Karen looked up from wiping the counter to see her son come through the door of the café with a pretty brunette that she had never seen before. For the first time in months, Lucas was smiling. His eyes lit up as he stared down at the animated girl who was talking to him. Lucas glanced up, and Karen was sad to see his smile fade and his eyes darken. It struck her that this was the same way he had looked at Dan for years. What had she done? Keith would be so disappointed in her.
Blinking back tears, Karen forced a smile on her face. "What can I get you?"
The brunette examined her for a moment before returning her smile with a much more carefree one of her own. "Skywalker told me that this was THE place to get pie."
Karen's smile became one of confusion. "Skywalker? Like in Star Wars?"
The teenager nodded as she smiled mischievously at Lucas. "Sure, Blond hair, serious look, father who turned to the dark side and abandoned his mother; he is SO Luke Skywalker."
Karen couldn't help but chuckle at the description of Dan. She glanced over to see Lucas stare at her in wonder and realized that she had laughed. Karen hadn't even smiled since losing Keith. She looked back at the brunette. Keith would have loved her description of his younger brother.
"So if Lucas is 'Skywalker', who does that make you?" Karen asked.
The brunette grinned. "Why I'm Lady Jade of course!"
Karen looked puzzled. "Who?"
Lucas chuckled. "Mom didn't read the books." He informed the girl. "Mom, Lady Jade came in after the movies' time. She ended up marrying Luke Skywalker – after she decided not to assassinate him for the Emperor."
Karen raised her eyebrow. "So you plan to marry my son?"
The brunette, instead of acting embarrassed, studied Lucas for a moment before turning back to Karen and shrugging. "I'm not sure yet, but he promised me pie if I promise not to kill him. I have yet to see pie." She declared, giving Lucas an evil glare.
Lucas laughed and held both hands up in surrender. "Mom, can we please have pie?"
Karen smiled and shook her head at the teens' antics. "Pie coming right up. I hope you like Key Lime?"
"It's one of my favorites." The girl replied with a beautiful smile. "I never really answered your question. My name is Summer Roberts."
"It's nice to meet you Summer. Are you going to be in Tree Hill long?" Karen asked as she cut two slices of pie.
"My dad and I moved here last week. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me already?" Summer teased as she pulled her fork out of the rolled napkin and settled the napkin primly in her lap.
Karen set the plates in front of the two teens and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well you did threaten my son."
Summer took a bite of the pie and closed her eyes in rapture. "Mrs. Skywalker, You have nothing to fear. This pie IS better than Wolfie's."
Karen shot her a puzzled look. "Who?"
Lucas grinned when Summer was too busy savoring the next bite to answer. "She's talking about Wolfgang Puck, Mom. I told her your pie would be better than his."
Karen's eyes widened comically. "The Wolfgang Puck? Lucas, I could never compare to him!"
Summer paused in her homage to the pie and glared at Karen. "Trust me; your pie is definitely better. I had his a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't ANYTHING like this. In fact you, Mrs. Skywalker, are my new second favorite person."
"Who's your favorite?" Lucas asked curiously.
Summer winked at him. "Why, you of course. After all, you introduced me to this amazing woman."
Karen laughed and shook her head. "I'm glad you like it Summer. So what does your father do?"
Summer shrugged. "He's chief surgeon at Tree Hill hospital. We just moved here from California."
"Are you upset about leaving?" Karen asked.
Summer shook her head. "No, I'll miss the shopping, but Newport wasn't really that great. I like Tree Hill a lot better so far."
"We're glad to have you Summer." Karen smiled. "What about your mother? What does she do?"
Summer's eyes clouded and she frowned. "I wouldn't know. She walked out on us when I was a kid. But Dad's great. He raised me by himself and made sure I knew that he loved me and he wasn't going anywhere."
Karen laid her hand over Summer's. "I'm so sorry."
Summer shook off the melancholy and smiled. "It's OK. Like I said, Dad and I are really close."
"Like me and Mom." Lucas said softly, giving Karen an unsure look.
Karen smiled tenderly back at him, allowing all of her love to shine through. "Yes, just like us."
She was rewarded by the elation that filled her son's face. Karen hated that she had caused him to doubt her love for him. She would make a point to talk to him privately soon.
Summer grinned and took the last bite of her pie. When the final morsel had dissolved, she opened her eyes to see the other two grinning at her. "What?"
"I don't think anyone has ever enjoyed my cooking more than you Summer." Karen replied.
"Then they were all fools!" Summer declared. "There are only so many meals that you can enjoy in your life, and you should always appreciate when you don't waste one."
