I awoke wrapped in Lucas' arms. He was snoring lightly as he continued to sleep peacefully. He had me in a death grip though as if he was afraid that I would slip out in the night. I craned my neck and lifted my phone to check the time, all while trying to keep my actions to a minimum in fear of stirring him. It was still quite early. I put my head in his neck and smiled because it fit there perfectly. I fit perfectly with him. I inhaled his scent which made me smile instantly. Wrapping my arms around him territorially, I vowed to never let him go, no matter what.
"Hey, Pretty Girl," he said opening his eyes sleepily.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?" I asked apologetically.
"Nah, you look beautiful in the morning," he said, tucking a stray strand of hair. I blushed at his actions. "What time is it?"
"Early. We can sleep some more. It's the weekend. The kids won't be up for hours," I replied.
"Yeah," he said, pulling me into him and kissing my cheek then nuzzling into my neck and cuddling with me.
"I love you so much," I said to him emotionally before climbing on top of him. His shirt that I had on rode up as I straddled his waist. Leaning down, I cupped his face before pressing my lips to his. Lucas moaned under me. I moved my arms behind him and brushed my tongue against his lips. Lucas lifted himself from the bed in an attempt to get closer to me. I was sitting on his lap with my arms curled around him when he opened his mouth and granted entrance to my tongue. Our tongues battled for domination and I closed my eyes to fully feel and experience the feeling I was feeling.
I saw Lucas' eyes turn a deep blue as he looked at me lustfully. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked me as his hands found the hem of his shirt that I had on. I raised my hands in the air in response and he quickly got the baggy shirt off and flung it to the floor.
Flipping us over like a pancake, I gave a whelp at the suddenness and he pinned me below him. He stopped kissing me and took a moment to look at my face. "You are so beautiful," he said, making me blush rosy red.
I smiled and began working on his sweatpants that were hanging low on his waist. Pulling as far as I could, I tried to get them down. Lucas raised his hips and I managed to tug the soft cotton to his knees. His member sprang free from its confines. Lucas kicked the sweats off his feet and then came ahead to take one of my nipples in his mouth. A throaty moan immediately escaped my lips as I felt a deep sense of arousal. Grabbing my other nipple in his fingers, he began to massage my breasts. My hands move to the south and I grab his dick. He shuddered and instantly jerked. "God, Brooke!" he cried. I smiled at him as I lifted myself from the bed and bent towards his penis. I gave it a few encouraging strokes before kissing the tip. A little bit of precum dripped down and I quickly licked him clean. Moving my hands, I begin playing with his balls before licking him underneath. Lucas had his eyes closed and groaned, enjoying the euphoric sensations. Slowly, I opened my mouth wide and took him in, bobbing my head up and down. His hands moved into my hair as he helped me match his pace of thrusting.
"Oh God, I'm close," he said after a few minutes of me going down on him. He jerked and pulled himself out of my warm mouth. Helping me back down again, he started laying kisses from my breasts all the way down to the waistband of my panties.
He gripped my hips and parted my feet a little. I squirmed underneath his gaze. He lay a soft hand on my centre through my panties. "Gosh, you're so wet," he remarked. He then moved his head down and licked my panty-clad centre. I moaned and felt myself getting even wetter for him. He continued to place firm licks on the fabric. His one hand then moved to rub my clit through the material. I moaned at the delicious friction I was experiencing. It was like his cold lick and hot rubs were sending my body into overdrive. "Lucas," I begged in agony as I wanted more. I needed to feel him.
He chuckled before peeling my wet panties down. Then he flipped me below him again so that I was lying on my stomach. I let out a scream at the suddenness of his actions. He smacked my ass once as soon as my bottom was in his view. Parting my legs, he inserted two of his fingers into me. I moaned at the intrusion. "Wow, you are so wet and ready," Lucas laughed.
He began to pump two of his fingers inside me at an agonizingly slow pace. Soon, he began to curl them in and move them making me groan. "Lucas," I moaned his name, "Please, I need to feel you."
He smiled before pulling his fingers out. Moving them up, he brought his fingers which were coated with my juices to my lips. I opened my mouth that was facing the side and took his fingers in. Suckig them, I licked them clean. He let out a soft moan as I continued my licking and sucking ministrations. Finally, he removed his fingers. Lining himself at my centre, he gently pushed himself inside me. I groaned and buried my face deeper into the bed, balling my fists as my body adjusted to his girth. Since I was lying on my belly, the position allowed him to penetrate deep. I felt him go in slowly. He pushed himself in inch by inch until I was completely covering him like a sheath. He paused for a breath. "You okay?" he asked.
He felt it too. This was one of the times he had been the deepest in me. Beads of sweat broke out as I felt my body try to acclimate to the intrusion.
"Yeah," I replied and groaned as he began pulling out. He came out almost the whole way before pushing back inside with a deep and slow thrust. He was going agonizingly slow, making me feel every laboured movement. I could feel all my nerves rise and feel his slow rhythmic thrusts. He rolled his hips as he continued to push deeper and further in. I gripped the sheets of the bed and felt myself give in to what his slow thrusts were making me feel.
