"So Dad, where do you stay?" Jamie asked, breaking him out of his reverie as they walked towards Central Park.
"I live in Tree Hill, North Carolina. Do you know where that is?" he asked him, feeling a flutter that his kid was curious about him too.
"I've seen North Carolina on the map in my room! It's close to New York where we live! So does that mean you live close by?" Jamie asked him, feeling a twinge of excitement that maybe he could be close to his dad after all.
"It's not that close in real life, but it's not too far either," Lucas answered, not knowing a better way to explain himself.
"Will you get too busy once you go back to meet us?" Jamie asked him. His lower lip was quivering as he feared the worst. He was fine until Lucas had come into the picture. Brooke and Sam were a great family, but he barely ever saw Brooke and Sam was a moody teenager who preferred being on her phone than playing games with Jamie. Now that his dad was in his life, he was so afraid of him leaving him and not being able to see him again.
"Oh no, Jamie! I'll be seeing you all the time from now on!" Lucas assured him.
"Really?" Jamie's face lit up like a tree decorated with festive lights on Christmas morning.
Yeah, I promise. I'll be seeing you a lot," Lucas promised his son. Jamie beamed at that and fist-bumped the air with glee.
"And Sammy too?" he asked. It wasn't fair in his mind that he got a father and his sister didn't. His mom had always taught him to share with his sister. The rules applied to dads too, right?
"Yes, Sammy too!" Lucas assured his son. He was proud of Jamie and how much he cared about the teen Brooke was secretly fostering. They were an unusual family, but a real one. Lucas had grown up with an unusual family too, with a single mom and an uncle for a father. He understood it. He could feel it. Now, Lucas wanted to be a part of that family. Brooke's family. He felt like an outsider around them, like he was peeping through the windows. He wanted to be inside so bad. He was determined to do it.
The little kid stopped walking and clutched Lucas' feet to hug him tight when Lucas assured him. He heard Jamie sigh with relief as he refused to let go of his Dad's feet. Lucas' heart swelled with love for that sweet, sincere little baby boy.
"So, how is your jump shot?" Lucas asked him once they were at the park entrance.
"Better than Mama's!" He giggled. "Come on, I'll show you where the basketball hoops are!" Jamie tugged at Lucas' jeans and they walked as per his directions. Jamie guided them to the toddlers' section where the basketball hoop height was three feet, right for Jamie to play with. It was one of those plastic fisher price basketball nets with a small lightweight ball. Jamie ran excitedly as he grabbed it and began dribbling.
Lucas was shocked at the sight in front of him as he realised that he really did not know all that much about children. Of course, Jamie would not be able to play at the main Court with hoops 10 feet high. What had he been thinking? The balls were too heavy for a two-year-old to lift and the pole would tower him like a skyscraper.
He also realised what a great trooper Brooke was. The hoop would reach her waist which meant she was deliberately being bad for Jamie. So that he could feel like an All-Star, just like his dad was. Why was he expecting a match like he played with Nathan to be the one with Jamie?
Jamie didn't seem to need him much in the beginning. He picked up the ball and began to dribble it before running to the basket and dunking the ball. "Woohoo!" He screamed, pumping his fists into the air as he saw the ball swish through the net effortlessly. "Wanna play a match?"
"Sure," he replied but he felt anything but sure. It was like he had to relearn the game. Jamie's baby feet could not run like his and he was twice the height of the hoop. It took Lucas some adjusting but he eventually got the rhythm and worked out how to play with the kiddie equipment. They played for a while until it got too hot. So Lucas decided to purchase ice creams for them from the truck parked nearby. Jamie had ice cream everywhere on his hands, face and clothes within the first few licks.
"Hey J Luke! Ready to get home?" Samantha called out to him as Lucas struggled to clean Jamie's dirty hands and face from the mess with the ice cream. It seemed that less ice cream had gone into his mouth.
