Easily distinguished pink-tipped nails, each tiny crescent shimmering in the iridescent light cast by the tasseled lamp.
Typing.
Every gesture as the crisp paper rolled upward feminine and efficient. Pretty dress, gold pink with deep russet undertones. Quite a creation. And the smell-the scent of a subtle perfume whenever she moved.
Languid, satisfied. Almost feline. He stretched, but the merest shrug. He never believed in disrupting comfort.
"Almost done."
Rich voice. Caught one sight of soft, dark hair sweeping her neck...craned for a better view.
Karen Roe was beautiful. Yes, she sure was. Dan found himself watching the tilt of her head with a growing sense of confidence. He was Dan Scott, local football hero and male-most-wanted. It was only natural that Karen should be happy to have him hang around all day. He'd seen the look in her eye as of late. Pity...
At the time, they felt invincible. What greater power is youth?:
Dan awoke cold. The glorious summer day had dipped on the thermometer tonight.
Outside the material walls that sheltered him, silver moonlight bathed the woods. It had taken on cloaks of a shadowed, innocent hue.
Definitely Lucas.
The big man glanced about, as if something could hear his thoughts.
Grabbing his flashlight, he made camp rounds. Might as well-Tim's Dad was probably sound asleep, shuddering at the sound of distant night birds.
Hesitated at his son's tent. Singular, not plural.
Nathan-sprawled across his sleeping bag, crumpled candy bar wrappers and an empty beer.
Great. The kids were already bringing out their hidden stash. He retrieved the can and tossed it into the surrounding shrubbery. No need mentioning it, except to Nathan.
A creased bag on the opposite side of the cramped quarters caused him to sigh. Figured. Where was the bastard son?
Somehow, he knew it wasn't just a bathroom break. Nothing so uncomplicated, Karen's doing. She'd hard-wired that boy.
Well-Dan scanned the trees. No sense in wasting sleep. Lucas could take care of himself.
Poking at the smoldering fire, the elder Scott found himself drifting off. He jerked awake, kicked a large split log onto the fire and brushed the chips off his sweatshirt. Time to turn in.
Settled down, forcing any old memories away, don't dare resurface in his dreams...
The snap of a twig...:
Lucas froze, his dad's flashlight full on his face. Put up a hand to shield the glare-knew Dan was mad...
"What the heck were you doing?"
Lucas refused to answer, stood quietly, still blocking the harsh light. Finally Dan switched it off.
"Well?"
"I was walking."
"Obviously."
Luke knew the truth wouldn't satisfy this man.
"What is it to you?"
"Ah-" a supine smile stretched Dan's mouth. "Poor, cast off Lucas having a moment?"
"That's not it at all," Lucas shot back.
"Let's see...Daddy doesn't love me. He doesn't pay attention to me. Nathan gets all sort of crap that Mom couldn't even dream of putting on layaway...it's been hard...people talk, they hide their gossip behind menus and in the streets...classification: bastard."
"Mom gave me something you could never have."
"And what is that? The only decent thing she ever gave you was stolen from me. Me." Dan leaned in, tapping Lucas' chest. "You don't deserve my name."
"You should of thought of that before you left us."
Lucas pushed by, his expression battling contempt and anger.
"Walk away. Luke. That's it. Run. Hide. She taught you an awful lot."
How does one combat arrogance? The ability to twist and color everything...and believe in it.
"I don't want to talk to you." Lucas knocked away Dan's restraining hand. "Again."
Strode, taut and straight limbed, past the flickering firelight into broken patches of night.
"What's your problem?"
Nathan's voice, cheeks stained with sleep.
"Dad, why'd you always have to-" Nathan shoved past him, pulling on his school jacket. Dan heard the soft thud of sneakers on fresh dirt, knew Nate was trailing Lucas. Probably get a smack in the jaw, for all his touching concern.
Things were vast approaching a showdown. Deb, Nathan, was the whole town blinded by this supposed tragedy?
He took a calming breath. It was Karen. All Karen. He knew this. She'd never forgive him for marrying Deb. No, it wasn't only the so-called desertion. It was the money, the man, the name, everything she couldn't have that Deb and Nate did.
Dan would have to figure something out...he had plans. Just how to go about them...