Suddenly he stilled himself buried deep inside of me. I tried to crane my neck and see why he had stopped. He was just staring at me lovingly. I blushed every shade of red under his gaze.
"You know, this is my favourite place to be. Deep inside you," he said, much like a schoolboy.
"Well, I am yours. You can be there anytime," I reciprocated.
"Really?" he continued childishly.
"Yeah," I answered, feeling a thousand butterflies flutter in my chest with my answer. "I am yours, Luke. Always, Forever and Completely." He moved to lay a hundred kisses on my back and face until I began squirming. I needed him to begin moving again, he was drawing this out way too long.
He began his slow-burning again once he saw me attempt to move underneath him until he hit my G spot making me gasp. "Yes! Please, just keep doing what you're doing," I begged and cried out as my eyes closed to feel that pleasure building deep within me. He somehow slowed his pace making me cry out. "Lucas, please!" I begged, staring at him, needing to feel sated.
My eyes closed again as he finally increased his pace but continued to rub himself against that sweet spot inside me. "Yes! Yes! Just this!" I encouraged. He seemed to be getting the memo because he clenched his jaws and finally quickened his pace.
Slamming into me harder and faster, I felt my inner walls clench. I began to grind my hips, trying to match his thrusts. He clenched his teeth and groaned before increasing his pace even further making every nerve ending in my body shake and stand high.
My eyes close firmly as I bit into the pillow to muffle my screams. Suddenly, I felt all the bubbling cease as the most earth-shattering orgasm consumed my body. I did not realise what was happening for several minutes after as my brain completely fogged up. When I finally got down from my high, Lucas pulled out of me completely and turned me again so that I was lying on my back. I smiled and opened my arms for him to climb up on me. He lined himself and slipped inside me again effortlessly. I was so weak from how intense my orgasm was but I caught his lips in a kiss. Lucas' hands went down to my ass to pull me further into him if that was possible. He kept on with his strong pace, groaning and grunting. Pulling my nipple, I hissed at his touch as something began bubbling in me yet another time.
He moved his head down to kiss my breasts. I lifted my back and moved my head to kiss his back as well. Lucas continued his voracious thrusts making me bite his shoulder. He moved to my neck and sucked at my pulse point. I was sure he had left a hickey but I was used to covering those up by now. Lucas had always been territorial that way and loved to mark me. I had stopped bothering to tell him to stop and just ensured I always had concealer handy. Biting my lips, I felt the bed shake with our quick actions, my eyes still squeezed shut.
"Brooke, I'm close," he panted.
"I'm getting there again," I told him, feeling a second orgasm build in me.
He moved his face down to bite and pinch my nipples. His hands moved to my clit and pressed it firmly. That sent me flying again as I crashed a second time. Lucas reached his release at the same time as he fell on top of me. We rode our orgasms together, feeling as if we had seen the galaxy.
"Damn," Lucas said once he caught his breath. He pulled out from within me and rolled to his side. I was basking in the post-sex glow, still panting as if I had run a marathon feeling the inexplicable high. I felt so satisfied at that moment.
"I love you, Brooke," he said, moving my head to face him and stealing my lips for a kiss.
"I love you too," I replied before moving towards him to cuddle into him. "Can we just stay like this and cuddle for a while please?"
"Anything for you, Pretty Girl," he said, making me grin wide. I move to stick myself to his side as his hands gently stroke my back.
I didn't realise when I fell asleep because the next time I opened my eyes, I saw Lucas sitting up, reading a book. I was lying on his lap and he still had his hand around my back. I look up at him and smile, "Hi."
He put his book down to give me attention. "What time is it?" I asked.
"About 9:15," he replied before trailing his hands up and down my sides, coming super close to my breasts and hip bone. I try to move to get him to touch me where I need him to. Yet, he looked at me innocently as if he didn't know that his actions were driving me mad.
"Lucas!" I whine, frustrated by his actions. He laughs but concedes and both his hands cup my firm mounds. I smile at the accomplishment. He massages them before going down and rubbing my clit. I still under his expert hands as he plays with me, rubbing me firmly. It doesn't take long as the build crescendos into another orgasm.
"Thanks," I say to him with a goofy grin plastered on my face. "Now I have no energy for a shower. Wanna help me?"
Lucas shakes his head lovingly before picking me up in his arms bridal style. The sheets fall off and we enter our bathroom. Lucas draws me a bath instead of going for a shower. He deposits me gently in the tub and I hiss as the warm water makes contact with my body.
Lucas gets into the tub with me and sits facing opposite me.
"This should have bubbles," I giggle, lifting my arm to grab the liquid and pour a generous amount into the water.
"Are we never going down? Everyone must be up by now and wonder how come neither of us had come down for our morning coffees," Lucas reminds me.
"Oh boohoo. They will be fine. I - well, honestly, I'm just trying to cherish this because once we go down, we have to make a difficult call and get a difficult woman to accept taking a test she most likely won't agree with," I reminded him.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's lock ourselves inside all weekend," he joked. "Did you have to empty half the bottle in here?"
