Where Will All Come Home?

Chapter 9
Early Saturday morning Alexis rolled over in bed and prodded Luke.

"What is it?" he mumbled.

"I think Lulu's awake. Shouldn't you go check on her?"

He yawned and blinked."What time is it?"

"About 7:00 A.M. Rise and shine, Daddy."

"How about you?" he grumbled.

"When you're a step-something, you get to sleep in an extra hour or two. Because you are generously allowing your partner time to bond with his child." With a smug, sleepy smile Alexis pushed him toward the edge of the bed."See you later," she whispered with a tiny flip of one hand.

Luke sat up on the edge of the bed. Putting his head in his hands, he gave himself a moment longer to wake up, then staggered toward the bathroom."There are some things about younger kids you forget," he muttered.

He leaned toward the mirror, and was not encouraged by the view."A shower. Definitely."

Fifteen minutes later he strolled into the living room. Lulu was sitting on the floor in front of the television. Wrapped in a blanket, she was watching an unfamiliar cartoon. A mouse with a large head and Orson Wells's voice was lecturing another mouse.

"Good morning, Princess. Want some breakfast?"

"Okay, Daddy. Need some help in the kitchen?"

By the time Alexis staggered out of their bedroom, Luke and Lulu had finished breakfast, and were seated on the couch, deep in discussion.

Luke looked up and smiled at her."Hold on a sec." He rose and left the room, returning a moment later with a cup of coffee for Alexis.

"Thank you." She stretched, yawned, and curled up in a chair, nursing the steaming cup in her hands."What are you two doing in here?"

"Playing Curiosity. You get to ask eight questions. Not nine. Cats only have nine lives, and you can't waste the last one. I think we're finishing number eight. Right?" Luke looked at Lulu.

"Yes, it's your turn, Daddy."

"Okay. I was wondering about some of your rules. For instance, the 'no eavesdropping rule'. How did that come about?"

Lulu gave him a sideways glance."There was," she began carefully,"an unfortunate incident."

Alexis moved her coffee cup up in front of her face.

"Once an unfortunate incident occurs, we discuss it, resolve it, and then, speak of it no more." Lulu made a gesture of finality and looked at her father.

"I was just curious." Luke reached out to touch her, and then pulled his hand back."You don't have to tell..."

"It may have been the periscope," she added with another sideways glance.

"The periscope?"

"I always wondered why Papa and Mommy stayed in bed so late on Saturday mornings – sometimes until almost eight o'clock!" Lulu's big eyes expressed her shock at this oddity.

Luke rubbed his eyes with the finger of one hand.

"There are good cartoons on television. There are the chicks, the bunnies and the horses. Foster wants his breakfast too. I wondered what was so interesting that they stayed in bed so long. What could they be doing?"

"So?" Luke rubbed his chin with one hand. Alexis had found her coffee cup inadequate, and was intently examining a handy magazine.

"I built a small periscope and slipped it sideways under their door. Just to see."

Luke couldn't contain himself."Did it work?"

"Yes. Wyndemere is older, and there is a large gap between the bottom of the doors and the floor. It worked fine. I tried to build a working model for Lucas, but the carpets at Aunt Bobbie's come up too close to the edge of the door. I don't think I could build one that would work here either," said Lulu, eyeing the bottom of the kitchen door.

"I want you to show me how you did it later," Luke said."But, what happened at Wyndemere?"

Lesley Lu looked away."Mommy heard a small noise, and saw it come under the door. She didn't know what it was, and it scared her."

She took a deep breath and continued."Mommy was so mad, she upped her eyebrows at me!" Lulu gazed at Luke to see if he understood how bad the situation had been.

Alexis smiled."I had no idea 'up' was a verb."

Luke pulled Lulu toward him with a protective arm. Looking at her embarrassed face, he responded with mock dignity,"It's clear to me that Alexis has never been eyebrowed by your mother!" Lulu giggled and leaned against his shoulder.

"Later today I want you to show me how you built it. It honestly never occurred to me before. It was a great idea. Okay, now it's your turn for the last question."

Lulu consulted a piece of paper in her lap."Who do you quote at people?"

"To people?" offered Alexis.

"She's eight. People quote at her, not to her," Luke answered."Right, honey?"

Lulu nodded.

"I quote Aunt Ruby. Remember her?"

Another nod from Lulu.

"And, different people I've met on the street. I can't think of anybody else I quote that I'd quote at you." He scratched his ear and smiled.

