Devolution TOC

Chapter 129

Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Lucky's hand entwined with Emily's, and he smiled at her as they walked the length of the PCU campus. Lucky wanted to buy a special plant for Bobbie at the university greenhouse, and it had been Emily's idea to take a stroll to become familiar with the layout of the campus before starting school in the fall. The campus wasn't deserted, but pedestrians were sparse - mostly summer school attendees and the odd professor or graduate student in a hurry to teach a class. The shadows cast by the sun shining through the heavy leaves of mature trees lent a relaxing mood to the afternoon.

Emily gave Lucky a surprise kiss on the cheek and laughed when she smudged her strawberry lip gloss on him. Her fingers fluttered against his cheek to remove the pink color, and she whispered, "Be nice to me or I'll leave more lip gloss on you."

Lucky shook his head. "Are you marking me as your territory?" he teased. He circled his hands around her waist and attacked her throat with his lips. "Because you're not the only one who can leave a mark, baby."

Emily squealed and backed away from him. "No hickies! I have a photoshoot in two days."

Lucky smiled lazily. "There's always coverup."

"No," Emily said, frowning.

Lucky's lips caressed her throat with a lighter touch, which made her giggle and squirm. "You're lively today. I love it when you laugh. You're already beautiful, but it makes you ten times prettier."

Emily's eyes lit up. "Thanks! I'm always happy when I'm with you."

"Sorry about last night," Lucky said. "I had no idea Tony was going to do that." Lucky was referring to the extended family conference Tony had called to discuss Lucky's epilepsy and how his family and friends could assist if there were a crisis.

"I learned a lot," Emily said. "It's okay. My mom and dad are doctors, so there's always medical talk in the house." She pointed toward a bench positioned under a shade tree. "Let's sit here for a minute. I'm hot from walking under the strong sun."

"I just wish he would have talked to me about it first," Lucky said.

"But you would have refused, Lucky. Everyone knows that. You're too proud. Your family and friends want to help you. That's why we're here. We're on your side."

Lucky made a face and a disgusted sound. "I just don't want to make it a big deal."

"Lucky, it is a big deal. You could have died the other day if Tony hadn't been there. What if it happens again? We need to know what to do for you and when an ambulance should be called. I don’t want anything to happen to you." Emily took Lucky's hand and looked him directly in the eye to communicate her point. "So Tony was a little pushy. He's concerned about you. Isn't that a good thing?"

Lucky's face remained impassive as he blinked and thought about what Emily said. He shifted on the bench. His foot jiggled with the intensity of his emotions, and he paused to collect his thoughts before speaking. "Emily, I'm an adult. My aunt and uncle treat me like I'm a kid. I've never been a kid. No one has to look out for me all the time. I do quite well myself, thank you. Besides, I have the medical alert bracelet. I had a terrible headache after the seizures, and I returned to the house after being cooped up all day in the hospital only to be greeted by extra dinner guests who stayed afterwards for..." Lucky made quotation marks with his fingers.  "...the Lucky Spencer Epilepsy Program." 

Emily took hold of Lucky's hand and held it firmly. "Okay. You might not have liked how it was handled, but Tony and Bobbie love you - that’s why they wanted us there. I feel better knowing what might happen and how I should react. Let it go. Don't worry so much about your pride."

"Pride?" Lucky snorted. "What's that? I thought you automatically lost your pride after spending seven months in the looney bin - oh, and repeat visits, too."

"Lucky," Emily said with exasperation. "I forget how stubborn you can be. You get an idea in your head, and it's fixed." She shook Lucky's hand and patted it. "You used to hate Nikolas, remember? You couldn't stop spouting off about Cassadine conspiracies. Now, you have a good relationship. See? Things change. Your opinions don't have to be carved in stone. I'll always be on your side, you know that. Just chill."

Lucky laughed hard. "Just chill? Is that for a new athletic shoe ad you're shooting next week?"

Emily gave him a withering look and said, "Chill, dude."

"Not when I'm sitting by you," Lucky smirked. He cupped her face between his hands and kissed her long and well, separating from her lips and then immediately kissing them again. After a minute, he finally let her go.