'Wow, I really don't know how to take care of kids!' Lucas thought to himself. Sam laughed when she saw Lucas struggle with tissues. She quickly unzipped her purse and produced a packet of wet wipes. "Rule number one when dealing with toddlers, wet wipes are your best friend," she said, showing the packet to Luke. She quickly got some out to wipe his face and hands clean.
"Jamie, statue! Now you cannot move until I say it's over, okay!" Sam instructed, making an imaginary pistol and aiming it at Jamie. Jamie went completely still. While he remained frozen, Sam quickly worked on his face and then moved to his hands. Once he was seminally cleaner, she tickled the little boy who struggled to keep still.
"Yeah, statue over!" She smiled and hugged her baby brother. "Did you have a good time at the park?"
"Yeah, Dad can play really well, but I beat him! I scored 16 and he scored 2!" Jamie answered with a hint of ego.
"Nice!" Sam answered, giggling at Lucas' face which was filled with uncertainty.
"Sam, Mom always told us that my dad was an incredible basketball player and that he won championships. You don't seem all that great to me," Jamie said judgmentally.
Sam began cackling with laughter at that while Lucas looked terrified. Was he supposed to be good? What was the right play here? Basketball always came with a playbook. Where was the playbook on parenting?
"Relax Jaim, even the best of players have bad days. Maybe you and Lucas can have a rematch another time. You will have to bring in your A-game or he might just beat you!" she encouraged the toddler.
"I'm ready!" Jamie answered, making Lucas chuckle.
"Thanks for all the help, Sam. I really have no idea what I'm doing here. Uhh, do you want ice cream too? Wait, let me get you one," he offered.
"It's fine Lucas. Brooke gives me an allowance. I can get myself a cone," she said, not wanting to take his money. The world to her only knew the language of favours and people always came to collect with interest. She only trusted Brooke.
"Well, I'm the adult here and I offered," Lucas replied as he tried to cover up the anger in his voice. What was it with Brooke and letting others pay and help? Clearly, Sam was learning from her. Friends always did good things for friends. He didn't remember the number of times he had picked up groceries for Haley while he went to buy his own and they never made a big deal about the costs. Haley in return was practically in charge of feeding Lucas and sent him cooked meals or called him over since she was just a better cook and Lucas was usually too tired to cook after basketball coaching. He never even considered paying Haley for those. Why would he? Family just did things for each other.
"What flavour is your poison?" he asked, not wanting to see the hurt in his eyes. He just wanted Sam to know that he was there for her too, not just Jamie and Brooke.
"I don't need it, I'm good," Sam said, not wanting anything from Lucas. She was afraid that this would be her opening to letting him in and then being disappointed. Plus, she hated herself. She despised herself because Brooke and Jamie could be with Lucas if she wasn't in the picture. They could be a family. Brooke could finally stop stripping. There was only one problem stopping them - her. If she was gone, their lives would be so much easier.
"It's either you tell me what you like or I'll get you one of the sad flavours nobody ever wants, maybe mint or raisin," Lucas teased.
"Chocolate chip cookie dough please," she said with a smile.
"So that makes it Brooke's favourite, Jamie's favourite and your favourite," he listed on his fingers.
"Yeah well, I had never eaten ice cream until I met Brooke. She made me taste the ultimate one," Sam shrugged. "Her heart is really something. It lands her in a whole lot of heartache, but what can we do?"
Lucas gave her a tight-lipped smile and paid for her cone. She accepted it graciously and ate it.
"Daddy, are you coming home with us?" Jamie asked as they walked out of the park.
"Uhh, umm, I don't think so Jamie," Lucas replied. Yes, he wanted to go. He never wanted to let Jamie out of his eyesight even for a second, but he knew that Brooke would only get scared and frazzled finding him there.
"But you were there last night," the toddler argued.
"Yeah but," Lucas tried to make his case but did not know what to say.
"Then!?" Jamie's lip trembled as he said that.
"Sam," he called, asking her for help.
"You have the time to come over?" she asked him genuinely.
