Chapter 34

A white picket fence. A golden Labrador puppy. Toddlers with cherub faces and blonde curls. To Ollie, Luke's family had always seemed right out of a TV show, especially compared to her own rather dysfunctional family anyway. But it was time for that to change. Ollie wanted her own white picket fence and picturesque family and for that she needed her uncles help.

Yesterday, had been the day she had gone home after spending the rest of the school week with Haley. Nathan had been thrilled. She could tell he had tried hard to be like he used to as well, fun and caring. He had even asked, conversationally, not furiously, if she was seeing Kaleb in the weekend and didn't fly off the handle when she said that she was.

Haley though, had seemed a bit sad to see her leave. Ollie did feel a little bad for her being all alone even though her family lived just a couple of minutes drive away. Even though a few months ago, she never would have thought it possible, she and Haley had bonded. They actually had a lot in common and Ollie felt completely comfortable around her now.

Now, all that was needed was a little push to send Nathan and Haley back together. That's where Lucas' aid came in. She hoped. She just had to run it by him first.

"Hi Uncle Luke," she smiled as sweetly as she could as he opened the door.

Lucas rolled his eyes. He knew that tone of voice very well. Peyton, Brooke, Elise, Haley, his mom, even Penny used it, all when they wanted something from him.

"What do you want this time?" he groaned jokingly.

"What makes you think I want something?" she asked innocently, "Can't a niece just want visit her favourite uncle?"

"Umm not if she's anything like my only niece, or any female I know."

"Fine" she rolled her eyes, dropping the sweetness. "I want your help with something."

Lucas laughed, "Yep that's more like it."

"If your not going to help me, I'll just…" she raised her eyebrows hoping he would catch the hint.

"Okay okay. What do you need help with?" he surrendered interrupting.

She smirked. Yeah, she had him wrapped around her little finger. Always had.

"Well, you know that I went home yesterday?"

He nodded.

"And Haley seemed a bit sad. So I was thinking that she pretty much wants dad but is too scared of being turned again down to make a move. And dad pretty much wants her, but he's too stubborn to make the first move. So I was thinking we could make the first move for him."

Luke chuckled, "Okay Brooke Davis what exactly did you have in mind?"

She glared at him, "I'm going to take that as a compliment Lucas, but be serious."

He held his hands up in defense. "Sorry"

"Good" she remarked determinedly, now she was on task she didn't want to waste time, "I was thinking we could set them up to meet somewhere and then since, really its what they both want, neither will leave."

Luke sighed; he sometimes did wonder whether Brooke had rubbed off onto her a bit much when she was young, "Are you sure they want this Ollie?"

"Yes" she replied adamantly.

"It's not just what you want?"

She paused slightly before saying "No, it's definitely what they want."

"And you know it could turn out horribly?"

"Luuuke!" she groaned, "Will you help me or not?"

"Fine but I had nothing to do with it if anyone asks." He warned.

She nodded. "I was thinking tonight. Neither is busy; I just don't know how to pull it off."

"You mean you can't afford to pay for whatever you need?" She looked sheepish and he chuckled knowing he was right, "Okay, where were you thinking of sending them?"

She continued looking sheepish.

"You haven't got any sort of plan for this have you kid?" he laughed, shaking his head.

"Umm not really," she admitted. "Didn't really think past the basic idea."

"So I thought. How about you lure them both to the beach at 7? I can take care of the rest."

"The beach?" she asked doubtfully. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure. That beach used to be one of their places."

"Okay 7 o'clock, thanks Luke." She said before leaving shortly after to figure out how to get them both to the beach without them being suspicious.

The second she left, Lucas was on his phone right away to call the queen of this type of thing, the one and only Brooke Davis.



It really was quite a good idea. Ollie thought so anyway as she looked over the candle lit table on the beach with the vase of little purple flowers on top. The evening was warm due to the seasons beginning to give way to summer and a slight sea breeze flowed off the calm ocean, she could tell it was going to be a clear night.

Pulling out her mobile phone she dialed.

"Hey dad," she said into the phone. "Can you please come pick me up?"

"Uh, yeah where are you?"

"The beach. The entrance closest to the beach house."

"Ok. I'll be there soon. Bye."

He hung up. Instead of putting her phone away, she searched though her contacts for Haley's number.

"Hello, Haley speaking." She heard when the phone connected.

"Hi Haley. It's Ollie."

"Oh hey, what's up?"

"I'm just at the beach. Do you think you could give me a ride home please? Dads not answering his phone."

"Sure. What part of the beach are you at?"

"Do you know where our beach house is?"

"Yep."

"Okay. I'm at the beach entrance car park closest to it."

"Alright, I'll come now. See you soon."

"Okay thanks."

Ollie smirked. That had been easy. She had now done all she could though, the rest was up to them. Before either could get there, she had run away up the dunes toward the beach house to make sure neither could use her as an excuse to run from the night themselves.

Barely had she disappeared up the dunes when the first of her parents pulled up to the car park where she had been, but moments earlier.

From inside her car, Haley scanned the car park. She didn't see anything until a pair of headlights from another car came into the lot. Ignoring the car she continued to look around for Ollie. So, she was somewhat surprised when her gaze swung back around and noticed Nathan, who was now out of the car, had been the driver.

"Nathan?" she called as she got out, "What are you doing here?"

He looked as surprised to see her as she had been to see him. "Ollie rang me to pick her up."

She narrowed her eyes, "What? But Ollie called me."

"Are you sure?" he asked a little dumbly.

Haley rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm sure."

"Why would she call both of us?" he shook his head.

She shrugged, "she doesn't even seem to be here."

Nathan grunted, "I'm gonna check down the beach.

He headed down the path to the beach and she watched his head bobbing in and out of sight behind the dunes as he went. Halfway down though his head stopped, as did he.

"Haley", he called, "did you do this?"

"Do what?" she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about so she followed him down the path until she could see what he could.

It definitely wasn't their daughter that he had found.

Without a doubt, the little romantic setting was meant for them, the little purple flowers that was always considered to be 'their flower' gave that away.

"I guess we know why Ollie called both of us now." Haley said wryly.

Nathan let out a small laugh at her sarcasm; he always had found it cute. Then he became serious again, "So, shall we?" he gestured uncertainly at the candle lit table.

Haley smiled and seemed to ponder it for a moment, "Yes we shall."