Emily lightly punched him on the arm. "Go buy your plant, Spencer. I'll wait here on this bench. I'm so allergic to greenhouses. I have no idea what they grow in there, but something definitely doesn't like me."

"I don't want to leave you here alone," Lucky said with concern.

"I'm safe," Emily said. "I have my weapons."

"Weapons?"

Emily nodded. "Yes," she said pointing to her knee first and then pulling out her keychain with the mace attachment. "Want me to try them on you first?" Emily's eyes glinted with mischief, but Lucky wasn't buying her threat.

"Yes, ma'am," he saluted. He leaned in quickly to sneak another kiss. "Be back in a minute, Miss Quartermaine."

Emily watched Lucky walk away several paces to the greenhouse. When is he going to regain some of his confidence? He used to be so sure of himself. I wish he'd stop putting himself down. Maybe after we start school he'll feel a sense of accomplishment. He's so Type A. He needs to be conquering the world at all times -  kind of like his dad, inventing trouble if he's bored.

After Lucky entered the building, she giggled out loud. He has the best tush in Port Charles, and he doesn't even know it. I like cute guys who are dense about their looks. He could be a model, and he doesn't realize it. But, he's all guy, and I like that, too - somebody you can count on to change a flat tire or be protective of his girl. I wonder if he realizes how many crushes I've had on him over the years. It seemed to come and go. I definitely fell in love with him when we ran away to Arizona, but after that I had my drug problem, and then Elizabeth happened.

Emily played with a piece of wood that stuck out as a splinter on the top of the bench. She repeatedly worked it until it broke off between her fingers. Elizabeth was a friend of mine - for awhile. I felt jealous of her relationship with Lucky, but I think I hid it well. I tried to transfer it to Nikolas, but that never worked out. Emily's cheeks flamed at the memory of walking in on Nikolas and that horrid Katherine Bell woman. The incident surely crushed any hopes she'd had of dating Nikolas. But it was always Lucky she wanted.

Her friendship with Elizabeth had vanished after she'd started PCU. It was like she didn't want to be seen with a high school girl, for fear it'd damage her reputation. I tried to be there for her after Lucky supposedly died in that fire, everyone did, but I couldn't stand it when she started dating that Brad creep and other guys. Maybe I shouldn't have been so outspoken, but it was too soon, and I couldn't bear pushing the memory of Lucky aside.

Emily's eyes filled with tears as she looked down at her hands folded in her lap. I never forgot about him - he was with me in my heart when I dated Juan and when I was sent to Paris. I still have every letter he wrote to me and every trinket he bought, stole or borrowed for me. Emily smiled as she brushed her hair away from her eyes. I love him.

Emily sat up straighter on the bench when she saw Lucky emerge from the greenhouse door carrying two plants. She frowned when she saw a guy walk up to him and engage him in a conversation. Lucky seemed angry, and she could hear raised voices but not the words. What was going on?

~*~*~*~

Lucky stopped outside of the door to the greenhouse. There was someone blocking his path, and he grumbled as he separated the two plants in his hands in order to look at the person and determine what the problem was. He frowned and felt a sense of recognition when he saw the man's haggard, narrow face and nervous mannerisms. When his brain kicked out a memory, he said angrily, "What are you doing around here? I don't see too many people lining up for drugs." He brushed past the man but was grabbed by the arm.

"And how would you know about drugs - unless you take them yourself." The man hissed out his words with a sneer, and Lucky could tell he was high - probably on heroin from his pasty complexion and obligatory sunglasses.

"Get your hands the fuck off of me!" Lucky shot back as he yanked his arm away. "You're the prick who sold me bad dope. Thanks for the PCP overdose."