"Hey! I like the bubbles!" I replied, cupping some in my hands and blowing them in his direction. The foam flew towards him and landed right at his eyes and nose as he scrunched his face. I began laughing seeing his expressions.
"Oh, my turn!" he warned as he grabbed me and tried dunking me under the tub.
"Lucas! No!" I screamed playfully as I splashed him with water, resulting in a lot of it falling out of the tub and onto the tiles. We laughed and screamed before hugging each other, our naked bodies slipping against each other lathered in soap. Finally washing the soap, we got out and began getting ready for the day.
"Hey, morning!" I greeted Karen with a kiss once Lucas and I emerged into the family room. "Hey, Lilly Pad!"
"Brooke! Sophia is going to take me to Nathan and Haley's house!" the excitable kid announced her plans.
"Yeah, but that will make me so sad. Even I want to spend time with my Lilly Pad," I said with mock sadness.
"Uhh, why don't you come with us?" she suggested.
"Well, your big brother and I have some work to take care of. But, we have now! What does the little Princess want to do?!" I asked.
"Brooke, breakfast first," Karen said, placing a bowl of warm oatmeal and a coffee in front of me.
"Karen, I should be taking care of you. You're constantly looking after me," I said sadly. "Let me cook for you tonight."
"I came here because you nearly drowned, sweet girl. Besides, I love doing this. I miss this in New Zealand," she sighed.
"Yeah, still, I will cook dinner. I'll whip up some Indian food, Sophia's favourite," I concluded. "But, we were talking about what Ms. Lilly wanted to do for the next hour."
"I want to play hide and seek!" she announced.
"Done! Let me just finish my breakfast and then we can play," I told the excited kid. "By the way, where is your brother? He came down with me."
"Lukie is outside in the yard on his phone," she informed me. "Jamie is outside practising basketball and Sophia is hanging out with Madison in her room and my dad is working in Lukie's study."
"You're quite the informant," I laughed.
"I heard Sophia tell Madison that she was never going to step in your and Lukie's room again and she made a weird expression. Why is that?" Lilly asked me innocently.
I rolled my eyes. "Sophia is just being silly."
Once I had inhaled my meal, I began the game of hide and seek with my little sister-in-law. Lucas finally walked in as I opened the living room closet to find Lilly.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked me curiously.
"Hide and Seek with Lils. What was that long call about?" I asked him. "Let me find her and then I'll heat breakfast for you."
"That long call was about my book. It's finished. We are sending it to print on Monday," he answered with a smile.
"Oh, my God! Luke! That is amazing! We should celebrate!" I said, hugging him tightly.
"You know, we never celebrated our engagement. We planned to but then, you know. Let's get this paternity test out of the way so we have three reasons to celebrate," he said sullenly.
"Hey, we have good things. Even if you are the father, we celebrate the baby, okay," I told him, holding his hands to show my support.
Lucas inhaled a sharp breath as he tried to register my words. "How are you being so good about this? You have been nothing but supportive. What did I do to deserve this?" he asked me as his eyes looked down with shame.
"Oh, you did so many things that I wouldn't even know where to begin. I really owe you this one. I mean, I am really praying that Lindsey is lying about this one but this is not your fault at all. I mean, I have no right to blame you for a past when we weren't together, although Luke, you could've done better," I said. "Now help me find Lilly."
"What's with you and babies?" he rolled his eyes.
"Come on, they are so sweet and innocent and the way they see the world, I wish I could see the world through their eyes. They remind us that we as humans are inherently kind and curious and loving. No kid ever hates. I missed out on so much time with ours, I keep finding new kids to fill the void but nothing can. I really messed up that one and I will carry that shame and guilt with me in the afterlife," I sighed mournfully.
We found Lilly in the next few minutes hiding in an empty clothes hamper. I carried her on my hips as I began to serve Lucas his breakfast. Jamie walked inside the house just as I placed the bowl on the counter looking like a sweaty mess.
"Morning," I greeted him as he slumped on a chair, exhausted after his workout.
"Can we go another time?" Lilly whined.
"Did the two of you talk to Lindsey?" Jamie asked as soon as he had caught his breath.
"No, not yet, but I am going to text her that Brooke and I are going to drop by in the afternoon. She is only sticking around yet because she wants the money. We'll talk to her and if she doesn't agree, we will scare her to get the test court-mandated. She should give in," Lucas informed him.
"The sooner the better," Jamie sighed.
"How are you not hanging out with Sophia and Maddie?" I asked him, handing him a glass of orange juice to get him refreshed.
"They wanted to talk about Lindsey since it was literally in front of every person we know and frankly, I don't want to hear about it unless it with a proven paternity test," he put his foot down. "I probably don't want to hear about it even after."
"Hey, every feeling is valid, okay? You're allowed to be mad and hurt about this, but you talk to us or your therapist about your rage. You have to find constructive outlets and alcohol is not one of them," I said angrily.
