wendy ---------------------------
(Karen stood outside the mall bathroom waiting for Lucas and Matt to reappear. She was upset. The car ride was tension filled to say the least. Her and Dan had tried to make small talk with Lucas and he would only respond with a few words and then would turn back and look out the window. If he did have more then a couple of words to say it was always a comment filled with so much anger and hurt because of the news that he was adopted and went seventeen years without having any idea. In Luke's eyes they were the enemy and she wondered if they would ever be able to make him understand the reasons that they gave him up for adoption? Would they be able to tear down that wall? Karen knew that this was going to be hard and now she was understanding why Dan had warned her the last few days not to get her hopes up so high. That had been a hard thing to do because this day really had been something that she had dreamed about. She finally felt whole again. Something that she never thought that she would fell after she gave Lucas up. Unfortunately any happiness that she wanted to feel could not overcome the complete heartache that she felt when she looked at Lucas and saw the betrayal he felt towards her,
his own mother. How were they going to manage to merge Lucas into their established family? Combine the hurt and anger of all their kids and her and Dan really did have a volcano that was ready to erupt at any moment. Dan had been pretty quiet on the way to the court house too. She assumed that he was feeling a lot of the same things as her. As she busied herself making a list of all the things they had to do before they went back home he starred out at the road consumed with thought. He had let out a lot of his frustrations out in a message that he left Nathan on his cell phone. He made it clear that he could throw the concert tickets away or sell them because he was not leaving the house that weekend and if he wanted to see daylight anytime after that he would have a suitable apology to his mother for hanging up on her earlier that day and it better be by sundown. Karen had not gotten that call yet but knew Nathan would take Dan seriously because he was not one to make idle threats and everyone was aware of that. Karen also knew that Dan was not THAT angry at Nathan but it was an easy reason to relieve stress so he took it. Just as Lucas and Matt had come from the bathroom Dan had appeared at the end of the hallway. Next to just telling his first born that they had given him up for adoption shopping was probably the next least favorite thing he would like to be doing.)
Ka: (Looking at Matt.) Fell better?
M: (Smiling.) A lot! I had to go really bad.
Ka: I'm sorry sweetie. You don't have to be nervous to tell us things like that. You just say whatever is on your mind. (She held out her hand in an attempt to at least break the ice with him. Lucas did not look too happy when Matt took the hand so willingly. He took his other hand and the three went to join Dan. Everyone stood a little awkwardly waiting for what was going to take place next.)
Ka: Lucas I know you want to get going and take a shower and I will assume you don't like to shop anymore than any other male on this planet so how about we split up and meet back in an hour?
L: I am not leaving Matt.
Ka: I thought that you wanted to take a shower?
L: (It's true that he did and the last thing he wanted was to be walking around a shopping mall. He actually looked like an orphan. His hair was a mess and the clothes he was wearing were too big and didn't match. He was never much into caring whether he had on the latest style or name brand but he did try to look decent with what he had.) I can wait. I am not leaving my little brother with a stranger.
Ka: Okay Lucas that is fine but it will take twice as long. You guys are going to have to try some stuff on and we may have to go to several places. (Karen could see the he was not happy at the news and if he wasn't going to really talk to her yet she figured that she could start with Matt and learn a little about Lucas from him. Being a second grade teacher she was pretty confident that she could at least get on HIS good side.) I just figured that we could get this done fast, grab a bite to eat and then go for a swim at the hotel before bed. But you are right Lucas, let's just go as a group, we can skip the pool...
Matt: NO! I want to go swimming. (Letting go of both hands that still had a hold of him.) Please Karen can we go swimming?
(Dan stood back and watched his wife work her magic. She was beautiful and she never ceased to amaze him! He loved her as his wife but the times that he found he loved her even more was when he watched her interact with their children. She was born to be a mother. He saw a sparkle in her eye. Even after the emotionally draining day that they had all just endured it did not matter. Nothing matter more at that moment more then the fact that she had Lucas back. She had never been the same after the day that she gave her baby up. It was tough for him, but a part of her died that day. He just hoped that maybe now that they found Lucas Karen could be completely at peace. He watched as the little boy pleaded with his wife. Karen knew that the mention of the pool at the hotel would have him wrapped around her little finger.)