"Yes," came his simple reply. He would always have time for Jamie. He never wanted to see him upset. He wanted to see him happy and smiling at all times. He was putty to him. He knew that he would give in and get him whatever he asked for, whenever he asked for it. This was all in a day, it was ridiculous.
"Then come. Help me make dinner?" Sam offered and asked shyly. "Im sure Brooke won't mind. She let you spend the day with him. Clearly, she trusts you."
Lucas thanked her and they made their way to the boroughs of Queens. The truth was that Lucas wasn't ready for his time with Jamie to end either. He didn't know how much dad time he was going to get. He wanted to savour every last bit of it.
Sam followed Jamie's routine and took him for his bath. Then she occupied him with some toys and colouring books so she could begin cooking dinner. Lucas helped her with the chopping while Jamie sat at the counter and began to interrogate Lucas.
"So how is Tree Hill? I want to draw a picture of it, but I can't imagine what it looks like," he said.
"It's a nice place. It has a park there, much smaller than Central Park but it has this huge court by the river. We call it the River Court," Lucas painted a picture for him.
"Wow! I wanna see that place," Jamie said, his eyes widening as he imagined a river and court.
"Maybe someday I'll take you and Sam," Lucas answered. He couldn't wait to show his son the sights, make him walk the same streets that he had as a kid.
Sam froze in her spot. She still wasn't used to Brooke caring for her. She never expected Lucas to care. "Uhh, thanks but it's fine. You be good to the dweeb. I don't need it," she answered, wanting to make it clear to Lucas that she didn't care. "Brooke likes you already, trust me. I can tell. I can read body language remember? And her entire body is screaming at the top of its lungs that she is still deeply in love with you and that she feels guilty about keeping him away from you. So now, she won't as she knows that you lost a lot of time. Caring for me is not going to earn you extra brownie points with her for Jamie."
"What! No! I'm not trying to earn any brownie points. Brooke and I are adults. We both have a common goal, that is, to do what is best for you and Jamie. You and Jamie, Sam," he repeated. "I want you to know that if there is anything you need, I am here for you too. You're awesome and anyone who is important to Brooke is automatically important to me. We will figure something out for all of you and I mean it."
"I hope you know that you're hoping for the impossible with me in the picture. The foster care system, it doesn't care about the kids and it's terrible but it is also extremely strict with these dumb laws and regulations that don't really achieve the desired outcome. I'm in the custody of Mike and Norma in New York. Brooke can't get my custody at her waitress salary especially when she has a son of her own whom she can barely afford and the judicial custody system is biased towards couples anyway. Plus Brooke is only 21. She is only 6 years older than I am. That is the age of a sister, not a mom. My best bet is to lay low until I can turn 18."
"You know my brother got emancipated at 16," Lucas suggested.
"Yes, Brooke told me. But then the state will require me to get a job and rent an apartment and it's new york. Brooke works like hell to afford this space and Brooke wants me to be a teenager because she couldn't. She also suggested that we keep doing what we are doing until I turn 18 and then nobody can question me." Sam shrugged. "It sucks, I know."
Just then the door opened and in walked a tired Brooke.
"Oh hi, Lucas. I didn't expect to find you here," she answered. The fatigue was so evident in her eyes. She still smiled at him when she walked in and put down her things.
"Uhh, sorry. I hope I'm not overstepping," he said thinking that him overstaying his visit was in fact, a bad idea.
"No, no of course not," Brooke replied, shaking her hands to signify that it was no big deal. "Sam, are you all caught up on rest? You're going to school tomorrow. And here. I need this now," Brooke said, putting a pharmacy bag down.
"Really? You really don't trust me?" Sam asked, cocking her head to the side, already knowing what the contents were.
"I love you and I do. But, you know the rules. We set them together. If you show me any indication that you're returning to the ways of your past life, we will immediately do a drug test and you will get shipped to rehab if it comes positive. You agreed Sam and last night was the poorest judgement on your part," Brooke said, not brazened in the least.
