Chapter 5

The two women sat for awhile in silence, each so deep in their own thoughts they didn't hear Ethan and Kristina walking towards them.

"Three of my favourite women gathered in one place, now this is a very auspicious start to the day I must say." Ethan smiled to Tracy, Siobhan and Kristina.

"What are you doing up at this hour? Don't you usually sleep 'til noon or 2?" Tracy challenged him, not at all pleased to see who he was with.

"Ah yes, usually I do. But this lovely lady was in need of some assistance this morning and I was most happy to help," Ethan replied putting his hand on Kristina's back.

"What could the daughter of a mob boss who falsely accused you of beating her and almost got you killed, need from you at this time of day?" Tracy was standing now with her arms crossed, glaring at the younger woman.

Having the good graces to blanche a little, Kristina took a slight step back against Ethan's hand and then looked up to face Tracy. "I know Ethan has been having a hard time with his father gone, so I thought it would be a good idea to get him thinking about something else for awhile. Ethan was just helping me take some boxes to the shelter and then we decided to go for a walk."

"See that that's all you do" Tracy stated as she turned and effectively dismissed them.

Ethan sighed and scratched the top of his head. He loved his step-mother but she certainly wasn't the forgiving type.

"I'll be seeing all of you around, I'm sure. Siobhan, give my best to Lucky. Ethan, don't forget to make that order today. I've got it sitting in the folder on the desk." Picking up her purse, Tracy strode off the dock towards the parking area.

As she sat down beside Siobhan, Kristina let go of the breath she was holding. "She is never going to forgive me, is she."

"Give her time, Krissy. Tracy's alright." Ethan tried to assure her.

"If it's any consolation," Siobhan offered, "she lost her temper with me not long before you arrived. Right now it's easy to get angry with you or with me because she can't get angry at the real person she's mad at, and that's Luke."

"You've got that right" Ethan agreed. "She'll never admit it but Tracy is a lot more upset and hurt than she lets on. We're lucky she's not roasting all of us.

"Has anyone heard from your father? Kristina asked, knowing the answer she was sure.

"No. Lucky and Lulu have both tried to find him but nothing. It's like he's fallen off the face of the earth but this time none of us think he'll be back. It bites, really. I'm still getting to know this big mixed-up family and who I am in all of it, and I could really use Luke's help fitting the pieces together."

Kristina reached up and squeezed Ethan's hand in support.

"Where were you two walking, if you don't mind me asking?" Siobhan interrupted.

"Kelly's actually. Want to join us?" Ethan replied.

"If I wouldn't be intruding, I think I will. I was on my way to grab some breakfast for Lucky and myself when I happened upon Tracy. Now that I think about it, I'm rather famished."

The three walked along in companionable small talk, all of them having had enough of the heaviness of family grief for a little while. Ethan could always be counted on for a humourous story or anecdote, and they were all laughing by the time they entered the cafe. Once inside Kelly's, Kristina excused herself to go to the bathroom and Siobhan let Ethan know she thought the younger woman quite a gem. Ethan beamed more than he should have at the comment, Siobhan noted, but kept the observation to herself. Every Spencer needed all the support they could get from friends and loved ones.

"Oh good, you're here" Ethan turned just in time to have his sister rush into his arms. The jovial mood of the previous moments was shattered as Siobhan and Ethan shared a look over Lulu's head.

Off to one side Lulu's boyfriend Dante stood with hands in his pockets and their bags by his feet. They had barely returned to town when the phone call came in, challenging Lulu's new determination to forge ahead without worrying about her father. Dante had already followed her half way around the globe and was finally hoping their life could get back on track.

"Dad's in trouble" Lulu started.

"Yeah, we know that" Ethan countered.

"No, serious trouble. I just got a call from the woman at the brothel where Dad's been staying. He's really sick, some kind of fever. He's asking for us and they can't seem to get it under control. We have to get down there now."

"What... brothel? Luke's been hanging out in a whore house and you want us to go down there?" Ethan was incredulous not only that Lulu knew where their father was but expected him to run to the rescue. "And by 'us' are you referring to the two of us, or Lucky and Tracy, and do you really want Tracy to know Luke ran away from her to be with prostitutes? She's not going to take that well."

"He didn't run away from Tracy, he ran away from the guilt and the pressure we put on him to stop drinking. But none of that matters now, Dad is sick and he needs us."

"I don't know, Lulu. If Luke really wanted us around I think he would have stuck around. He seemed pretty determined to burn bridges with all of us and move on."

Lulu shook her head with great conviction, "No, he wants us there, he's even asking for us. I just spoke to Lupe - the woman he's been spending his time with - and she said he has been calling for all of us, you, me, Lucky and Tracy. We've got to go down there and bring him home. If we don't..." her voice started to waver, "... we might loose him forever."

"I thought you didn't know where he was, that he was on some scam or another."

"He wasn't at the brothel when I was there, I'm sure of it, but he had been there. I just didn't think it would make anything better if everyone knew that. I guess he went back after I left. Anyway it doesn't matter. I'm going down and I hope Lucky and Tracy will come with me. What about you, will you come?" Lulu pleaded.

"And where exactly do you expect us all to go?"

Lulu looked up into the face of her step-mother who seemed a curious combination of inquisitive, dismissive and hurt.