CHAPTER FOUR

Tracy trudged through the tall grass of the Markham Islands. I am not jealous. I'm not. It doesn't matter what anyone says. I'm divorcing Luke Spencer because he's a drunken loser who has yet to treat me, his own wife, with an ounce of respect. She realized it wasn't all true. True; the humiliation existed. She'd never forget it…how foolish he made her look, how angry he made her feel. Over and over again. But the respect also existed…

He helped her she solidify her position at ELQ…or he intended to, anyway. She helped him escape the torturous foot-floggers. He listened to her talk about her mother. She listened to him talk about Laura. She was there when his daughter fell ill. He was there when his son fell ill…None of that matters anymore. It's done, Tracy. It's done.

She continued walking. You know, I'm rich. I shouldn't have to be walking through this damn jungle in this ridiculous heat. I am Tracy Quartermaine. I pay people, so I can avoid this kind of thing. Hmm. She laughed. Who am I going to find to pay on this godforsaken island? And WHY did I bring these nice shoes? Would it have REALLY killed me to wear a pair of in-expensive, comfortable sandals? Yeah, it would have really killed me. What about gym shoes? Ha! Like I'd be caught dead in those. She was trying to keep her mind off of Luke. It wasn't working.

Tracy put her left hand up in mid-air and looked at her ring finger…the one that no longer had a ring. She recalled the morning she awoke Mrs. Luke Spencer. She had consumed so much alcohol the night before. The next day, she rolled over in bed, went to rub her tired eyes, and then felt something jagged. It was the diamond ring. She initially tried pulling it off, but it didn't budge. –What did you do? Have it soldered on?— It was a nice ring though. Probably more than Luke could afford…

Luke. Goodness. She decided to talk out loud. No one was going to hear her anyway. "You know what? I am doing the right thing. I don't need Luke or any man for that matter especially one that has consistently treated me so terribly, and Luke has treated me terribly. Why did I put up with it for long?" She licked her lips. "Is it because I love him? Do I love him? I like him. A lot. And I cannot stand it when he's gone." Tracy paused. "Ha! Am I really that lonely?" She didn't want to consider the question. She had family. A lot of it. And surprisingly, they were all on speaking terms with her, for now anyway. She should've never felt alone.

Tracy recalled the time Monica had gathered them all in the living room in hopes of selling the house. She had made a valid point. The Quartermaines weren't a family, or at least they didn't act like it. Edward, Alan, Monica, Tracy, Ned, Dillon, Skye, and "depending on who she was sleeping with" Emily just happened to live in under the same roof. And for the last several months, Luke and Lulu also did. It didn't go much farther unless some unpredictable crisis brought them together. It shouldn't have been like that.

She went back to talking to herself, no longer out loud. I never feel alone when Luke's around. He makes me laugh. He makes me happy…most of the time. And he is always pissing off the family. God, I love that. She laughed before her smile faded. So, why am I doing this? Why am I willing to give this up? You can't have it all good, no matter what. So, why? Does the good outweigh the bad? Does the on again, off again respect and laughter overshadow the danger and degradation?

It started right from the beginning. He drugged her, kidnapped her, bounded, and gagged her. He set up a plan that resulted in a homicidal maniac holding her at gunpoint…3 times. He lured her to Vegas, married her in her inebriated state, and agreed to a divorce, if she handed over $15 million in the settlement. He later put another man in her bed and laughed as the mud-wrestler maid forcefully held her in a head-lock. Oh, and she couldn't forget that months later, he, although, inadvertently had gotten her kidnapped, refused to rescue her and pay the ransom to set her free. –The million dollars is mine. I'm keeping it. Feel free to do the same with Mrs. Spencer.— That December, all of PC shunned them on New Year's Eve because of him, and months later, he and her not-so-darling son Dillon schemed to "kill" her. Recently, he had just left her at the altar in pursuit of Ms. Sutton, now an evil psychotic murderess.

I don't know. I don't know what to do. All those horrible rotten things, and I still don't want to divorce him. What's the matter with me? What's wrong with me?