Lucas stared fondly at the beautiful feisty girl next to him. She stirred something in him that he had never felt before. There was no denying that she was extremely attractive and witty. She carried herself with a confidence that would rival Brook Davis. But she lacked that edge of desperation that always colored everything that Brook did and said. However attractive those characteristics were, there was one very important quality that set Summer Roberts apart from anyone Lucas had ever known or dated – when they touched, it felt warm. Like the sun shining on his face on a cool day. There had always been a spark between him and Brook; or him and Peyton, but this – this was different. There was no explosiveness here.
He felt safe and comforted by Summer's presence. Every brush of her hand was like a warm breeze, and every smile felt like a cozy fire on a cold night. He didn't feel any need to act a certain way. He was completely relaxed. As he listened to Summer and his mother talk about other chefs Summer had experienced, Lucas found himself getting lost in the rise and fall of her voice. He delighted in the liveliness of her eyes. And when she turned those eyes to him and smiled, he felt as if he had been given the greatest treasure on earth.
Karen was fascinated as she stood there in her empty diner and watched her son fall in love right before her eyes. She knew that she would be seeing a lot more of Summer Roberts, and she was looking forward to it. Karen liked Summer. What impressed her most was the way that Summer looked at her son. Her eyes would light up, and she would smile softly at him – like she was at once excited and calmed by his presence.
It broke Karen's heart to know that Summer's mother could walk away from this amazing young woman, but then she had never understood Dan Scott either. Karen placed her hand over her still-flat belly and vowed that she would always be there for Keith's baby.
Summer's phone interrupted the visit. She looked at the name on caller ID and frowned. "Excuse me please." She said, answering the call.
"Chino? Hey! How are you? How's Theresa?" Summer asked into the phone. "Oh God Ryan, I'm so sorry. Are you OK? Are you back with the Cohen's… Chino I moved, I'm not even in California anymore… No, I haven't heard from that self-centered… I'm sorry Chino, but that ship sailed. In fact I heard it was headed to Tahiti… You're a good guy Chino don't let Cohen take too much advantage of you. You've got enough to deal with… I'm sorry Chino, but she started sleeping with the gardener right before I left… She doesn't deserve you Chino… It's not your fault. Marissa was messed up long before you even got to Newport. She needs professional help and unless you're hiding a psychology degree somewhere you can't help her… OK take care of yourself Chino. Call me anytime you need to talk. I know how rough Newport can get and even though Cohen is a douche bag, you've always been good to me. I'll always be your friend Chino… Take care of yourself. Bye."
Summer closed her phone and sighed. She glanced over at Karen and Lucas and smiled sadly.
"How's Ryan?" Lucas asked.
Karen shot a surprised look at her son. Was Summer already involved with someone? She hoped Lucas wasn't about to get involved in another triangle.
"Not good. Theresa lost the baby."
Karen's eyebrows shot up as Lucas wrapped his arm around Summer's shoulders.
"How's he taking it?" Lucas asked.
"Not good. He's feeling both relieved and depressed. Theresa left town so he's back in Newport. He's distracting himself by trying to convince Cohen to come home. The little jerk sold his boat and went to stay in Portland with another friend. So Chino is on his way there. He was waiting for his flight when he called." Summer explained.
"That's rough." Lucas stated.
Summer laid her head on his shoulder and breathed in his warm scent. No one had ever made her feel like this. She most definitely didn't normally allow anyone this close this quickly. There was just something comfortable about Lucas Scott – and hot, completely hot.
"That's Chino's life. It's always something. The sad thing is most of the time his trouble comes because he's either trying to help someone or protect someone. He's a genuinely good guy who has had some really bad breaks." Summer sighed. "Well all I can do is listen when he needs to talk. This doesn't happen that often considering he's the epitome of the quiet type." Summer smiled sadly. She sat up and took a deep breath. "Enough of that. So besides the amazing food here which I will make sure that I often partake in, what is there to do in this town?"
Lucas smiled and Summer had to consciously calm her heart. Damn but he was a sexy beast!
"We could go back to the Rivercourt for a while." Lucas shrugged.
Summer smiled coyly. "Hmm… and what would I do there? Sit and watch you play basketball?"
Lucas' face fell. "I guess that wouldn't be much fun for you would it?"
"Oh I don't know. I could just admire the work of art." Summer shrugged coquettishly.
Lucas looked at her in confusion while Karen fought a smile.
"What work of art?" He asked.
Summer eyed him from head to toe. "Oh I'd say the one created by your mom." She turned to Karen and grinned innocently. "I must say, you are an even better artist than chef Mrs. Skywalker."
Karen laughed out loud as Lucas blushed and smiled sheepishly at his own slow uptake. "You kids have fun, but not too much fun!" Karen declared, taking the remaining pie to the back.
"Shall we my Lady?" Lucas asked, offering his arm.
"I believe we shall." Summer replied haughtily as she looped her arm through his and the young couple left the café.