"Since I'm not in the game, can I ask a question?" Alexis inquired.

Luke and Lulu looked at each other solemnly, then nodded.

"Go ahead," said Luke.

"Lulu, why do you want to know who your father quotes?" Alexis leaned forward.

"It is helpful when you know who people quote. You know what to say back to them."

"Explain some more." Alexis still didn't get it.

"Well, if I want to go outside and feed the bunnies very early, and Mommy says no. She likes to quote from Benjamin Franklin and Grandma Lesley. So I can say a quote at her. Like 'Early to bed, and early to rise.' You see?'

"So if you know how people think, then you know how to argue your point with them." Alexis nodded."That's what lawyers do. That's what I do. I try to figure people out and persuade them to see things the way my clients do."

Lulu looked thoughtful."Oh, I never thought about it being part of a job. I just thought it helped."

"You definitely have potential as a lawyer."

Lulu looked uncomfortable."I am not feeling very interested in careers right now. Recently that got me in some trouble at school."

"Hate to change the subject, Princess, but if you get dressed, we'll go to the park for a while."

"Okay." Lesley Lu gathered up her blanket and headed for her bedroom.

Alexis stood up and met Luke as he picked up her coffee cup from the end table. She touched his shoulder, and slipped an arm around him as he turned toward her.

In a low voice she began,"That was so cute when you finally put your arm around her. I could tell how badly you wanted to do it. You kept reaching toward her and pulling back."

Luke smiled."I think she liked it."

"She definitely liked it. Now, for the next step. You have to tell her the truth, and get out from under the project deal."

Luke looked doubtful."I know. But don't you think it's rushing it? Things are going pretty well..."

"You are charming her, Luke, but it is dishonest. I think she would rather know that you want her, than keep on thinking that this is a temporary situation. She can't afford to like you too much if she thinks there's no commitment from you in return." Alexis softened her frank advice by following it with a kiss and a gentle touch to his cheek.

"Okay, I'll take care of it as soon as she comes back,"

"Great! I'm going to go get showered and dressed very, very slowly. You guys will have plenty of time. I'll be so relieved when we've gotten this part out of the way. I can't help thinking like a lawyer."

"You really think Stefan's going to go for adoption?"

"It would be unwise to assume he isn't. But, first I expect he'll try to limit or do away with visitation privileges."

"Well, he can't do that without Laura's permission, and she won't agree."

"My brother is persuasive when he needs to be. I'm not trying to induce paranoia in you, just trying to plan ahead, as any good attorney would." After a swift kiss, Alexis walked away.

Lulu trotted out in jeans, a patterned sweater, and tennis shoes.

Luke sat down again and patted the couch cushion near him."Come sit with me, baby."

Lulu joined him, and he reached out for her hand."I have to talk to you about our project."

"Did you find the man whose name I gave you?" Lulu asked excitedly.

"No, that's why we have to talk. I never tried. I wasn't honest with you, because I never intended to finish the project."

"Why?"

"A lot of reasons. First, I think your grandfather is dead. Your mother told me he died before Lesley ever found her."

"Mommy thinks he's dead. I know that."

Luke was incredulous."Then, Lulu, what sense does it make to look for him?"

"Because I know Grandma Lesley better than anyone else in the world, except Mommy. And she isn't telling the truth. She's bad at telling lies, because she doesn't usually tell them. She can't even look at me and talk about my grandfather."

"Lesley is a straight shooter, and it's hard for me to buy that she would mislead your mom. But, knowing her as I do, I have to think that if she did mislead us all in some way, that she had a good reason."

"Maybe Mommy's daddy didn't want them. Is that what you think?"

"Yes, it could be that. He may have had another family he was protecting." Luke paused, searching for the words to help make her understand."And, I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes people make mistakes, and just want to walk away, and start over. Just let the past be the past, and go on."

"Like when there's a divorce?" Lulu looked down at her hands.

"Yes, sometimes. I think that's what we need to do here. We can't undo the past. We should go on with our own lives. Some things shouldn't be dredged up. The past isn't important, but the present is. Being sentimental, hanging onto the past - that's just a crock. I've never believed in it."

Lulu remained silent.

"And, Lulu, if there's a secret here, it's your Grandma's, not ours. We don't have a right to pry into her business. It would be wrong. It could hurt her and your mother really badly. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

A shrill ring interrupted their conversation. Hearing the distant sound of the shower, Luke muttered something under his breath and reached for the phone.

