CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: LUCIAN'S LEGACY.

Lucian.

There was no argument of whether I loved Lucinda Buford. She was my mother and my rock and I loved her. It didn't mean that there weren't times I just didn't want to strangle the fuck out of her. Like now for instance.

She had called me at seven thirty while I was driving to work to tell me she needed me. She hadn't needed to say more. I had turned my car around and headed for her house which was approximately a two hour thirty minute drive. I made it two hours on the dot. Two hours that I spent thinking of all the worst case scenarios and trying to call her over and over again. Each call that went to voice mail only sent my blood pressure higher and higher to the roof.

I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to call the school's English department in the midst of my panic.

I immediately rang up Tina Bertram, a substitute who had filled in for me once before.

"Hello?"

"Tina, Good morning, it's Lucian Buford."

"I know it's you, professor. Do you need something?" S