Chapter 8: A Present for You

Raymond quickly tiptoed to the lobby, his heart pounding as if it would burst out of his chest. He couldn’t believe what he had just done, but the thrill of it still lingered in his veins.

He eased himself down onto the plush sofa, trying to steady his breathing.. He bent his head backward, resting it against the cool leather, and closed his eyes, willing the tension to drain from his body.

But it didn’t.

Just as his thoughts began to spiral out of control, he heard the sharp click of heels against the marble floor. His eyes snapped open, and he lifted his head to see Lucy standing in the doorway. She crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze pinning him in place as he gulped down.

“Raymond…” Lucy drawled, walking closer to him.  “Why didn’t you answer when I was calling you?” She asked, scrutinizing him, suspicion evident in her voice,

He quickly masked his unease with a forced smile, trying to appear nonchalant. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lucy. I was just deep in thought. Didn’t hear you.”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed slightly as if she could see right through him, but she said nothing.

He could feel the sweat forming at the back of his neck, and he swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. The truth was gnawing at him from the inside, a truth that if Lucy ever discovered, she would despise him for it.

He could imagine the look of betrayal on her face, the disgust that would follow. It terrified him, yet he couldn’t stop himself. He was caught in a web of his own making, one that tightened around him with every passing day.

Lucy sighed, the tension easing slightly from her posture. “Raymond, what’s going on with you lately? You seem so distant.”

He stood up abruptly, unable to sit still any longer as he reached out, taking her hand in his. He pulled her close, his eyes locking onto hers lovingly and Lucy felt her cheek heat up as she blushed hard.

“Lucy” He murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, “You have no idea what you do to me, I just can't stop thinking about you. I couldn't concentrate because you were out and had to come here to pass time by but ended up daydreaming about your beautiful face.”

Her face turned a deep shade of red, and she looked away, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Raymond, stop it” She said, her face flushing with embarrassment and delight. “You’re making me blush.” He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest.

 Lucy cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “I, um, I wanted to tell you that I got Ginny’s surprise ready. We should go downstairs together to surprise her.”

Raymond’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ginny, but he quickly recovered, nodding with a smile. “Of course, let’s do that.”

He let go of her hand reluctantly, feeling the loss of her warmth as she turned to lead the way. He followed her down the staircase, his heart racing.

**

Ginny took a deep breath, smoothing down her dress as she prepared to go downstairs. Her heart was still pounding from the intense moment she had just shared with Raymond, but she forced herself to push those thoughts aside. As much as everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, she had to keep it together—at least for her mom's sake.

Descending the staircase, Ginny caught sight of her mother patiently waiting for her in the living room. Raymond stood off to the side, hands in his pockets, with a calm expression.  Their eyes met briefly, and Ginny quickly looked away, her pulse quickening again.

"Sweetheart!" Lucy's voice was filled with excitement as she rushed over to Ginny, pulling her by the arm closer. "Finally you’re here! You took ages!” She beamed and Ginny flashed her a soft chuckle.

“I have something special for you." Ginny forced a smile, trying to match her mother's enthusiasm. "What is it, Mom?"

Lucy took her hand, practically dragging her towards the front door. "Since it's the first time I'm seeing you after three years…I wanted to do something to make you happy." She pushed the door open and they both stepped out, with Raymond following behind.

Ginny's jaw dropped, staring at the view before her. Parked in the driveway was a stunning, brand-new limousine car. Its metallic blue finish shimmered under the sunlight, catching the eye with its sleek, aerodynamic lines. The car had a bold grille with chrome accents and elongated headlights that gave it a modern, assertive look. The polished rims and leather interior made it clear that this was no ordinary vehicle; it was an embodiment of luxury and style.

Ginny’s eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight. "Mom…" She whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

"Surprise!" Lucy beamed, stepping back to give Ginny a full view of the car. "I know you've been needing something reliable to get around, and I thought this would be perfect for you."

Ginny was speechless. She walked towards the car, her fingers grazing the polished surface. It was everything she could have wanted—sleek, modern, and undeniably hers.

Raymond stepped forward, his usual stoic demeanor softened by a slight smile. "I think it suits you" He said, his voice low.

Ginny turned to look at him, her heart fluttering again, this time with emotions she couldn’t quite name. "Thank you, both of you… this is… I don’t even know what to say." She beamed as she rushed to Lucy and pulled her into a hug. Lucy wrapped her arms around Ginny, her eyes shining with happiness. "I just want you to be happy, honey. You deserve it." Ginny smiled, genuinely this time. 

Lucy pulled away and raised her hand high, shaking the car keys it held. " And here are the keys to unlocking your gift!” She beamed before stuffing them into her hand.

"You're the best mom!” Ginny pouted her lips and Lucy chuckled slightly. “And I'm the luckiest mother to have you” She muttered, pecking her on her head.

" Thanks mom…I love you" She muttered. “Love you more" Lucy flashed her a smile.

She suddenly turned to Raymond. "Raymond, could you help me grab her driver license upstairs?"

Raymond nodded and leaned in to peck Lucy on the lips, his gesture tender but brief. "Of course, dear. Right away"

Lucy smiled warmly at him. "Thank you".  “You're welcome, I’ll be right back." He smiled before walking into the house.

Ginny watched Raymond’s lips brush against Lucy’s and felt a strange twist in her stomach. She suddenly felt sadness fill her up and most of all, anger!

“Let's go in dear” Lucy ushered Ginny and the two of them entered the house together. Ginny’s mind was still buzzing from the earlier encounter with Raymond, and the joy of the new car felt overshadowed by the complicated emotions she was grappling with.

Just then, Raymond came downstairs with the documents in his hands and handed it over to Lucy. "Here are all the documents you need. I wanted you to have everything sorted out before you drive off"

Ginny took the papers. "Thanks, Mom. This means a lot."

Just then, a knock echoed from the front door. Lucy's face fell, a look of surprise crossing her features. “I wonder who that could be" She murmured before heading towards the door.

She gently placed her hands on the hinges, twisted it and pushed the door open and then she froze, staring at the man who stood right in front of her. “Joshua?..."