"Hello."

"Dad, it's me. I'm here."

Luke's face lit up."Cowboy? I wasn't expecting you. Is Elizabeth with you?"

"Yeah. We're both here, but we've gotta go back first thing in the morning. Can you meet me at the club in about ten minutes?"

"Lulu and I are kind of in the middle of something here."

"I spoke to the once and future Prince. There is something rotten in the state of Denmark. It's important that we talk, Dad. See you in ten?"

"I knew it! Okay, Lucky. I'll be there. Good to hear your voice. See you soon."

Luke replaced the phone."Lucky's in town. He and I have some guy business to take care of. I'm gonna go meet him, and when I come back we'll finish our talk. There's a lot more I need to tell you."

"Sure, Daddy." Lulu stood up from the couch."I'll just wait. I've got a book in my room." She got up quickly and walked away.

"I'll be back soon. I promise. Then we'll finish talking and go to the park." Luke grabbed his jacket from the closet, and picked up his keys from the table by the door. With his hand on the door, he stopped and raced back into the bedroom. He yelled his plans at Alexis through the bathroom door, and left.

When Alexis came out of the bathroom some minutes later, she saw Lulu in coat and mittens at the door."Where are you two off to now?"

"Lucky's in town today, and we're going to meet him at the club. I have to go now. Daddy will be impatient. He loves Lucky and won't want to keep him waiting."

"Why didn't your dad tell me about this?" Alexis toweled her hair fiercely.

"He yelled through the door, Aunt Alexis. I guess you didn't hear him."

"Oh, okay. I was probably singing to myself." Alexis made a funny face."I have a dress fitting in half an hour, then I'm going to finish up a few things at my office. Tell your dad I'll meet the two of you at Kelly's at five o'clock. Can you remember that?"

"Yes, I can. Have a pleasant day, Aunt Alexis."

"Thank you, sweetie. You guys have fun."

"Thank you. Goodbye, Aunt Alexis." Lesley Lu went out and closed the door softly behind her.
__ __ __

Lucky was sitting in Luke's chair with his feet propped up on the desk when Luke walked in the door.

"Good to see you, Cowboy." Luke's eyes took in every detail of his son's appearance."You've grown another inch, I swear."

Lucky smiled."Good to see you too, Dad."

"Okay," said Luke, rubbing his hands together."It's gettin' cold out there." He started a pot of coffee, then plopped down in the visitor's chair.

"What'd you find out?"

"Nik is worried. He said he got a weird e-mail from his dad recently, and after that Stefan made a few odd requests. One of them was to become acquainted with a group of people: six or eight of them. To try to break into the group one way or the other, start hanging out with them."

Luke caught his upper lip with his lower teeth."That's not a lot to go on. Any more?"

"Well, Nik went to an engagement party early last week, and one of the people Stefan had targeted died at the party. That's when Nik freaked."

"Do we know who or where?"

"Nah, dad. I couldn't get anything else out of him. He said his dad claimed to have everything under control."

"Do you think he believes that?"

"Nik is a Cassadine. Everything looks like a conspiracy to him. Suspecting the worst is a workable approach to his life, because things are almost never what they seem at first glance in his family."

"Probably true," said Luke."But what could Stefan be doing? It's risky getting Nikolas involved in the dirtier aspects of the family business. Why would he do thatt? What would be important enough to make him risk that?"

"Dad, is this really our business? Did Stefan hurt you in some way?"

"No. But your sister lives under his roof. That makes any little underhanded deals he's working on my business."

"There's more at stake for me, Dad. Two brothers, a sister, and my mother all depend on Cassadine one way or another. All we have here are a bundle of suspicions, but if you act on them and dig something up, the consequences could be huge. A lot of lives could be damaged. Have you given that any thought?"

"No," admitted Luke."I hadn't. But the remarkably slimy Count is due for some justice. You can't possibly disagree with me on this."

Lucky stood up."Maybe, it's time to let bygones by bygones. Wax philosophical. Let the universe unfold in its own way and time. Drop the war against the Cassadines or THE Cassadine. Whatever."

"If that's the philosophy you've learned in college, you aren't getting your money's worth. Let the universe unfold?" Luke shuddered."I grow more grateful for my lack of formal education with every passing year."