Tracy Quartermaine was exhausted. She had no idea where she was headed. Damnit, Luke Spencer. If I weren't thinking about you, I would've been paying attention to actual important things. Like where the hell I'm going. Frustrated, she sat herself down on a patch of grass and buried her face in her hands, "Ughhh!"

About 35 minutes from where Tracy sat, Robert and Luke were having a conversation inside the rundown villa.

Robert shook his head, "So, wait. Sparky Butt was here, left, and you didn't go after her? What's the matter with you?"

"You just want to me to chase Spankybuns, so you can have English all to yourself," Luke insisted.

Robert chuckled, "Now, that's not exactly true. You two are good together."

"English and I are better."

"No. No," he disagreed. "Holly and I are better."

Lulu entered from the outside, "You two are still arguing over that tart? On second thought, I don't even want to know." She started heading in the opposite direction, but stopped upon coming up with an idea. It was part of her plan to get Tracy and her dad back together. "Did Step-monster come back?"

"No, why?"

"Nothing big," shrugged Lulu. "Dillon and I ran into her again."

"That must've been fun," he joked. "Did she say anything about coming back?" he sounded disappointed, although he, in fact, wasn't.

"Not exactly. I guess she got a hold of Justus."

"So, the divorce is being processed? Good," he pretended not to give a damn.

Lulu just closed her eyes.

"Why would she come back then?" wondered Robert.

She shrugged, "I think she wanted to rub something in my Dad's face."

"Sounds like my wife," Luke nodded. "Uh, ex-wife."

"Soon to be ex-wife," corrected Robert.

"Uh right. Does she have something on me or what? Or did she just want to prove that that she was serious about the divorce?"

Lulu went along with the lie, "It sounded stupid. Something to do with the Haunted Star. Whatever. I just wanted to know if she came back," Lulu continued on her way.

"Wait a minute, Gumdrop."

Lulu stopped in her tracks. Was he on to her?

"I need more details."

"You are slipping," laughed Robert. "What more details could you possibly need? I bet good ol' Sparks arranged it so she gets your casino in the settlement."

"That's ridiculous. She hates that boat."

"Ah, but she likes the money that boat brings in," Robert winked.

"Ooh, good point. Is that it, Lesley Lu?" He became suspicious. "Wait one second. Wait. Wait. Wait." He waved his finger at his daughter. "You're setting me up. You want me to go after Spunky-Wunky in hopes she changes her mind about the divorce."

Lulu's idea hardly took off before it burst into flames. She continued regardless, "Well, I won't lie."

"I knew it!"

"I don't want you to divorce her if it means you'll be with—" she coughed, "Holly, but I'm not setting you up. I wish I thought of it though."

"Lulu!" Dillon called from the outside. "You coming back out?"

"In a minute, Dillon." She turned to her father, "Look, Dad. I gotta go. I don't even know if Tracy is getting the Haunted Star or not. I just wanted to know if she came back, and yes, it was because I don't want her getting the divorce."

Luke inspected his daughter. She was definitely a Spencer. He couldn't tell if she was lying or not.

"Lulu!" Dillon screamed again. He sounded angry.

"Jeez, Dillon. I'm coming. See ya tonight, Dad."

Lulu left Robert and Luke alone.

"So, what do ya think?" asked Robert. "Is she telling the truth or not?"

"There's only one way to find out."

"What's that?"

"I gotta go after my wife."

Luke gathered his backpack and some bottles of water. Then he headed towards the door before turning around and saying, "And don't you even think about getting cozy with English in the other room.

"You're not exactly leaving me with much of a choice. Someone has to entertain her, bathe her, cozy up to her," the saliva practically dripped from his mouth, "when you're gone."

"Ohh!"

"Have fun with Sparky!" Robert called out.

A/N: Special thanks to DebbieB for the Haunted Star idea.

PREVIEW: Dillon is disappointed in Lulu; Luke plans to find Tracy.

CHAPTER FIVE