What Lola Wants (London Dolls Book 1) (12 page)

She sat and ushered Louisa to join her on the sofa. “I’ve been sober for six years.” Her mother glanced over the photographs, a heavy sigh raising her chest. “I tried reaching you about a year ago, but Jane claimed she didn’t have a number for you.”

“That’s because I wasn’t in touch with her before.” Louisa sat beside her mother.

“I’m sorry to hear that. You two were always so close.”

“We will be again, hopefully.”

“I hope for the same thing for the two of us. Luke would like to see that, too.”

“Luke?”

“I’m getting married.” Her mother’s eyes lit with passion. “I’ve been waiting,
we’ve
been waiting, for you to give us your blessing.”

“Silly, why would you wait for me? If you love each other, then—”

“I told Luke I would only marry him if I had you as my maid of honor. And the amazing man he is, he understood my needs. You remember Luke, right?”

“Landscaper Luke? Always handy, a real catch. Well done, Mum.” She placed her hand over her mother’s and patted. “I’m glad you found such a good man to take care of you. He’s sweet, and a great cook.”

“I am very lucky, indeed.”

“Did he do these renovations?”

“Yes, and he’s repainting everything outside, too. He takes good care of me. He told me he used to make you dinners on occasion when I was…when I was….”

“Not yourself? Yes, thank goodness for the kindness of strangers. His spag-bol is out of this world.”

“I hope we can put the past behind us. Can you be happy for me?”

“Of course, I’m happy for you, Mum.” She rose. “That kettle must have boiled. That cuppa still on offer?”

“You betcha.” Her mother trundled to the kitchen and went about brewing tea. The clanging of pots and pans comforted Louisa. “When I heard about your engagement,” she called from the kitchen, “and that you were staying with Jane for a while, I said to Luke that instead of having you as the maid of honor, that perhaps we could do a double wedding. Is that too much?”

“A double wedding?” Louisa chuckled. Mum may be better, but she still had a terrible memory. “I’m not getting married. Unless you know something I don’t.”

“Luke got in touch with that lovely Italian dancer Alfonso of yours a few days back. Oh, my. He is so sweet, told me you were back in the city. That’s why I called Jane. I can see why you’re in love with him. Such a nice man. Anyway, yesterday, he came all the way out here to meet me. What a doll.”

“What?” Frozen to the spot, her limbs tightened and her hands shook.

“He said I should buy a hat, hinting he might propose to you right after his visit with me. That’s why I nagged Jane to pass a message on for you to get in touch. She didn’t want to, that’s for sure, said you had a lot on your plate. Of course, you do, but a woman should never have to plan a wedding without her mother.”

Louisa raced to the kitchen. “What else did he say, Mum?”

“That he cherishes you, worships the ground you walk on. You are so very lucky.” She clapped her hands and threw her arms around her. “I’m so glad you came.”

She grabbed her mum’s shoulders and shook her, “Al said we’re getting married? What else did he say?”

“What is it, LouLou?”

Hearing that name turned her into a five-year-old, brought her back to the day she had sobbed in the kitchen because of a bully at school. Her mother had called her LouLou on the rare occasions she gave a crap. She crouched and cradled herself. “How can he know where you live? Please say you didn’t tell him where Jane lived or that you gave out her number.”

“I don’t understand.” Her mother bent and wrapped her arms around her. “Whatever it is, I’m sure you’re worrying over nothing.”

“Mum, please, did you tell him her address or phone number?”

“I’m not sure. No, wait, I didn’t. I definitely didn’t.”

“Oh, thank God.” She flung her arms around her mother, and, for the first time, allowed herself to take solace in the parental embrace.

Pulling away, her mother asked, “What’s this all about?”

“I left him. I need you to know that. He’s no good. If he comes back, don’t answer the door. Okay? I’ve gotta call the police.” Louisa pulled out her mobile phone and paced the kitchen.

Her mother followed. “But—”

“But nothing, Mum. If only you knew what he put me through. He’s not right in the head.” She stilled and fled to the front door. “I must find Dennis…”

“He’s here? Oh, that boy. I love him.”

“You love everyone, Mum.”

“I love you.”

“Uh-huh.” She turned the handle to leave.

