PART TWO: EIGHT YEARS LATER
"Cadence Elisabeth Scott!"
Lucas hollered up to his daughter from the kitchen. "I'm not going to tell you again. You're breakfast is getting cold, and you're going to be late for school!"
Karen was in the kitchen with her son. She smiled at him as she closed the door to the refrigerator.
"Still struggling with that tie?" she asked, walking over to him.
"I just can't get it straight," Lucas replied, continuing to fidget with the red tie on top of his white collared, button down shirt.
"Here, let me help," his mother offered. She set the glass of juice down on the table, and Lucas moved his hands to let her assist.
"So what is today's interview for?" His mother asked when she finished the tie.
"Um, something in computers," Lucas answered just before taking a sip of his coffee.
He heard his mother sigh.
"Oh, Lucas," she said softly. "That's not what you really want to do, is it?"
Lucas took a deep breath, calming himself when he sensed his irritation building.
"Mom, we've talked about this before. What I want, I don't have the education for."
"But Lucas—
"—Mom," Lucas interjected, throwing up his hands. "I don't have time to argue about this again right now. Cady!"
"Stop yelling, Daddy," the little girl with blue eyes said as she appeared in the kitchen. "I'm here."
Her short, sand blond hair bounced as she ran to the table.
"Yeah, well, you'd better hurry and scarf down some breakfast because you're going to be late."
"That's fine with me," Cady replied before she drank from the juice cup in front of her.
"Ha ha, very funny," her father said. He grinned and tickled her side, eliciting a giggle. "Why don't you just grab some Poptarts and eat in the car. We have to go."
"Okay." Cady turned to her grandmother. "Will you get them for me, Nana?"
"Sure, sweetie." Karen reached into the cupboard and pulled out cherry frosted Poptarts, wrapped in its silver packaging.
"Thank you, Nana."
"Okay, Squirt, we gotta go," Lucas said, holding out her purple backpack.
"Okay, Dad." Cady turned around, and Lucas slipped on her book bag.
"Oh!" Cady said, spinning around quickly. "Where's my soccer stuff?"
"It's in the car. Now come on, let's go!" Lucas turned and smiled at his mother. "I'll see you later."
"Okay, honey." Karen waved to both of them as they walked out the door.
"Bye, Nana!"
Later in the afternoon, Lucas caught up with his best friend, who rode in the passenger seat while Lucas drove to pick up his daughter from school.
"Cady is going to be really excited to see you," he said, glancing at Nathan.
"What, you didn't tell her I was coming?" Nathan asked.
"No. I thought it would be a nice surprise if you were here when I picked her up."
Lucas slowed the car, and he pulled into the long drive in front of Tree Hill Elementary.
"Cool," Nathan said. "I'll wait in the car while you go get her."
"Alright," Lucas said, switching the gear to park and removing his seat belt. "I'll be right back."
Lucas left the car, and he slowly made his way toward the soccer field on the side of the building. He spotted his daughter laughing with her friends. He smiled and an image of her mother flashed through his head. Cady was certainly the spitting image of Sara in everything she did and in every aspect of her personality, right down to her tiny, but infectious laugh.
Suddenly, she turned away from her friends and looked toward Lucas.
"Hi, Daddy!" she shouted, waving to him.
"Hey, Squirt," he responded, approaching her. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah." Cady held up her light purple duffel bag and her father took it from her.
"Let's go," she said. "I'm beat!"
Before leaving, she turned to her friends and waved.
"Bye Alex, bye Jenna!"
Her friends waved back and then Cady walked with her father, headed back to the car.
"How was practice?" Lucas asked, one hand in the pocket of his black slacks, Cady's duffel on his shoulder, and the other hand cupped in his daughter's hand.
"Oh it was great!" Cady answered excitedly. "Coach McPhee says I'm a natural. I scored every goal I kicked!"
"Wow, that's great. It sounds like you are definitely ready for the game tomorrow."
"Heck yeah!" Cady shouted. She looked ahead again and spotted her father's car in the parking lot.
"Hey," she said, "who is that in the car, Daddy?"
"What? You don't recognize him?" Lucas asked, smiling down at his daughter. "He just drove all the way from Charleston to see you."
He watched her face light up as she realized who it was.
"Nathan!" She exclaimed, releasing her father's hand and running over to the car.
Hearing the little voice call his name, Nathan smiled and climbed out of the car. He closed his door just as Cady reached him He opened his arms for her, and she ran into him.
"Hey kid," he greeted. He lifted her up in their embrace. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Cady replied. Nathan set her back down, and Lucas finally arrived at the car.
"But I've missed you," Cady admitted. "Where have you been, Nate?"
"Busy."
"Okay, Cady," Lucas said. "Let's get going."
He opened the door to the backseat of the passenger side of his black truck.
