Just a little snippet of a chapter. But I'm seizing the moment-err, second? to jot this down. Very little computer time available to me.
Chapter.23
Karen, tired but happy, fingers cupped around her mug for warmth...
The antique clock on the counter, hands pointed toward half past eight...
She scrunched her toes in the soft old rug Keith had teasingly dubbed the "shag," almost perfectly content.
Life had been rather wild of late. Lucas seemed to be attracting trouble like a magnet, and Haley's own recent excursion had left her rather short handed at the cafe.
It had pained Karen not to be there for Lucas, or Keith...but they were really alright, and their stay at the hospital was merely routine. She had tip toed in to plant a kiss on Lucas' cheek the night before; stayed up late, trying to catch up with some of the time consuming work. She knew Haley would be there for her two "boys." What a godsend.
A small sound made Karen tilt her head, strands of wavy dark hair curling around her face.
Lucas was still asleep when she peeked in, tucked up like she'd left him. He was out like a light, breathing soft and steady. Karen tucked a stray foot under the comforter and smiled. It was good to have him home.
"Mom?"
"Go to sleep, Lucas."
He sighed, pushed himself up. Moonlight cast gentle bars across the bed. Tousled hair, sleepy blue eyes-Karen laughed, caught his chin .
"You know, I was looking at you and thinking, this is the little boy I was so scared about. The baby people told me not to have. I didn't listen to them. I kept you." She sank onto his bed, low laughter accenting the warmth in her tone.
"I'd be lost without you, Lucas."
"Mom." This time slightly embarrassed. "I love you, too."
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." He caught her hand as it smoothed his pajama shirt. "Really."
"I know." Karen shook her head, half regretfully. "When I came in here, it seemed as if time had backed up, you were still a five year old boy that needed me to tie his shoes and part his hair."
"I need you. Who would I have to talk to, keep me in line, tell me not to do something stupid?"
"I can tell, but I can't stop you."
"Then I can listen."
"We all make mistakes. It's part of growing up. I expect you to be human." She raised her eyebrows. "Even if you are part Dan Scott."
A smile broke Lucas' deep study.
"New resolution number one: avoid school trips."[]
Outside the comfortable house, lingering in the misshapen shadows cast by rustling trees, a figure stepped closer to the window.
The Roe home seemed quiet and peaceful. Reddish light spilled onto the lawn from the tassled lamp in the living room. The curtains did nothing to contain the peaceful scene; Karen, humming to herself, moving softly about, sorting papers and receipts, penciling supply lists...
A stealthy creak.
Lucas slipped into the lawn, not furtively, but cautiously...casting several glances back. Not wishing to disturb his mother, no doubt.
Safely esconsed in the night, the visitor settled down to watch.[]
It was cooler out here, filled with the night sounds Lucas loved. A tree frog; the rasp of a nocturnal creature.
Hugging his knees, the gray clad Scott settled into his familiar niche on the front steps. They were slightly damp, but not enough to be uncomfortable. Unaware of any spectators, relaxed...[]
He watched the street light outlining the boy's face. There were large, dark bruises over one cheek, but the kid seemed to be alright; easy to read, expressionate eyes, depending on his mood. Which probably varied, if HE was any judge of character.
Passionate: that was a given.
But what was the kid really like?
He wanted to know.[]
Chapter.23
Karen, tired but happy, fingers cupped around her mug for warmth...
The antique clock on the counter, hands pointed toward half past eight...
She scrunched her toes in the soft old rug Keith had teasingly dubbed the "shag," almost perfectly content.
Life had been rather wild of late. Lucas seemed to be attracting trouble like a magnet, and Haley's own recent excursion had left her rather short handed at the cafe.
It had pained Karen not to be there for Lucas, or Keith...but they were really alright, and their stay at the hospital was merely routine. She had tip toed in to plant a kiss on Lucas' cheek the night before; stayed up late, trying to catch up with some of the time consuming work. She knew Haley would be there for her two "boys." What a godsend.
A small sound made Karen tilt her head, strands of wavy dark hair curling around her face.
Lucas was still asleep when she peeked in, tucked up like she'd left him. He was out like a light, breathing soft and steady. Karen tucked a stray foot under the comforter and smiled. It was good to have him home.
"Mom?"
"Go to sleep, Lucas."
He sighed, pushed himself up. Moonlight cast gentle bars across the bed. Tousled hair, sleepy blue eyes-Karen laughed, caught his chin .
"You know, I was looking at you and thinking, this is the little boy I was so scared about. The baby people told me not to have. I didn't listen to them. I kept you." She sank onto his bed, low laughter accenting the warmth in her tone.
"I'd be lost without you, Lucas."
"Mom." This time slightly embarrassed. "I love you, too."
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." He caught her hand as it smoothed his pajama shirt. "Really."
"I know." Karen shook her head, half regretfully. "When I came in here, it seemed as if time had backed up, you were still a five year old boy that needed me to tie his shoes and part his hair."
"I need you. Who would I have to talk to, keep me in line, tell me not to do something stupid?"
"I can tell, but I can't stop you."
"Then I can listen."
"We all make mistakes. It's part of growing up. I expect you to be human." She raised her eyebrows. "Even if you are part Dan Scott."
A smile broke Lucas' deep study.
"New resolution number one: avoid school trips."[]
Outside the comfortable house, lingering in the misshapen shadows cast by rustling trees, a figure stepped closer to the window.
The Roe home seemed quiet and peaceful. Reddish light spilled onto the lawn from the tassled lamp in the living room. The curtains did nothing to contain the peaceful scene; Karen, humming to herself, moving softly about, sorting papers and receipts, penciling supply lists...
A stealthy creak.
Lucas slipped into the lawn, not furtively, but cautiously...casting several glances back. Not wishing to disturb his mother, no doubt.
Safely esconsed in the night, the visitor settled down to watch.[]
It was cooler out here, filled with the night sounds Lucas loved. A tree frog; the rasp of a nocturnal creature.
Hugging his knees, the gray clad Scott settled into his familiar niche on the front steps. They were slightly damp, but not enough to be uncomfortable. Unaware of any spectators, relaxed...[]
He watched the street light outlining the boy's face. There were large, dark bruises over one cheek, but the kid seemed to be alright; easy to read, expressionate eyes, depending on his mood. Which probably varied, if HE was any judge of character.
Passionate: that was a given.
But what was the kid really like?
He wanted to know.[]
