-Well, all my life I lived not caring aabout the laws. Why start now? I mean, every one of my identities will "adopt" Jeremy and, when I'm 18, I will adopt him for real.
-You are serious?
-Of course I am. Well, not completely.. I meant when WE are 18, WE will adopt him for real.
-You mean it?
-Have I said something to you I didn't mean? About our future?
-No, that's true. I love you Lucky
-I love you too
-And I love both of you! They heard frrom the back seat
-You are awake? Isn't it pass your beddtime? Asked Lucky
-Hey if you'll start to be like that, ttake me back! Said Jeremy, laughing"
Lucky looked at him from the rear-view mirror and smiled. Jeremy's hair was all out of place and his eyes were red from the tiredness. Elizabeth could see the love and admiration the young boy had for Lucky.
"-Go back to sleep Cowboy, we have a long route in front of us.
-Sure thing... Dad!"
Lucky laughed while Jeremy fell back asleep. Lucky stopped in a motel by the side of a country road, and took Jeremy in his arms, putting both his arms crossed under his behind, letting the boy's head rest on his shoulder. Elizabeth smiled and said it was "touching". They walked in and the clerk looked at them, amused.
"-How may I be of service? He asked
-The sign said Vacancy, can we have a rroom?
-Sure thing, can the little Mrs. Sign the form, or you'd like me to open the room so you can leave your boy, then come back here?
-Could you? I mean, I don't mind my wiife writing it, but the credit card's under my name"
Lucky put Jeremy on one of the two beds, and left Elizabeth with him while he filled the card.
"-Vincent Cappadora, from Chicago, is that right?
-That's right, said Lucky
-Ok mister Cappadora, how long do you nneed the room?
-Only tonight. My son and my wife weree both tired, so we decided to make an unplanned stop.
-Very well, goodnight"
Lucky came back in the room, only to find Elizabeth in her pajama, reading the magazine she bought earlier. She was sitting under the cover of the second bed. Lucky went into the bathroom to take a shower and change. When he came back out again, Elizabeth had closed the light but she wasn't asleep. Lucky went and sat on Jeremy's bed, ready lie under the covers.
"-Lucky?
-Yeah? Oh I forgot your goodnight kisss. Sorry baby, he said getting up and close to her, kissing her gently
-Thanks but that wasn't what I wanted
-Aren't we "married"
-Yes but I don't see what you mean"
She took the cover of the bed, showing him the place beside her. Lucky smiled when he understood she wanted to share his bed. Lucky laid next to her, and she put her head on his shoulder. He could barely keep his eyes open, and she was slowly moving her and on his torso. He looked at her and he saw her drifting asleep, and he did the same, listening to the respiration of the two most important people in his life, and he vowed not to let anything happen to them, he would be lost without them.
Lucky woke up the next day, feeling something near him, but it was too short to be Elizabeth's body. He realized it was Jeremy's, and he gently pass a hand on the boy's head. Elizabeth was still sleeping, so Lucky got up and got dressed. He had to figure out their itinerary, not to be caught off guard, like in the little town yesterday. Granted, Jeremy probably saved their lives, but it was Lucky's job to take care of his family, not they other way around. He also had to get in touch with Luke, to make sure everything was all right on the home front. He heard a noise and he quickly turned around, only to see Jeremy awake, looking around like he didn't know where he was.
"-Hey there Cowboy, did you sleep well? Lucky whispered
-Enough. What are you doing? The boy whispered back
-I'm planning our next move. Wanna hellp?
-Sure! The boy's face lit up right awaay
-Ok, we're gonna go to the closest paypphone, and you are going to call your grandfather, let him know our next move OK? I'll tell you what to say
-But won't they be able to find us?
-No, my dad and I will use our old codee. Get dressed
-Ok"
Lucky left a note for Liz, and went with Jeremy to the closest payphone. He sat the boy on his lap, while he composed the club's number. Luke answered at the second ring.