Lucky grinned affectionately at his father as he came around the desk. He stopped to lay a casual hand on Luke's shoulder."Gotta go, Dad. I'm meeting Elizabeth at Mrs. Hardy's. Call ya' tonight."

"Yeah, do that, son. We'd love to see you both. Especially Lulu. She'll be thrilled."

"I'm glad you're spendin' time with her, Dad."

Luke reached up to touch Lucky's hand."Yeah," Luke replied softly,"Me too. Me too."
.
With a wave and a final"See ya" Lucky was on his way.

Luke walked across the room and poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat down behind his desk. It wouldn't hurt to see what he could find out about Nik's activities. He made a few phone calls to people in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area before calling home.

There was no answer, so he left a message. He needed to finish his conversation with Lulu. He tried Alexis's cell phone, but it was turned off. The morning had not turned out as he planned. He had no idea where Alexis had taken Lulu or when they might come home again. Luke decided to check the liquor orders and wait for a return call. He took out his file of pending orders and began to sort them. Surely they would be home soon.
__ __ __

At four thirty that afternoon, Alexis staggered through the front door carrying her briefcase, her new dress, and the bags containing the matching purse and shoes she had been unable to resist. Dumping her packages on the couch, she called out for Luke and Lulu, but got no answer. Unsurprised, she checked the answering machine.

There were five messages blinking on the machine. As she punched the button, she heard the door open, and called out,"There you two are! I thought I was going to have to meet you at Kelly's after all."

Luke stared back at her in surprise."Don't bother with the answering machine unless there are more than five messages. I've been calling all afternoon. Why did you think I would meet you at Kelly's?

Forgetting the machine, Alexis found herself speaking over the tinny recorded voice."Because when you and Lulu left, I told her to tell you that I'd meet you there. She probably forgot. No big deal."

"Alexis, isn't Lulu with you? I left her here when I went out. Before I came back to get her I called, and no one answered. I thought you took her shopping or something with you."

Alexis was beginning to be alarmed."I came out of the bathroom, and she was leaving. She said she had to hurry, because you were waiting, that the two of you were going to meet Lucky."

"I told her to stay here, and I'd be back. Maybe she's upstairs." Luke ran up the stairs two at a time. Alexis heard doors opening and closing.

There was no sound for several minutes. Luke came back into the living room carrying some things in his hand. He handed a folded sheet of paper to Alexis. On the outside, it was marked 'Daddy'. There were only a few lines on the inside.

Please explain to Mommy how you really feel, so she will let me come home. It's okay. I have a good life.

Thank you,
Lesley Lu

Alexis's eyes grew shiny."What happened this morning? I thought you got everything straightened out."

Luke looked out the window. The sky was a dull gray. It had grown progressively colder during the afternoon, and the morning's forecast of snow looked accurate."I explained the project part, about not doing it. Why we shouldn't do it. But I got distracted by a call from Lucky. He wanted to see me. I was going to finish our conversation when I got back."

"You think Lulu misunderstood something you said?"

"She must have. Maybe she just couldn't stand the thought of staying here. I don't know. I don't know her well enough to know." He sat down in the chair by the window.

Alexis moved toward the phone."I'll call and make sure she got to Wyndemere safely. Then we'll decide what to do next."

Luke sat quietly in the chair. Lucky had warned him about the consequences of his war against the Cassadines. Once again, he had let his anger, his will to win override common sense. If he had just told Lucky to wait, Lulu would be safe. By now they would have made a start toward doing things right. Instead he was sitting uselessly, while Alexis tried to negotiate a chance to see his kid one more time. He listened to her end of the conversation.

"Stefan. Alexis, here. I'm just checking to make sure Lesley Lu arrived there safely."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. Yes, I know, your people are thorough."

"She and Luke had a small misunderstanding."

"A while. A few hours."

"Four or five."

"No. We'll start from here. You'll let us know anything you find out?"

Alexis hung up the phone."She didn't go home. Maybe she went to Sonny's. I'll go check. We should've thought of that first."

Luke shook his head."He's not home today."

Alexis responded,"I'll check with his guys. They might know something." She darted out the door.

Luke looked at one of the books he had pulled out of Lulu's backpack. It had a picture of a horse running through a meadow on the front. It was a kid's diary, he guessed. He unfolded a paper clip from his pocket, deftly picked the lock and began to read by the gray light from the window. Outside, a gentle snow muffled the sounds of the thinning afternoon traffic.