A Season in Purgatory
Chapter 38

A small crowd formed around Lucas and Roy, some intent on keeping the peace, others intent on protecting their loved ones. Keith stepped in between his father and nephew, determined to avoid a brawl on his wedding day. "Dad, take it easy. It's been a long day and everyone needs to calm down. There's nothing to say right now that can't be said tomorrow." Keith put a kind but firm hand on his father's shoulder, backing up his words with action.

Roy stared past his son, taking in his fair haired grandson, determined not to let him get away, to slip through his fingers yet again. He could hear his wife's soft sighs, a sign he knew meant that she was anxious to be meeting her grandson. And Roy was determined to give his wife what she wanted most on this earth, the elusive grandson Lucas. May feared that they'd both leave this earth without either of them knowing the boy. Roy had many faults but he loved his wife and wanted to make her happy. And giving her that grandson was the best way to make his wife happy.

"Keith, we aren't trying to cause a ruckus, but he's been avoiding us all day," the older man complained, completely aware that Lucas was purposely avoiding them. They'd waited patiently for years, knowing that eventually Dan would do the right thing and start being a father to the boy. And now things seemed to be moving in that direction. It wasn't in Roy's nature to sit around and wait for things to come to him. He needed to push things along.

A derisive snort from Lucas drew all their attention back to him. "You've avoided me my entire life, why shouldn't I do the same now?" he asked, angry that no one saw the hypocrisy here.

"Luke," Karen warned, her voice carrying a gentle reprimand. She'd always taught him to be polite around adults. Screaming at your grandparents in the middle of a wedding reception was not something she was going to allow her son to do.

Dan stood silently to the side of Roy and Lucas, not really engaged with the impending fight. He uncharacteristically stared at the ground, knowing that both Lucas and Roy could be impossible to talk to. Not that he was any easier to deal with in an argument, but Dan knew he was just the agent to pour gas on this volatile situation. He knew that he'd created the nexus of these events. He'd created this mess and yet felt powerless to stop it. In other words, he took the coward's way out. Having no idea what to say, he continued to stare at the ground, hoping the situation just went away.

Brooke walked up behind Lucas, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, hoping she could distract Lucas long enough to get him out of attack dog mode. Lucas shrugged off her small hand, ready and more than willing to argue with these people. "No, I am not going to shut up, Mom." He gestured dismissively toward Dan, Roy and May. "These people treated us like crap for years and now they want something from me? Why should I care?" He felt like a skipping CD, repeating old wounds and complaints over and over.

Silence descended over the group, as Luke's words hung over them with a pall. Finally, May moved from behind her husband, moving toward her antsy, petulant grandson. She reached up and gently touched her only look a like offspring, not wanting to scare him away again. "We've always cared, Lucas, but it's been a complicated situation. We just want to get to know you." She luxuriated in touching his cheek, of finally being this close to Lucas.

Her words were kind and soothing, totally in the mode Lucas had always associated with grandmother types. Part of him wanted to let go of his anger and hug the woman in front of him. He wanted to hold her hand and go bake cookies with her. But those feelings paled in comparison to all the times he didn't have a grandparent on grandparent's day at school. Or all the times he'd worried about Karen dying and leaving him alone in the world. There was such a sense of loss surrounding the fact that he had no grandparent on either side to provide a generational security blanket.

He looked at the older woman a moment before responding. "I wanted to get know you, too," Lucas slowly replied, taking in the happy look on May's face. "But then I turned 5 and realized that none of you people were worth my time," he said, giving them all a nasty look. Luke let the words soak in a moment, before he turned and stalked away from both the wedding reception and his messed up family.

The smile on May's face faltered before crumbling into abject sadness. Roy wrapped an arm around her frail shoulders. He watched Lucas stomp off across the park, desperately wanting to strangle the boy. He could put up with a lot of crap, but no one intentionally upset his wife.

Brooke watched as Dan shot Karen a look that screamed "I told you so". She moved toward the edge of the park, looking back at Anna and Keith apologetically. "He tried so hard to avoid them," she said to no one in particular, just trying to do some damage control. "He knew this would happen and he didn't want to ruin your wedding." She walked off as fast as her 3 inch heels would allow, knowing that her Broody needed her support now more than ever.

Keith attempted to distract the crowd. "There's plenty of champagne left, folks." Anna moved next to May, hoping to distract her new mother in law. She ushered her over to the cake looking back regretfully where Dan, Karen and Roy were left standing.

"Karen, you need to let me have that boy for a month," Roy seethed. "I'll teach him some respect."

"Dad, let it go. He's upset because you ambushed him," Dan retorted knowing that this situation was a nightmare. He didn't want to hear his father giving child rearing advice to Karen, who'd managed to raise Lucas alone for 16 years without any input or help from the Scott family.

Karen shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. She'd not expected things to go well with Roy and Lucas, but she was at a loss for what to do about her son being mean to his grandmother.

Watching her for a moment, Dan slowly took her away from the crowd. Karen wordlessly followed, happy that someone had a clue as what to do.

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Cheers, if anyone is still reading!