jack just heard that I'm his son's way out of jail. "He doesn't want that." He finally gets out, but I can hear his hesitation. His uncertainty. A parent's willing to risk anything to protect their kid- no matter how old they are.

"Is he okay?" I whisper into the phone, pain blossoming in my chest. A whisper is all I can manage at the moment.

"He's okay." He replies, and I wipe a tear away angrily.

"Good. Thank you for calling me."

"Lucy," He hears it in my voice. "He doesn't want you to be involved."

"I got involved a long time ago." Is my reply, right before I end the call. Mimi's been holding her breath, and when I turn to her, her face falls. I'm stubborn like her daughter. I don't go down without a fight like my Father.