| Chapter Twenty Seven � �The Fourth of July� Anna was sitting at Robert�s desk going over papers when Laura entered the office. �Anna, any word yet?� Laura asked her, sitting down in one of the chairs. �No and I'm worried that we will never see our husbands alive again or hear from them. Robert is going to miss the birth of his first grandchild. He doesn't even know about it. Laura, I miss him and Lake. How did you go ten years without seeing Lucky?� Anna asked her. �I had Luke and now both are gone. I'm tired of feeling the pain but I know giving up is what the Cassadines want. I'm not giving them that. All I can do is pray and believe Luke will get through this,� Laura told her. �We have to be strong for the family here. So, lets get ready for our Fourth of July party and pray our missing love ones are safe.� Anna looked at her in amazement. �Laura, you are one of a kind.� Anna told her, getting up from the desk. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Mac walked into the room pushing a gas grill. �Lake. Lucky. Go out and get the other supplies. Michael wants everything set up before ten,� he yelled. �What's going on?� Lucky asked him. �It�s the Fourth of July and we are having a cook out and later tonight. Michael has arranged for a big fire works display.� Mac told the boys. They both ran out to help get the rest of the supplies. Robert and Luke couldn't believe all of it. �I think the old man has gone mad.� Luke said to Robert. �I told you not to call me �old man'.� Michael said holding a phone. �Watch it, Son or this won't be turned on at all.� Luke tried to smile and say without any sarcasm. �Sorry, Father. I was just wondering about your different attitude.� �Lucky and I been spending a lot of time talking about things. I learned that he has never seen any fire works, until he was away from the island. I promised him that the Fourth wouldn't be a big disappointment. He is an American and it is a holiday. So, we are celebrating.� Michael said putting the phone down. Luke couldn't believe this. He was beginning to wonder if letting Lucky spend all that time with Michael was a big mistake. The past month, all Lucky talked about non-stop was what Michael was teaching him. He even said Michael might take Lake and him on one of Michael's trips. Luke wasn't going to let that happen. He still feared that they would never return. The whole day was great. Mac cooked out and they even got a game of volleyball in about two hours before the fire works display. Luke called home. He put the phone on a speaker to save time. Michael and Mac left them alone. �Hello?� said Anna. �Hi, Love,� Robert said. �Robert, is that you?� she asked him. The others quickly joined her around the phone and Robin grabbed the speaker from Robert's office. �Yes and we are all here. We have about two hours to talk,� He explained. �But you have to pull the tracer. Anna do it or all of us here are going to pay if you don't.� �It�s done, sweet heart.� Anna said. �Hi, mom,� said Lake. �Lake, I'm so glad to hear your voice. Are you staying out of trouble?� Anna asked him. �Yes and learning a few things to. I went jet skiing and I'm really good. Michael is going to let Lucky and I take one of the speed boats out this weekend,� Lake told her. Anna cringed and not from the activities, but the fact that Lake is getting too close to Michael. �That's great, honey. I'm glad you're having fun,� she said. �Hi, Mom.� came Lucky's voice. Laura was elated. The letter Robert sent to Anna told them he was being brain washed by the Cassadine�s some how. She was worried he had gotten worse. �Lucky are you having fun?� Laura asked him. �Yes, Grandfather taught me how to swim and now dad is having trouble keeping me out of the water. I'm a little sunburned but it is worth it,� Lucky told her. �You are swimming?� came Stefan and Nikolas reactions. �Yes and it is a lot easier when Stavros isn't hovering near by,� Lucky told them. �I guess it is,� Nikolas said. �Hi, Angel.� Luke finally broke in. �Luke, I'm so glad to hear your voice,� Laura said. Lake and Lucky looked at their fathers and said, �We will be right back. We going to see how dark it has gotten.� Leaving their fathers time to talk alone. �Luke, are they gone?� Laura asked. �Yes,� Luke answered. �Grandfather? When did this start?� Laura asked him. �A while ago and before you get on my case, I'm calling him father. It is one of his rules. I don't like it but there is nothing I can do. He is spending a lot of time with Father and is getting really close, but all that is out of my control,� Luke told her. The group around the phone notice Luke had called Michael father, even when he wasn't in the same room. Maybe Lucky isn't the only one being brainwashed. Bobbie spoke up. �Hi, big brother. How are you doing?� �All right. I'm tired of this place and hate to see Lucky slowly disappearing from me, but I'm getting by and you? How is your grandchild?� Luke asked. �Big and Carly is expecting another one.� Bobbie said. �Stefan and I are looking after the Club and Kelley's. Things there are going smoothly.� �That's good. Laura, is my little girl there?� Luke asked. �Hi daddy. Guess what? I got all high grades in first grade and this summer, I went summer camp. I met a lot of new friends and we even camped out for a night,� Lu said. �Great! Keep up the good work,� Luke told her. �Dad, I have something to tell you,� Robin said. �I'm having a baby and it is due in October.� Robert mouth dropped opened. Luke just handed him one of his cigars and slapped him on the back. �When did you learn this?� Robert asked her. �A month after you were taken.� Robin told him. �I'm sorry I missed your wedding but congratulations to both you and Stone,� he said. �Dad. Stone and I aren't getting married until you and Lake get back,� Robin told him. �What? Robin, don't put this off on our account,� Robert told her. �I'm not getting married without my father,� She said. �I'm here now. How about it?� Robert asked her. �We don't even have judge or license,� she said. �I can get both,'' Sonny said. �Give me a half hour and we will have a wedding.� Sonny went to the side of the room to make some calls and the women went to see if they could help fix something up for Robin. Luke asked. �Sonny, I want you to do me a favor. You too, Stefan. Keep my family safe because this thing is going to blow up in me and Robert's faces and we might not get back.� �Luke, don't worry. You either, Robert. Your families will be safe and you will make it back. We know it,� Sonny said. �Stone, you take care of my first grandchild and my daughter. They are the best things that every happened to you. Family is the most important thing in the world,� Robert told him. �I promise and don't worry. I'm looking after things for you here.� Stone told him. The wedding was simple but quaint. Robert and Lake just wished they could have really been there. When the two hours were up, it was hard to say good bye. Laura walked outside to get fresh air. She missed Luke and Lucky and wanted her family back, but she knew Luke didn't value his own life any more, only Lucky's. Stefan walked up and put his hand on her shoulder. �Laura, it will be all right,� he said. �No, it won't. Lucky is slipping away from us and we hardly ever had him,� she said. �You don't know Lucky. He is a fighter and a lot like his father. He will get through this and so will Luke,� Stefan told her. Laura wished she could believe him. Chapter 28 Back to Secret Past |