Pawned Virtue - #wattys2015 BK4 TPBS - Completed 1st draft

-10-

Not edited. OK pricelings.. The last chapter affected us all and tears were flowing from literally all over the world. The part of this story that has me the saddest is knowing that Lucas has closed off his heart so severely he doesn't know how to open it again or even if he wants to. Whereas our baby Tara has no idea what love feels like to either receive or give. There's a long journey ahead for this pair. Each one needs to love and be loved. This story is literally heartbreaking.

"She stopped asking if she could eat."

"She's not eating?!" he asked in horror.

"Thats not what I said Lucas. I said she stopped asking for food. She now helps herself."

Lucas couldn't stop the grin even if he wanted to as he took in Maggie's words.

"It's a start isn't it Maggie?" he asked.

"It sure is Lucas. It's taken four weeks but it's finally sunk in."

The pair were sitting either side of the breakfast bar of the beach house where Maggie and Tara had moved to the day after he told her everything. She still refused to speak to him and he honestly couldn't blame her. He'd been brutally honest and in turn he'd hurt her even more.

"Do you think..." his voice trailed off. Maggie knew his question. He'd asked every time he stopped by.

She shook her head sadly "I'm sorry Lucas. She's just not ready."

He nodded with a solemn look on his face as he stared down at the black liquid in his mug.

"I didn't think so."

Maggie had seen that look before and it broke her heart.

"There's sonething else"

It was the answer to the unspoken question that lingered over them all since that first night.

He looked at her expectantly.

"She's not pregnant."

He lent back and closed his eyes. For her sake he was glad. She deserved to fall pregnant with someone she loves. For his own sake he didn't know how to feel. He was starting to hope, to wonder if maybe...  now it wasn't to be and he was hit with an emotion he never thought he'd feel when he first considered Matthews proposal. Sadness at the realisation that he actually wanted a baby with Tara.

"Lucas..."

He dropped his head back down and opened his eyes.

"I'm fine Maggie. It's best for her."

Maggie nodded in agreement.

"So, where is she today?" Lucas asked casually.

"Down at the beach with some friends from school. They're have a barbeque later so they all came early."

"All?"he asked with a look of distaste that had Maggie laughing at him.

"Yes, all. They're not that bad Lucas."

"Sorry Maggie but there's no way you'll get me to agree with you. A bunch of screaming teenage girls..." he shuddered.

"Oh they're not all girls."

"They're not?" he looked shocked.

"No Lucas. Boys and girls can be friends and the young gentlemen I met earlier are quite nice and polite" she couldn't help but grin as Lucas' face changed to a scowl.

"They have a guard down there don't they?"

"Yes Lucas. Adam is watching from a close but safe enough distance. She'll be fine."