Chapter 20 – The House is Ready

Luke got up and made an inspection around the house. He still needed paintings and picture frames for the walls, bedding for the other bedrooms, and several more odds and ends. But it was good enough to bring Reid here. Just one thing he was missing. He left Brianna and Casey resting on the couch while he went to his car for his prize possession, the sketch that he'd had framed. He grabbed his new little purchase from the car as well with the little note he had written out. He was used to waking up to his framed picture of Reid with little Reid and loved it in his room. He carried it in and hung it in the bedroom. He hung it where he could see it first thing every morning. He'd be happiest to have Reid here in person, but as hopeful as he was, he didn't want to take anything for granted. He went to his night stand and pushed his small purchase and note to the back. There now it would be there and ready when the time was right.

Brianna invited Casey back to Katie's for the evening. She wanted so much to see her brother's face when Luke brought him here, but it would be a private moment and she had to respect those boundaries. She would get to visit later she was sure of that. She packed up her things and the baby's things and looked over to see Casey making faces at little Reid. For a boy lacking a father he was sure getting a lot of male attention. Between Reid, Luke, and now Casey she hardly got to hold her boy at all unless he was hungry. She grinned a bit, at least she could angle them all out in that department. She was happy with the way that she and her son were welcomed here. And Luke was being so helpful. He'd said he had something in mind for getting her paintings here and to give him a day or two.

Now Casey and Brianna were on their way back to Katie's and Luke tried to drum up his nerve. He'd told Reid this morning that he'd be busy tonight, now he needed to backpedal. Well, he'd just go see him. He looked at his watch. Ugh, Reid's shift had been over a couple of hours now. Brianna and baby Reid had been here with him until a few minutes ago. He might not be in the best of moods. Luke thought for a moment about postponing this but his excitement was too much and he was unwilling to let the evening pass without the love of his life.

Reid was in fact not in the best of moods. He'd gone most of the day on the meager cinnamon bun he'd picked up at Java to go with his coffee. Not his usual ample breakfast. Then an emergency case had come in during the afternoon and he'd foregone lunch. He'd brewed about Luke all day. Too busy for breakfast, too busy for dinner but plenty of time to talk to Bree and try to help her with her problems? What was going on here? Had the last few days meant nothing? They had meant everything to Reid and he'd been sure that they meant something to Luke. But perhaps he'd been reading into it. So lost in his own feelings of happiness that he took it to mean more than it actually did. Or, maybe he'd scared Luke off again. The last time he'd gotten scared he'd gone to Noah begging for him to take him back. That was something he didn't think he could go through again.

God, if Luke went running back to Noah again that was it. I'll get the hell out of this godforsaken town as fast as possible, Reid thought.

He'd come home starving and ready to take his sister out to dinner. She was the one person he might discuss all this with. But when he'd arrived home she and the baby were nowhere to be found. Unable to put off his growling stomach any longer he'd gone in to make a sandwich. He'd put it on a plate and retuned all the ingredients to the fridge, but was unable to bite, he just sat there staring at it.

Katie walked in with Jacob in his stroller. She noticed the enormous sandwich in front of Reid and Reid not eating it. She knew that couldn't be good.

She walked over and sat next to him at the table. "Ok, what gives? I thought you'd be walking on cloud 9 by now."

"I thought so too." Was the solemn reply. "What the hell is with all the flowers around here? It smells like a stinking Glade factory!"

Katie looked down. "They're from Chris. I don't know where he got this bright idea from, but each delivery comes with a note."

"A note? What you mean like some Hallmark crap?" Reid rolled his eyes. "God, this is probably all my fault."

"What? How can it be your fault?" Katie's eyes were wide.

"Oh he came to my office a few days ago asking for advise on 'wooing you'." Reid was finally able to take a bit of his sandwich. He had to since he wasn't about to give in to laughing at Chris's antics that day.

"And you told him to send flowers and write love letters?"

"HELL NO!... I referred him to someone else for advice."

"Let me guess. Brianna?"

Reid nodded. "So how's it working?"

Katie put her face in her hands and started to cry.

"Shit! That good huh?" She naturally had leaned toward Reid and he awkwardly pulled her into a hug as he had in the past. "Just tell him to knock the shit off, you don't want his damn love letters. Or better yet," he gave an evil grin, "let me tell him."