"Get in and buckle up please, Squirt."
Cady followed her father's direction and climbed in while Nathan returned to the front seat.
"Where's Haley?" Cady asked as her father drove them away from the school.
"She had to stay in Charleston for work and to finish up some last minute wedding plans. But…she told me to tell you that she misses you like crazy and she can't wait to see you next weekend."
Nathan turned to Lucas then and said, "You guys are still coming, right?"
"Oh yeah," Lucas answered, turning the truck onto a residential street. "We wouldn't miss it."
"Yeah, and I can't wait to be your Flower Girl!" Cady added. "Does Haley have a dress for me yet?"
"Yep," Nathan answered. "She's going to have you fitted before the wedding when you guys get down there."
"Cool." Cady looked out the window as they arrived home.
"Okay, Squirt," her father said, turning to her after he had parked. "Go take your stuff inside and change out of those dirty clothes. We're going to have dinner at the café with grandma."
"Sweet!"
After dinner, Lucas left Cady with his mother so that he and Nathan could spend some time at the river court as they always did when Nathan was home. After high school, Nathan and Haley had both moved to Charleston to attend college. Both of their majors in college had led to internships and jobs in Charleston. Sometimes it made Lucas sad that his best friends had been able to move away for school and work. He missed them often, but he was grateful that Charleston was not too far away that they were able to visit each other occasionally.
"Damn!" Lucas said after Nathan made another basket in the hoop.
"Ah, just like old times," Nathan said, grinning.
"Yeah, well, I'm just out of shape," Lucas defended, trying to catch his breath and wiping his sweaty brow with his t-shirt. "I haven't had much time to get out here and practice lately, what with work and Cady and preparing for that interview."
"How'd that go anyway? The interview?"
Lucas shrugged. "The interview was okay, but I don't think I'm going to get the job."
"Why not?"
Lucas sighed. It was the same old story.
"Not enough education," he said
"I'm sorry, man. But you know, maybe it's a good thing you didn't get the job."
Lucas stopped and looked at his cousin and friend with a furrowed brow.
"How is it a good thing?" He asked.
"Well, because now maybe you can go after the career you really want, that you have always wanted."
"Nathan, come on…don't you start too."
"I'm sorry, Luke, but you're my cousin, not to mention my best friend, and I want to see you happy."
"I am happy."
Nathan shook his head in response. "Not as happy as you could be, as you want to be," he said. "Luke, when we were in high school, you talked all the time about literature, and how you planned to become an English teacher. Don't you remember that dream?"
"Yeah, I do, but—
"—So why don't you do what you've always wanted to do? Cady is older now. You could take classes while she's in school, or take night classes. Why don't you go to college and work toward that teaching degree you've always wanted?"
"I can't afford college right now, Nathan, nor do I have the time for it. I have an eight year old to support, and whatever spare time I get after working two jobs, I spend with her. It was only after a year of working my ass off that I even saved enough vacation time to take this week off for your wedding."
Lucas glared at his friend. Frustrated, he continued, "And you know, I am really tired of explaining this over and over again. My dreams and my plans changed the day Cady was born. I'm happy with my life right now, okay? So can we please not talk about this anymore?"
Nathan nodded. "I'm sorry, Luke," he said. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just…I'm worried about you."
"Thanks, but you don't have to be. I'm fine. And I am happy."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
Late the following day, Nathan arrived back home in Charleston.
"Hales?" He called when he entered their apartment. "I'm home."
He closed the door and set his duffel bag down. When he looked up, he saw Haley walking out from their bedroom down the hall, smiling.
"Hey, sweetie," she said as they moved closer. She hugged and kissed him. "I missed you."
"Oh, I missed you too," Nathan said. "So did you get everything finalized?"
"Yep," Haley said, smiling again. "Everything is all set and perfect for me to marry you this weekend."
"Great. I can't wait." Nathan smiled before he kissed Haley again.
Afterwards, they sat down and cuddled next to one another on the couch in front of the fireplace.
"So is Luke definitely going to make it to the wedding?" Haley asked, running her finger up and down Nathan's arm.
"Yep," Nathan answered. "He, Cady, and Karen will all be here. What about Peyton? Did you talk to her?"
"Yeah. She'll be here too, and she is bringing a friend."
"Cool. Anyone we know?"
"Sort of. We've met her before I think. Her name is Brooke, and she was with Peyton that last time she came to visit. She also lived in Tree Hill once upon a time."
"Oh yeah…I remember. Doesn't she live back in Tree Hill now?"
"You know what," Haley paused, nodding her head. "I think I remember her mentioning that. Hmm…maybe we will have to introduce her to Lucas. He might not remember her."
"Definitely. Luke can certainly use a friend close to home."
"I agree," Haley said. "And if Brooke moved back recently, she probably hasn't made too many friends yet. It's perfect."
