Chapter Eight 

Wednesday came and Lucky made sure he wasn't anywhere in sight. Lu kept on 
bugging Luke for the time and by the time Laura arrived, she had Luke wondering 
if she even loved him. Laura grabbed Lu’s bag and they didn't stick around and 
true to her form she didn't say one word about Lucky. Laura was so excited about 
seeing Lu that the thought of her son slipped her mind. 

Luke watched her go and shook his head. “You love our daughter but you can’t 
stand our son. Don't take your hate out on him. Please,” Luke begged and 
realized he did the same thing to Lu. He regretted the past months and thought 
that this was why Laura was treating Lucky so badly. 

Luke came up with an idea to get them closer but it was going to take some doing 
and a lot of pride swallowing on his part. Thanksgiving, Lu was going to spend 
it with Laura. Luke was going to drop her off because Laura let him have her all 
day Wednesday so they could celebrate the holiday early. 

Luke arrived about eight that morning with Lu. He knocked on the door and was 
surprised to find Leslie at the apartment. “Hi, Luke,” Leslie said slowly. 

“When did you arrive?” Luke asked. 

“Laura came and got me for the holidays and I talked her into letting me stay. I 
was going to call and tell you that you can get rid of the house and thanks for 
letting me live there,” she said. 

“No problem. I would do anything for you. I have a favor to ask. Lu wants to go 
shopping and I need you to try and find away to get Lucky to go with you. He is 
spending a lot of time alone and I hate to have him miss out because of me. 
Could you call and ask him to go shopping this weekend?” Luke asked. 

“I will do it for my grandson and you. I'm glad you saw your mistake and I hope 
my daughter sees hers soon. I will try and hopefully Laura will join us,” Leslie 
said and took Lu from Luke. 

“Where is she?” Luke asked. 

“Laura had to run and find beets. I like them this time of year and she forgot 
to pick some up,” Leslie said. 

“You won't find any now. I will talk to you later and thanks. I owe you one,” 
Luke said and kissed her on the cheek. 

“Be nice to Laura once in while and we are even,” Leslie said. 

“I will try but I’m not promising anything,” Luke said and left. 

Luke and Lucky ate leftovers that night and Lucky was about to go out for the 
night when Leslie called. Lucky was surprised to find his grandmother in town 
and relented about going shopping. He said they would go to the mall that 
Saturday and he would be there early. Lucky hung up the phone and looked at his 
father. “You did that didn’t you?” Lucky asked. 

“I am trying to make up for the mistake I made. I hope this works,” Luke said. 

“Thanks dad. I do too. I will give this one more chance and if it doesn't work, 
I give up. I’m tired of waiting for her and I won't be around when she decides 
to show up,” Lucky said sadly and left. 

“Please, Laura for his sake and yours. Don’t blow it,” Luke prayed and cleaned 
up the kitchen. 

Lucky kept his word and showed up early Saturday morning. He skipped meeting the 
guys that night to do this and hoped it was worth it. He knocked on his Aunt 
Amy’s door and Amy opened it and let him in. “I haven't seen you in a while. I'm 
sorry Lucky but Laura got called into work. The computer crashed and they had to 
rebuild the files but I'm taking her place. Is that all right?” Amy said. 

“Sure, I would like to spend time with my favorite Aunt. Let’s go before we miss 
out all the great deals,” Lucky said and tried to hide his disappointment. Amy 
and Leslie got Lu ready and Lucky looked around the apartment. He noticed the 
place was crowded with three adults and one child. The part that got him the 
most was that there wasn't even a place for him, anywhere. He wondered if Laura 
expected him to sleep on the couch or the floor. They spent all day shopping and 
Lucky did buy Laura a nice present, despite the strain in their relationship. He 
realized that her having to work might not have been a lie and tried to forget 
his disappointment. They shopped and talked and by the end of the day, Lucky 
almost felt like things were back to normal. He said he would see them more 
often and left them alone. 