"Noted, ma'am," he sighed before gulping down his juice.
"But, aren't you two being hypocritical? Didn't the two of you drink in High School?" he argued.
"Yes Jamie, we did and look where that got us! Look, I know that you will drink at parties and things even though we are telling you no right now. However, what I will not allow is you drinking because you're upset or angry or hurt." I told him. Then I gave him a very sincere look and as softly as I could to not hurt Lucas' feelings, I said, "Your genetics don't support that."
Lucas barely ever drank. He was not a drinker at all. He hated his father for what he did and he only casually had beers or a glass of wine with people on occasion. I had never seen him touch any hard liquor even when we were going through that god-awful divorce. He knew he was a parent and had to be responsible, so he never drowned his sorrows drinking and I respected and admired him deeply for his amazing choices. It was not lost on me that we had officially met and begun talking at a bar, but Lucas was more busy making out with a blonde than drinking there.
Lucas and Jamie's eyes bulged as they both heard my comment. Neither one knew what was the correct way to respond to that. "Jamie, promise me, please. This shit scares me," I said truthfully.
He quickly nodded his head in promise. "Dad, what do you do to let out pent-up anger?"
"I write. I put everything I am feeling on paper and if the rage needs a more severe outlet, I go running. I play basketball," Lucas told him.
"Yeah, I used to find your father at the River Court at three or four in the morning sometimes," I added, remembering all those funny nights when I could not sleep alone.
"How come you never went pro, dad? I've always wondered. Did you not want to?" he continued to interrogate.
"Yeah, I did consider it. It was a major life-changing decision to not go pro, actually. Brooke and I had discussed this. Your mom's business was taking off and she was in talks with investors for the clothing line. Victoria had just returned to her life and I had already published my first book by then and was wondering whether to write a second. Lindsey wanted me to but I was considering pro ball as well. We weighed it in and we agreed that you and Sophia having stability was our only priority. We were clear about that completely. So, one of us would have to give. I mean look at how much Nathan has to be on the road. I was the one with the option to be more present and work from home, so I picked that option. I got the same letter as Nathan to play. I had the offer. Wow, had I picked basketball, our lives would have been so different. You two would probably be living in New York full time and I would have been the one coming to visit during the off-season."
"Damn, do you regret it?" Jamie asked and I looked up too, eager to know his answer.
"Not even for a minute. I made the right choice," he said proudly.
"Thank you for every compromise," I said weakly as I touched his hand resting on the table.
"It really didn't feel like one," he smiled, making my heart flutter again. God, why did he have to be so good with his one-liners!?
"Mom, how do you deal?" he asked, looking at me.
"Sadly, I have tried to drown my sorrows with alcohol more than a few times. Wow, I haven't thought about this in a really long time but when Ted and Victoria showed up to sell this house and send me to boarding school, I drank a lot. Then I jumped into a river and almost drowned and then became hypothermic and almost died and then I drank a lot on my way to school and what I didn't know back when I was drinking was that I was already pregnant! I was so scared for the remainder of the pregnancy," I confessed.
"What!" he screamed.
"Sorry, I didn't know that I was pregnant or I obviously wouldn't do it," I tried to defend my actions.
"What drink or kill yourself!" he yelled. "How many times have you almost died because that night when you saved Maddie from the car was one time too many."
"Shit, I'm sorry. I get it. You in that school was… yeah," I replied, unable to complete that sentence. "But I have constructive ways to deal now. My best work and I mean it… to date, my best designs have been the ones that I sketched on a broken heart. It's why my Company is called Clothes over Bro's."
"I think I'll go pro ball and fulfil your dream, dad," Jamie said chirpily, ignoring whatever I had to say about design. He was clueless about fashion.
"That's awesome but only if that's what you want. You can decide to be whatever you want. There is no pressure," he said with extreme love and care. "With a caveat, of course, it has to be legal and moral."
Oh, Lucas, he could be so cute sometimes. Just then Maddie walked into the kitchen.
"Hey," Jamie said to her, instinctively beckoning her towards him and wrapping his muscular arms protectively around the lean blonde. Madison smiled, completely ignoring how sweaty he was. They were so in love.
"Hey Maddie, you want juice or something?" I offered.
"What got you down? Soph bored you and you came to hide?" Jamie joked and earned a swat from his girlfriend.
"I came down for a snack haul," she informed us. "By the way, so sorry to hear what happened Mr. Scott and Ms. Davis." She gave us a sympathetic smile.
"Thanks," Lucas responded monosyllabically. He hated people knowing. He was always a reserved guy. He never wanted anyone to know that he was abused his entire childhood. He hated talking about the divorce and that seriously affected his book sales because every interviewer just wanted to dig up gossip about the power couple who failed to make it.
Madison could take a hint as she quickly made her way to the pantry. "You know if you girls could hold off on the snacks, I'm just about to start on lunch. Beans and rice with a salad. You will stay for lunch, right?"
"Yes, thanks," she smiled and ran back up.
