CHAPTERS 39, 40, 41
Chapter 39
In the bedroom, Dillon continued to apologize.
"Let me finish! I'm sorry for not treating you like a mother! I'm sorry—"
Tracy walked over to her son and hugged him. He did not pull away.
"Shhh," she told him. "Shhh. It's all right."
Dillon swallowed. "I, uh…whoa." He laughed. "Awkward moment. Awkward moment."
Tracy distanced herself.
"Wow," he said placing his hands over his face. "What just happened?" He laughed again.
Tracy looked concern. "Dillon, sweetheart, are you feeling all right?"
"Yeah. I—I just can't believe I flipped out like that."
Tracy smiled slightly. "Me either." She bit her lip.
"I meant what I said though."
Tracy nodded. "I know." She paused. "Thank you."
"You're welcome?" Dillon asked.
Tracy clarified. "Thank you for the apology…apologies," she corrected.
"No problem."
"I'm sorry too. For not being there. Among many, many other things. I do love you, you know…more than words can express."
"How much mushier is this conversation gonna get?" Dillon laughed.
Tracy laughed. "You started it."
Dillon agreed. "True. Um—," he began. "Just so you know…I, uh, love you too."
"I know," Tracy reminded him. "Maybe we can work on showing it."
"Like have lunch or something?"
Tracy was intrigued. "Are you offering?"
"Can we go to Kelly's?"
"Hahaha," Tracy laughed. "We'll see."
At that moment, Brook, Ned, and Luke were heard outside the door.
"Oh Spanky Buns! Spanky Buns!"
"You can't go in there!" Brook told him.
"And why not?" Luke asked.
"My mother is with Dillon right now."
Luke blasted into the room. "Spanky Buns! There you are!"
Everyone exchanged glances.
"Luke Spencer, do you mind?" Tracy yelled.
Chapter 40
Luke, Tracy, Ned, Dillon, and Brook walked down the stairs into the foyer.
"Luke Spencer, you need to learn how to knock!" Tracy yelled.
Luke traveled behind her. "You need to learn how to appreciate the element of surprise!"
"The element of surprise?" mocked Tracy. "When did that become part of your vocabulary?"
"Tracy!" yelled Edward from down the stairs. "Why is that man still here?"
They all gathered in the foyer.
"Aww Pops. That's no way to treat your son-in-law."
"Can everybody please stop yelling?" Emily asked while entering the room.
"I agree," said Monica. "This is ridiculous."
Alan entered, "Maybe you're just being ridiculous."
"Oh, don't you even start with me!"
"Mom, Dad. Please," Emily pleaded.
"Give it up!" shouted Tracy.
Ned asked, "Did I miss something?"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" said Lois as she walked into the room. "What happened to being a family?"
Skye entered. "I agree with Lois. We need to start acting like a family."
"Who says your family?" Tracy said.
"Not this again," muttered Alan.
"My sister-in-law is right. Skye has no business here."
"Yes she does!" Emily exclaimed. "She's my sister."
"Ohh," said Tracy sarcastically. "One non-Quartermaine defending another. Is that engaging or what?"
"They are both Quartermaines!" insisted Alan.
"More than you'll ever be," Edward told Tracy.
"Leave Mrs. Spencer alone!" Luke shouted.
"They are weird," Brook Lynn told Dillon. "Very weird. Can you imagine growing up in this?"
Dillon shook his head. "I don't know if I could have handled it. Watching movies in my mother's hotel rooms throughout the years seems so much more appealing. But…"
"But what?"
"There's just something about them."
"Like you can't turn your back on them?"
"Yeah. Like you still love 'em no matter what."
Brook Lynn nodded, "I totally get it."
Meanwhile, the family continued to argue.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Dillon shouted. "Everyone needs to be quiet!"
The family turned towards him.
Brook Lynn stepped in, "Excuse me, but I don't think Great-Grandma Lila would approve of this behavior. The entire family is finally in one room again, and look what happens."
"I thought you were going to bed, Tracy," Edward told her. "It would have better for all of us if you stayed upstairs."
"I wanted her to come downstairs. If you have a problem with it, maybe you, Grandfather, should leave," Ned defended his mother.
"All right. All right," said Lois. "Is anyone up for another round of—"
"No," said Luke.
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I do," said Tracy. "And I agree with my dear husband. I refuse to sit in a circle, hold hands with all of you, and wax sentimental."
"It did wonders earlier," Emily noted.
"Good for you, dear. Why don't you go play with someone who cares for it just as much?"
Emily sighed.
"Please, can we all just stop? Please, just stop!" Brook Lynn begged.
Chapter 41
Night had fallen, and the family had separated from one another. Tracy was looking at a photograph in the dark living room when Luke entered, carrying a blanket and a pillow.
"Tracy?" he said.
Tracy hid the photograph under a pillow.
"Luke, what are you doing here?"
"I live here. Remember? I'm your husband."
Tracy sighed. "Doesn't mean you have to follow me around."
"I wasn't following you."
"Then…why…are…you…here?" she asked slowly.
"You're sitting on my bed," he tossed the blanket and pillow at her.
"Ugh. Get your disgusting belongings off me."
Luke laughed.
"Do you mind?" asked Tracy.
"All right. All right. Don't fret, Spanky Buns." His voice turned serious, "You were looking at a photograph of Lila?"
Tracy nodded. She lifted the pillow and handed it to Luke.
"She was very beautiful," Luke told her. "And she passed her beauty onto you."
"Luke, I am not in mood for a flirtatious interlude. Save it for Skye."
"I'm a married man now," he said. "And Skye's not my wife."
"Please, Luke. WHAT do you want?"
"My bed. I already told you."
"Right," Tracy recalled. "It's all yours."
Tracy began to walk out.
"Tracy…wait."
Tracy turned around.
"Are you going to be all right?"
Tracy nodded.
"Are you sure?"
Tracy nodded again.
"Just remember Tracy. You, like your mother, are an amazing woman. Nothing you or anyone does can change that."
Tracy swallowed hard. Then she left the room.
PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 42, 43, 44:
Dillon and Georgie spend some time together on the Haunted Star.
Monica breaks down in front of Alan.
Tracy makes a promise to Brook Lynn.