A/N: Takes place the next day middle afternoon. Oh and HAPPY LOVE DAY :D
Chapter Sixteen:
"Mom, I'm bored."
Leighton dragged her feet across the linoleum tile of the Home Depot in Tree Hill; which was a surprise to the young girl that this town had a hardware store that wasn't called 'Joe and Sons' but that they couldn't even as much as have something so simple as a Starbucks.
"I know this isn't how you considered spending your Saturday, Elle, but we did promise your dad to help him find the right shade of paint for his living room. That grey color he has is just horrible and dead."
Peyton spoke looking down at the various paint samples in her hands. The colors ranged from bright to pale and pastels.
"I found the perfect color." Leighton spoke enthusiastically wanting to hurry and get out of the department store. "Red. You can never go wrong with red."
"Luke was never too fond of that color."
As if on cue the man of the hour walked up to the two ladies with Preston following right behind him with one of the workers from the store to help assist them in whatever they need.
"Hey, I've always loved that color." Lucas defended.
"What can I do for you guys?"
"We're actually debating on what color to paint the living room to our house. My children keep insisting that it needs a fresh coat of paint that doesn't in their words scream 'I'm boring' or 'Kill me now'."
Lucas informed the older man that wore the orange vest not realizing that he had said 'our house' because in all truth it was their house; his and his children's and whenever Peyton needed one it would be hers too. The older man with the creasing hairline nodded while Peyton handed over the pigments that she liked the best.
"Your wife has excellent taste, Mr. Scott."
Leighton and Preston looked at each other then looked at their mother who in turn looked toward Lucas, but it didn't look like he was going to say anything so Peyton did.
"We're actually not married."
"Oh, my mistake. Your girlfriend has excellent taste."
The man frowned than smiled again.
"Actually." Preston spoke. "There not even together. I mean they use to be a long time ago, but now there just mom and dad nothing else."
"Way to be nonchalant, Pres." Leighton mocked as she poked her brother's side with her index finger.
"So back to the painting."
They heard there father speak uneasily as he continued on with a conversation with the worker about colors that would accentuate a home that had a large window almost from floor to ceiling that looked out onto the front yard. It didn't take them long as they picked out a light shade of emerald green.
"This one is the perfect color." Lucas spoke. "There has been something that I've always loved about it."
"What do you kids think?"
The man named John asked as he gave the young girl the sample and she nodded her head as if agreeing that it was a fine color and handed it over to the taller adolescent. He held it up at arm's length.
"Hey, mom, this might sound weird, but this color matches your eyes."
Preston brought the shaded sample up to the side of his mother's face comparing the two of them as he green-blue eyes roamed back and forth from the eyes to the paper.
"Cool, it really does, practically perfectly." Leighton added. "Now, find one that matches mine. I was thinking maybe something like a Mediterranean blue or even an intense Twilight color."
Lucas and Peyton chuckled at their daughter as the man asked if he could help with anything else the group shook their heads 'no' so he was off to find another customer who might need his assistance wishing the family a farewell.
Lucas and Leighton made their way over to the registers as Peyton and Preston walked in the direction of the parking lot deciding where they would have lunch.
"Dad, can I ask you something without you freaking out?"
"Uh…" Lucas hesitated; usually when teens start off with sentences like that it usually meant that there was going to be a mental breakdown on the parent's behalf. "Sure. You know you can always come to me for anything."
"About what you said earlier the emerald color being your favorite. It's because of mom, right?"
She didn't meet her father's eyes as he handed the cashier exact change for the gallons of green paint.
"Yes."
He spoke the truth as they walked out into the summer's heat with each pail in hand.
"Can I ask you something else?"
"Anything."
"Do you still love her? My mom."
He didn't know why but her question caught him off guard and he stopped dead in his tracks. Turning Leighton brought her hand up as a visor to shield her eyes from the sun.
"Of course I do, Elle." He voice was caring and smooth. "Your mom was my high school sweetheart, my first love, the love of my life. She gave me the best gift I could ever ask for and that's you and your brother."
By the time they reached the car he had finished his answer.
"Are you in love with her?"
She asked next and the door to the car popped opens the cool air of the AC hitting her arms causing relief from the intense sun's heat.
"Hurry, get in you're going to let all the heat in."
Preston called out to his sister and she slid into the backseat next to him, not able to get an answer from her father as he sat in the driver's seat. She made a mental note to check when they had some one-on-one time again.
"So have you decided on a place?"
Lucas asked looking through his review mirror and then towards Peyton.
