Title: Things Unspoken
Author: Jayta
Rating: PG18 - may contain some coarse language
Show: One Tree Hill
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. I appreciate it. Who knew writing for the adults could be so much fun. Hehehe.
Chapter Two: The Things That Never Were
"You're back." Karen smiled as the tall curly haired ex-mechanic slumped down onto the stool in front of her. "I didn't think it would be that fast."
"Oh, Danny boy wouldn't have it any other way."
Karen frowned. "I didn't know you went with Dan?"
"Oh, I didn't. But since he insisted I carry Dad in tow," he sighed. "It was going to be on his time schedule."
"What?" The dish rag in her hand paused mid-swipe.
"Oh yeah, you have no idea what's new in Tree Hill."
Keith couldn't believe it himself. When Royal and Dan came back to the house, there was this big announcement about how Royal was selling the house and moving back to Tree Hill. It was something to behold. Dan Scott, speechless.
"So what are you saying?" She couldn't believe her ears.
"Yup. Royal's moving back to Tree Hill." He nodded. "And right as we speak, he's driving Dan up the wall as he's unpacking into the beachhouse."
>>>>>>
"You know that you don't have to unpack, Dad." Dan shook his head, as he watched in disbelief that his father was expecting to room with him in the tiny, cramped beachhouse. "I'm sure my real estate agent will have some listings for us by tomorrow," he said, while silently praying that it would be true.
"What?" Royal frowned. "No, I'm not going to have you pack me off into some senior citizen's home or worse one of those god-forsaken condominiums. No, this place will do for now. Until I get the chance to go through the classifieds."
Dan rolled his eyes. "That's not how it's done anymore, Dad," he sighed. "Why don't you just let my real estate find you something? It's what I pay her for."
He knew this was going to be an ordeal, but he thought there might be the possibility that he might be able to pawn his father off on Keith - since they had grown so 'close'. But Royal would hear nothing of it. It was his worst nightmare.
"Paying people for what regular folk can do for themselves," Royal mumbled. "I don't know how you became as well off as you are, doing things the way you do."
"Well, when busy people like me, are making money, they get other people to do the grunt work."
Royal couldn't believe what a spoiled brat Dan had become. "We were those other people who did the grunt work, sonny boy! Don't forget what got you here," he said darkly. "Our hard earned money is what paid for your college education."
"Yes, I'm indebted to you. Right. Got that."
Royal shook his head. The younger generation never listened. They think they know everything.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning on settling into your little bachelor pad," Royal sighed. "I'm not going to cramp your style."
Yeah, too late. Dan knew it wouldn't be too long before he began hearing from his father about trying to possibly work things out with Deb. As if he needed another heart attack before the age of 40.
He wished he knew what his father was up to. There was just something... He knew there was more to his Dad moving back to Tree Hill than just to be closer to him and his 'fatherly duties'.
>>>>>>
The rough texture of the leather under his fingers, and the rhythmic pounding of the ball into the pavement filled him with a sense of familiarity. It calmed him. As his mind swirled with chaos and an unsettling feeling of loss, Lucas threw up a shot towards the chain hoop on the Rivercourt - his home away from home.
"Dog, what's up wit-chu?" The familiar slang and low, demanding tone of one of his oldest friends brought a smile to his face.
"Nothing," he lied, shrugging non-chalantly as he ran after the ball.
"Luke, you know I can read you better than that," Skills chided, stealing the ball from his hands. "So spill."
Lucas shook his head. "It's nothing really," he said, wondering whether he was trying to convince Skills or himself. "I just went to my grandmother's funeral on Dan's side of the family."
"Whoa, that's...that's whacked Luke."
"Is it?" He wondered. He had told himself that he was going more for Nathan's sake than anything. It wasn't a burning desire to finally meet a grandmother he had never known.
"Yeah," Skills answered, as he let a shot go. "Going to a funeral of a woman who never wanted to know you. I'd be whateva!"
"I just went to support Nate."
"That's doubly whacked."
Lukas raised a questioning brow. "You think so?"
"I didn't know you and Nate got so chummy."
"Haley's fault."
"Well in any case, I think it would give me the creeps." He watched Skills dribble the ball behind his back and did a reverse lay-up. "I mean the first time you see the woman is when she's in her casket?" he breathed. "Don't you think that's kind of weird?"
"I guess." Lucas rebounded and put it up against the board. "I never really got that close," he replied. "I sorta just got a glimpse of her."
"So did you see Dan's dad? Or your so-called grandfather?"
Lucas nodded. "He looked...he looked like a grand-dad," he said, picking up the basketball and squeezing it between his hands. "Kind of like what I pictured, ya know? If I ever had one?"
"I know, dog."
Lucas looked down at his watch. "I gotta get going. My mom's gonna kill me for missing supper three nights in a row." He threw the ball at Skills.
"Yeah."
"Hey Skills?"
"Yo."
"Thanks for listening."
"No problem."
>>>>>>
Karen placed the last of the cafe chairs on the table top. It had been a relatively good night. Steady and no major problems.
"I'm out of here, Karen," Haley hollered as she came out of the back room.
"Thanks a lot Haley. Have a good night."
"Do you want me to flip the sign and turn off the lights as I leave?" she asked as she walked towards the cafe entrance.
Karen glanced over her shoulder as she picked up a tray of salt and pepper shakers. "Yeah, go ahead. I'm done out here anyways."
"'Kay, I'll see tomorrow afternoon." Haley placed the sign 'closed' face down and opened the door. "I...oh, excuse me." Haley's eyes widened as the familiar face that stood in the entrance was one she did not expect to see again. "K-Karen," she stammered. "There is someone..."