The man grew silent when he realized he must have sold the kid the assorted junk he'd tried to pawn off on unsuspecting customers, especially those he considered unlikely to be repeat business. Drug dealing wasn't the best job to have when you were an addict yourself. The temptation to cut and steal merchandise was too great to be resisted. He'd come on hard times recently as the Cortland Street regulars now wanted to have nothing to do with him. He made the occasional deal outside of a nightclub, but his suppliers were threatening to drop him if he didn't swiftly move the merchandise. He'd stolen more and more of the heroin until he was sure he couldn't sell the weak stuff that was left to a more knowledgeable customer. He'd decided to try the university campus as it was new territory, and the college kids might be unsuspecting. Still, it was hard to blend in with his thirty year old physique.

"It's not my fault you can't handle your stuff," the man asserted. "Hey. I've got some good shit that just came in. Pure heroin. No pills or PCP. How about it?"

Lucky looked with anger at the man who held a hand in his pocket, ready to sell him death. "Forget it," he said. "I don't use anymore. Leave me alone and get off the campus. They have security here, you know." Lucky pushed past the man and made his way over to a campus building that was in the opposite direction of Emily in case this situation turned ugly. He didn’t want Emily involved. The man was too high to get riled up, and he merely raised his hand to wave away Lucky's presence.

The drug dealer cursed and wondered where to go next. How could he gain entrance to the fraternity scene? Surely some of them were users. His fingers wrapped around the plastic baggie in his jeans pocket, and they squeezed the soft powder within. He longed to heat it up and shove it directly into his veins.

Lucky walked up to Emily with a distressed look on his face. "Come, on. Hurry. I'll explain later. Let's go." Lucky held both plants in one hand and used the other to assist Emily up from the bench and march her away from the buildings.

"Lucky! What's the matter? I saw you talking to that strange man. Why were you arguing?"

"He's the jerk who sold me the bad dope that almost killed me when I was on the run from the hospital," Lucky explained out of the side of his mouth. "He was looking to sell me some more. I don't want him to see you, so let's get a move on."

Emily's hair flew around when she quickly turned her head to look behind her. Lucky walked extra fast. There was no one behind them, and she relaxed. "Lucky, I can handle myself," she protested when he wouldn't let go of her arm. "I used to be an addict myself!"

Lucky's eyes softened when he gazed at Emily's face in surprise. "I forgot."  He released her arm and winced when she rubbed the red mark that he'd left. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's okay," Emily said as she halfheartedly smiled at her boyfriend. Even though he'd scared her, Lucky seemed more like his old self at that moment - slightly bossy, overly protective, and in charge of the situation. "Let's go to my car," she suggested. "They're expecting us for dinner at my house."

Lucky held up one plant. "I bought this for you, for your room."

It was a beautiful hanging cactus with red blooms, and Emily smiled as she reached for it. "It's gorgeous!" she exclaimed. She took it from his hand and turned it around to see all sides. "I have a window with a southern exposure. I'll hang it there."

Lucky stopped walking and kissed Emily with a tender brush of his lips. "Let's go," he said as he placed his arm around her shoulder. They walked through the tall stone arch that signified the gateway to the university. It was entirely surrounded by a tall, black wrought iron fence, designed to either keep out the townies or restrain the students or both. The university had opened its campus in the late 1800's, so there were plenty of mature trees inside and outside of the campus borders. Lucky and Emily walked down the street toward the car. Beech Street was known as fraternity row. Several college guys hung out on the steps and porches of the homes, drinking beer and laughing at private jokes, but none of them noticed the young couple who walked by on the other side of the street.

"Are you planning on joining a fraternity?" Emily asked.

Lucky shook his head. "Heck no," he said. "They drink too much. I'm an alcoholic. I don't need to be around that." Lucky sighed deeply. "Besides, I'm too independent. I like to do my own thing and hold my own opinions."

"Greeks don't have a large presence at this university," Emily agreed. "I don't think I'll join a sorority. I'll be too busy working and going to school. Besides, I hate the way Liz started acting when she joined that sorority and threw herself at all those guys." Emily's eyes widened as her mouth abruptly closed a fraction too late. Everything she'd been thinking earlier seemed to have come rushing from her mouth. She saw Lucky's jaw clench, and the muscle in his cheek ripple at her comment, but he didn't reply. "Oh, Lucky. I'm sorry. It just came out. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Lucky continued to look angry, and he shrugged away her apology.