“You’re not going already, are you?” Her mother joined her side and pouted. “But I made biscuits.”

“I have to, Mum.”

“But what about being a bridesmaid?”

“We’ll talk another time, okay? I have to get to Dennis.”
Have to feel safe in his arms.

“I am sorry, you know that don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. Hey, I’ll call you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” She opened the door and stepped into the garden. Turning, she said, “Say hi to Luke for me.”

She beamed, tears welling. “Will do. Love you. Come back soon.” She waved from the door.

Louisa turned. “Mum?”

“Yes, LouLou?”

“Please lock the door and remember to call the police if Al comes back?”

“Of course.”

She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and said, “I love you.” She meant it, too.

Chapter Ten

Dennis suited up into his surf gear and raced to the ocean. He battled against the ocean’s wild current until way beyond the foaming break. There, he sat atop his board and waited, the frigid liquid lapping at his thighs. Bigger waves would come soon. He waited with nothing but him and the wide-open space…and his thoughts to battle with. The idea he couldn’t be there for Lola drove him insane. He wanted to make her life better again, to fix her. She needed to see that she wasn’t weak, but she had to realize that for herself. He hoped the visit was going okay, that Lola was getting what she needed from her mother.

Swells of a promising wave bumped the water around him so he leapt to his knees, and at the right moment, took stance and rode the ocean. Muscles pulled taut, distracted by his Lola, he crashed under the rip.

This wouldn’t do. Pride made him get back out there and pull his focus on the surf. Sure, he was out of practice, but he soon got into the swing of it and caught wave after wave. He glided ashore, a sense of completion filling him. He hoped he could make the move back home, get back to surfing on a daily basis again. The ocean calmed him.

Guilt ransacked him when he fell upon the sand. It seemed wrong to be riding out his victory of love on the surf while the woman who gave him these chills faced her alcoholic mother for the first time in twelve years.

Like Lola hadn’t been through enough this year already.

He grabbed his board and dragged it inland, toward his towel and pile of clothes, and… Lola? She sat on the sand, hands covering her eyes and knees tucked to her chest. Her shoulders shook, and her shimmering hair had fallen over her face. What had her mother done to her? Lola was meant to be empowered after seeing her, not broken. He couldn’t have her hurting, no way.

He raced to her then stabbed his board upright in the sand.

“Didn’t go well?” Plonking next to her, he rested an arm around her shoulder. “What did she say?”

“She’s fine,” she stammered. “Said she’s been sober for years. And get this, she’s getting bloody wed to Landscaper Luke.”

“Wow, I’d like to hear how the drunk and the handyman fell in love.”

“Yeah, they’ve renovated the whole of the inside of the house, and she’s been burning the paint off the outside to prep for a new coat of color. She’s even working, as a waitress at Coffee ’n Cream. It’s only seasonal, but still. My mum? Working?”

“Wow, your mum serving coffee to locals… Never thought I’d see the day.”

“And she apologized.” She burst into sobs. He wiped away her tears and promised her she’d be okay. “She apologized for not protecting me the way a mother should.”

“If things went so well, why did you finish it so quickly? And why are you shaking?”

“Dennis?” Shifting to the side, she kneeled and swept her hair behind her ears.

“Yes, baby.”

“Can we go away somewhere?” She glared up at him with her big eyes, pleading with him as if asking for sweets from the corner shop.

“I can’t say no to you.”

“Somewhere abroad. Spain, maybe? Or Greece?”

“Anywhere.”

“And we should bring Jane along, the three amigos back causing trouble again,” she sniffled.

“You want my sister to come along on our dirty weekend?”

“Yes to Jane. No to the dirty part.”

“I’ve got two weeks over Easter, and we have all summer. The benefits of being a teacher. Where should we go? Somewhere relaxing, or do you want to do lots of sightseeing?”

“No, let’s go now,” she said, her tone high, her hands outright shaking. “Can you swing time off?”

The panic in her demand worried him. This quick getaway wasn’t about recovering after meeting her mum. Something bothered her. There was something she hadn’t told him. “Lola?”

Slumping back to sitting, she sighed and whispered, “It’s Al. He’s been here.”

