Chapter 6
It was the second time in Lucky's life that he had seen his older brother look defeated and the first time for Emily. The first time was when they institutionalized their mother, Laura. Luke seemed to know when to be there. He opened the screen door and walked out onto the porch. Luke clasped a hand on Nikolas' should and quietly said, "Come into the house." Nikolas nodded and aloud Luke to direct him into the living room and a chair. Audrey looked up, smiled warmly at Nikolas and Emily, then continued on with her story about Elizabeth's lack of cooking skills that brought laughter from everyone in the room. The Hardy house was filled with friends and family well after midnight. Audrey had many arrangements to take care of the next day. All of which she had finished before noon. Steven was a dutiful grandson and a companioned her to all of them. There was only one more detail to attend to and time was Audrey's enemy. Her great grandson, Cameron, would have to be cared for in the event of her death. This was something she wasn't ready to face, but some tough decisions had to be made for Cameron's future. Steven couldn't help, but notice his grandmother's anxiety. As the car pulled into the driveway, they saw Lucky sitting on the porch holding Cameron. "They made quiet a pair," Audrey thought to herself. Steven turned the engine off, went around and helped his grandmother out of the car, then walked to the porch. Without a word, he took Cameron out of Lucky's arms and went into the house allowing the screen door to slam close behind him. Audrey and Lucky looked at each other astonished at what Steven had just done. Cameron's unhappy wails could be heard on the porch. Lucky opened the door for Audrey and helped her in the house. He then proceeded to apologize for coming over unannounced to see Cameron. Audrey told him that he didn't need an invitation to come see that little boy. "You are always welcome in this house." Audrey reminded him. Steven came down the stairs two at a time with anger in his eyes. "Since when did this start?!" he blurted out. "Steven, what's got into you?" Audrey retorted. "How could you be so calm about coming home to find Lucky Spencer sitting on the porch holding Cameron! He's all we have left of Elizabeth!" Steven raged. "I'm well aware of that, Steven." she said sternly. Audrey drew in a deep uneasy breath, then looked her grandson in the eyes. "You never took the time to get to know your sister once she grew up. Otherwise, you would know that Lucky being here to spend time with Cameron would please her." Steven fell silent at his grandmother's words. Lucky felt terribly uncomfortable, but he decided right then, in that moment, that NO ONE would ever take Cameron away from him again. He looked at Audrey and asked to speak to her privately in the kitchen. Audrey led the way with Lucky right behind her. Once they were sitting at the table, Lucky told her about his intentions. "I would like to adopt Cameron with your approval. I would be a good father to him. I promise." Lucky said with complete sincerity. Audrey couldn't have said no. This was the right choice for everyone. "I will still expect to be his great grandmother." she said with a gentle smile. Lucky came around the table and gave her a big hug. Everything seemed to be working out in spite of how upside down the last day in a half had been. Steven was eavesdropping on the other side of the kitchen door. He was completely infuriated by what he had just heard. His own grandmother signing away all that was left of his baby sister to Lucky Spencer. When HELL freezes over he thought to himself!
It was the second time in Lucky's life that he had seen his older brother look defeated and the first time for Emily. The first time was when they institutionalized their mother, Laura. Luke seemed to know when to be there. He opened the screen door and walked out onto the porch. Luke clasped a hand on Nikolas' should and quietly said, "Come into the house." Nikolas nodded and aloud Luke to direct him into the living room and a chair. Audrey looked up, smiled warmly at Nikolas and Emily, then continued on with her story about Elizabeth's lack of cooking skills that brought laughter from everyone in the room. The Hardy house was filled with friends and family well after midnight. Audrey had many arrangements to take care of the next day. All of which she had finished before noon. Steven was a dutiful grandson and a companioned her to all of them. There was only one more detail to attend to and time was Audrey's enemy. Her great grandson, Cameron, would have to be cared for in the event of her death. This was something she wasn't ready to face, but some tough decisions had to be made for Cameron's future. Steven couldn't help, but notice his grandmother's anxiety. As the car pulled into the driveway, they saw Lucky sitting on the porch holding Cameron. "They made quiet a pair," Audrey thought to herself. Steven turned the engine off, went around and helped his grandmother out of the car, then walked to the porch. Without a word, he took Cameron out of Lucky's arms and went into the house allowing the screen door to slam close behind him. Audrey and Lucky looked at each other astonished at what Steven had just done. Cameron's unhappy wails could be heard on the porch. Lucky opened the door for Audrey and helped her in the house. He then proceeded to apologize for coming over unannounced to see Cameron. Audrey told him that he didn't need an invitation to come see that little boy. "You are always welcome in this house." Audrey reminded him. Steven came down the stairs two at a time with anger in his eyes. "Since when did this start?!" he blurted out. "Steven, what's got into you?" Audrey retorted. "How could you be so calm about coming home to find Lucky Spencer sitting on the porch holding Cameron! He's all we have left of Elizabeth!" Steven raged. "I'm well aware of that, Steven." she said sternly. Audrey drew in a deep uneasy breath, then looked her grandson in the eyes. "You never took the time to get to know your sister once she grew up. Otherwise, you would know that Lucky being here to spend time with Cameron would please her." Steven fell silent at his grandmother's words. Lucky felt terribly uncomfortable, but he decided right then, in that moment, that NO ONE would ever take Cameron away from him again. He looked at Audrey and asked to speak to her privately in the kitchen. Audrey led the way with Lucky right behind her. Once they were sitting at the table, Lucky told her about his intentions. "I would like to adopt Cameron with your approval. I would be a good father to him. I promise." Lucky said with complete sincerity. Audrey couldn't have said no. This was the right choice for everyone. "I will still expect to be his great grandmother." she said with a gentle smile. Lucky came around the table and gave her a big hug. Everything seemed to be working out in spite of how upside down the last day in a half had been. Steven was eavesdropping on the other side of the kitchen door. He was completely infuriated by what he had just heard. His own grandmother signing away all that was left of his baby sister to Lucky Spencer. When HELL freezes over he thought to himself!