When Emily unlocked the car doors with her remote control key, she paused. "Lucky? Are you angry with me? I'm sorry about what I said."

Lucky stood still with his hand on the open passenger door.  "I don't mind what you said because it's true. I just hate thinking about her, that's all." Lucky entered the car and thudded into his seat, still obviously upset with the subject. Emily wondered if Lucky were truly over Elizabeth if he were acting this way. She started the car and worriedly glanced at him before pulling into the street.

~*~*~*~

"Dinner with the Q's," Lucky said with an amused voice. "Why does that always strike fear into my heart?"

"Chin up," Emily replied. She took hold of Lucky's arm and laid her head on his shoulder. "I know they're not as much fun as the Spencer-Joneses, but you have to admit that the food is pretty good. Besides, I think Cook is sweet on you. We were very well fed last time."

"If you can eat," Lucky said incredulously. "Your grandfather always seems to be staring at me. It gives me indigestion."

Emily kissed him on the cheek. "We'll go out for a pizza afterwards." They walked into the house through the back door near the kitchen, and Emily cheerfully greeted all of the kitchen staff by name. Lucky smiled as he loved that quality about Emily - her big heart and easy friendliness.

"Hi Mom!" Emily said cheerfully. "Look what Lucky bought me at the greenhouse! Isn't it gorgeous?"

Monica smiled at both kids and nodded. "It's very lovely. I wonder how many times it will bloom?"

"It depends on the exposure and if you fertilize it," Lucky pointed out. "There's a tag on it with written instructions."

"I'm going to take it to my room and find a place to hang it," Emily said. "Come on and help me, Lucky."

Lucky looked questioningly at Monica as he wasn't sure if she'd approve, but he smiled when she nodded at him. "Okay." He took her hand and followed her through the house toward the stairway.

"Dinner's in twenty minutes," Monica called out.

~*~*~*~

Lucky stood in his bare feet on top of Emily's desk, screwing the hook into the ceiling. "I hope no one minds if we do this," he said.

"Whatever. Who cares? It's my room," Emily said. "Lucky for us we found a hook in the odds and ends drawer."

"I can't believe it," Lucky said. "Even the Quartermaines have junk drawers."

"Lots and lots of them," Emily said, smiling. "The only difference between rich people and the rest of the world is how much junk they have and how many places they put it."

Lucky jumped off of the desk and dusted the plaster off of his hands as he inspected his handiwork. "Looks nice there."

Emily wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her cheek against his back. "You're good at whatever you put your mind to. Thanks." She strolled over to her walk-in closet and came back into the room with a cardboard box. "I was thinking about this while I was waiting for you this afternoon. It's a memento box, and it's mostly filled with memories of you."

"Me?" Lucky asked with surprise and a thumb pointed at his chest. "What's all that?"

Emily motioned him over to her bed and placed the box between them. She rose up on her knees and rummaged around. "Tickets, leaves, bubble gum wrappers, popsicle sticks, a few photos, a few pieces of wrapping paper, birthday cards - it's all the stuff you've given me over the years. I never threw it out, even after I thought you died. To me, you were never dead." Emily's eyes filled with tears as she sought a reaction from Lucky. She studied his face, his blue eyes, his smooth skin and smiling lips.

"You never threw anything away?" he asked with an awed voice as his fingers rifled through the hoard of memories. He was overcome with emotion and blinked back a few tears. "Even my dad threw all my stuff away, but you kept it?"

"Yeah," Emily breathed out. "I brought this out to show you how much I love you and that I always have - even when we were kids. I was always crushing on you, Lucky Spencer, even though you didn’t notice."

Lucky snickered. "I was an idiot. Guys are just...stupid about that stuff, you know? But it makes me feel good that you've always wanted me." He pulled out the half heart necklace that he always tried to wear these days. "Look. I’m wearing it. Let's put the heart together."

Both Lucky and Emily were on their knees on the bed, and leaned over the open cardboard box to unite the two pieces of silver jewelry, making them a seamless heart. Lucky's eyes took on an earnest expression. "You've always had my heart," he whispered. "No matter what. Nothing or nobody could take that away. Prison, death, or dorky girlfriends..."

