The way it looked to Luke Alicia's father didn't know what it meant to be a good father. And he was treating every guy that was interested in her like he was worthless. "I'm just so scared of them, Mrs. Duke. I can't please either one of them," Alicia said as Lori hugged her tightly.
"There now, Honey. You're away from them. We'll be your family now," Lori said, smoothing her blonde hair.
"That's right, Alicia. We'll take care of you," Luke said firmly, handing her his handkerchief.
"Thank you, Mrs. and Mr. Duke. When I was little I always wished my father and mother was just like you," Alicia said sniffling.
"Well, since you're going to be part of the family, do you think you could call us Mama and Daddy?" Lori asked.
"I'm not even married to Will yet!" Alicia protested.
"That's makes no difference to us. When you agreed to marry my son you became part of our family," Luke said gently.
"Okay, Daddy, Mama," Alicia said, sounding it out nervously.
The family sat down then, moving onto lighter subjects. "So, when do you two want to get married, Will?" Lisa wanted to know.
"I don't know yet. It all depends on Alicia. I don't know. Alicia, are you going to tell your father?" Will asked.
"I don't know yet, Will. If I tell him, he'll send Dave to bring me back," Alicia said fearfully.
"I think your father's ridiculous. I may have lived in a trailer with a kidnapper and my sister, but I'm just as good or as bad as the next person," Will said, running his hands through his dark hair.
"Well, he just thought you were trash. I guess it was the clothes and the small beard you're growing. I think you look like Orlando Bloom in "Pirates of the Carribbean," Alicia said, her blue eyes glowing.
"No, he doesn't. Orlando Bloom's hot!" Lisa interjected, jumping into the conversation and causing Alicia, Lisa, and Sandra to giggle as Will picked up a pillow and flung it at Lisa.
"Very funny. I'm getting lip from a girl who's hair has been deep fried," Will said. The whole family laughed at that. Luke loved watching his family laugh. When Jenna had stolen his babies he had to make an effort to be cheerful for Sandra, Nathan, and his wife. Now he was happy without having to force himself. He had almost forgotten that they had been stolen. The way they blended back with the family wasn't hard. Even Will bringing Alicia from Colorado wasn;t hard on the family like he had thought it was going to be. He hoped he, Will and the others would be able to protect her from her father and Dave.
Alicia felt a huge wave of relief after she had talked to Will's parents. It was like a huge burden been lifted. But she
knew she would still have to deal with her dad if not in person then over the phone. She had to tell him that she quit her
job because Will proposed to her and she said yes. If her dad got furious with that, then that was his problem. Alicia
had a new set of parents now. And they would take care of her. Alicia was moved when they wanted her to call her momma and
daddy. Once Alicia told her father the news, she wasn't going to tell her dad where her and Will were. She didn't want
to put her new family in danger.
After supper that night, Alicia decided to call her dad. Her Dad picked up after three rings. "Hello?" said a gruff voice.
Alica tried to remain strong. Both Will and his family were watching. "Dad, it's me Alicia". "Where have you been? You were suppose
to be in the lab this afternoon!"
Alicia rolled her eyes. "Dad, I'm not coming back home. I quit my job. Will proposed to me and I'm going to marry him".
Alicia said it proudly. Her dad nearly hit the roof "What?! Alicia you get back here now! Don't throw your life and career
away by marrying some trailer trash!" her father yelled loud enough for Will to hear.
"Dad, enough! You have been telling me what I should do for eighteen years! It's time I need to make decisions on my own I'm
an adult now and can do whatever I want! If I want to quit and get married, you can't stop me. It's what I want. I'm not going
back to an abusive dad and partner I'm just not!" Alicia said hotly.
"Alicia where are you? I'm going to send Dave after you", her father said sternly. Alicia "You can't dad. Not this time.
because I won't tell you where we are, and I've got two bodyguards to protect me". she said smiling at Will and her new
dad.
Her dad kept complaining more on the phone and ALicia said "Goodbye daddy." then she hung up.
Alicia hung up the phone and took a couple of shaky breaths. "That went well," Will quipped as he hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Depends on that. I didn't tell him where I was. But that doesn't mean he can't trace that call," Alicia said, burying her head in Will's chest.
"Actually he can't, Honey. My next concert is in Tampa, Florida and we leave tomorrow," Lori joined in the conversation, smoothing back her new daughter's hair.
"Really? Then I'm looking forward to leaving with all of you. If we move around enough my father and Dave will never find me," Alicia said, a genuine relief and joy mixed in her blue eyes.
"I can't believe he threatened you with Dave!" Will said as the family sat back down and he stroked her hair gently.
"I know. I'm also sorry what he said about you on the phone, Will. I know all of you heard that," Alicia said unhappily.
"It's okay, Baby. He's not the first one to ever insult my living in a trailer. I think "Trailer Trash" is a lot better than what some people have called me and Lisa," Will said in a comforting tone.
"Do you care to tell me some time what people have called you, Will?" Luke asked, sitting down on the other side of Will.
"Nope. I want to forget that Jenna ever stole me and Lisa as soon as possible," Will said almost in a rush.
"Oh? does that mean you want to forget me, Will?" Alicia asked, raising her head from his chest and looking into his eyes.
"Let me rephrase that. I want to forget everything, but that. I want to forget that she ever kissed me, hugged me, dyed mine and Lisa's hair, and that she forced us to call her our mother," Will said bitterly as he stood up and walked around the room.
"You're still angry over it, Son?" Luke asked, touching his son's shoulders with his hands gently.
"I didn't say that," Will said, knowing his parents would see through that lie.
"Baby, you didn't have to say it. I can see it in your eyes. Also, when you get angry you're just like your father. The both of you hold it in, thinking you have to be strong for everyone else. You don't have to do that, Baby," Lori said, touching Will's face gently.
The tears came to Will's eyes and he broke down as both his parents held him tightly. Then the rest of the family joined in the family hug
Alicia felt really bad for Will that he was so angry at Jenna. But if Jenna had never kidnapped Will, how would her and
Will ever have met? Pushing the thought out of her mind, Alicia reminded herself that Will didn't regret meeting her.
She hugged Will tightly to her. She hoped her dad wouldn't send Dave out to find her in which he probably would.
Much later she grabbed a mug of tea and hung out on the balcony the wind blowing her long blonde hair. Marrying Will
she had turned down her job, and that would mean cutting ties with her dad. Her father wouldn't be walking her down the
aisle unless it was Dave. And Alicia didn't want to be with someone like Dave. Who abused women. Tears came to Alicia's
eyes. She didn't know who was going to walk her down the aisle. She could ask her new dad, but wouldn't he have a problem with
that? he hadn't known her that long and they had just met.
Also, Alicia didn't know what she would be doing as far as career went while being on the road for Will's family. She wondered
if Lori had someone to do her hair and makeup. Alicia heard that most singers had a makeup artist. Maybe she could get a job
doing that. Alicia looked at her fingers and realized something was missing. Will had never given her the ring even when
she had said yes to him!
Will then stepped onto the balcony "Alicia, what's the matter?" he asked looking at her. Alicia blushed realizing what she
was about to say would sound dumb. "Um, you forgot to give me my engagement ring when I said yes Will"