I got started on lunch while Jamie went for a shower. Karen came to offer help, but I refused and asked her and Andy to relax. They planned to go out with Keith and Deb while Lilly was at Nathan's with Sophia. Lucas got another call from the new publishing house and got sucked into that.
In about thirty minutes, lunch was ready. We all ate together and I noticed Sophia being very quiet.
"What are you thinking about, little Princess?" I asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Uhh, sorry, nothing," she tried to hide, although her cheeks were red.
"What is it? Everyone here knows everything. What about Lindsey is haunting you now?" I asked, exasperated, but needing them to be able to talk and process it instead of internalising it.
"Uhh, I was wondering if dad will be gone for long periods to be with the new baby if it is in fact, his or whether we will report her after the baby is born in which case, the new kid comes to live with us. Also, I was imagining not being dad's little girl anymore and what if it's another girl and Uncle Nathan makes her his favourite?" she whispered vulnerably. "I know that Jamie and I are twins, but I was still the youngest and I know that I said I was cool with you and dad having more kids but this is different. What if the kid lives with us and we fall in love with him or her and then Lindsey comes back and takes the baby away? It's so uncertain, that's all."
"Oh honey, you will always be our Princess. Even when you're like forty. Even if we have more kids, you will always be our first little girl. Your first youngest and our most loved girl. Besides, we will use legal recourse once we have complete information. There will be proper custody terms which will be put in place. Lindsey will not get to just show up out of the blue and take the kid away if the courts grant Lucas sole custody. You guys will get all the details. We will not hide any of it from you, we promise and about Uncle Nate. Sophia, do you remember how mad you were when Haley told us about both of her pregnancies? You were nine when Jude was born and you cried ugly tears, a whole scene in the hospital when you saw Nathan hold his child. Oh God, Nathan was petrified. You were the first out of you and Jamie to be held by him and with each day, you were growing to look more and more like me. He was putty to your charms and Haley with Jamie as he looks exactly the same as Lucas. You had your Godparents conquered. Anyway, you start crying and trying to get Nathan to drop Jude so he can hold you instead. Nathan was such a champ, he handed his newborn to me and took you out alone. You remember what he told you that time?" I asked her.
"Mom, I was nine," she rolled her eyes. "I remember being at the hospital and I vaguely remember how he looked but it could have been Lydia. I can't be sure."
"Nathan took you out and he bought you a candy bar from the vending machine. He then told you that you were now a big sister and God had gifted you with a new responsibility to love and care for your new cousin brother. He said that you were his first baby daughter and it was because of you that he wanted a child because he knew just how wonderful you were. He asked you if you would help him with the baby and you said yes. You would do anything your Uncle told you to do. Darn, Nathan! Those two really stole our kids! Anyway, he hugged you and carried you back to Haley's hospital room and brought you to me. We put the baby in his crib and you were sitting on his shoulders, awestruck. He asked you if you were ready to be his big sister and you said yes. Then at 12, you were sure you had lost Nathan because he had a girl. Again, he took you to the vending machine and got you a candy bar. Again he reminded you that you were his first daughter and asked whether you were ready to take on the job of being a big sister and you agreed."
"Is that why I actually like Tweedledee and Tweedledum?" she asked with a scoff.
"Yeah. You did step it up back then. You wanted to go there every day after school because it was your job to take care of the baby," I laughed. "Anyway, it's time to find out for sure."
I looked at Lucas who had already texted Lindsey about us stopping by and he had specified that it wasn't a request. Everyone left their separate ways while Luke and I headed to the Riverview Suites.
"Ready?" he asked me as he opened my car door.
"Depends on the truth," I answered truthfully.
We went up to Lindsey's room and knocked on her door. She was expecting us and opened it. "Listen, if this is about the kids getting to know… you had your chance. You could have just paid me. You still can, I hear that the news is spreading in Tree Hill but is restricted to here. You wouldn't want tabloids catching the wind now, would they? Especially considering how Lucas just finished her new book today!"
"How do you know that? I just got to know that!" Lucas quipped, already flying off the handle.
"I have connections," she answered vaguely.
"Okay Lindsey, we are here for something different. We want to redo the paternity test," Lucas said once he had got his temper under check.
"Huh? Didn't I already show that to you?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, but you know…. We don't know for sure that the DNA sample you used is in fact, Lucas'. What if you messed up? We want to be present for this one. Lucas will give his saliva to match in person," I tried to answer, hoping that she didn't think we were doubting her.
"Huh? What! That's insane!" she retaliated.
"No Lindsey. We are being quite reasonable. We want to cover all the T's here. I mean children are a huge responsibility and I want to be certain," Lucas agreed with me.
"When?" she asked.
"We could go to the hospital right now and give the samples," Lucas said. "The quicker we know, the better."
"But I already know!" Lindsey yelled.
"Come on Lindsey. Be reasonable. If you know for sure, what is the harm in doing the test?" I coaxed her.
"What if I don't want to do the test again?" she argued for the sake of arguing.
"Well, then we could get it court-mandated," I said flatly, knowing that there was only one way to deal with people like her. My words surely got her quiet.