Lucky did meet the guys that night and it was the first time Lucky really got 
drunk. He still tried to shake the feeling his mother didn't want him but the 
pain wasn't going way this time. Christmas arrived fast and the last straw hit 
for Luke that Christmas Eve. Amy had dropped off Lu and handed the gifts over to 
Luke. Laura had gotten a cold and thought it was best she stay home. Luke didn't 
check the gifts until that night when everyone was at Bobbie's opening presents. 
Bobbie handed out gifts and was surprised that not one of them was from Laura to 
Lucky. Amy and Leslie gave him something but not her. Laura still was so afraid 
that Lucky wouldn't take anything from her that she put Leslie and Amy's names 
on the gifts, and not of hers. Lucky looked at the gifts and ran out of the 
room. He couldn't take it any more and he just needed to get away. Luke tried to 
find him but Lucky was no where to be found. Luke took Lu back to Amy before 
going out again to look for him and was going to confront Laura. 

Luke knocked on the door and handed Lu over to Amy. “Laura, I need to talk to 
you about Lucky,” Luke said coldly. 

“What's wrong? Is he hurt or sick?” Laura asked as she stepped outside. 

“Here! He bought this for you even after you let him down after Thanksgiving and 
now Christmas,” Luke said handing her the gift. 

“What are you talking about?” Laura asked taking the gift and read the card. “To 
my mother with love, Lucky”. 

“You didn’t get him anything for Christmas. Not one thing. He ran out of the 
apartment and I haven't found him yet. It is getting colder Laura and you don't 
care. Listen up. I messed up and kept you from Lu. I'm begging you. Don’t punish 
him any more. Talk to your son or something,” Luke said. He was tired and his 
emotions came to the surface. 

“Luke, I bought him a gift, but I thought he wouldn't want them. I put Amy and 
Leslie names on the gifts. I have been waiting for Lucky to come to me,” Laura 
said tears in her eyes. 

“You what? Laura, he is a teenager and your are the adult. You should have made 
the attempt to talk to him a long time ago. Lucky thinks you don't’ love him. 
You didn’t even mention him in the custody suit,” Luke said. Shaking his head, 
Luke started to leave. “I have to go. Mac and everyone is looking now. I will 
call when we find him. Laura try and talk to him. If you don't, you will lose 
Lucky forever. If you haven't already,” Luke left shaking his head. 

Lu spent Christmas Day sad about her brother. Laura put her to bed early and 
waited for Luke's call. She opened the gift from Lucky and was surprised to find 
a locket shaped in a heart. She opened it and it was a picture of Lucky and her 
at a better time and the engraving said it all. “Please love me again”. 

Luke didn't find Lucky. Lucky came home on his own late that night and passed 
out in his bed. Luke arrived home not long after Lucky did and was surprised to 
find his son in his bed asleep. Luke thought about waking him but let him sleep. 
Luke made some calls to tell everyone that Lucky was safe and then feel asleep 
on the couch. He slept until late the next day. Lucky was still asleep and Luke 
went into check up on him. Luke tried to get him to wake up but had little 
success. He checked out Lucky and noticed he was burning up with fever. Luke 
called Bobbie and she checked his temperature and then she called Tony because 
he was Lucky's doctor. Tony came over and said Lucky had the flu. As long as his 
temperature didn't go up any more, Luke could keep him at home. He gave him some 
antibiotics and then left. Luke spent the rest of the week doctoring Lucky. He 
agreed to let Lu stay with Laura because he didn't want her sick as well. Lucky 
was weak but he did slowly get better. Sad to say he spent all of New Years and 
the rest of his vacation in bed. Lucky was better by the time school started and 
went only because Liz was counting on him. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Lucky spent the day trying to cope but it was hard. He noticed the only time he 
felt good was when he was feeling the affects of the alcohol. Lucky and his 
friends were heading out the front door after school and they were surprised to 
find Laura standing by her car. Lucky fought his temper and walked up to see 
her. 

“Hi,” He said coldly. 

“Hi, I heard you were sick and I’m sorry about Christmas. Luke told you that 
most of those gifts were from me?” Laura asked. 

“Yes,” Lucky said. 

“Lucky, please. I’m trying here,” Laura begged his coldness throwing her off. 

“A little too late. I don’t have a mother anymore. You couldn't make room in 
your life for me. I'm not doing it for you. I got to go, my friends are 
waiting,” Lucky said and walked away. Laura tried to stop him but it was 
useless. She got into her car and drove away with tears falling down her cheeks. 
Lucky caught up with Liz and they headed to the Library to do their homework. 
Lucky sneaked a drink or two while he was there and then headed to the club to 
do some work for Luke and himself.