| Chapter 20 Two days after Lucky was released from the hospital, friends and family gathered at the club to say good-bye to Luke. The day started off horribly and Lucky had a feeling things could only get worse. The night before his mind refused to rest and so, he was up all night fighting one nightmare after the other. All of them revolved around Luke's fall from the balcony in Greece and by the time the sun came up, Lucky had given up trying to sleep. So, he got up early and went downstairs to make breakfast for the family. His mother came down just before sunrise. Laura was not expecting anyone but wasn't too shocked to see Lucky up and cooking. "You have bad night?" she asked as she walked into the kitchen. "The worst," Lucky told her as he placed a cup of coffee on the table for her. "How did you sleep?" "Let's just say if I knew you were up I would have joined you sooner," Laura told him. "Well, I wasn't in the mood for company. So, I'm glad you didn't join me. I liked watching the sun rise alone at least today," Lucky told her. "That bad, huh?" Laura asked him, wishing he would start confiding in her more about what he was feeling, but so far the only person that got Lucky to talk was Steven. He was even ignoring Liz. The girl had called several times since he'd been home and Lucky refused to take any of her phone calls. Laura didn't know why he was doing it but she was too afraid to confront him about it because of how Lucky might react to her prying. So, she just left him be and hoped that Lucky would find his way through all this mess. "Yeah, but tonight was the worse. I would love to crawl back into bed and try to get some sleep but I have to face today, no matter how badly I could use the sleep," Lucky said as he started to pure the pancake batter on the grille. Lucky wasn't hungry but if he didn't eat, Laura would worry more than she already was. And today was going to be hard enough without him making it worse for her. So, he would eat even if he wasn't hungry. "Well, you have me to help you get through this day and I have you," Laura said as she took the spatula from him and took over making the pancakes. It felt nice to cook with his mother again and for a while there, Lucky started to think that Luke would come down at any moment complaining about the noise that woke him, when it was really the smell of the food. It hit Lucky then that Luke wasn't going to come downstairs ever again. The pain this thought caused hurt so bad that Lucky couldn't contain it. He gripped the cup he was holding tight and then with one quick move, he threw it into the sink with all of his strength. At the same time he let out a cry of frustration. Laura jump at this but didn't say anything to him. She had a feeling that it was a memory of Luke that caused this and was glad that her son was finally showing some emotion. She would have gladly let him trash her entire kitchen if she knew it would help him get past the pain. Leslie came down with Lu right then and looked at Laura with a worried expression on her face. Laura signaled her mother not to say anything and so, Leslie acted like nothing was wrong. She just helped Lu into her chair and placed a plate of food in front of her. Lucky stood at the sink for a long moment taking long, deep breath to calm down. Then, after he regained control over his emotions, Lucky turned around and smiled warmly at his sister. "How did you sleep?" He asked, as he sat down in the chair beside her, trying to pretend his out burst never happened. "Foster kept licking my toes," Lu complained. "He must think you are sweet or something. I'll talk to him and have him stop. OK?" Lucky told her. "OK," the girl smiled and started to eat her breakfast. She didn't understand why people were so sad but she knew it had to do with her father. Lu was too young to understand that death meant forever. So, she ate without any real understanding of what this day meant for everyone in her family. Lucky looked at his sister eating her breakfast without a care in the world. He knew that she didn't really understand this and he wished he could be that way. Right now facing the pain was just too hard to deal with, but Lucky had no choice. He looked his plate and tried to force down some food. He only ate a very small portion of it before he sat his fork down. "I'm full. I think I'll go up and take a shower and get ready to go to the club," Lucky told his mother and grandmother and headed up without another word. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Laura and the family arrived at the club an hour before everyone else. Claude walked up to Laura and asked, "We miss anything?" He asked his voice tight with grief. He was wearing a black armband just like the rest of the staff to show that they were mourning also. "No, the place looks great. You did a good job and I'm grateful for all the extra work everyone put in," Laura told him. "We did it for Luke. He might not have been the calmest boss in the world but he was colorful and great to work for. I knew half the time he fired me that he didn't mean it and the other half would be taken back sooner or later," Claude said with a smile on his face. As all his memories of Luke came rushing at him at that moment in time. He was going to miss his boss and felt very sorry for his wife and children at this moment. "He might never have said it but I think he would have been lost without you," Laura told him "I know it and that is all that matters," Claude said and he went to check on the rest of the staff. Laura walked around the club feeling lost and alone. She was trying to fight the tears but it was hard. Claude had a picture of Luke hanging above the bar and the painting of Helena was covered up to show some respect for the family. Lucky walked up to his mother and said, "He would hate it." "Yes, he would hate it but this isn't for him but for us. We need to let go and today were doing it," Laura said. "Yes, we are," Lucky said and is voice cracked just a little bit. Laura noticed this. "We'll get through this," Laura told him as she wrapped one arm around him and gave him a hug for support. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` After all the guests arrived, Laura walked to the stage and took the mike. "Before the music starts, I want to say a few words and give everyone a chance to speak, as well," Laura began and then took a few deep breaths before going on. "A life time ago, I met and fell in love with Luke. I was married then and thought I knew what love was but Luke showed me differently. Our love for each other was an adventure all in itself. I never was scared when Luke was around and I knew even running from Frank that Luke would look after my children and me. He might have been a little loud and a little overprotective sometimes but he did have a heart. And Sweet heart, I know you didn't believe in the after life, but I know you are watching us right now and still protecting us." With tears filling her eyes, she carried the mike down to her son. Lucky looked around the room at all the people that came to say good by to his father and he began to talk. Tears fell down his cheeks as he spoke, "Dad was more than a father to me. He was my best friend and he respected me enough to let me make my own decisions. Most kids get told how to live and how to behave. I could tell dad off and still know that he cared for me. He let me make mistakes and he didn't yell when I messed up. He helped fix it and showed me a better way of doing what ever I was trying to do. I knew that I was lucky to have a parent like that and I know that he was one of kind and I know I'll never meet anyone like him again. Dad, where you are, I know that you have an adventure in front of you and I know you are making the most of it." Everyone was handed the mike and each one talked a little about Luke and how much their lives changed with him in it. Steven and Nikolas were the only two that didn't speak. They knew it would be like rubbing salt in an open wound to Luke's friends and some family members. Their presence at the club was causing enough problems. Steven couldn't help but notice how Bobbie glared over in their direction every now and then. He knew she wasn't happy about them being there and she didn't hide it one bit. He normally wouldn't have cared what Bobbie or anyone else thought but today was different. Laura had asked him to come but now he wished he would have stayed away. He wasn't needed here and all he was doing was making things worse for her and her family. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` After everyone was done speaking, local Blues groups took the stage and started to play some of Luke's favorite songs. Lucky got up from the table and went to talk to Liz. He knew it was time to face her before she started to think that it was her that he was mad at. Lucky didn't hate Liz and he wasn't mad at her. It was just he was still so confused at what happened that he needed time to think. He could only do it when he was alone without feeling he needed to explain things to people. Liz and Emily were talking and Em gently tapped Liz on the arm when she spotted Lucky coming towards them. Em headed off just as Lucky walked up. "Hi, I liked what you said earlier," Lucky said a little uneasy about taking to her. He felt guilty for shoving her away. He knew all she was trying to do was help him get through a bad time, like he did for her. But at before this moment. He didn't want it. "Thanks. I was scared that it sounded dumb," Liz told him. "It wasn't dumb. It was prefect," Lucky told her. They stood there, unsure about what to say next. Liz could tell that something was wrong with Lucky and she thought it was her. So, she decided to find out what she did to him so, she could make up for it. "Lucky, are you mad at me?" she asked finally. Lucky was shocked at this and looked at her with disbelief on his face. "Liz. Why do you think that?" Lucky asked her. "You don't take my calls and I know you hide when I come over. All I want to do his help you. Why don't you let me?" Liz told him. "Liz, how can you help me, if I don't let anyone else help me? I tried talking with Gail and Mom, but that didn't work. The only person that I find that I can talk to is Steven. I can't tell you why but let's just say he understands me and where I'm coming from," Lucky told her. "I understand not wanting to talk. I have been there and I know that sometimes-just being around helps. So, if you let me, I'll be there for you. I just don't want you to slam the door in my face," Liz told him. "I won't and I'm sorry for causing you pain. I guess I forgot that you were once in my shoes," Lucky said. "I understand that you forgot. It happens when your life blows up in your face. I am just glad that we are friends again," Liz told him. "I will always be your friend," Lucky said and he gave her a hug. This was the first time he reached out and touched someone. His mother and everyone else had to grab him in order to hug him, but he found it easy around Liz. It was easier then he thought it would have been and now he wished he hadn't locked her out for such a long time. He might have felt this good earlier. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~' Emily came back and her new friend Juan joined them. Robin and Nikolas soon showed up and the group sat down at the table and listened to the music. Everyone was soon into the music and some even forgot why he or she was there. Lucky didn't but it was great to watch the others start enjoying themselves. He knew Luke would have rather had people enjoy life than sit around and cry over him. He was just not ready to do that yet. It wasn't until the break that something happened that quickly changed the atmosphere. Michael was sitting with Carly and AJ behind the picture of Helena. He was climbing around and when AJ grabbed him to pull him down. Michael had pulled the cover off the painting and it came crashing down on the table. "Michael," AJ scolded and proceeded to yell at the boy. Carly grabbed her son from his father and started to yell back. Bobbie and Monica soon showed up and took the boy away. Carly stormed out and AJ went after her. It wasn't until then that everyone noticed the painting and how Lucky was looking at it. He was standing not far way, his eyes transfixed on the painting. "Lucky?" Laura said as she walked up to her son as fear grew inside her. He wasn't moving. He was just transfixed at the painting with empty eyes. Lucky shoved his mother's hand off his shoulder and started to climb on top of the table. People watched unsure what he was going to do or if they should stop him. Lucky stood on the table and looked at the paint for one more moment. Then in a fit of rage and frustration, Lucky grabbed the painting with both hands and pulled it off the wall. As Lucky pulled, he let out a cry of grief. He then jumped off the table and picking the painting up so he could see Helena's face. Lucky then pulled out a switch blade that he started to carry out of some need to feel safe and began slashing at Helena's face, cursing and yelling at Helena as he did it. Laura tried to stop him but Steven held her back. "No, let him go," Steven said. Bobbie tried to as well but Kevin stopped her. "He is right. The kid needs to let it out." So they watched as Lucky slashed the painting to threads. It wasn't until Lucky was out of anger and he was on his knees crying that anyone moved. Liz went to him and pulled the knife from his hand. She handed it to Sonny and then slowly guided him out of the room and to Luke's office. Laura decided it was best to leave them alone and stayed there to clean up the mess. "Laura, let me do it," Steven said as he bent down to pick up the shredded mess. "You can help," She said and she kept on cleaning. Bobbie was standing there by Kevin. She took one look at the two of them and stormed out. No one knew what to say or do. They all felt helpless to help Lucky but it was clear what they thought about Stefan or Steven from the looks on everyone's faces. Some of the people in the room had a major doubt on what he really was up, too. Most of them even wondered if he didn't set things up to make it look like he was Luke's son. Chapter 21 Back to Luke's Secret Past |