"Okay, but we go on tomorrow," she said.
"Why not now?" Lucas asked, pinching his nose in frustration.
"I have things to do too! You have left me pregnant and alone and choiceless, but I still got work," she seethed.
"Hey! He did not leave you pregnant and alone! You screwed up your relationship by being a two-timing cheater and you're the one who assaulted this sweet man! The only reason you're not in jail already is because you're pregnant. You better pray that it is his, or you will really learn what it is to be pregnant, alone and choiceless. Come on Luke, we'll come to pick her up tomorrow at 10 a.m. and take her for the test," I said before walking out of the door.
I leaned against the wallpapered corridor while waiting for Lucas to step out. That whole ordeal seemed to have sucked all the energy out of me.
"Okay, so that went better than I imagined it to honestly," Lucas remarked once he stepped out of the door and joined me outside.
"Yeah. We'll know soon," I smiled.
We returned home and spent the rest of the day waiting for it to be the next day. Sunday, we arrived at the Riverview Suites earlier than 10 am. We were jittery and just wanted real answers. We were just too wired up. Lindsey did not look too happy about having to redo the test. She was annoyed with everything, but we couldn't care less about her attitude problem. I need real tangible data that I had verified myself.
We drove to the hospital in silence while Lindsey mumbled a few swear words and something about trust and integrity. I had to hold my tongue to not say that cheating on your boyfriend is the worst way to break trust and lose your integrity, but whatever. I hated her for what she did to my boy. We registered her and she tried to complain to the doctor about him violating her if he carried out the procedure.
"Look Lindsey, you do it now with this doctor or you do it with a court order that will not take me too long to get. Either way, you are getting the test. It is on you whether you want it with or without handcuffs and a police escort," I warned in my softest voice.
My threat got her to cooperate and the doctor performed a basic Amniocentesis and swabbed Lucas' saliva and took a hair sample for good measure.
"Okay, we have the data. We will call you up with the results once we have them. Expect hearing from us tomorrow," the doctor let us know.
"Please email them to us personally," Lucas requested as he quadruple-checked the email address and phone number he had given.
The doctor nodded and we began driving back to Lindsey's hotel.
"Thank you for that, Lindsey. Are you hungry? Can we get you anything?" I asked, feeling a little bad for her. Nobody should have to go through a pregnancy alone. She just made it extremely hard to sympathise with her by how she landed in this mess.
"I do want my half million," she rolled her eyes from the back seat.
I saw Lucas clutch the steering wheel tighter. "Look Lindsey, if this is my kid then I want to be a part of his or her life. Also, have you found out the gender? Once we know, I would like to be present for a sonography," he said. "I will help with child support, but I will also be a part of the baby's life. We will draw up some form of a custody agreement. Where do you plan on living? Also, how long are you in Tree Hill for?"
"Listen, can you for once do what I want?" she asked, gripping her hair in exasperation.
"This is a baby, Lindsey! We are not picking what we should get for dinner. Why are you being so impossible? This behaviour really makes me question whether the baby is mine," he retorted.
"You will know tomorrow, won't you? Now I need at least some funds. I need you to pay for my suite at the hotel and I need more for the flight and food. Also, the initial paternity test and the doctor's bills and everything… Can you send me ten thousand dollars as a start?" she asked.
"After the test results are in our hands, we will discuss money," I confirmed with her.
We dropped her off and went home. We entered the living room to find the twins looking at us expectantly.
"It's Sunday. What are you guys doing at home? Don't you have the mall to go to or dates at the movie theatre?" I asked playfully.
"What happened?" Sophia asked straightforwardly.
"We got the test. We will get the results tomorrow," I answered while beginning to tidy up the space.
"Why not today?" Jamie whined.
"It's Sunday bubba. We will know first thing tomorrow," I smiled. Everything would be clear tomorrow.
"So, what do we do till then?" Jamie asked.
"Hmm, we need a distraction," Lucas said. "Let's do something fun, the four of us, unless mom and Andy want to join."
"They have gone to the park with Lilly and then they are going to go shopping," Sophia informed us.
"Okay, four of us then, what do we want to do?" he asked.
"Umm, we could go to Coney Island in New York," Sophia suggested.
My eyes widened with excitement, but I controlled myself. "How do you plan on getting there? Besides, you two have school tomorrow."
"Mom, you do own a jet," my daughter reminded me.
"Honey, it's the Company jet," I argued, finding her suggestion crazy.
"Come on, you can totally use it and it's barely 11 am. Jamie and I used to fly there every other weekend, it didn't take that long. We could take a regular flight but that will simply take longer. Besides, I don't want to go to school tomorrow. I want to be present for the results. I need a personal day," she whined.
"What she said," Jamie agreed silently. "I'm not going to school tomorrow either."
I scoffed and turned to Lucas for help. "You can't take personal days from school!"
"I want to go too. A getaway is just what I need," Lucas grinned.
"Unbelievable. Let me make the call and ask them to get the jet ready. Kids, pack up and Lucas, call Karen. I want to take Lilly with us. Let them all come. We have a guest room in the New York penthouse," I acquiesced.
