Disclaimer: see previous chapters…
A/N: I would like to thank everyone for their reviews. I don't have much I need to say, so other than that please R/R.
" Is she dead?" The blonde with bouncy curls questioned. She leaned over and taped Lucy lightly on the shoulder, " You dead miss?"
The redhead shook her head, " I don't think so." She knelt down beside the couch and went to take off Lucy's shoes.
" You really had to do that Kristen didn't you? Pee-u!"
Kristen took off Lucy's shoes and began to tickle her feet. Then all of a sudden her face grew red with shock, " Ha, Ha! Stop that Uncle Kevin," she giggled, " Stop it! It tickles!"
" Is that you Kevin?" Lucy questioned sitting up a bit.
" Oh, I'm sorry Lucy I didn't mean to wake you up."
She gave him a big toothy smile and pushed a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. Her smile looked like heaven. Just to look at it lifted Kevin's spirits.
" Who is she?" Kristen whispered into Kevin's ear.
He took one glance at Lucy and smiled, " She's Lucy. My girlfriend."
" Now who might you be?" Lucy questioned motioning towards Kristen.
" I'm Kristen."
" She's my sister, Patty-Mary's daughter."
Lucy nodded.
" Kristen! Mom wants you!" Natalie said running in and tugging on her sister's arm.
"And this is her twin sister Natalie."
"Well you are both adorable."
" Why thank you," the chimed in together.
" And this is?"
" Paige. She's my sister." Kevin said sitting beside Lucy.
" She's so much younger than you."
" I'm five," Paige said holding up five fingers.
" When my dad died my mom got remarried and this is her daughter with my step dad, Mike."
" I'm so sorry to hear about your father. I lost my mother some time ago also."
" It's life. If he hadn't died I wouldn't have Paige in my life," he said rubbing the five-year-old on her head.
" And I wouldn't have my Kevin." She said giving him a hug and running out of the room.
Kevin looked into Lucy's eyes for a while. She was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen. Lucy looked over to the fireplace with a fire blazing inside. The mantle was covered with picture frames of all sizes and pictures saving a special place in time forever. Lucy walked over to it and looked each one over closely. She passed wonderful days at the shore and beautiful baby portraits. She paused in front of one, puzzled.
" It's my dad the week before he died," Kevin said coming up behind Lucy and kissing her, " That was the first time he ever let me use his camera. Boy was he fond of that old thing."
" Do you still us it? Do you still take pictures?"
" I still have the camera. It sits up in my room, although I don't have the heart to use it. I just want to remember it as it being his camera. The camera that made him happy."
" Can you get it for me? I would love to see it."
Kevin shook his head and began to speak, " I don't really…"
He was interrupted by a loud scream coming from the other room, " Kevin! Lucy! Lunch's ready."
Lucy looked at Kevin puzzled.
"Let's go," he said pulling her along.
Lucy looked at the food that sat before her, and her mouth started to water. Watery watermelon, plump hot dogs, beefy hamburgers, and Aunt May's special pasta salad sat in a row.
May looked at everyone, " Should we start with a prayer? You do say prayers do you not Lucy?" She questioned looking towards Lucy.
Lucy nodded.
" Would you like to lead us in prayer?"
Lucy smiled a bit and began, " Dear God, thank you for this wonderful food and for this wonderful family I'm blessed to share this Fourth of July with. We pray for everyone's good health and for a great meal. Amen."
" Amen," Everyone chorused.
" So how long have you guys known each other?" Kevin's mother questioned taking a bite of her hotdog.
" About three months, but it feels longer," Kevin said putting his arm around Lucy.
Lucy looked to Kevin and smiled a bit, while her foot tapped lightly below her. After setting her fork down she silently pushed her hair behind her ears the way she did when she was nervous. They all seemed kind and open hearted enough, but it was always the same when she got to this point in the game. She just looked at them and froze.
They looked at her in a curious manor and Kevin's mother whispered something to him without Lucy noticing. Lucy looked to him and he bent down and kissed her, " Are you ok?"
Lucy nodded looking down ant her food as she moved her fork back and forth.
" You're not a vegetarian are you?" Kevin's mother, Karen questioned.
Lucy slowly shook her head and went back to playing with her food. The temptation was monstrous. She couldn't help the tears that were accumulating in her eyes and the temptation to bite her nails.
Kevin took his girlfriends hand in his and looked at her puzzled, " Lucy, it there a problem?"
Lucy shook her head and did the same as before.
" Talk to me Luce. Is there a problem?"
" No. I'm ok."
He took her hand, " We'll be right back."
They left the table leaving behind an enormous amount of laughing and enjoyment. Lucy just looked at Kevin without saying a word. Kevin pulled her into his embrace and kissed her, " I love you Luce. Now please tell me what's wrong."
Lucy tried to hold back tears, " I can't do it Kevin. I never could."
" Do what Luce? Tell me."
" All my life I've never been able to go and become part of another family. I can't even do it for the one I love."
Kevin looked over to his girlfriend. How could anyone feel uncomfortable with his family? They were all he had. She was all he had, and he wanted both to get along because he loved them both with all his heart.
Kevin stood up and took Lucy by the hand, " Come on, I want to show you something."
" Not now Kevin. I don't want to go back. Not after making a total fool of myself."
"That's not were we are going," he said with the shake of his head, " This is somewhere else. Somewhere very special to me."
Kevin took her hand and they made their way out of the house.
" Close your eyes," Kevin said taking her hand.
" Oh no don't do this to me Kevin."
" Just do it. You know you can trust me."
She placed her small hand inside the comfort of his and followed him as if he held her very life in his hands. It wasn't until too long that they stopped. The smell of fresh cut wood and pine filled Lucy's nostrils.
"Ok you can open them now," Kevin said letting go of Lucy's hand.
Lucy fluttered her eyes open to reveal a large wooded area with trees of all heights. Right before her was a tree house that looked long abandoned. A single flag flew from the highest peek on the roof. Kevin took Lucy's hand and led her to a rope ladder that went up to the tree house.
" Oh no Kevin! I'm afraid of heights." Lucy wailed.
Kevin pushed Lucy onto the ladder, " Don't worry I'm right behind you."
" You promise you won't let me fall?"
" Promise."
Lucy climbed up the ladder, " You coming."
" You bet I am."
Kevin made his way up the rope ladder halfway and then paused to see Lucy standing there as if she were in a trance, " What are you looking at Luce?" He questioned whirling around to try to see what Lucy saw, " I don't see anything."
" You have to look harder Kevin. You have to look at the beauty in it." She took his hand and pulled him up onto the top floor as he landed with a thud.
" I don't see anything."
Lucy pointed to a baby bird trying to fly. It was an ordinary baby bird, but the amount of effort that this bird put into succeeding is what intrigued Lucy. "It will never give up until it flies."
Kevin wrapped his arms around Lucy and kissed her, " Wait here."
After going into the tree house he emerged with a small box. He handed it to Lucy, " Open it."
She held the box in her hands and opened it slowly, " Kevin. It's your camera!"
He kissed her and nodded, " I want you to have it. I want you to never give up just like that baby bird, and I want this to be a memento from me to never give up."
" Oh Kevin!" She said wrapping her arms around him.
She held up the camera and with a flash that memory would stay forever in time.
A/N: I'm sorry to my readers, but I have a feeling this will be the last chapter for a while, for I'm going back to school. I'll try to write as often as I can but I'm not going to make any promises. Other than that please review and look for the next chapter coming soon.