"Jeez Nazi, you weren't supposed to take them that seriously, but if it makes you happy, you can test my pee," Sam rebutted like a typical headstrong teenager. She sighed and using heavy steps trudged her way to the bathroom, slamming the door for emphasis.
Brooks shook her head, pressing her temples as she sent a silent prayer hoping for negative results. She did not have it in her to go through withdrawal with Sam again.
"Jaim, I spoke to Carol and Cory will not be using that kind of language again. I spoke to your Principal about it who assured me that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. Because he is going through a difficult time, they are letting him go with a warning, but if he uses a bad word or calls you names, you need to tell me and Ms. Margaret immediately, okay?" she explained to the child.
"Okay," he said, having forgotten all about Cory and his bad language. Kids were unique that way. They retained some things like a sponge, but in other matters, they were quick to forgive and forget.
Sam came out and put her head on the table as she waited for her phone alarm to go off with the timer. "Can we eat? I'm hungry. I made enough food for everybody," Sam said flatly, indicating to Brooke to not starve herself. Brooke smiled and sat at the table with her 'family'.
"How was it hanging out with your dad, James?" she asked him.
"It was awesome! We played basketball and got ice cream and Dad told me about this place where he lives called the River Court and he is going to take me there one day!" Jamie answered excitedly.
"Oh, is he now?" Brooke asked, narrowing her eyes at Lucas. Lucas looked everywhere but at Brooke at that moment, knowing how she felt about showing her face at Tree Hill again.
"Have you ever been there, mama?" Jamie asked inquisitively.
"I have," she replied. Brooke was instantly back in her mind to when Lucas Lucas had taken her to the River Court. She had felt so loved and safe at that moment.
'This is my world, Brooke… or at least it used to be,' the conversation rang in her ears, loud and clear even after all these years.
'I've been here before, you know,' she had reminded him.
'I know but I just never told you what this place is to me. It's not just a court. It is where I came from. It's where I belong. It's my world,' he had said with so much passion and belongingness.
'So, do I get to be a part of this world?' Brooke had asked, afraid of the answer truthfully. She always felt so insecure around him, like she was never good enough for him.
'The biggest part,' he had said, earning a shot right to her heart. He had won her then. She was in love, deep and hard. Somebody who promised to make you the biggest part of their world could not hurt you, right? Unfortunately, she had been so very wrong about that. Her stomach lurched at that. So, she quickly tried to turn off the film playing in her mind of the two of them by the car while the River Court boys continued their match.
Yet she found it difficult to shake the memories. She remembered meeting Mouth that day and confessing to him that she was called the same name in cheer camp because she slept with her mouth open and not because of the number of guys she had kissed - something everyone automatically assumed.
Well, that life was of another lifetime and she had a second job to get to. Remembering the good days was not going to bring them back. She was snapped back from her reverie by Sam's phone alarm ringing. The drug test would be in. Sam sighed and got up from the table and entered the bathroom. She trudged back with the results. They were negative. Brooke sighed with relief as Sam went to dispose of the test.
"Sam, hey! I'm proud of you okay? I'm very very proud," Brooke said, hugging the girl. "I'm sorry to have done that, but it was necessary," she answered. They took their seat at the table again and served food for everybody. Saying a quick prayer, thanking God for the meal, they dug in.
"Mom, why haven't we ever been there?" Jamie asked. He was stuck on the idea of seeing his dad's world.
"Uhh… because we have been busy with school and work," Brooke tried to explain. That had been her excuse for why Jamie's classmates went on vacation and he didn't. Jamie seemed satisfied with that answer and continued to chew his food.
Once they were done eating she proceeded to get ready for her second job. She shaved, showered, did her make-up and combed her hair, adding sparkly pink extensions to match her pink g-string and bra. She put on some sweats over her outfit and put the hoodie up to hide her pink hair. When she got out, she saw Lucas' face drop.
"Don't say a word about this she warned him. Don't make this any harder on me than it already is," she warned him before collecting her purse.
"But Brooke, I can't watch this. I can't watch you like this…" he begged. Why couldn't she just accept help?
