Chapter 165: Raven Hill
Thursday, January 12th, Evening
There was a simple knock on the door. The man of the house stood up and hobbled over to the door. Opening the door, he looked at his older brother.
"Lucas," Nathan said, "Good, come in."
"Thanks for the invite, Nate," Lucas said, "Who has the kids?"
"Quinn has all four of them," Nathan said.
"Can Quinn handle them?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shrugged, "We'll find out tomorrow," he said and laughed.
Lucas snickered and then handed Nathan a bottle of wine. "Here, I think this covers all the bases," he said.
Nathan took the bottle and looked at it. "How did you manage this?" he asked.
"I have my ways, and I do still have access to Leighton," Lucas said.
"True," Nathan said.
Lucas laughed and shook his head, "Nah! I picked it up on the way over," he said.
"Almost got me there," Nathan said.
"I try my best," Lucas said, "Where's Haley?"
"She's finishing up dinner," Nathan said.
"It's not mac and cheese?" Lucas asked.
"No," Nathan said.
"And Quinn didn't send dessert home with you?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shook his head, "No, thank god, having to keep the kids away from them," Nathan said, "But there are times, I wish she would send them more often."
"Pain getting that bad?" Lucas asked.
Nathan nodded.
"Well, I surprised, with dispensaries, it's easier for her to make her desserts," Lucas said.
"What are you two talking about?" Haley asked, coming out of the kitchen with a dish.
"Your sister's baking," Nathan said.
"Oh, leave Quinn out of this, Nate, and help get dinner on the table," Haley said.
"Yes, Ma'am," Nathan said and hobbled to the kitchen.
"I can help," Lucas said.
"You're a guest, and it's good for him to move around more," Haley said. Lucas and Haley kissed each other on the cheek.
"As I said, I could help," Lucas repeated.
"No, you're in worse shape than he is," Haley said.
"Gee, thanks, Hales," Lucas said.
"That's what friends are for," Haley said and gave him a cheeky smile. She guided Lucas to his seat. After Lucas was situated, she returned to the kitchen to bring dinner out.
After dinner was set out, Nathan and Haley took their seats at the table. As they fixed up their plates, Haley took the bottle Lucas brought.
"Very nice," Haley said, "How'd you get it by Brooke?"
"I have my ways," Lucas said.
"You bought it on the way over," Haley said.
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, what else could I do?" he asked.
Haley laughed, "Yeah, Brooke is good at locking out all things that fuel her addictions," she said.
"I think that's how she stays sober," Lucas said.
Haley nodded, "Brooke has done well staying sober," she said.
Nathan nodded, "A few years ago she faltered a little," he said.
Lucas sighed, "I think we all did," he said, in a down voice.
"Annus horribilies," Haley said.
"Yeah," Nathan said.
"Yes," Lucas agreed.
Haley shook her head and held up her wine glass, "To better times," she said.
Lucas held up his glass, "I concur," he said.
Nathan raised his glass," May there be many more," he said, and all three took a sip.
"So, on happier news, I've heard some juicy gossip about you, Lucas," Haley said.
Lucas sighed, "What could that be?" he asked.
"That Meggy Ruetuer has been sniffing around you like," Haley said, "And I've heard it describe as one of two ways."
"Like how, Hales?" Lucas asked.
"Well one, is she's like a tick hound on a scent," Haley said.
"Or what?" Lucas asked, shaking his head.
Haley blushed a bit, "Or like a bitch in heat," she said.
"Well," Nathan said, "She's been single, how long?"
Lucas shrugged, "A few years now," Lucas said.
"Maybe, I should grab her, Quinn, and Brooke and have a girl's night. She was in our little clique before it all fell apart," Haley said.
"Leave me home alone with the kids?" Nathan asked.
Haley shrugged, "Why not? They love you, and you can handle them," she responded.
"Is that it?" Lucas asked unimpressed.
"That's not all the tea," Haley said.
"What's the rest?" Lucas asked.
"That you're having dinner over her place," Haley said.
"Christ Hales, have nothing better to do that to gossip?" Lucas asked.
"I'm just looking out for you," Haley said.
"It's just dinner," Lucas said, "Anyways, Gareth and Sawyer grew up together."
"Are they going to be there?" Haley asked.
"That's the only reason I accepted her invitation," Lucas said.
"Just be careful, Lucas," Nathan said.
"I'm not a teenager anymore," Lucas said.
"Or in your twenties," Haley said.
"Yeah, you don't have the best track record of staying out of trouble with women," Nathan said.
"I guess someone had to pick up the baton from you, Nate," Lucas said.
Haley laughed, "Do you know who plays the drums damn good?" she asked.
"Who Hales?" Lucas asked.
"What does have to do about Meggy Ruetuer?" Nathan asked.
"Jenny Parker," Haley said.
"Jenny Parker, over in marketing?" Lucas asked.
"She is actually the director of marketing," Haley said.
"Still Jenny Parker, the little girl we all looked after in high school?" Lucas asked.
"Well, some of us did, but yeah," Haley said.
"Okay," Lucas said, "So, how?"
Haley nodded, "Evan's been teaching for a while, and she's been good enough to fill in for him when he couldn't play," she said.
"Filling in for a bar band is different than what other people on the label do," Nathan said.
"Not always," Lucas said.
"Well, anyway, I enjoyed playing with her, Mags and Evan," Haley said.
"What are you planning, Hales?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing," Haley said.
"Hales?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing, honestly, just I'll be playing again," Haley said.
"Wow," Nathan said.
Both Lucas and Haley turned to look at Nathan. "Yes, Nate?" Haley asked.
"All this drama, and the only thing I have to compare to it, is that I've watched the kids," Nathan said.
All three of them laughed and went back to eating dinner.