Ka: Matt we just don't have enough time to do everything. When we went to court today that judge gave me the big job of doing what was best for you. (She bent down and got on his level.) Clean clothes, food and making sure you get rest win out over swimming. Your big brother is right. (She glanced at Lucas and then back at Matt.) We are just getting to know each other and he just doesn't feel right leaving you alone with one of us.
M: (He turned away from Karen and focused on Lucas.) Please Lucas can you just let me go with Karen and get some clothes so we have time to swim? I love swimming. Pretty Please!
L: (Lucas had figured out what Karen had done and he gave her a little glare and then looked at his little brother. Luke had to give Karen credit. She was creative and she knew how to get what she wanted.) Matt I will take you swimming another...
M: Please! Please Lucas!
L: Matt...
M: I will eat all my vegetables for dinner tonight and drink all my milk. Please!
(Dan and Karen looked on as the two kids went back and forth. They were a little surprised that Matt was bargaining with his older brother by saying that he would eat healthy food. They had both been in similar situations with Nate, Kaylee and Chris and they knew that for the most part they always gave in and could tell that Lucas was about to cave.)
L: You will clean your plate?
M: No carrots?
L: Anything that I pick. (He stuck out his hand.) Deal?
M: (Almost looking like he might back out but then stuck his hand out and shook his older brother's larger hand.) Okay.
Ka: Matt why don't you...
L: He'll go with you. I will go with him. (Nodding his head towards Dan.) He was not completely okay with separating from Matt but it definitely could not be any worse then the night before when the counselors made Matt sleep alone. He could still hear him screaming. He also did not feel too bad because he would be with Dan and that way he could keep an eye on him. Karen seemed harmless but Dan he was not sure about. Above all else if Matt was bargaining with vegetables there was not way he was going to take "no" for an answer.)
Ka: That's what I was going to suggest. Okay, meet back here in an hour. (She looked back and forth between her husband and son as they looked at each other. She hoped they would be okay for an hour.) Make sure you get dress clothes. Tie, shoes, socks, shirt and pants. (Looking at Lucas.) Just in case you change your mind about the funeral.)
L: I won't.
Ka: Dan...
Dan: I will take care of it.
Ka: (Holding her hand out to Matt.) You ready?
M: (Taking her hand.) Yep. Bye Lucas.
L: Bye kid. (His stomach tightened as his little brother walked away without a second thought and it got even worse when he realized that he was now alone with Dan.)
Da: (Looking at Lucas.) There is one thing that you need to know about your mo...Karen. If you want to survive in our household, humor her. I know you said that you are not going to the funeral but if we don't come back with what she sent us out for we will both be walking to the hotel. So, we might as well get this over with. (Luke shrugged and followed Dan into the crowd of people. Dan had so much that he wanted to say and so many questions that he wanted to ask but the look on Luke's face told him to back off. Dan was okay with that for the moment because now that the judge gave them temporary custody they had the time. If there was anyone that could get through to Lucas it was Karen. Right now he had to accomplish the task at hand: Shopping. It was bad enough to survive the silence in the car when there were four of them but now the sole responsibility of making conversation was up to him. Karen was shut down everytime she tried to talk in the car. Court went very fast and very smooth. Lucas did just what he said he was going to do. He stood in the front of the judge, looked him in the eye and told him that he was relieved and thankful that he found out about Karen and Dan and that he was happy he had a family to go home to. No sooner had they walked out of the courthouse Lucas made them very aware in no uncertain terms that he said everything to the judge because him and his little brother had not other choice. Dan had to admit the kid deserved an academy award. Dan stopped in front of a store.) Want to try here? (Lucas said nothing but walked in first.)
