Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
I found myself studying Lucas over dinner that evening to see if there was any difference in his behavior. Then I had another thought. What if there was a difference and she noticed? This was too complicated by far and I couldn’t help feeling hopelessly out of my element.
LUKE
“So you’re saying you think the child is innocent?”
“Yes mom I am. I know; I’m as surprised as you are. But I’m glad I caught it in time. I wouldn’t want to look back with regret on what I was about to do to her.”
“Luke, what is it that you’re planning son?”
“Nothing for you to worry about mom.” She gave me one of her looks but didn’t push.
“You said the girl, Elaina is it? You said she asked you if you’ve noticed a change in your dad?”
“Yes, I found that question very troubling, why?” I turned to look at her from my place in the middle of the room.
“Do you remember me telling you not to desert your dad when he was at his most vulnerable?”
“Yeah!” She didn’t say anything more for a few seconds but her face was unsettled.
“I long suspected that there was something wrong with your dad. The way he acted, the things he said, they never sounded like him. I wonder…” Her words had something sick and nasty unfurl in my gut.
“What do you mean mom? Do you think someone’s been messing with him? But how?” The who would be obvious if such a thing was indeed at play here.
Could there really be a reason for the awful way he’d treated mom after years of devotion? As soon as the question came I had my answer. “Of course, that’s it.” It had to be.
Why didn’t I see it? Too blinded by hate and anger probably. Mom was nodding her head, as she looked deep in thought. And the look on her face now was not that of a woman scorned, but one who felt concern for the man she loved.
‘There were times when I noticed that he didn’t seem quite like himself. It was so gradual at first that I didn’t make note of it. Oh Luke do you think that woman could’ve been feeding him something?”
I didn’t want to get her hopes up, didn’t want to see her dreams crushed again in this lifetime. “Let me look into it mom. I’ll call you tomorrow okay love.”
I kissed her forehead before leaving the room and walking out the door. I’d been there for the past hour or so, after spending a good portion of the evening getting my head together since leaving Elaina.
There was something going on, something that she’d been too afraid to tell me. And that something definitely had something to do with my dad. Now with mom’s assertion that she’d sensed something off, I had no choice but to investigate. But how?
I checked my watch. If I hurry I can make it back to the city before the stores closed. I’d been in that store so long today I’d seen more than enough things that could help me with what I was about to do.
I felt a new sense of excitement that things might finally be moving in the right direction. That they might soon be coming to a head. But I have to be careful. If mom and Elaina were right, then both Elaina and the old man could be in trouble.
I made it to the city and back before dark. I called dad on my way. “Dad, I think I left some papers there. I’m gonna swing by and…”
“Boy, since when do you have to call before you show up?”
Was it me, or did he sound a little different? Or was it because of what mom and Elaina had intimated? I didn’t make too much of it for now though, I had to be totally alert for what I was about to do.
Elaina
“That was Luke on the phone with the old man. Why is he coming back here? Did you two make plans?”
“What? No. I had no idea he was planning to return.”
She seemed agitated and I wondered what had spooked her. “Is anything wrong?” It was just her and I alone in the family room since Lucas had gone to his study to do some paperwork he said.
“No, it’s nothing. I just never realized how nervous he makes me, and now with the wedding so close…it’s nothing.” She looked very shook for it to be nothing but of course I didn’t press.
“If he asks you out you tell him no. I don’t trust him that much. And like I said, after the wedding you two can screw like minks if you want to.” She thought that was funny but her laugh was still brittle and lacking in mirth. She was putting on an act.