To have and to hold
Clicking of forks, spoons and knives against the plates mingled with exvited chatter of approximately 50 kids having dinner in the spacious hall. Brunette woman stood aside, her normally smiling face etched with lines of concern.
"This is no good. We have to come up with a solution and fast", woman with auburn hair said as she paced by carrying dirty plates toward kitchen.
"Tell me something I don't know", the brunette murmured, nibbling slightly on her lower lip. Old nervous habit, annoying her more than it calmed her.
Lost in thought, she jumped up slightly as she felt a gentle slap of fingers against her upper arm.
"Stop with that, Grace. Your lips are already chapped", auburn woman gently scolded her.
Grace huffed a bit, her hands falling against her sides.
"I just thought that we will be able to take care of these kids without thinking about things like…like… THIS", she turned to look at the woman standing by her side "Lillian, what are we going to do?
Lillian sighed.
"I don't know, little sis. I don't know."
—--
A train whistle pierced the air as the steam covered the miles left behind. Papers long forgotten laid against the seat as Lucas' eyes watched the darkness of the night through the window.
How did everything go apart?
Lucas' face was blank. He took out his watch. 04.23. His eyelids were weary, but sleep wouldn't come.
His body ached from a long train tide, but he couldn't make himself move. Aching in his muscles were nothing compared to sharp pain in his chest.
"I wish I can give you all my heart".
Swallowing hard, Lucas shut his eyes for a moment. Opening them, the blackness of the night mocked him.
Never fitting. Story of my life.
He crossed his legs, leaning in his seat, careful not to wake his traveling companion.
His fingers drummed against his thighs. Sometimes, life shows you that you know nothing. His Father taught him a lot, instilled steely patience in his mind, a virtue that helped him tremendously in his life. He didn't give up easily, always believing that people deserve a second chance.
What did I do wrong?
There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He wanted to give her world. He would give her the Moon if she asked.
"I'm not sure where I'd keep it".
When you love somebody, their happiness must be important to you. That was a thought that carried Lucas ever since Elizabeth Thornton opened the doors to his heart. He tried to fulfill her dreams, he tried to read her mind and heart to know what she wants before she says it, he tried to show her how much she means to him.
"You don't need grand gestures".
Those words still stung.
Why was it wrong to shower someone you adore with love?
Lucas shook his head, a sigh escaping him.
"Looks like you can't sleep", a quiet voice was hear.
Lucas looked up at the face of an older man sitting across him. He gave a small nod, not inclined to talk.
A man shifted in his seat a bit and glanced through the window.
"Not much to see out there", he slowly looked at the young man sitting across him "But, plenty to see there", he said, looking directly into Lucas' eyes.
Lucas' lips twisted in a painful smile.
"I don't think so", he mumbled, glancing down at his watch again.
04.32.
Even time seemed to stop.
"Well, looks like life dealt you some tough cards", a man said.
Irony crept up in Lucas' sad smile.
"And you don't know how to play your cards now. For the first time in your life", a man concluded, making Lucas look back at him.
On a warm summer's evening
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with the gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin'
Out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us
And he began to speak
He said, "Son, I've made a life
Out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So if you don't mind my sayin'
I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
I'll give you some advice"
(The Gambler by Kenny Rogers)