(Karen had a smile on that covered her entire face. The day had been hard but at that second she was just enjoying some time alone with a cute little boy. After Chris and Kaylee were born Karen and Dan had decided they were done having kids. It had been a mutual decision but now as she walked through the mall she forgot how great it was to watch a child interact in their world. Matt was so innocent just looking around amazed at all the people and the stores. Every once in a while he would look at Karen for a second like he was making some decisions on how he felt about her. Each time he looked she would give him a reassuring smile and give his hand a little squeeze.)
Ka: Where should we go first?
M: I get to pick?
K: Sure. Anywhere. (Of course just as she said that they were standing in front of the toy store. Matt looked at the store and all of the exciting possibilities with wide eyes and excitement and then his eyes went to the store next door with the child sized clothing on display in the window.)
M: (Matt pointed to one of the stores.) Are those the kind of clothes that you wear to a funal?
K: A funeral and yes. (She watched as Matt looked at the toys again and then he pulled on her hand and led her to the clothing store which surprised her. She could tell that it was a hard decision for him but she also knew that they had less then an hour to meet Lucas and Dan and starting in a toy store with a five year-old was not a good idea.) You think that they might have a swimsuit in here that we can get you?
M: (The disappointment was immediately gone.) Maybe one for Lucas too?
Ka: I think that we might be able to find him one too. Maybe when we are all done buying clothes we could go look in that toy store too. (He smiled really big and pulled her into the clothing store)
----------------------------------
(Luke really hated shopping and he knew that day was not going to be any different especially since they had to find the malls most pushy sales person to top it off. Lucas tried to tell the man his size but he insisted on taking his measurements anyway and that was still not good enough because then Dan insisted that he still try everything on so that Karen would not have them back in the store the next day because something did not fit exactly right. Lucas didn't want to make a scene so he took the items of clothing from the salesman and went into the dressing room. After trying on 3 different outfits the clerk put another item over the door and Lucas put his foot down. He took off what he had on,
got back into his street clothes and picked up the least uncomfortable of the items and handed them to Dan as he exited the room.)
L: These are fine.
Clerk: Mr. Lucas are you sure? There are a few more...
L: (From the moment that he had walked into the store and went through all the formal introductions this guy had been calling him "mister". Lucas hated it. It was something that you call a teacher or and old man. Not him. He knew that he was trying to be polite but at that moment it was getting on his last nerve and if he heard it again he was going to shove the clothes down his throat.) I'm sure.
Da: (He could tell that Lucas was at the end of his rope. The whole process had taken over 45 minutes already and he was just as ready as Lucas to get out of the little store and away from the too eager salesman.) I think these are a good choice. Now all we need is a pair of shoes, a tie and socks. (He saw Lucas roll his eyes and flop down in the closest chair as the clerk got ready to make more commission. The eye roll made Dan cringe because for a split second he looked just like Chris. The "eye-roll" was one of the things that drove Dan the most crazy about his youngest son and now his oldest did the same. Dan watched as the clerk removed Luke's muddy, old sneaker to reveal a sock that was in even worse shape. Dan had to admit that even though the clerk had been quite annoying he was very professional. Given Luke's appearance it was obvious that he was not accustomed to shopping in a store like that but never once did the clerk show him any disrespect. Dan noticed that Lucas was not being overly helpful with the shoe trying on process but he was not fighting it either.)
Clerk: How are those?
L: Fine. (Looking at Dan.) Can we go?
D: (Nodding.) I think that will do it. (He followed the clerk to the counter as Luke did not make an attempt to get up. Dan grabbed a few packs of underwear in Luke's size and in different styles. The kid really had nothing and Dan had to push away the guilt that was ready to take over. His son was suffering and he could not help thinking that if they would not have put him up for adoption he would not be in pain.)
(Lucas saw the clerk putting all of the stuff into a bag as the receipt seemed to take days to print. When the noise finally stopped on the cash register the clerk announced the total that made Lucas almost fall off the chair.)