“And you weren’t going to tell me?”

“I want to forget he ever existed.” She pulled her knees tighter into her chest and pressed her lips into a tight line. “Why can’t he let me move on?”

“Did you tell the police?”

She nodded. “First thing I did after I got out of Mum’s, but he could be anywhere. He could be here, right now, watching me.”

Dennis’s phone buzzed to alert him of a text. It read,
She was mine first, and she’ll always be mine. Walk away while you still can.

“What is it?”

His nostrils flared, and he gritted his teeth. Al was some piece of work. He needed to meet his fists, and soon.

He battled himself to calm, Lola didn’t need to know. Or did she? He tossed the question in his head a few times over and decided that for now she didn’t need further upset. “It’s nothing.” Hitting the archive option to save the cheap threat, he vowed he would protect her from that man’s madness no matter the cost. Be there for her. Forever. Never would anyone hurt her again. If she wanted to go on a holiday, he’d find a way to make it happen. Wrapping his arms around her, he said, “I’ll need to head back to London to arrange some time off. After that, we can go anywhere you’d like.”

She pulled out her mobile and dialed a number. Her bastard ex, he presumed. “I’m sick of hiding from him.”

“Are you calling Al now?”

She nodded. “To give him a piece of my mind.”

Dennis whipped the phone out of her hand before she clicked the ring command. “Don’t even. He doesn’t deserve your time or your attention. If you call him, or go to him to talk, you’re giving him just what he wants. Ignore the bastard.”

“I’m scared of how far he will take his infatuation.”

“I won’t let him near you. I promise.”

“I trust you, Dennis. I do. There’s nowhere in the world where I’d feel safer than in your arms, but I can’t lie and pretend I’m not scared. I am. I’m petrified. But mostly, I’m over it.” Snuggling into his arms, she shivered against him. “I just want to put him behind me.”

Dennis kissed her head and cradled her. God, how he needed to fix everything for her, but all he could do was offer distraction. And he remembered the surprise he’d arranged for later and figured it couldn’t wait. “Hey, how about we indulge in a beachside picnic?”

She wiped her tears. “Sounds perfect. When did you arrange this?”

“Earlier, when you were chatting with your mum.”

“Please say you got wine.”

“Of course.” He grinned, stood and held out a hand to help her up.

He had to be strong, had to be there for her. Be her rock. Now would be a perfect time to pull out his surprise. That would be sure to bring a smile. “I have the keys to my family’s chalet.”

“We used to hang out there all the time. Are the deck chairs and blankets still there?”

“Yup, and water and towels. We can clean up and start the day again.” He stood and helped her up. “So, your mum is doing okay? Tell me about this wedding.”

A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. “She sure surprised me.”

He hooked his arm in hers and headed to the row of privately-owned chalets lining the sandy promenade adjacent to the beach, each a different color. He guided her to his family’s blue shack, still kitted out. Anyone who had a chalet took effort with them as the council waved tax fees for those adding to the appeal of the area.

After unlocking the door, he was sure to step back so she’d be the first one to enter and see his pre-arranged gift. Though it wasn’t too fancy given the short time he’d had to arrange everything, he hoped the gesture would be appreciated.

“I know you used to prefer yellow, but given Al, I changed it up a bit.”

Her eyes lit, golden hues reflecting from the five bunches of yellow and orange roses he’d placed around a spread picnic blanket. She spun and kissed his cheek.

“I used to give you a single rose before each show. For luck, right? With this lot, you should have a mountain of good luck.”

“I sure will. Thank you.”

The chalet gave shelter for the afternoon while they lay on a blanket on the floor and ate chicken and remembered their youth. The good and the bad times, but mostly of the bet they had made with each other the last year he was in high school. She had to hang with the beach crowd and surf, or try to, and he had to get into tights and take her place in three dance classes.

Giggling, they moved to the little porch where they relaxed the evening away on deckchairs.

Oranges and pinks swirled in the sky. Waves crashed ashore, seagulls squawking above, and the sun lowered over the horizon.

She let out a sigh, and he glanced in her direction. “Are you happy?”

“Very,” she replied and reached for his hand, her touch sending electric pulses to his heart.

Soon darkness would arrive.