Chapter 194: Beaulieu
Tuesday, January 17th, Night
There are a few pleasures in life; he reflected as he walked down the gallery of Beaulieu Manor. He stopped at one of the bedroom doors and opened it. This room was once Izzy's bedroom, when she lived here, he remembered.
Lucas nodded and smiled, which explained why Brooke put Nomi in this room. He looked over to the bed and saw Nomi was sitting up in the bed leaning against the headboard.
Nomi is ten-year-old; she doesn't need tucking in. On the other hand, her parents were away; so, Brooke would check in on her and Ellis. So, Lucas is doing this now since Brooke is away, which would make it their third adult figure gone in a short period. Lucas had to step-up and be there more for his only grandchildren. The good thing is Brooke will be back tomorrow.
Lucas took a seat on the edge of the queen-size bed. He looked at Nomi, their blue eyes met, and the granddaughter gave him a shy smile.
"You don't have to tuck me in, Grandpa Lucas," Nomi said.
"Nana Brooke, wants me to check in on you and Ellis," Lucas said.
"I'm fine," Nomi said, not too convincingly.
Lucas smiled and chuckled, "I'm sure you are Naomi Lynn," he said.
Nomi's shoulders dropped, and her head bounced, and her face took that "really" look. Lucas was familiar with it from having four daughters, and he saw it quite regularly from Nomi's aunt, Sawyer. Hiding becoming a teenager, and god he's getting old.
"No one calls me that," Nomi said.
"Grandma Peyton and I called you that all of the time," Lucas said.
Nomi nodded, "But well, everyone calls me Nomi now," she said.
Lucas nodded, "Well, I don't know what to say to that," he said.
"When will Grammy Brooke be back?" Nomi asked.
"She'll be tucking you in tomorrow night," Lucas said.
"I don't need tucking in," Nomi said.
Lucas smiled and leaned forward and kissed Nomi on her forehead. "Of course, you don't need tucking in," he said.
Nomi nodded, "I know," she said, looking to her left and then to her right, "But I like it."
Lucas smiled and chuckled a bit. "Okay," he said.
Nomi slipped down off the headboard to lay down. Lucas watched as she shifted around to get comfortable. Lucas stood up to let her get comfortable. After she settled, Lucas kissed her on the temple and fixed her covers.
He straightened up, slowly, and looked at his only granddaughter. "Good night, Nomi," Lucas said.
"Good night, Grandpa Lucas," Nomi said.
"Sleep tight," Lucas said.
"Thank you," Nomi said, with a yawn.
Lucas walked out of the bedroom and flipped the lights off. Once out in the gallery, he closed the door behind him. Slowly, he walked down the gallery to another bedroom.
He opened the door and entered what was once an extra bedroom, and now it housed Ellis. Lucas' grandson was on the bed and was looking through a comic book; his Uncle Tucker had given him.
"What'cha reading, Ellis?" Lucas asked as he walked over to the bed and sat down.
"It's called The Unforgiven," Ellis said.
Lucas nodded, "Well, it's getting late, and you have school tomorrow," he said.
Ellis closed the comic book and put it on the nearby nightstand. He and looked at Lucas; Ellis has the same blue eyes that his sister has. They were unique among their cousins as they had blue eyes.
"So, it's time to go to bed," Ellis said.
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, it is," he said.
Ellis huffed. "Yeah, I don't want to go to bed," he said.
"Why?" Lucas asked, the six-year-old.
"I don't want to," Ellis said.
Lucas tilted his head, "You need your sleep," he said.
"Why?" Ellis asked.
"Because you're a growing young man," Lucas said.
Ellis nodded, "So, when is Grammy Brooke coming home?" he asked.
"She's going to be home tomorrow night," Lucas said.
"What about Momma?" Ellis asked.
"She'll be back Friday," Lucas said.
"Will you be here in the morning?" Ellis asked.
"I have work. So, Auntie Chase will be over here with your Burke Cousins," Lucas said.
Ellis nodded, stretched, and yawned. Without being prompted, he curled up with an old battered teddy bear. Before Lucas could say anything, Ellis was asleep.
Lucas smiled, stood up, and adjusted the covers. He kissed Ellis on the temple and walked away from the bed. Shutting off the lights and closing the door, Lucas crossed the gallery and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a girl's voiced responded.
Lucas opened the door and stepped into Keni's room. On the queen size bed, Keni and Sawyer were sitting on the bed. They were doing something; Lucas shrugged and joined the teenagers on the bed.
"What'cha y'all doing?" Lucas asked.
"We're just chatting, Dad," Sawyer said.
"Yeah, Uncle Luke, we're just chatting," Keni said.
"Reptilians or aliens, Keni?" Lucas asked.
"Neither," Keni said.
"We're talking about the events coming up," Sawyer said.
"What would those be?" Lucas asked.
"Everyone is coming home for your honor, Dad," Sawyer said.
Lucas shrugged, "Why?" he asked.
"I miss Aunt Angela, and Kay, we'll be home too," Sawyer said.
"Oh yeah, and are you excited, Keni?" Lucas asked.
Keni shook her head, "No, except maybe see some people," she said.
Lucas nodded and stood up.
"What are you doing, Dad?" Sawyer asked.
"I'm heading to bed, and y'all have school tomorrow, so don't stay up," Lucas said.
"Okay, Uncle Luke," Keni said.
"Sure, Dad," Sawyer said.
Lucas smiled and started to leave the room, "I'll be in my room," he said.
"Okay," Sawyer said as Lucas left the room to go to bed.