Clerk: $528.36.
(Luke watched as the dark-haired man didn't hesitate and showed no surprise and paid with cash. He had just managed to spend more money in one store then him and Matt spend on clothes in a year. This was Luke's first "real" look at who his father was. Was this a show to impress him or was money really not an issue? That thought was completely foreign to Lucas.)
Dan: Lucas? (He held onto the package and garment bag but Lucas seemed to be in his own world.) Lucas?
L: What?
D: We should go meet your mo...(He stopped as the teen's eyes snapped up from his starring position on the floor. This was the second time that Dan had almost referred to Karen as Luke's mom. Of course they both knew that is what she really was but Dan assumed that in light of everything Lucas was not ready for her to be called that.) We should go meet your brother.
(Lucas got up and led the way out of the store relieved that his day as a human barbie doll was over and he was done trying on clothes. He was thinking about what Dan had just said to him or what he had started to say. Lucas had known exactly what he was meaning to say and instead changed mother to brother. Funny thing was that Karen was actually his mother and Matt was not technically his brother)
---------------------------
(Karen and Matt had so many bags that she had to actually rent a little shopping cart from the information desk at the mall. She followed behind Matt as he did his best to steer the cart even though he could barely see over the handle.)
Ka: Thanks for cooperating and trying on all of those clothes.
M: You're welcome.
Ka: Do you think that Lucas will like what you got? (Matt nodded his head trying to concentrate on not hitting the people walking towards them.) I am sorry that we ran out of time and couldn't make it back to the toy store.
M: That's okay. I really like my Spiderman shirt.
Ka: You are really a good kid you know that?
M: Yeah. But sometimes I am naughty.
Ka: (Laughing a little.) That happens. (She was a little concerned that like his brother he had not talked much about his parents. She wondered if he actually understood what had happened. She thought maybe getting him to talk about them would stir up some type of emotion.)
M: Lucas gets mad at me when I am not having.
Ka: When you are not having? What do you mean?
M: When I am not being good.
K: (Smiling.) Oh. You mean when you are not BEhaving.
M: Yeah that. Lucas makes me stand in a corner sometimes.
K: Oh yeah? How do you feel about that?
M: I hate it. I can't talk and I have to touch my nose on the wall for 10 whole minutes!
Ka: Wow! Lucas sounds like he is tough. But he's a pretty good big brother isn't he?
(Matt nodded his head in answer to her question. Karen was a little surprised at how involved Lucas was with Matt. Sometimes Nathan felt the need to "take over" with Kaylee if he felt that her and Dan were letting her do too much. It never went over well. It was nice to see two siblings get along as well as Luke and Matt. She was actually thankful for that since there would be enough stress with the rest of the kids.) Matt do you know what it means that your mom and dad died?
M: I can't never talk to them or see them again. They got burned up.
Ka: (Cringing a little at his wording of the accident.) Does that make you really sad?
M: Yeah. But I would be more sadder if Lucas died. He's my best friend.
Ka: He's pretty special.
M: He is really sad too. He was crying afore.
Ka: It's okay to cry when you are sad and when someone dies.
M: He was crying because he does not think that you like him because you gave him away. Are you going to give us away Karen?
Ka: (She wiped away a few tears she was trying to hold back as she could see her husband and son at the end of the hallway.) Never Matt. I promise that you and Lucas are part of our family now and we will never give you away.
M: Kay. Cuz we don't have nowhere to go since our house burnt down.
Ka: (Karen saw that Lucas was keeping his distance from her husband and was leaning over the railing looking down at the first floor. Apparently the ice had not been broken much between them.) Hey Matt what do you say we drop this stuff off with Dan and me,
you and Luke can head back to the toy store quick?
M: Yeah! (He saw Luke and took off running towards him leaving the cart and Karen behind.)