The kids squealed and ran up to get dressed. I made the call and they promised to have the jet ready for us in an hour.
"I don't like the kids misusing their luxuries," I complained once I got to our room to pack some things. We wouldn't need much as the apartment had everything.
Karen and Andy came home and cocked their heads. "Coney Island?"
"The kids wanted a getaway and Princess Lilly deserves the best vacation ever! It's great that New Zealand has the opposite weather to North America. We'll be back tomorrow night," I explained.
"But school?" she said like only a mother would.
"It's ditch day. We'll call the school and tell them that they ate something bad and are complaining of stomach aches," I shrugged. "I don't want them skipping either but they are really shaken by everything that has happened and I can't see them sad this way. If Coney Island makes them happy and forget the misery even for a minute, I believe it's better than one day of missed lectures. They have been so understanding about this mess."
"Okay, I guess I will go pack," my mother smiled.
"Babies, given the circumstances, I am allowing this but we do not misuse our luxuries. There is a reason you two grew up in Tree Hill. I will not have you become one of those messed up celebrity kids who get everything in the world and then feels entitled to things and people behaving a certain way," I yelled once we were in the plane and had taken off.
The twins rolled their eyes. "Again! We already know this. You never let us hang out with any celebrity kids when we were in New York and you never let us come over if you were hosting a party for them or attending one," Jamie complained.
"I mean, it sucks that we skipped Jennifer Lopez's wedding," Lucas complained, making me laugh.
"You guys are ridiculous! Okay, let me tell you a secret. Two days ago, a rep reached out to me to design a dress for Zendaya for some charitable event that she is headlining. Once, I submit everything to Sports Illustrated, I am taking on that project and submitting some sketches to her. If she likes it, I get the job. If I do and I get to meet her, you can come but only if you promise to behave professionally. I might have to fly to LA for that," I said. "This is confidential. So you two, zip it to your friends!"
"OMG!" Sophia exclaimed and I rolled my eyes.
"I haven't got the job yet!" I reminded her.
"Oh come on mom. I know nothing about fashion and even I know that you have this in the bag," Jamie said.
"Okay, anyway, I'm going to work on SI for the flight duration because Lord knows I haven't had the time for it. Ps; I also spoke to Jake, he will meet us Wednesday night for interiors," I reminded them.
"I can't believe how fast everything is going!" Lucas said.
"Yeah, the house and the Tree Hill office will be ready in less than a month. Should we put in a nursery?" I asked throatily.
"Let's focus on Coney Island and the swimsuit model I am with for today," Lucas said, draping his arm around me. He picked up the book he had carried to read, basking in the fact that he had successfully delivered another book that would start printing tomorrow. With his arm still around me, I unlocked my iPad and sketched.
Heartache really worked wonders for me, I was bursting with new ideas and in the two-hour flight, I managed to completely change the designs I had originally shown MJ. I didn't look up until we were getting ready for landing.
"Sanjay!" Jamie and Sophia screamed simultaneously as they saw him waiting on the tarmac for us with the limo.
"Oh! It's so good to see you healthy and kicking Mr. and Ms. Scott," he smiled as the kids hugged him. "Here, Meera sent freshly made samosas for the two of you." He handed them a box.
"Hey, Sanjay! How are you?" I smiled as he took my bag and iPad from my hands.
"I was happy to hear that you were coming for a visit. Nice to meet you two, Sir and Ma'am," he greeted Karen and Andy.
"Sanjay, this is my real mom, Karen Hargrove. Victoria is fake," I winked. "And that is her husband Andy and their daughter Lilly. Lucas will try to say that she is his mom, but she is all mine." I smiled.
"Let me sort your luggage and we will head to the apartment," he smiled. "You look well with your family. I know what the magazines portray you as but you look much better as a large family girl. I'm sorry if I'm overstepping."
"No and thank you," I smiled.
"Mr. Harvey!" the kids greeted our doorman.
"Oh look at the two of you doing so well!" he chirped, seeing the twins.
"So lovely to have you over! Do you want me to make a bagel run for you?" he asked.
"Mr. Harvey, no! You are not spoiling them," I said, but I couldn't keep the smile away. This was a good idea.
He nodded his head but winked at the kids and I knew that he was definitely going to send up bagels for the kids.
We got up to the apartment and deposited our things. Once we were ready, we hit the deli across the street for lunch and then Sanjay drove us to Coney Island. It was Sunday, so the place was crowded but we were just so happy to be doing this together.
Lilly was having the time of her life as she stuffed her face in cotton candy. The twins went with Lucas and Andy on the rollercoasters while Karen and I stuck to the kiddie rides with Lilly. Then, we took her to the New York Aquarium, a place my kids loved visiting when they were little.
"Thank you Brooke!" the kid hugged my feet once she entered the large water archway. Her eyes bulged seeing aquatic life swimming above her. I giggled in response, so happy to see the little one happy.
