Chapter 360: Cutty Sark 2
Thursday, February 2nd, Evening (Eastern Standard Time)
He held the door open and let the two young women enter; he followed behind and let the door close behind him. Lucas Scott walked up to the hostess station and looked at the woman behind it. Slightly behind the hostess, Lucas could see Jackie Gregory standing there, the maître d'hôtel.
"Welcome to Cutty Sark Two," The Hostess said.
"I'll handle this, Mieke," Jackie said.
"Yes, Jackie," Mieke said.
Jackie stepped forward, "How are you, Mister Scott?" Jackie asked.
Lucas smiled and shook his head. "Hello Jackie, how have you been? Feeling a little like Ground Hog's Day?" Lucas asked.
"Maybe, reservation for three?" Jackie asked.
"Yeah," Lucas said.
"Who do you have in your party tonight?" Jackie asked.
"Really, Jackie? Part of the Tree Hill Gossip Chain?" Lucas asked.
"No, just curious," Jackie said.
"Hi Jackie, it's just me; I don't mean to disappoint you," Karen "Kay," Scott said and stepped out from behind her dad.
"Hi Kay, and who's the other lady?" Jackie asked.
Ivy Kowalski came up to the station. "Hello," she said.
"Well then," Jackie said and collected three menus, "Please, follow me."
Lucas and his party followed Jackie into the dining room. Once they arrived at their table, Lucas pulled out the chair for Ivy, and Jackie did the same for Kay. The two women removed their coats before sitting down.
"I can take the coats for y'all," Jackie said, and the women agreed. A busboy collected their coats swept away with them.
"Thank you," Kay said.
"You're welcome," Jackie said and pushed in Kay's chair. Jackie walked around and handed out the menus, explaining the night's specials. "Your server tonight will be Pene," she finished.
"Jackie?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, Mister Scott?" Jackie replied.
"Who is the chef tonight?" Lucas asked.
"Connie is on duty tonight, Mister Scott," Jackie said.
"How is your sister doing?" Lucas asked.
"As good as to be expected, Mister Scott," Jackie said.
"How far along is she?" Lucas asked.
"Almost six months, Mister Scott, I do have to get back to the front," Jackie said.
"Sorry to hold you up," Lucas said.
"It's my pleasure, Mister Scott," Jackie said and left the table.
The waitress stepped forward. "Hello, I'm Pene, and I'll be your server tonight. Today's special is Sea Bass with mixed vegetables and Salmon over mixed greens. Can I start y'all out with drinks, Mister Scott?" Pene asked.
"Yes, I'll have my usual," Lucas said.
"Very goods, sir," Pene said and looked to Kay, "What can I get you to drink, Ma'am?"
"Water is fine for me, at this time," Kay said.
"Very well, Ma'am," Pene said and looked to Ivy, "What would the lady like?"
"I'd like a pinot grigio," Ivy said.
"Very good, Ma'am; I'll get your drinks and give you time with the menu," Pene said and left.
"Thank you," Lucas said and turned to Ivy, "If you like fish, this is the place to try it. Anna, Connie, or Forrest go to the docks every morning and select the catch personally," he said.
"Who?" Ivy asked.
"Anna Gregory is the restaurant's chef-owner, Connie is her daughter, and I'm not sure if she's officially the sous-chef, and Forrest is Connie's husband and another cook here," Lucas said.
Ivy nodded, "Is it always like this when you're out with your father?" she asked Kay.
"Like what?" Kay asked.
"Being treated like a big shot," Ivy said.
"You think this is bad? You should go out with my Uncle Nate or Aunt Brooke," Kay said.
Lucas shrugged, "Most people around your age I taught English to," Lucas said.
"I didn't think of that," Ivy said with a laugh.
"It's okay," Lucas said, "Ivy, I'm sorry we didn't do this earlier, but everything has been chaotic."
"It's okay, Mister Scott," Ivy said.
"Please, call me Lucas; I get enough of that Mister Scott stuff at work," Lucas said.
"Okay," Ivy said.
"So, I'd like to get to know you since you've been only the second girlfriend Kay brought home," Lucas said.
"Was the other one, Connie Garland?" Ivy asked.
Lucas nodded, "Yes, poor girl, but the past is the past," he said.
"That's what they say," Ivy said.
"I heard you went out the other night with Izzy, Trin, and Ashlyn," Lucas said.
"Yes, I did; it was an interesting time," Ivy said.
"They're all good women, made mistakes in the past, but who hasn't," Lucas said, with a knowing tone.
"Some of the stories they told are…" Ivy said.
"Undoubtedly true, but those are their stories; you and Kay are writing your own story," Lucas said.
"How do you know?" Ivy asked.
"You don't, but there's an old saying, you miss one hundred percent of all the shots you don't take," Lucas said.
"Wayne Gretzky," Ivy said.
"They called him the great one for a reason," Lucas said.
"What do you think of your daughter bringing her girlfriend home?" Ivy asked.
Lucas rested a hand on Kay's shoulder, "We knew she was a lesbian before she came out to us. We're first. But her mom and I always wanted her to be happy," he said.
"Kay told me you're also an author; how do you find time with everything you do?" Ivy asked.
"I've not written in six years," Lucas said.
"Why not?" Ivy asked.
"I had to take care of the house and family, plus about four years ago, I felt the story ended," Lucas said.
"Well, didn't you say it's your own story to write?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, I did, and I'm not ready to share it yet," Lucas said.
"So, Dad, you seem to have an excellent team this year," Kay said.
Lucas removed his hand from Kay's shoulder. "Yes, the starters are some of the best I coached," he said.
"How about the bench?" Kay asked.
"You know how it is some years it's deep, some years it's there," Lucas said.
"I know that feeling," Kay said.
"So, instead of basketball talk, I'm here to get to know Ivy, or dare I say…." Lucas said.
"Dad, don't do that stupid couple name thing," Kay said.
"Kivy?" Lucas asked.
Ivy laughed, "I've never been part of a couple with a name like that," she said.
Kay shook her head, "Dad, don't," she said.
"It's cute," Lucas said.
"Don't start, Dad, you're not good at it," Kay said.
Pene came back with their drinks and passed them out.
"Are we ready to order?" Pene asked.
"Well, I'm ready," Lucas said, "Are the ladies ready?"
"I am," Ivy said.
"So, am I. Also, Can I get a glass of pinot grigio?" Kay said.
"Sure, would you like to start?" Pene asked.
"Of course," Kay said, gave her dad a look, and then started to order.