(When Karen approached her husband he was sitting in a worn, brown leather chair that was put in the middle of the mall for husbands that were somehow drug to the mall to shop with their wives. Karen did notice the bags next to Dan's feet and was thankful that they had at least got something accomplished. As soon as Lucas heard Matt's voice he turned around and gave him a small smile and lifted him into his arms. Karen could see that the little boy was unable to control his excitement and he was talking a mile a minute. She decided to give them a few minutes to catch up and walked over to her husband.. She sat on the arm of the chair and gave him a small kiss.)
Ka: (Quietly.) So how bad was it?
D: Not a lot of conversation. (He points to the numerous bags that were overflowing the cart.) So do I even want to know how much?
Ka: (Smiling.) Do you think that I would tell you the truth?
D: I don't know how you do it.
Ka: What?
D: We barely had enough time to get what we needed in one store and you have sacks from at least four.
Ka: Six actually. Plus I had a five year-old in toe. It's called power shopping and I am not quite done.
D: Karen it is getting late. I'm hungry and the kids have to be too.
K: I know but I promised Matt a toy so he wants Lucas to go with us. You can take the bags to the car and we will meet you there in 20 minutes.
D: You are taking a kid to a toy store and you expect me to buy that you are going to be done in 20 minutes?
Ka: I was just with him for an hour. He has it.
D: Has what?
Ka: Potential to be a power-shopper. (Dan smiled and then they both turned towards the new additions to their family.) Lucas is good with him.
D: Yeah he is.
Ka: He looks tired.
D: Can you blame him? He has been through hell and back the last few days. I am surprised that he can still stand. They have nothing Karen. (Karen did not say anything and just nodded her head in acknowledgment that she understood.) They need so much before we even get them home. Socks, toothbrushes...
Ka: I started a list in the car.
Da: (Smiling.) I saw your list honey. We have to be able to take all of this on the plane with us you know?
Ka: Remind me to add two suitcases to the list.
D: When you go to the toy store see if you can get Lucas to pick out a pair of tennis shoes that he likes. He needs them bad. Size 11.
Ka: So you don't care if we go?
Da: Do I have a choice?
Ka: No.
Da: That is what I thought. I called the funeral director a little bit ago. They have started the arrangements. Some of their friends are involved. I don't want to push Lucas...
Ka: But he needs to go Dan.
Da: They are having a prayer service tomorrow night.
Ka: I'll talk to him again tomorrow and hopefully a night of sleep will help settle him down and he will come around.
Da: I'm going to make plane reservations for Friday morning. I think the sooner we get them home the better.
Ka: Yeah. Tomorrow one of us needs to go pick up their records. (Karen stopped talking when Matt came running over to the cart and started digging through the sacks. He was pulling out shirt after shirt and handing them to Karen.) Honey maybe I can help you find what you are looking for. These are Lucas's shirts. (She met her son's eyes who looked on with question.)
M: I want to show Lucas the Spiderman shirt that I got.
Ka: (Barely hearing what the little boy was saying as she felt the need to explain. She held up the shirt for Lucas to see.) I thought that I would pick these up for you to get you by until we get back to Tree Hill. I'm not sure what you like but Nathan... (Luke raised an eyebrow and Karen and Dan both realized what she had said and it was too late to take it back. Matt had finally found the right sack and was taking out all of the unimportant clothes to get to his prize. He did not even notice that Karen and Dan had walked up to his older brother.)
L: Who's Nathan?
Karen: Lucas we didn't really want to get into this with you in the middle of the mall.
L: Get into what? That you have another kid?
Da: (A little surprised that he was staying so calm about it. He was still not being friendly or anything but he was not any angrier.) Well yeah. We were going to tell you about them back at the hotel.
L: Them? How many are we talking about?
Ka: Three. There is Nathan and a set of twins, Kaylee and Chris. I'm sorry Lucas this is not the setting that we had planned. (Karen wished so much that she could read his mind and understand what he was thinking. Surprisingly he was taking the news much better then she had anticipated.)