"Karen's Café. She's always has the best food in town, plus I've been craving one of her BLT sandwiches since forever. I know it's just bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but there's something about the way your mom makes it that is so irresistibly good."
Peyton added and Lucas laughed he absolutely loved the way that she adored his mother. Something that Lindsay never really could do.
"Okay, Karen's it is."
And they sped off. Five minutes later they parked in front of the small business that was still family owned. Stepping in the copper bell chiming indicating a new guest had arrived; it was like Peyton had entered a time machine. Everything looked exactly the same especially the sign that was still hung on the wall.
"Mom, your favorite child is here."
The young waitress yelled from behind the counter the smile evident on her face.
"What are you talking about? You've been here for a couple hours now, Lil."
Karen came rushing out from the back room smiling as she patted her daughter's back.
"I told you she liked me best, Luke."
"Ouch." Lucas fringed hurt as he hunched over bringing his hand to his chest dramatically. "I don't think my heart can take such a blow."
He stood automatically his one dimpled smile while his mother came from behind the counter rather quickly.
"Lucas, that's not funny."
Karen and Peyton spoke in unison as the blonde woman swatted his chest with the back of her hand, purposely.
"Thank you, Peyton."
"Anytime, Karen. Just say the word and I'll bop him in the back of the head."
Karen engulfed Peyton in a hug, then embraced her grandchildren together, and lastly hugged her son even though sometimes his attempt at humor was anything but.
"So what brings you guys by?"
The café was practically empty, except for an elderly couple who sat at the far end of the establishment sipping on two cups of tea.
"Starvation."
Leighton replied plopping down on one of the chairs to a large circular table.
"Well we can't have my girl starving now can we?"
Karen walked towards the kitchen and brought out some plates, cups, and a casserole dish filled with vegetable lasagna.
"That looks good, mom."
Lucas said taking a large slice from the dish. Karen and Lily had joined their family for a meal as soon as the remaining guests had left and the café was closed for a couple of hours.
"Yeah, grandma it's really good." Preston began. "I think I like this better than regular lasagna."
"Looks like it's time to get rid of your shirt that says carnivore with the T-Rex on it."
Leighton laughed at her brother; he always put up a fuss when it came to eating any sort of vegetable that their mother had to practically shove it down his throat since the time they were small and now he ate them like they were some kind of sweet gulfing the meal down in bites. The conversation continued each group going into their own.
"How's your arm doing, Pres?"
Lily asked after she had taken a drink from her iced tea.
"It's doing pretty good. I can't wait to get this thing of though. It's bugging the crap out of me."
"Yeah I know what you mean. Once when I broke my leg I had to keep the cast on for two months."
"I'm counting down the days; just a month and a half and I'll be able to take this sucker off. The itching is unbearable."
"There was this trick I use to do when the itching became too much. Grab an unsharpened pencil and stick it through the opening. Works like magic."
As the young teens had their conversation the adults had their own talking amongst themselves with a cup of warm tea.
"So, Peyton how's Los Angeles and that label you're working for?"
"Everything's good. It took me a while, but I've finally made it up to the top of the ladder. Not to sound condescending or anything, but being the major exec for one of Los Angeles' top record labels is far from shabby."
"That's amazing. I'm so proud of you."
Karen spoke with pure genuine and Peyton couldn't help the smile that clung to her features. Karen has always been like a mother to her and just for her to say those words made Peyton's heart swell.
"We're all proud, even me, Peyt."
And again she couldn't help another emotion that made her cheeks a light rose color as those words left Lucas' mouth.
"So how's Julian doing? I was surprised when I didn't see him at the going away party."
Karen asked. She was glad that Peyton had found someone who she was able to love even if that guy wasn't her son.
"He's doing great. His production business took a slight down turn a couple years ago, but it's recently started to pick up and we're all very thankful for that. He's actually in Australia trying to finish up some negotiations that they couldn't do without him. But he should be back in a week and a half."
The rest of the lunch went by smoothly with easy carefree conversations involving everyone. From Karen and the thirty-fifth anniversary of her café being opened, to the newest bands that Peyton had signed, Lucas saying that he had gotten the inspiration to write a new book and he had a couple chapters written, to Lily talking about the college she'd be attending in the fall, from Preston and future of becoming a Rock Star with the help of his mom and her label, and finally Leighton and her fascination to become a writer. 'Your defiantly your father's daughter.' Peyton had spoken to Elle once she had mentioned her dreams.