"You think I can? I haven't been able to look at myself in the mirror in a very long time Lucas. However, that isn't going to stop me from making sure that my kids never have to see such a life. That they get the absolute best. See you. Babies… I'm off. You know your bedtime," she said. Then, she kissed both their heads before taking off.
Brooke walked to the backdoor of the club and entered. The girls out there were busy giggling and doing each other's hair and makeup. She sighed and walked to the corner table where she deposited her bag and coat. Then, she pulled down her sweats. She stole a quick glance in the mirror to check her appearance. Her makeup hadn't smudged. She combed out her hair that had bent due to the pressure of her hoodie. And yep, the same dead eyes looked back at her.
Once she was content with how her hair looked, she moved to the front, picked up a tray and began to deliver drink orders. She didn't go on stage for another hour. While she did that, people moved their hands on her ass and thighs. There were men conducting business meets. They'd not even look at her but when she'd place their drink, they would feel no shame in groping her or feeling her up as if they owned her.
Brooke was used to this by now. She had steeled to being touched inappropriately a long time ago. She was used to being objectified and commodified and she had made her peace with it. It was one of the liabilities that came with her job. The man she was serving finally looked up at her. "Oh, you pretty thing. You deserve to be up here," he said, patting his thigh. He held out a hundred-dollar note for her to sit on his lap. Brooke sighed and moved to sit there.
She was silent, smiling at him when he looked at her. He continued his business deals and Brooke listened on. "So as you see, this is the best fit for both companies. Am I not right?" He asked rhetorically, looking at Brooke as if she knew him and all his shady deals.
"Oh yeah, totally," she smiled and agreed as if she had a complete idea what the genius in front of her was talking about. He rubbed her back, enjoying the feel of her soft skin on his.
Brooke leaned in and whispered in his ear to make herself look sexy. "I have other drinks to serve. Is it okay if I get up?" She asked. This was the key to win here. Ask permission and make them feel in charge. Make them feel that they are generous big men although you are in complete control. "I'll see you after if I get the time."
"Sure thing, sugar," he smiled and continued to sing praises about himself. Brooke rolled her eyes but continued going through the motions of her job.
The time came for her to go on stage. She climbed up and as the song played, she exposed her body for the world to see. She smiled, pretending to enjoy doing what she was doing when her body was actually breaking under pressure. Once she finished her routine, she began her lap dances but was shocked to spot Lucas in the club.
She smiles at some guys who touch her underboob and made her way to Lucas. She smiled and picked up his hand as if she was taking a customer upstairs for a blowjob. But she shoves him into a corner and began to whisper yell at him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked angrily.
"I - I don't know. I just felt like I had to be here," he answered truthfully. He felt like he had to be close to keep her safe.
"What? What do you mean you felt that you had to be here? Did you feel like watching me? Did you want to watch this? You wanted to watch me do this? Do you like watching me this way, Lucas? Huh?" She asked, pointing at her bare chest. Tears welled in her eyes. "You did pay for a lap dance that I never gave you. Come to collect?" Brooke was pissed.
"No! No! Brooke, uhh, I mean Penelope. I- I don't know why I came here. It was something in me that just felt like I had to keep an eye on you, protect you," he explained his actions.
"What like some sort of escort?" she narrowed her eyes at him
"Come on. You know me!" Lucas answered, knowing that he was not going to win here. He just needed her to see where he was coming from. "You know that I am not that kind of guy."
"People change, Luke. People change a lot in three years. I know I have." she replied. "Now please leave and don't ever come back here again. You make me uncomfortable."
"We are going to figure something out when we meet and talk tomorrow. Please stop this," he said. That was his last resort.
"Bye Lucas," she said with a straight face. Something dropped in the pit of Lucas' stomach as he watched helplessly. Brooke went to a table full of young boys and said something to them that made them all catcall and hoot while raising their glasses at her. Lucas knew better than to not pay heed to Brooke's warning and silently exited the club.