L: I'm seventeen. I never really thought much about it since the adoption news was sprun on me a whole three hours ago but I guess since you stayed together it would be normal to have kids. Whatever. I don't care. (Lucas had feelings about the situation but he didn't want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that he cared. He had tons of other things to ask them about besides this new turn of events. For starters why they would give him up when they obviously had plans of staying together forever. In a way though he was glad that they had other kids. He had been Matt's only source of entertainment for so many years it would be nice to have other little kids for him to play with. Then something occurred to him. What happened if they expected him to take care of these kids? He had done everything for Matt since he was born and he had no intention of doing that again.) I will change diapers but if you expect me to baby-sit I charge by the hour.
(Karen and Dan gave each other a quick look and then looked back at Lucas. Matt was holding up the T-shirt as high as he could to get the blonde's attention and Luke glanced at it but at the same time saw the look that was exchanged. What was he missing?)
Matt: Look at this cool shirt Lucas. Do you like it?
L: (Looking at Matt's beaming face.) It's great Matty!
M: Can we go to the toy store now?
L: I think you got enough. I don't think that you need anything else.
M: But Karen said if I was good we could go. I WAS really good Lucas! I did everything that she said.
L: Just a minute bud. (Looking at his new found parents who seemed to still be in a state of confusion.) Why do you guys keep looking at me like that for?
Ka: It's just that the kids are not in diapers anymore. They don't need a baby-sitter either. (Maybe she should rephrase that as she thought of Nate's latest attitude and the fact that Keith was staying with them.) Well at least not on the level that you are thinking.
L: So they are older? Like Matt's age?
Da: The twins are fourteen.
L: (Sarcastic.) Wow! It didn't take you long to move on from me huh?
Ka: (Karen was now feeling his anger return at full force and realized why he had been so calm.) Lucas it was never like that.
L: Yeah, that is what you keep saying. You said there were three kids. Nathan? How old is he?
Da: Well he is actually my son and Karen's step-son. His mom died when he was younger.
L: How old is he?
Ka: Sixteen.
L: Sixteen? (At first he said it almost too quiet to hear. He was processing the information. Sixteen!) How much of an age difference is there between me and him?
Da: (He saw the change of Luke's expression as he got the news about the rest of his family.) Lucas that does not matter right now...
L: It matters to me! (He was starting to raise his voice and Matty looked at him along with a few of the mall patrons within earshot.) How long after you decided to give me away did it take you to decide to keep the other kid? How much older am I?
Da: Three months.
(Lucas picked up his brother and was trying to control his anger while also trying not to squeeze the child too hard because of it. He was pissed and at that second he just needed to get some air. He suddenly felt closed in and he needed to get away from all the people.) Time to go Matt.
M: GO? No Lucas I have to go to the toy store.
L: Not today. (Looking at Dan and Karen.) Can we get out of here?
Da: (Dan started to pack up the bags and throw them back in the cart feeling a little relief that there was not going to be more of a scene in the mall and that Lucas was staying with them after the news and not bolting. He wanted to try and do damage control and he did not want to do it there. They had drawn enough stares and attention from the strangers that could not help noticing the angry teenager. He started after Lucas and quickly lost hope that only a few people would notice their family fight because now Matt was kicking and screaming.)
M: BUT LUCAS KAREN PROMISED ME!
L: (Lucas was doing his best to hang onto the child but was soon losing the battle when he was unable to avoid the blows coming from Matt's fists and feet. He was throwing an all out fit.) Matt stop it right now. (Lucas was trying to keep his voice down as now he was very aware that all eyes were on him and his brother.)
M: LET ME DOWN LUCAS!
L: We need to go.
M: BUT I WANT MY TOY FIRST!
L: Not today.
M: I AM NOT GOING TO GO WITH YOU!
(Karen and Dan had both approached the two at this point. Dan was having flashbacks of Nathan when he was little throwing similar fits when he did not get what he wanted. When the hitting and the kicking were not working for Matt he just let all life leave his body and he was like a rag doll that made him even more difficult to hold. Karen felt sorry for both of the boys. Lucas was understandably upset and Matt just did not understand.)