After a quick goodbye to the woman they all loved and her offspring they headed back to the house on Lakeview St. They needed to move furniture around and cover it with sheets, take pictures off the wall and cover the holes that those nails that held up the frames had made, and lay down a large piece of tarp on the wood floor to keep it safe from any dripping paint. It took raggedy old clothes, hours of time, and breaking a sweat to finally finish removing everything from the now empty living room. The only contents left were the three large buckets of paint that sat in the middle of the floor with paint brushes and rollers by its side. The job was ready for tomorrow's activity or chore as the kids called it.
"What's going on?"
Lindsay asked walking into the living room. She and Elliot had just gotten home from a day of leisure and come home to realize that there living room has no longer been lived in anymore.
"We're going to paint this room tomorrow."
Peyton spoke wiping the still wet spackle on her worn out jeans and walked towards Lindsay.
"There's nothing wrong with the color it is now." Lindsay stated firmly.
"Besides the fact that it's pretty much lifeless?"
She could hear one of the twins say in between grunts, most likely the oldest one. The two were standing across from each other the previous rollers that were on the ground in one of their hands as the two took turns jabbing at one another pretending to sword fight.
"Come on, Lindsay. It'll be fun. Gather up the whole family and just spend the day painting. I remember when I had Pres and Elle help me paint a room not too long ago. It was an eventful day."
"You're not a part of this family, Peyton. So will you stop acting like you are?"
The sound of a rustle could be heard as the rollers dropped to the floor and two sets of feet crunched along the plastic tarp making their way across the room to their mother's side. Peyton stood quiet completely shocked at what Lindsay had just said and it was as if time had stood still for her.
"Mom?"
Leighton whispered gently as if any loud sounds would cause some kind of hysteria to pass through the woman; maybe fists in the air which she didn't mind.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Lindsay. But I'm as much as part of this family as you are." Peyton spoke softly her emotions were not getting the better of her this time. "I might not live her or visit regularly, but my kids are a part of it and they're part of me."
Unknowing to the five people in the group one of the members had slipped away from the conversation and made his way into the spare bedroom that was currently being occupied by the latest house guest from California. The small clear vile he held in his hand the contents nothing but a dash of white powder. Placing it in one of the most obviously places he could think of before he exiting the room.
"What the heck are you doing in my mom's room?"
Elliot was caught as he looked at his brother his arm still wrapped in a sling and black cast.
"Nothing I just had to get a CD I had left in there last week."
He shoved past his one armed brother quickly and made his way upstairs before he could be questioned any longer the sounds of Preston's protests just an echo away.
Hours later and a conversation between Lucas and Lindsay, where he practically called her an antagonistic person, and later another conversation with Peyton where he apologized profusely for his wife's behave and her telling him that he shouldn't be the one apologizing in the first place but thanked him for the sweet gesture. He now sat in front of his laptop, in the office on the other side of the house, writing another chapter in his newest novel most of it saved from the dreaded delete button. Hearing a soft tap on the door he informed the person behind it to come in.
"Hi, dad." He looked up from the screen and smiled his daughter stood in the door way in her pajamas her hair up in a messy bun. "Are you busy?"
He shut the laptop closed, but not before he saved his work, and ushered her in with the slightest movement of his hand.
"Not at all. Come on it."
She walked towards the couch that was placed across from his desk and sat bringing her legs up to her chest while the bottom of her sweats covered her feet, making herself comfortable.
"What's on your mind Elle Bells?"
Lucas made his way to where his daughter sat and took a seat next to her. She smiled at the nickname he'd given her when she was little. It's been a while since she's heard it.
"I was just thinking…" She stopped for a second and he coaxed her to go on. "About a lot of stuff since me and Pres have gotten here."
"Like what?"
"Just about when I was younger. Remember that time you stayed with us when Julian had to go to Ireland or something." Lucas nodded not sure where this was going. "It was one of my best weeks ever."
"Mine too, kiddo."
"Why'd you have to leave? I mean I love Julian he's like my second father, but I guess I always wanted my mom and dad to be together."
She babbled making it all into one word as Lucas listened on and brought her into a hug her head resting on his shoulders.
"I didn't want to leave you or your brother, but your mom was with Julian and I was with Lindsay and we still are."
"Are you in love with my mom?" She looked up her eyes meeting her fathers the adoration and love evident when the girl's mother was mentioned and he didn't need to say a word because she already knew the answer. "Okay."
A/N: The end of chapter sixteen. So what do you think? The green button, The green button will say it all :D Again happy Valentines :D remember spread the love :D….and now I have to get ready for work-blah…my bf isn't to thrilled about that and neither am I. Anywho have a good one and Review :D