"...and boyfriends," Emily laughed. Juan's face loomed in her mind as she rolled her eyes.

"I love you," they said in unison. Lucky and Emily pushed the box aside and lay on her bed with their arms wrapped around one another. Lucky kissed Emily, and she responded passionately, pulling him closer. After a few minutes, they separated, and Emily groaned. "Dinner."

"Oh goodie!" Lucky said in a silly voice that sounded oddly reminiscent of Luke when telling a funny joke.

~*~*~*~

"Lucky, you sit over here by me," Emily said as she pulled out her chair. She had no intention of playing Quartermaine divide and conquer games. Lucky was with her, and that's where he'd be, by her side.

Alan breezed in and sat beside Lucky at the head of the table. He smiled politely at Lucky and said, "Hello, son. It's nice you're having dinner with us."

Lucky nodded. "Hello, Dr. Quartermaine. Thanks for having me." He felt his joints and ligaments tighten up in the presence of someone who didn't seem to like him. He turned to Emily, looking to her for guidance on topics of conversation.

"We spent the afternoon at PCU," Emily said. "The campus is beautiful in the summer, and it was almost like we had it to ourselves with hardly anyone walking around. It was nice, wasn't it?" she asked Lucky.

"Um. Yes, it was," Lucky replied stiffly. The wall clock across from him ticked ominously, and he wondered why it always held his attention when he was at that table. It seemed to be perpetually stuck at 7PM - in December or July. It was all the same. He wished the food were on the table. At least it offered a diversion.

"How's it going?" A.J. asked as he sat across the table from Lucky.

"Good. How about you?" Lucky had absolutely no idea what to say to A.J. He'd have to quiz Emily later about family interests. There was simply nothing to say. Did he play golf? Maybe that was a safe topic. "Do you play golf at the country club?" he asked.

A.J. made a disgusted face and snorted. "Hardly. I'd be rubbing elbows with Grandfather. I have better taste than that."

Lucky looked mortified, but Edward saved the day by catching A.J.'s comment and going on the warpath. Edward took the seat furthest away from A.J. but still within a good view of Lucky.   "Ingrate!" he growled. His knit brows gave him a fierce wizard-like appearance, and he clasped his arthritic hands together as if he'd prefer them around A.J's throat. "You take solid advice and business skills and throw them out the window."

"Any advice from you is garbage anyway. Out the window is where it belongs," A.J. sneered.

"A.J.," Alan said with a warning tone of voice. "Have some respect."

A.J. mumbled under his breath and shook his head as he glowered. Unfortunately, Lucky was the recipient as he was in the direct line of view. Lucky grabbed his napkin wrapped silverware and began wrapping and unwrapping it with a nervous motion of his fingers. He looked longingly toward his glass of water and remembered that he had three pills to take with dinner. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the plastic wrapped bundle.

Alan's sharp eyes noted what Lucky was doing, and he zeroed in on the pills. "Vitamins?" he asked.

"Epilepsy," Lucky answered in a bored monotone. He had no intention of discussing it with Emily's father.

"How's that coming along?" Alan asked.

"I have a medical alert bracelet if it's ever necessary," Lucky said in an attempt to sidetrack the conversation.

Alan continued to stare at the young man who was dating his daughter. His hair wasn't as neat as it had been at Tony and Bobbie's wedding, and what was that scruff on his chin? Was that supposed to be a beard? Maybe the boy was still taking drugs and drinking. For all they knew, those could be narcotics he was carrying. Why couldn't Emily date someone more suitable? This Spencer kid was responsible for derailing her plans to attend an Ivy League University...that much was obvious.

Lucky gulped down his water and darted his eyes over in Alan's direction, catching his sour expression and bold stare. That guy hates me. He hates my guts. At least there's Edward and Monica. Lucky jumped when he heard Edward bellow across the table.

"Lorenzo knows the value of a day spent on the golf course," he spit out in A.J.'s direction. "He's learned more about business than your pea brain could ever handle." Edward nodded with satisfaction when he saw A.J. turn red and frown.