Karen and I took her around, giving her details about the fish. We then met up with rest for some snacks.
"Thanks for agreeing to this mom, dad," Jamie said while we devoured our churros.
"Thanks for the idea. This has been good," I smiled. We left the park at 8 pm. Lilly was tired and Lucas was carrying her in his arms. We went to a restaurant for dinner and got home.
"Score, there are bagels in the fridge," I overheard Jamie telling Sophia. I saw them sneak them as the two headed to Jamie's room to eat them together. How did they believe that they would get away with it? I had already left money for them with Greg to give to Mr. Harvey who had mysteriously disappeared to run an errand when we left for the park. All in all, I was grateful that even for a few hours, they had something else to think about besides Lindsey.
Andy and Lucas were sharing some beers while Karen was sipping on a glass of wine. They were hanging out together, talking about how things are in New Zealand. Lilly was so tired that she had fallen asleep immediately.
I walked out to my balcony and breathed in the cold New York air. I stared down for a while as I saw buildings mark the skyline and cars jetting on the street below. I could see the park, a magnificent view. It reminded me of the carriage ride we took after we got engaged. I still had Lucas' engagement ring around my neck. Lindsey knew that we were engaged. Then why was the ring still not on my finger? I pulled the ring out of the chain and twirled it in my hand.
Then I did something unconventional. "Hey mom," I cried, "I'm in New York and some things are really shit and I'm going to get some news tomorrow morning that I'm not ready for. I'm scared, mom. I'm keeping a strong front for my family but I hate what's happening."
"What's wrong, Brooke?" she asked. I remembered how upset she was that Lucas and I had managed to deal with Xavier without her help. She genuinely sounded concerned. "Are you at your apartment? Do you want me to come over?"
"Uhh, no. Everyone is here. Lucas, the kids, Karen and Andy. We needed some time off from everything so we decided to visit Luna Park and the aquarium here. We head back tomorrow to deal with whatever news we get," I said, still aloof.
"Brooke, you're going in circles. Get to the point," she chided. She was still Victoria Davis.
"There is this girl, Lucas' editor and previous girlfriend, Lindsey. She is pregnant and she says that the baby is his. We get the results of the paternity test tomorrow," I confided.
I heard Victoria inhale a sharp breath. "Lindsey wants half a million and then promises to vanish. Lucas was actually keen on paying her but I told him not to because if it is his kid, he should know the baby."
"Why would you do that, Brooke?" she asked. Her voice held the pain she was feeling.
"I don't know! Wouldn't it make me a horrible and selfish person to keep him away from his child? I grew up parentless, I would not wish that on anybody," I cried harder.
"What did the lawyer say?" she asked.
"I never spoke to him. We figured we should wait for the results first," I answered. "They come first thing tomorrow morning. I don't know what to do if it does in fact say that Lucas is the father.
"I'll be there in the morning," she concluded.
"Thanks," I said while sobbing on the call.
"It will be alright. We will figure it out. You're a strong girl. Lucas doesn't plan on leaving you for this girl and baby, right?"
"No, he and I are fine. It's just… uhh… It's just that I wanted to be the one who has his baby! We discussed this a few times and we both wanted more. We planned on having more children after we got married again. I'm jealous that it's not me who gives him that," I answered honestly.
"Oh, I see," she said quietly. "We will figure it out together. Don't worry."
"Thanks, mom," I whispered before ending the call. I wiped my face and walked out. Things were just as I had left them. I retreated to my room and did what I did best, drown myself in work.
Lucas walked in after an hour and saw me with my glasses so he kissed my cheek and went to sleep. I turned off the lights to not disturb him and went into the hall. I sat at the table and sketched until the sky turned golden from navy blue. I was too rattled to sleep.
At seven, Lucas stirred and walked out. "Hey did you not come to bed last night?"
I shook my head no apologetically.
"I'm so sorry," he said guiltily.
I moved my head to the side to touch him and let him know that it was not his fault. He switched on the coffee maker and sat beside me while I stared at my completed deck for SI as well as designs for Zendaya and the sketch of my wedding gown.
I was exhausted but awake. Lucas handed me a mug of coffee the way I liked it and sat beside me at the table. We sat in silence, sipping our coffees. Around 8, everyone had stirred and was waiting around. The intercom rang and it was Greg asking whether he should let Victoria upstairs. The elevator doors opened and she walked in.
"Any news?" she asked me before greeting us.
I shook my head no. Had I lost my voice?
The twins came out in another hour asking the same question. We had all just been waiting around. Victoria was attending to calls on the balcony. Karen and Andy were eating some fruits while Lucas and I were slumped on our chairs.
Just as the clock struck 9:30 am, Lucas' phone dinged to indicate that he had received an email.
"It's from the hospital. The results are here," he announced while lifting his phone.
I felt as if all the sounds in the world had been sucked as everything grew deadly silent. We saw Lucas unlock his phone and tap on the email. He scanned the contents of the document but his expression was unreadable. I didn't even realise that I was holding my breath.
We saw Lucas rub his face and put the phone down.
"It says that….."
