Chapter 356: The Diner
Thursday, February 2nd, Afternoon (Eastern Standard Time)
Lucas Scott looked up from the menu to the door of the diner. His sister-in-law, Haley, walked through the door and headed towards the table Lucas sat at. Haley sat on the booth's bench across from Lucas. They looked at each other, and Lucas put down his menu.
"Thanks for coming," Haley said.
"Hales, you're my best friend and sister-in-law; why wouldn't I come?" Lucas asked.
"I don't know; maybe you had a date with Meggy Rueter," Haley said.
"Christ, it was just one dinner with our kids there," Lucas said.
"There's nothing wrong with it," Haley said.
"I'm tired of the town poking their nose into my business," Lucas said.
"Ignore them, anyway; how are you feeling?" Haley asked.
"I'm doing okay; it could always be better," Lucas said.
Haley nodded as the waitress came over. "Can I get y'all anything?" she asked.
"Coffee, please," Lucas said.
"Yes, coffee, please," Haley said.
"Two coffees, that's it?" The waitress asked.
"Yes," Lucas said as the waitress walked away.
"Interesting," Haley said.
"Yeah, so what did you want to talk about?" Lucas asked.
"Well, it has something to do with something that happened after the last basketball game," Haley said.
The waitress came back with two cups of coffee. "Here you go, sweeties," the waitress said.
"Thank you," Lucas said.
"Thank you," Haley said.
"You're a cute couple," the waitress said.
"No, it's not like that; she's my sister-in-law," Lucas said.
"Oh, so scandalous," the waitress said and held her index finger up to her lips, "my lips are sealed," the waitress walked away.
"That's different," Haley said.
"Yeah, well, it's what it is," Lucas said.
"Lucas, show some belief in something, take a stand for something," Haley said.
"Or die for nothing?" Lucas said.
"Exactly," Haley said.
"Okay," Lucas said.
"Whatever, Lucas," Haley said and shook her head.
"So, what happened after the last basketball game?" Lucas asked.
"Someone came knocking on my door," Haley said.
"Someone after catching sight of you or Nathan?" Lucas asked.
"Neither, it was a young woman that wanted to talk to us about Brian being the dad of her son," Haley said.
"I would think you would be done with that sort of stuff," Lucas said.
"So did I," Haley said, "After two years at least."
"What does she do?" Lucas asked.
"Didn't say, but there's evidence she's an exotic dancer," Haley said.
"Or at least was one once," Lucas said.
"Possible," Haley said.
Lucas shook his head, "How cliché; why am I'm not surprised Brian would be involved with an exotic dancer. He never had an original idea," he said.
"That's a bit harsh; he's your nephew, after all," Haley said.
"You have to admit, he wasn't that original; he liked dressing like Mike Muir or Jim Morrison after all," Lucas said.
"Well, it happened again, and re-opening those old scars," Haley said.
"I think she got her math wrong," Lucas said, "How old is the child?"
"He's a young boy named Krisztofer and nine years old," Haley said.
"Well, I take my last statement back; it's possible," Lucas said.
"You're mad than shocked," Haley said.
Lucas nodded, "Nathan visited me already and told me," he said.
"So, you're acting?" Haley asked.
Lucas shook his head, "No, venting," Lucas said and sighed, "It rips the heart out of you and the whole family."
Haley sighed, "Why Brian?" she asked.
"He was always our lost soul; most families have one," Lucas said.
"I just remember this shy sweet boy," Haley said.
"That got corrupted by the Fame Monster," Lucas said.
"Okay, Gaga," Haley said and laughed.
Lucas laughed and shook his head, "I deserved that," he said.
"Damn right you do," Haley said.
"Are you going to meet the boy?" Lucas asked.
"We normally don't until a positive test," Haley said.
"Has that happened at all?" Lucas asked.
"We had Gabi's kids tested," Haley said.
"Why?" Lucas asked.
"Just covering our bases, but with any of the other children, we've not met any of them," Haley said.
"I'm surprised you didn't test Wyatt," Lucas said.
"We believed Trin, and look at Wyatt; he looks like Brian, just with the darker Davis coloring," Haley said.
Lucas nodded, "Sure, well are you okay with this?" he asked.
Haley shook her head, "I've never been okay with this," she said.
"I don't blame you," Lucas said.
"How are the girls, since the game?" Haley asked.
"Nice subject changed," Lucas said.
"I don't know how to deal with this anymore," Haley said.
"Yeah, so what is this woman like?" Lucas asked.
Haley shrugged, "Tall, dancer build, dark brown hair, and these cat green eyes," she said.
"One thing you can say about Brian is he has no type," Lucas said.
"That doesn't bring me any comfort," Haley said.
"Well, what is her name?" Lucas asked, pulling out his smartphone.
"Miléna Venczel," Haley said, "What are you going to do?" Haley watched as Lucas punched in the name into his smartphone.
"Nothing," Lucas said.
"Are you sending her name to Bevin?" Haley asked.
"Why would I do that?" Lucas asked.
"Because Bevin has access to private detectives, and you'll have her look into Miléna's background," Haley said.
"Why not?" Lucas asked, "Glad you thought of it."
"I don't know, but we've not even talked to her about the test," Haley said.
Lucas nodded, "I'll hold off sending it to Bevin," he said.
"Thanks, Lucas," Haley said.
Lucas leaned back and looked at his smartphone; his Google Search did produce several social media hits. He nodded, locked his smartphone, and put it down.
"So, are you hungry?" Lucas asked.
"Maybe, a small snack," Haley said.
Lucas smiled a guarded smile and nodded.