L: DAMN IT MATT KNOCK IT OFF!
M: NOOO! (Matt had managed to break Luke's hold on his arms for a second and it was long enough for him to scratch the side of his neck. The two inch long scratch drew blood immediately.)
L: OWW! (He finally gave up and handed his little brother to Karen.) FINE! Take him. (Luke took off towards the nearest exit and Dan knew that he needed to follow.)
Da: I will go try and talk to him and I will bring the car around.
Ka: (Matt was crying really hard but had stopped struggling.) I will take care of Matt and will meet you in the car. (Dan had started leaving before she had even finished what she was saying. He was thankful that for the most part the people that were starring at them had went back to their own lives. Karen sat back on the leather chair and rubbed Matt's back as he buried his head in her shoulder. Like Dan, this had reminded her of when Nate threw one of his famous tantrums when he was little. Karen would never have normally dreamed of giving into that behavior but the child spoke the truth. Karen had promised him a toy and he should not be punished because Lucas was upset.) Matt? (He had finally calmed down and he sat up and looked at her with his tear-streaked face. She cleaned him up with a kleenex from her purse.) You okay?
M: (Nodding his head.) Why was Lucas so mad? Is he leaving me?
Ka: No honey. He's going to wait in the car. How about we go really fast to the toy store and then we will go find them? (Matt agreed and took Karen's hand as they headed to the store.)
(Dan got a kleenex from the glove compartment and handed it to Lucas.)
L: I am not crying.
D: It's for your neck. Matt got you pretty good. (Luke reached up and felt the sting as soon as he touched the scratch and when he looked at his hand it was definitely still bleeding. He took the kleenex and held it on the soar.) You have a right to be mad.
L: Thanks for the permission. So how did it work Dan?
D: How did what work?
L: I mean did you flip a coin to decide what baby to keep because you only wanted to pay child support on one?
D: (He leaned his head back against the head rest and closed his eyes.) It wasn't like that Lucas. Karen and I loved you.
L: Really? You have a funny way of showing it.
D: We wanted you to have a better life then what we thought that we could have given you. We were eighteen. Karen and I were not ready to be parents.
L: Three months later you were? Wow, those must have been some amazing parenting classes.
Dan: I never said that I was ready. It was not just my decision and I supported Nathan's mom when she decided that she wanted to keep him. Lucas I was not even ready to be a parent when Karen got pregnant the second time.
L: But you keep those kids.
Dan: Karen would not have survived that kind of loss again Lucas. She was never the same after she gave you up. The main reason we did it was to give you a better life.
L: A better life huh?
D: You had two great parents right?
L: Well if you are asking me if I would chose them or you right now, then I can tell you they would win in a heartbeat.
D: Then we did the right thing.
(Karen opened up the back passenger door and buckled Matt in, handed him the sack and got in her own door. Matt pulled the toy out of the bag as Dan pulled away from the curb.)
M: Look Lucas, Karen let me get Spiderman AND a bad guy so that you could play too!
L: (Lucas glared at his little brother.) You should have to throw those away after the way that you acted.
M: (He got tears in his eyes again.) But Karen said...
L: I don't care what SHE said. You need to listen to ME! (He pulled the kleenex away from his neck.) Look what you did to me when you were being a brat!
M: (Yelling.) I don't like you.
L: Fine, in that case I don't have to take you swimming.
M: (He had tears running down his cheeks.) You are being mean to me.
Ka: Lucas I did tell him that he could have a toy. I did not think that it would have been fair to back out of that.
L: And you guys are all about being fair. Keep three kids and give one away.
(That was the last thing that was said in the car ride to the hotel. Karen and Dan were relieved that they did not have a long drive and the only sound that was heard the rest of the way were a few sniffles from Matt.)
Up next...Nathan... I promise... this update just got too long... so he will be in the next one...plus the funeral ...and then the long awaited reunion