As Lucy entered the house she could smell her grandmother's jambalaya cooking and it made her mouth water. Etta had tried to teach her the recipe years before but Lucy hadn't been interested. However, now she thought it was about time that she learned how.

"How was your day?" Etta asked over her shoulder as she removed some cornbread from the oven.

"It was good, I don't suppose you've seen Shy?" she asked as she lifted the lid to the pot that was next to her grandmother and took an appreciative whiff.

"No, but don't worry, he's around," Etta assured her as she looked at the bag on the counter. "What's in the bag?"

"That's your Hummingbird cake. There was a mix up, so I wasn't able to get you a whole cake this year, but at least we have a few pieces."

Etta eyed Lucy, and Lucy returned her look without flinching.

"A piece is all we really need," Etta assured her before she turned back towards the stove. "Go wash up, dinner is just about ready, and I'm hungry."

Lucy looked at her grandmother's back, wondering how much she really knew about what had happened at the diner. They had never discussed what her particular gift was.

It was a warm evening, so Lucy changed into a cotton sundress that flowed around her ankles and slid on some flipflops before rejoining her grandmother to help set the table.

They had just begun to eat when they heard Shy barking furiously at something.

"I told you he was fine," Etta said around a bite of cornbread.

Lucy rose to go check on Shy, wanting to make sure he was in once piece. As she stepped out of the house and onto the dock she immediately noticed Zebadiah standing at the other end with Shy holding him at bay with his menacing barks.

Lucy took her time to study him, even with a growling dog he didn't seem to be deterred in his mission as he took a step towards Shy and Shy took a step back. He looked up and saw Lucy watching him and their eyes met. She didn't know how long they looked at each other before her grandmother joined her.

"He's something, isn't he," Etta said with a smile in her voice, "he's big enough to fight all of your battles."

Lucy jerked at her grandmother's voice, and she realized why she hadn't want Zebadiah to come to the house. She didn't want to get her grandmother's hopes up about a relationship between the two of them.

"Invite him in Lucy, there is plenty of food," Etta suggested before she turned and walked back into the house, leaving Lucy and Zebadiah to stare at each other once more.

"You'd better come in then," Lucy finally said, calling for Shy to come, which thankfully he did.

"I don't think that I have ever had such a warm welcome before," Zebadiah said once he reached her side.

Lucy didn't say anything only turned sharply and led the way into the house. "We were just starting to have our dinner, you're welcome to join us if you like," Lucy offered as she moved to the kitchen to get another place setting.

"Thank you, it smells delicious," he said, being just as formally polite as Lucy was.

It was evident that her grandmother found the exchange amusing as she sat at the table with a smile on her face.

"Zebadiah Abbott, this is my grandmother Etta Monroe." Lucy introduced as she joined them at the table with the extra place setting.

Zebadiah sat a box in front of Etta. "Yes, the birthday girl," he greeted softly. "I believe you enjoy Hummingbird cake," he said as Etta opened the box with a smile.

"I do, bless you." She placed the cake on the sideboard behind her and waved him into a seat before dishing him up a bowl of jambalaya and cornbread. "It's spicy," she informed him before he took his first bite.

He seemed to enjoy it as much as Lucy and her grandmother did, and he ate while he and her grandmother kept the conversation light. They talked a little about the LeClair Mansion and Etta shared some stories of the house from when she was a girl.

Then there as some talk about Shy and what a good guard dog he was before moving on to the house in which she had her grandmother lived. Lucy had heard it all before, so she was able to let her mind wander about the best way to get him to leave when dinner was finished. She couldn't help but be aware of how his massive body made the house feel full.

"Now Lucy," her grandmother interrupted her thoughts, "it's time for my present."

Lucy really hadn't wanted to give it to her in front of Zebadiah, but her grandmother was determined that she have it now. Lucy stood and motioned for Etta to follow her to the third bedroom in the house. The bed was massive and filled the tiny room, there was barely room to move around it, but it was beautiful. Lucy had painstakingly stripped the wood then stained it once more. The previous stain had darkened over the years giving the bed an almost black appearance, but the new stain had lightened it and made it a warm rich brown once more. Lucy had filled the bed with all down bedding and it looked like a fluffy cloud of white.

"It's beautiful Lucy! It's a bed like I've always wanted!" she crowed as she walked towards it. "Young man help me get into it please," she held out her hand for Zebadiah who held it while she stepped up onto the small wooden steps Lucy had provided.

"Of course, this isn't a bed for an old lady, this is a bed for lovers, Etta said as she settled into the downy softness.

Lucy didn't doubt for a minute that she had said it on purpose, as if planting a seed in Zebadiah's and Lucy's heads. Little did she know that the seed was already planted and had sprouted weeks ago.

"I'm going to lay here for a little while," Etta dismissed them, closing her eyes.

Lucy led the way back into the main room and started to clear the table and lay out the cake plates and forks. "Thank you for getting the cake," she said as she stuck a candle in it.

"You're welcome. I also had Thomas's card credited back for the inconvenience." He started to walk around the room, looking at all the lovely antiques.

"How did you find out where I live?" Lucy asked, knowing the answer before he said it.

"Thomas, but I still don't understand why you fought so hard to keep me away," he said, turning to look at her.

Lucy shrugged. "I didn't want Etta to get the wrong idea."

"And what would that idea be?"

Lucy could feel his eyes drilling into her back. "That there's a relationship between us." Lucy turned around and looked at him, watching him debate about how he wanted to respond.

"I'm sorry Lucy," he said with complete sincerity.

"For what?" Lucy frowned in confusion.

"For what I suggested on Saturday, after the gala. I shouldn't have made the proposition."

"Then why did you?" Lucy was almost afraid to hear the answer, afraid that he would think like the others in town did.

"Because I want you Lucy, its as simple as that. I'm not good at relationships, and I don't care to have a serious one. I thought that if I made the terms clear that you would understand that, but..."

He was hesitant to say anymore but Lucy had to hear the rest.

"But?" She cleared her throat as she waited for him to finish.

"You blushed at my kiss and you refused to take the pearls." This time he shrugged, and she was certain that she was the first person in a long time to see Zebadiah so unsure of himself. "To me, it's evident that you're very innocent, and I don't want to take advantage of that or hurt you."

Lucy blushed once more and looked away from him, confirming his words.

"But I still want you Lucy," his voice was rough as he said it and Lucy felt a tiny thrill course through her at his words. No one had ever said such a thing to her before.

Lucy let her eyes meet his and, although she couldn't say the words, she hoped he could read that it was the same for her.

"The bed is delightful," Etta said as she rejoined them after what felt like only a moment but must have been much longer. "But now I want my birthday cake." She made her way towards the table, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere between Lucy and Zebadiah, and waited for Lucy to light the candle.

She and Zebadiah sang happy birthday to her and Lucy enjoyed his deep baritone as it filled the house.

They all took their time eating the cake and listened to Etta talk about past birthdays, but eventually Zebadiah stood and said his goodnights, and the house felt empty after he had gone.

Etta leaned over and patted Lucy's hand before she stood and said her goodnights as well, leaving Lucy to clean up and think about the very big bed in the next room and Zebadiah.

It was as if her grandmother had feed the seed she tried to plant and now it was growing out of control, and Lucy would have to find away to pull it out by its roots before they dug in to deep.