"-Hey there old man, said the boy
-Ok, answered Luke, not sure, did you gget the paper?
-Yes and it seems that the football teaam will win again
-Oh really? And what makes you say thaat?
-They will play against the Vampires. They won the first round
-Did they really? Haven't read anythinng about it
-Next game, they will be even more readdy
-Great, I'll take my bets in, where? >
-To the falcons
-No problem. Talk to you soon"
Lucky took Jeremy down, and knew everything was alright at the home front. If not, Luke would have said that one of the players was out. Now Luke knew they were heading north. When they came back to the room, Elizabeth was awake and smiled at them, kissing the top of Jeremy's head. Lucky told here everything was OK back home, and they went to pay the bill. The same guy was behind the counter and he gave candies to Jeremy, who was happy as a prince.
In the car, Lucky let him choose the radio station and he chose one with a lot of country music. They listened to it for a while, then Elizabeth changed it, and they listened to soft rock. Lucky was singing along some of the songs, and Jeremy was trying to follow him. Elizabeth laughed when she saw that Lucky was making out most of the words anyway.
They stopped for lunch, eating corn dogs and fries directly in the car. They had to pass the boarder by diner time. Jeremy sat in front with Lucky, he was his co-pilot. When they arrived at the last village before the boarder, Lucky stopped in front of a house, and told Jeremy and Elizabeth to wait for him. He came back out half an hour later, with a big brown envelop. He got in the car, gave the envelop to Elizabeth and buckled his seat belt.
"-What are those? Asked Jeremy
-Your birth certificates, adoption papeers, and other stuff we may need for you. Replied Lucky
-Adoption papers? Said Jeremy
-Yeah, to pass the boarder you have to be my son. I asked my father's contact to make one for each of our identities. Right now you are Jeremy Cappadora, tomorrow you may be Jeremy someone-else.
-I got ya
-I knew you would, you're a smart kid
-You got that right, said Elizabeth, caause mommy here still has hers"
Lucky and Jeremy laughed, and they went on their way again. Half an hour later Jeremy was whimpering he had to go to the bathroom, and Lucky was lecturing him he should've gone in the village. Lucky finally stopped by the side of the road, and Jeremy went in the bushes. Elizabeth was laughing and saying they really sounded like a family, arguing and lecturing the kid. Lucky smiled at her from the rear-view mirror, and said they were a family, might as well act like one.
Elizabeth switched place with Lucky, taking the wheel, while he sat in the back seat, carefully looking over his papers, to be sure everything was in order. Jeremy asked to see the papers, and Lucky saw he was looking at them reading them. The only problem was the boy was holding them upside down. Lucky understood, at that moment, that Jeremy didn't know how to read. How could he? He probably never went to school a day in his life.
They arrived at the boarder and, much to Lucky's surprise, they passed it without a problem. They stopped at a little restaurant and Lucky laughed at the name of it. "Lucky's".
"-They must serve awesome food here! He said, laughing.
-I wonder if they have robs and cheese fries, said Elizabeth
-Hey dad, can I have a hamburger? Askeed Jeremy"
Lucky looked at him, surprised. After all, they were still in the car, the windows rolled up, no one to hear. Jeremy saw his confusion and smiled, shyly.
"-I thought I should always call you dad, less confusion that way. Do you mind?
-No, not at all, I was shocked, that's all. Actually, it has a nice ring to it don't you think?
-I like it, said Jeremy. Mom? Do you??
-What? Oh yeah, that's cool with me"
"-Let's go, I'm starved! Said Lucky
-You are always starving! Replied Elizzabeth
-Well growing boys need food, don't theey Cowboy?
-Yeah, I could eat a whole cow! And thhe male too! Answered Jeremy
-Well, take the cow and the male, I'll take the pig and the horse, said Lucky
-What's left for me? Asked Elizabeth
Elizabeth tried to punch him, while he hid behind Jeremy. They were all laughing, glowing, when they walked into the diner as one big happy family.
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