Ned walked by Lucky and gave him a quick pat on the back. "Word of advice, Spencer Junior. Grandfather is a snake. Oh, he'll smile at you and act innocent and helpful, but watch out for those fangs." Ned shot Edward a smug look and received a scowl in return.

"Welcome to our home, Lucky," Monica said as she strolled into the dining room. "I see you're an honorary member of the family now. You're not truly accepted until you're in the middle of a fight or two." She winked at Lucky, and he sighed, pursing his lips.

I'm gonna die before the first course, he thought morosely. He brightened up a notch when he felt Emily's bare foot rubbing on his leg under the table. She raised an eyebrow and made a kissing motion with her lips before she giggling and pinching him on the waist to distract him from the usual Quartermaine festivities.

Cook prepared a sumptuous meal, but Edward heckled and groused the whole time, effectively placing the servant into a foul mood by the last course. "And don't even think of bringing out something as common as that angel food cake you foisted on us last night." Edward's eyes twinkled as he looked at Lucky. "We do have a special guest this evening."

Lucky sank into his seat when Cook's angry, beady eyes stared at him. Was Cook mad at Edward or Lucky because of that comment? It was a mystery.

"How is Bobbie doing with her gardens?" Monica asked to break up the tension.

"Oh, she's still planting," Lucky said. "She enlists my help, but I enjoy it."

"Is she planning on entering that garden contest this year? Good heavens, it's been ages since we've talked."

Lucky shook his head. "Not this year. We're going to be on the Victorian HomeTour. The proceeds go to the new burn unit at GH."

"That's a good fundraiser," Alan said, nodding. "We've been able to buy stellar equipment each year with the proceeds. Tell your aunt I said thank you."

Lucky smiled, grateful to hear one positive word from Alan. "Okay. I will."

"Bobbie has always been a wiz at decorating," Monica continued. "Her brownstone was always beautiful and now she has room to spread her wings in that large house."

Lucky laughed. "She watches a lot of the Home and Garden channel. Tony, Lucas and I have to gang up on her to change the channel for sports."

"And who wins?" Monica asked with amusement.

"Aunt Bobbie, usually. We menfolk have to go to Tony's study and camp out with the portable TV when there's a good game."

"Women always rule the roost," Alan said. "Remember that, Lucky."  He glanced at Monica. "Or you'll regret the day you were born."

Lucky looked at Emily from the corners of his eyes as his lips twitched. "I've noticed," he said, jumping slightly and making an 'ouch' expression with his face when Emily kicked him on the shin.

"I have a date with Hannah," A.J. said gruffly. He threw his napkin to the table and rose from his chair. "I'll skip dessert."

Lucky watched him depart from the room. A.J.'s so squirrely. Hannah deserves a lot better than him.

Cook entered the room with a huge tray loaded down by an impossible looking dessert - layers and layers of cake that were dripping with clear liquid.

"What in the blazes is that?" Edward exclaimed with disgust.

"Funny you should use that word," Cook said while brandishing a lighter and plopping the heavy tray directly in front of the old man. Edward frowned at the ugly dessert and the sound of the thud on an expensively finished wooden table, which was sure to be scratched by this nonsense.

Cook held the lighter to the cake, and Emily shrieked in fright when the cake ignited into a virtual forest fire with a hot flame reaching five feet into the air. "Flambé," Cook stated with a smirk. "You asked for an exotic dessert."

"The new monitoring system!" Monica said with a terrified edge to her voice.

Alan's eyes widened when he caught the implication of her words, and suddenly the Quartermaine dining room was flooded with an ice cold spray from a newly installed sprinkler system in the ceiling.

Everyone jumped up from the table and danced in a frenzy. Emily shrieked and laughed while Lucky cut up so much that he stumbled to the side and nearly fell on his butt. Emily grabbed Lucky's arm and motioned to the doorway. "We're leaving!" she shouted over the general din of confusion, spraying water and curses.

