Page 122 of Perfect Three

He just shook his head, his face a picture of sadness.

Jack hoped Sebastian would be able to cope with what was happening.

“Ooh, I’m in trouble.”She giggled at Jack behind a hand.“He’s gonna spank me,” she said in the sing-song voice as she settled herself against his side.

He put an arm around her.

“Do you know my horrible daughter came here and took my bottle away?Can’t find the other one.”

“You don’t need any more to drink, Lucy.”

Sebastian’s tone was harsh, and Jack knew inside he hurt badly.This had to bring back all the horrendous memories of his mother for Sebastian, and Jack worried how this affected him.He had his fingers crossed for them both.Maybe this was the miracle they’d prayed for, and now they would have their beloved Lucy back.

“Do.”

Sebastian moved to the side of the bed as he stared down at her.“No, you don’t, Lucy.”He uttered the words with a shocked tone.

He sounded so stern, but Jack could see the pain etched on his face.

She began crying.“I do.I need it.”

The strain in Sebastian’s voice pierced Jack’s heart.“But why, Lucy?Why do you need it?”Now bewildered, he asked, “Why get drunk?”

“She broke my heart.Made me choose.I love my grandkids, but I love my men, too.”

“Oh, Lucy.”Jack’s heart almost broke listening to her.His eyes fill with tears at her agony, at Sebastian’s pain, at his own.

“Let me drink.Maybe it will take this heartache away for a little while.”She cried softly.“Nothing else does—I’ve tried.Going to get myself drunk then jump off the mountain this afternoon.Can’t find where I put my car keys.”

Sebastian visibly paled at her words.He held a hand to his mouth, rocking backward on his heels.Then he sat on the bed and took her hand.

He and Jack stared at each other, Jack startled by her words.

The tears in Jack’s eyes spilled out as he watched Sebastian put his other hand under her chin.

“No more drink.No more pain, Lou.Come on.You need to lie down and sleep this off.Then we can talk.”

Jack twisted her around and pushed her down until she was lying, her head on a pillow.He and Sebastian shared a look.He knew by Sebastian’s face that he felt the same shock when he’d heard Lucy talk about killing herself.

Lucy was sobbing into the pillow and kept muttering about killing herself so no one could tell her what to do anymore, that it was better to be dead than to live with the pain in her heart.

Jack stroked her arm.

Sebastian touched her gently on the face as he spoke.“No more talk about killing yourself.You don’t want to leave Jack and me alone.”

Lucy groaned in answer.She’d started sweating and looked bad.

Jack glanced over Lucy to Sebastian.“She’s going to feel really dreadful soon.”

The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Lucy tried jumping up, a hand covering her mouth.

Jack was quick, but Sebastian was even quicker.He grabbed her and carried her into the bathroom.She managed to vomit into the toilet as he held her.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have made her lie down,” Jack speculated.

“I think it was inevitable, Jack.It was going to happen sooner rather than later.It’s better she get it over with.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around the toilet bowl, clinging onto it.

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