"Honestly Haley James," Karen laughed as she stood up from behind the counter. "Can't you just be a little more forw..."
"Hello there, Karen."
The slight southern accent brought memories flooding back to her.
"Hey Royal," she said with a smile.
>>>
"You can go, Haley." Karen eyed the curious teenager lurking in the entrance. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh," she chuckled, blushing slightly. "Yeah. Bye."
Royal watched as the door closed behind the young woman. "She reminds me of a young someone," he smiled, turning to Karen. "And I have to say she probably has the same influence on my grandson as you did on my son."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Karen laughed. "She's got a far more level head than both of us put together."
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"So what does it take for an old man to get a hug from a beautiful young woman these days?" he asked mischievously.
Karen wagged her finger at the old man. "You are bad," she chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Same as always."
"That's what happens when I'm less my better half."
Karen closed her eyes and squeezed even tighter. "I'm so sorry Royal."
"Don't you mind me," he said gruffly, clearing his throat and pulling away. "Let me take a look at you." He spun her around and then held her hands in his. "You haven't changed a bit."
"You're as beautiful as ever."
Karen slapped him playfully on the arm. "Stop. I am old," she said, gesturing him to have a seat. "I'm pretty sure that high school cheerleader is long gone."
"Well, I can't say she's any worse for wear, Missy."
"And you're just being a gentleman as always."
"I don't think May ever thought of it as that," he chuckled, before stopping suddenly. "She would have really loved to have seen you...See that you've done well for yourself."
"I would have liked that too," Karen said softly, as she brewed a fresh pot of coffee. "I don't think that it's settled in that she's really gone."
"I don't think that it has for anyone."
"Keith was in here earlier. He looked a little worse for wear."
"Well he had a handful yesterday at the service. Me and Danny...well, we didn't handle things as well as Keith did."
"That can be expected."
"He really takes after May, you know?"
"Yeah, I can see that," Karen said, remembering the kind words and strength he had given her over the past years. "He really is sweet and kind."
Royal nodded. "I'm glad you could appreciate that," he sighed. "I just don't think I ever saw it. You know? Until May was gone."
"He reminds me so much of her now. In everything he says and does. There's a little bit of May there."
"And maybe that's what he's supposed to do. It's always good to have a reminder of the good things."
"But I resented it. I always thought he was a slacker," he said thoughtfully. "But I see now that wasn't it."
"Sometimes it takes bad times to open our eyes to things that have been right in front of our eyes."
Karen placed two mugs on the counter. Royal's sudden visit was wholly unexpected. She was glad that Lucas had gone to bed because of an early morning practice. Now she wouldn't have to worry about him walking in on them.
"How's your boy?"
She stiffened at the sudden change of subject.
"I saw him at the funeral," Royal said softly, recalling the moment he laid eyes on the boy. He looked exactly like his picture - maybe a little older. "At least I'm pretty sure it was Lucas."
Karen turned her back to him, pretending to check on the coffee. "He's doing...he's fine." She did not want to sound protective of him, like she didn't want him to know; but it was an awkward thing to be speaking about him face to face. Royal had never been so forward in asking about Lucas. He had always gone through May.
"Good."
Swallowing hard, she plastered a smile on her face and turned around, coffee pot in hand. "So what's this I hear about you moving back to Tree Hill?" she asked, pouring the coffee.
"I thought it was time."
"It just seemed like you had settled down in Cortland?"
Karen was testing the waters. She wanted to know why he was back. It wasn't enough that Dan was beginning to take a seeming interest in Lucas' life, but now Royal?
"My family is what brought me back." He did not think he would have to explain to her. "Nothing is there for me in Cortland - now that May is gone," he replied, staring distantly into his cup of coffee.
Karen closed her eyes and kicked herself for being so callous. She knew it must be hard for Royal having to go back to an empty house, but she had to think about her son. If Royal had any intentions of making contact with Lucas, she didn't know what she would do. He had made it clear that he would not publicly acknowledge Lucas at the wishes of his son. That had hurt her. She had once considered him almost like a father, and for him to turn his back on her and especially his own grandson...
They had managed to mend some fences, after she realized how much May and in not so many words Royal did care about their first grandson. But it still did not erase the pain of the betrayal. Royal couldn't just decide to waltz into Lucas' life like the past 17 years he had been absent hadn't been. She couldn't let him.
"Dan must be in a huff."
"Oh, you have no idea," Royal laughed, taking a slow sip of coffee. "The look of horror when he saw me unpacking was priceless."
"I'm sure the idea of his father living with him again, keeping an eye on his every move has got his mind working overtime," she said, cradling her cup. "I mean finding a place could take weeks or months."
"Well, actually I think I might have found something already," Royal said, leaning over as if letting her in on a secret.
"That was fast."
"Well, May and I kept our subscription to the Tree Hill Gazette. We always had in mind that maybe in our old age we might move back..."
"But Dan doesn't know this?"
"Nah," Royal smiled mischievously. "He's been such an ass lately, I think I'll let him squirm for a few days."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Karen laughed. "But you do know that if he ever finds out, there'll be hell to pay."
"I'm not going to tell, how about you?" He winked.
"Mum's the word," she said, watching over the lip of her mug.
She was as delightful as ever. Royal had loved her the instant Dan had brought her home. She was spunky, much like his May; and she called Dan on everything. He sighed thoughtfully, "We could have had so much fun if Danny boy hadn't screwed everything up."
Karen smiled weakly. "Yeah...right." She quickly took another sip of her coffee as they both fell silent.
The things that never were.