Lindsay had been texting Luke nonstop about therapists and lawyers that could help him get custody of his sons. He had to put a stop to it. He told her he would never get a lawyer against Brooke and he considered their marriage over. He wanted to move forward with their divorce. Lindsay reacted hysterically and told him he was making the worst mistake of his life.
Luke decided to go over Brooke's house and bring her some coffee.
"Hi!" Brooke greeted him as he got out of his car carrying coffee and donuts with him. Brooke was wearing pink shorts and a halter top, filling the water table up for the twins. Her hair was up in a ponytail, with pink headband. She looked like such a natural beauty to Luke.
"Hey, how are you?" he asked. "I thought I'd bring some breakfast over."
"Thanks, that's really sweet. The boys were up a lot last night. I could use the extra caffeine."
Luke picked up Jude while Davis held onto Brooke's leg as she put a straw in her iced latte.
"Hi there, do you like bubbles?" Luke asked, watching his son smiling happily at him. Lucas blew bubbles for the boys with the bubble gun he brought. Brooke laughed at their surprised expressions when the bubbles popped before their eyes. It was a good feeling having Lucas looking after them. After the boys toddled after Lucas a while, they returned to their water table and Brooke gave them sprinkling cans, floating rings, and a few water toys to keep them busy.
"How does it feel being back in Tree Hill?" Brooke asked Luke, when he sat down next to her and picked up his coffee.
"Good. Different," Luke said.
"Do you miss Lindsay?" Brooke asked.
"Not the way I thought. I think we're better off going our separate ways. It's not the way it was with you and Julian. It's still going to be a pain until the divorce is finalized."
Brooke nodded, "I feel like I can't think about the past or future these days. It's all too painful."
"You don't have to do this alone Brooke," Luke said. "I know the twins are at an age when you don't get much of a break. I hope you'll let me help."
"You don't have to," Brooke said. "It's just going to be an adjustment. My parents are back to work now. I need to start getting back into a routine, instead of feeling sorry for myself."
"I'm planning to quit writing for now. I think I'm going to work in Keith's garage," he told her. Working on cars had always held a therapeutic component for him and would give him a way to stay near Brooke.
"Is that what you want?" she asked.
Luke nodded. "I can envision my life here, with the twins, if you want that."
Brooke sighed wistfully. "I'm glad you feel that way, even considering the circumstances," she finally said.
"Awww Brooke, I know," Lucas pulled her close. "I guess there are some things that happen in life that we can't understand, but we just live through it because we have no choice."
Brooke nodded, feeling comforted by his presence, her eyes misty with tears.
"You're so special," Luke leaned over and kissed her forehead, she turned toward him as his lips touched hers for a moment.
Luke leaned back, feelings he had denied for so long were beginning to surface. "Sorry," he mumbled in a whisper.
Brooke looked at him, "It's okay, I wasn't thinking." She felt herself flush, touching her lips.
She got up and walked towards the boys and began refilling the water in the top tier of their water table. They put their hands up to catch the droplets as water cascaded down through the levels like a waterfall. She had felt something in her heart unlock while kissing Lucas. She couldn't believe that had just happened.
Luke came up behind her resting his hands on her shoulders. "You are the best mom," he told her. "I'm sorry about kissing you. I don't know what came over me."
"Don't be. It was a nice kiss. I just need to find myself again," Brooke said, getting lost in his ice blue eyes.
He nodded. "I know everything feels messed up. I'll do what I can for Davis and Jude. Babies are a little new to me. I know this is going to be a learning curve," he said, joining the boys who were splashing playfully with their toys. He wound up their toy shark and they watched it swimming along with excitement. At least they weren't afraid of him, he thought, that was a good start.
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"Can I get you anything?" the flight attendant asked Lindsay, after she boarded her direct flight to Wilmington, North Carolina.
"A gin and tonic please," Lindsay said politely. After the flight attendant walked away, she returned to glaring angrily out the window. She was fuming over how Lucas disrespected her wishes. She blamed Brooke. It was time to end this chapter in their lives.