"Reid you're such a dork." Katie lightly hit him in the chest with the back of her hand as she pulled away. "I do want them. With each letter I fall in love with him a bit more." She got up from the table and went to the cabinet in the living room. She returned with a stack of dusty blue papers. "They aren't letters really, just little notes. But listen to this one:

Katie,

From what I remember, Brad loved you more than life itself. I'd never let his memory fade from you or Jacob's lives. He is part of what makes you who you are. And I love who you are. Please let me love you, even that part of you that is touched by Brad. Loving him taught you to give all of yourself. The only way to diminish what you shared is by not continuing on with that. Please to hide away from me, I'll treasure you and Jacob always.

Chris

He seems to know instinctively what I need to hear."

"Then why all the tears?"

"Because it's hard to put yourself out there. It's hard to trust, trust that it's real and not temporary. I'm afraid."

Reid didn't comment, he just took in that bit of info. "Well let me go put the kid in his crib."

When Reid returned she was sitting on the couch. The notes were gone and she had her head resting on the back of the cushions. Reid sat next to her. "You're afraid too aren't you?"

Katie snuggled into him, "You're afraid that what you have with Luke won't last."

Reid put his arm around her but still didn't answer.

"Reid life doesn't come with guarantees; do you know how hard I tried not to love Brad? Have I told you how many times I've been married?"

Reid cocked an eyebrow at that.

"Never mind, but the thing is, in the end I was glad I took the chance. Try to give Luke that chance. If you don't, I think you'll really regret it."

"Yeah and what about you, Miss Advice Columnist? You gonna follow your own damn advice?"

"Are you actually encouraging me to give Chris a chance?"

Reid rolled his eyes. He was. He was actually encouraging his best friend to give Doogie Hughes a shot. He couldn't believe it.

"Shut up!"

They just sat there comforting one another for a few more minutes when Katie piped in with, "Bet Luke loves that you're such a snuggler."

That was it, he pushed Katie off and stood up. Katie was openly laughing at him. "God you two are just alike, you're so sappy!" Reid looked at her face and couldn't help laughing too.

Brianna and Casey burst through the door then. "Hi Katie, Reid," Casey said. He looked a bit awkward.

"Reid, you're home, I hadn't realized the time."

"Obviously," Reid looked at his sister feeling a bit put out seeing she was with Casey again. Wasn't that ridiculous though? Seeing as he had neglected her several times since she came to town in order to be with Luke.

"Great news," she said, in a bubbly voice. "Luke is letting Casey and me fly to California on his jet. He's having a company help us to wrap up my paintings and fly them back here. Isn't that great?" Again Casey looked a bit awkward. He wasn't sure what his aunt and Brianna's brother would think of this idea.

Reid didn't have a chance to comment, in fact the door was still standing open when Luke rushed in. "Great you're here!" he said looking directly at Reid. "I had a miracle worked today and finished up all that I needed so that I could take you somewhere for dinner after all."

"Is that so? Well what if I made plans?"

"With who?" Luke looked surprised.

"With Katie, I'm taking her to dinner. Bree would you mind babysitting?"

Bree gave her brother a blank stare.

"Yes Brianna, would you mind babysitting?" Katie asked and all the room looked at her. "What? I'm not having dinner with Dr. Grinch there, I have something else I need to do."

Everyone had a look of relief on their faces and Reid just gave a "Thanks for nothing as usual Katie."

"Great, come on." Luke grabbed Reid's wrist and began to drag him out the door.

"Wait!" Reid protested, "I can't go out like this." He was wearing a full set of scrubs. Not his usual jeans and scrub top. He'd had surgery today and was so out of his mind with hunger that he'd never changed.

"Yes you can, come on!" Luke succeeded in pulling him out the door.

On the drive Reid was curious. Where could Luke possibly want to take him looking like this? They began to leave the town and Reid was thoroughly confused. Where the hell were they going? He resigned himself to another picnic by the pond or something. But they drove past that turn. Now what?

Luke was aware of the looks on Reid's face. As they got further and further down the road Reid's brows were all screwed up trying to figure things out. Luke was so excited he didn't even know what to say or do. He picked up Reid's hand and pulled it to his lips planting a kiss on it.

Reid looked at Luke, he was absolutely beaming. This was the same guy he'd doubted only an hour ago. Boy was he really so insecure? What an idiot. Luke obviously had something up his sleeve and suddenly Reid couldn't wait to see what it was.

They finally pulled up to a very long drive with a gate at the entrance. The gate was closed on the drive for the first time. Luke had been sure to close it for effect. He grinned as he pulled up and entered a code and shazam, the gate began to open. Reid's eyes were wide wondering what was happening.

"Luke, where on earth have you brought me to?"

"I've brought you home. I've brought you to our home I hope."

Reid looked at Luke incredulously. But was unable to say a word.