With hands over their heads and shoulders hunched against the onslaught, the young couple raced from the room and kept running until they stumbled outside, falling to the grass and laughing hysterically.

Emily rolled over onto her stomach and grabbed Lucky's teeshirt, wringing it as a torrent of water ran from the soaked garment. "I should have told you to bring your swimsuit," she teased. "Didn't you know it was a dinner slash swim party?"

Lucky remained on his back and reached for Emily's hair, giving it a wave around and laughing when the water went flying through the air. "You Q's are crazy," he grinned. "But in a nice way."

~*~*~*~

Lucas, Lulu, and Georgie were lined up on the park swing set, shrieking with joy each time it was their turn to be pushed. Higher never seemed to be high enough. Tony and Frisco stood behind the kids and alternated pushing them. It was well past 8PM, and soon the sun would go down. "We'll leave in half an hour," Tony called out. He motioned to Frisco, and the two men headed for a park bench to take a break while watching the kids play. All three of them jumped off of the swings midair and tumbled to the ground. Tony flinched, the doctor in him never very far from the surface.

Frisco nodded in their direction. "Good thing they're flexible."

Tony snorted. "I recall finding you in a puddle beside the barn at Granny's house after you'd decided to play Superman and jump off the roof."

"I only required a few stitches," Frisco said.

"While screaming and hollering the whole time," Tony reminded him.

"That's what you're supposed to do when you're seven years old."

"Uh-huh," Tony replied skeptically.

The three kids raced to play on another piece of equipment, and the two men frowned at the roughhousing. "I always worry about Lucas playing roughly with Lulu, but look at that," Tony said, pointing.

"GEORGIE!" Frisco yelled with a warning tone. When she looked his way, he pointed at her. "Play nice."

Tony bent over laughing. "She's hell on wheels - she pushed Lucas right off that thing."

"She has a temper," Frisco said.

"How's it coming with Maxie?"

Frisco sighed. "She's still frosty toward me. I can't blame her. It'll take her some time to believe I'm going to stay around."

"It's hard on kids if a parent is always gone. We worry about Lulu."

"Yeah," Frisco agreed. "I'm going to make it up to Maxie if I can."

"I guess she's feeling too grown up to play with the other kids. She didn't want to come tonight."

Frisco snorted. "It's because Lucky isn't here. She asked first and then declined when I said he was with Emily."

"Little bit 'o teen crush, ay?"

Frisco made a face. "I wish she'd drop it. She's underage, and he's obviously not interested, not that I'd allow him to live if he were."

"I'd leave that one alone," Tony advised. "She'll work her way through it. Any interference from you will only prolong the agony."

"I guess." Frisco glanced at his brother. "What's up with Lucky anyway? He seems angry with both of us. I tried to talk to him before he left this afternoon, and he just brushed me off."

"He has his own teenage issues, I'm guessing. His psychiatrist told us he might be a handful occasionally because he missed out on some stages in his development. He has to recapture them first before moving on."

"So how old would you say he is? Developmentally, I mean."

"When were you a pain in the ass?" Tony asked.

"Sixteen," Frisco said. "Definitely."

"I remember those days. I was doing my residency in neurology. It seemed like Mom called me daily to report your latest sin."

"It's a tough time," Frisco agreed. "Especially if you don't have a father around."

 "I guess you'd know," Tony said. "I was older when he died. I was fortunate to have him in my life for more years than you."

"Yeah," Frisco said. "I wonder if Lucky is jealous of me? He seems upset that I'm working with you on the carriage house."

"Aha. I think you're on to something. I'd talked with Lucky some months ago about building the carriage house with him. I bet he feels left out."

"You're kind of a father figure to the kid," Frisco pointed out. "More of a father than a big brother."

Tony nodded. "He feels like one of my own. I worry about him."

"Maybe that's why he's rebelling right now. He feels pressured?"

"Maybe. I know he was angry when I called a family meeting last night. He refused to speak to me and went straight to his room after everyone left."

"Give him some room, Tony. That's what he needs."

Tony ran his hand over the back of his neck. "Easier said than done, little brother. I just want to do what's right for him."

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