Looking In (ficlet)
It had been years since I had returned to Salem, but here I sat the same booth at the Brady Pub looking at the people around me. Everything was pretty quiet until the door clicked open. A beautiful young woman with long blonde hair walked in with a dark-haired man. Between them was a child who was a perfect blend of their features.
Surprisingly, as I glanced down at the woman's left hand, no diamond stared back at me. As the group slid into a booth, an icy voice carried over from the booth behind me.
"That Sami Brady is going to ruin my son's life John."
"Kate, I'm sure Lucas can handle himself."
I hadn't heard those two names since I had last been to Salem. Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts were consumed in a raging custody battle over their son. Their bitter hatred was infamous all over Salem, so much so that even a weary traveler had heard of it.
Since the family of my interest was so obviously not the subject of Kate and John's conversation, I turned a deaf ear. The child must have said something funny because the man burst into laughter as the woman's face colored slightly before she joined in. When the boy made another comment, the man caught the woman's gaze in an intense stare. They looked intently at each other, like they were the only two people on the planet, as their child stared happily up at them. When the man's hand found its way to hers and began to stroke soft circles on her palm the woman behind me stormed over to them.
"Lucas!" she shrieked. "How can you trust her? That little bitch is just using your feelings to get revenge on me!"
"Mom, don't talk to Sami like that and our relationship has nothing to do with you!" the man said angrily.
I gaped at them in amazement. This was Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts? This happy couple was supposed to be the bane of Salem's existence? I glanced at the woman, Sami, as Lucas had it out with his mother. She stared at him with a tiny smile on her face, proud yet stunned that he was defending her. When I looked up at her eyes they were full of love and passion. If this was the demon spawn that tormented the people of Salem, I'd like to see their version of the devil.
A few minutes later, Kate stalked out of the restaurant and their son had gone to visit the owner of the pub. Sami looked at Lucas despairingly, obviously upset with what his mother had said. Lucas grabbed her hands across the table and spoke softly to her. After a few minutes, she began to brighten. He caressed her cheek lightly and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. For the next few minutes, they sat in the comfortable silence, lost in each other's eyes.
When their son came back the moment was lost, but he smiled at them knowingly.
If this was Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts, a lot had changed. But what do I know? I'm just outside looking in.
It had been years since I had returned to Salem, but here I sat the same booth at the Brady Pub looking at the people around me. Everything was pretty quiet until the door clicked open. A beautiful young woman with long blonde hair walked in with a dark-haired man. Between them was a child who was a perfect blend of their features.
Surprisingly, as I glanced down at the woman's left hand, no diamond stared back at me. As the group slid into a booth, an icy voice carried over from the booth behind me.
"That Sami Brady is going to ruin my son's life John."
"Kate, I'm sure Lucas can handle himself."
I hadn't heard those two names since I had last been to Salem. Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts were consumed in a raging custody battle over their son. Their bitter hatred was infamous all over Salem, so much so that even a weary traveler had heard of it.
Since the family of my interest was so obviously not the subject of Kate and John's conversation, I turned a deaf ear. The child must have said something funny because the man burst into laughter as the woman's face colored slightly before she joined in. When the boy made another comment, the man caught the woman's gaze in an intense stare. They looked intently at each other, like they were the only two people on the planet, as their child stared happily up at them. When the man's hand found its way to hers and began to stroke soft circles on her palm the woman behind me stormed over to them.
"Lucas!" she shrieked. "How can you trust her? That little bitch is just using your feelings to get revenge on me!"
"Mom, don't talk to Sami like that and our relationship has nothing to do with you!" the man said angrily.
I gaped at them in amazement. This was Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts? This happy couple was supposed to be the bane of Salem's existence? I glanced at the woman, Sami, as Lucas had it out with his mother. She stared at him with a tiny smile on her face, proud yet stunned that he was defending her. When I looked up at her eyes they were full of love and passion. If this was the demon spawn that tormented the people of Salem, I'd like to see their version of the devil.
A few minutes later, Kate stalked out of the restaurant and their son had gone to visit the owner of the pub. Sami looked at Lucas despairingly, obviously upset with what his mother had said. Lucas grabbed her hands across the table and spoke softly to her. After a few minutes, she began to brighten. He caressed her cheek lightly and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. For the next few minutes, they sat in the comfortable silence, lost in each other's eyes.
When their son came back the moment was lost, but he smiled at them knowingly.
If this was Sami Brady and Lucas Roberts, a lot had changed. But what do I know? I'm just outside looking in.