Against the Grain-- Chapter 1
The hotel room was dark. He was sitting on the tiny balcony with a bottle of bad whiskey. He couldn’t even tell where he was anymore. He’d been to a lot of places since he’d left Port Chuckles a month ago, so he’d figured he’d lost track. He’d told Krieg he was arranging for the diamonds. He’d told Felicia and Laura that he had to keep moving. Neither were really true, well the second explanation was closer. But the truth was that he was running. Running from someone, or was it something? He didn’t really know. What did you call a ghost? It had to be a ghost, either that or a hallucination. He never believed in ghosts, but he’d rather believe that than believe he was crazy.
Luke looked up from his bottle, and there he was. Standing there, looking at him with disappointment in his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” Lucky asked softly.
“Isn’t obvious. I’m moving on, staking out new ground. That’s what you wanted isn’t it Cowboy?” Luke said bitterly
“Mom needs you.” He said flatly.
“She doesn’t need me. She’s got Stefan now.” Luke said angrily, letting the bottle fly into the balcony wall. Lucky didn’t flinch.
“She’s letting Stefan take care of her cause you won’t”
“She made a choice!!” Luke shouted. He was rewarded with angry yells and colorful comments from the other residents of the hotel.
“She didn’t choose. She settled for what was left because you walked out.” Lucky said calmly.
Luke shook his head. “Why does she need me? Aren’t you watching over her? From wherever Heaven is?”
“No.” was all he said.
Luke knew then that whatever this was, must be a hallucination. He knew if there was a Heaven Lucky would be there. He had almost wished is had been Lucky’s ghost. He would have felt comforted by that thought somehow. But now he knew it was only his mind playing tricks on him. He knew most of old Chuckles joked about him going senile, but he never actually thought it would happen. He looked up to ask his son a question but, just like every time, he was gone.
Ever since the fire Lucky’s image kept following him around and talking to him. When he left town it almost got worse. He was comforted and unnerved at the same time by the visits.
Luke swore under his breath. He looked at the time. It would only be late afternoon in PC. He picked up the phone and dialed. Not really knowing what he was doing or what he was going to say.
“Laura Spencer’s office.”
Luke closed his eyes at how beautiful her voice sounded.
“Hello?” She asked.
He shook himself out of his thoughts. “Hey.”
“Luke?” She hadn’t expected this at all.
“So how’s the Princess doin’?” He asked, his voice stressed.
“Good, She loved the present you sent her for her birthday. She won’t let that doll out of her sight. She would’ve rather had her father there.”
Luke winced as though something pierced his heart. But he said nothing.
Laura sighed on the other end of the line. “Where did you get it? It looks like it’s from…”
“Poland.” He finished for her.
“What are you doing in Poland?”
“I WAS in Poland.” He stated.
“All right, fine. Don’t tell me. I probably don’t want to know.” Laura said, her voice sounding a little hurt. “Well next time you call, could you at least call at the house so you can talk to Lulu?”
“Yeah, I’ll call tomorrow. I just called today to see when you were going to be home.” He lied.
“Oh, well we should be home at about seven.” Laura quickly hid the disappointment she felt.
“Good I’ll call then.”
“OK”
“I gotta go, you need anything?” He asked uncomfortably.
“I’m fine.” She said softly.
“All right then, bye.”
“Bye Luke.” She said in a small voice.
Luke waited a moment. “I love you Angel.” He whispered when he thought she’d hung up.
Luke put the receiver down and looked up into the smiling face of his son. He smiled back. Even if he was just going crazy and it was all in his head, he just didn’t want Lucky to leave.
In her office Laura stifled a gasp and put her hand to her mouth. Tears sprang to her eyes at her husband’s words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luke looked at Lucky’s smiling face and shook his head. “All right I still love her. Are you happy Cowboy?”
Lucky seemed to be considering. “Yes. But I’d be happier if you’d tell her though.”
Luke chuckled and shook his head. “You never give up do you?”
“Guess where I got it from.”
Luke let out a long sigh and picked up the phone again. He pushed away the urge to call Laura again and dialed the number for his voice mail. There were a few old messages from Felicia. They said something about Mac getting obsessed with something, but he pretty much ignored them. Then a tear filled voice reached Luke’s ears.
“Luke? It’s… um… it’s Dani,” The young female voice said. “It’s Mom… she’s dead Luke.”
Luke’s face paled and he suddenly fought for breath.
“The doctors said it was an aneurysm… very sudden… but that’s only part of why I called. Mom left me a letter, and I need to talk to you about it. Please just come to Florida.”
Luke took a deep breath and set the receiver down. He had just been to see them a few weeks ago. He always visited them every time he left Port Charles, his best friend and his goddaughter.
~~~~~~ Flashback ~~~~~~
A few weeks ago
Florida
Luke opened the door to the house and dropped his bags noisily. “Guess who’s here?” He shouted.
The sounds of surprised voices and running feet were heard, quickly followed by the appearance of two women.
The older woman ran to him and hugged him and then hit him hard on the shoulder.
“OW! This is the kind of welcome I get?” he said trying to sound mad.
“You could have given me some warning!”
“Do I ever, Grace?” Luke said smiling.
Grace tried to look annoyed “No.”
“Why break tradition?” He said turning to the younger woman.
“How ya doin’ my little Dani girl?” Luke said hugging her.
Dani laughed. “Luke, I hate to break it to you, but I’m 22!”
“I can treat you like you’re five if I want to. Godfather’s prerogative.” Luke said laughing.
“So Luke, will you be around for awhile?” Dani asked wearing a teasing grin.
“I’ll at least be here for the night, why, you leaving already?” Luke said in mock pout.
“I have to work, but don’t worry I’ll be back tonight. You and Mom have fun.” Dani kissed Luke and her mother on the cheek and was out the door.
“I can’t believe she’s so grown up.” Luke said wistfully, thinking of how his son would never be that age.
“OK Luke, spill. What happened?” Grace said bluntly. She sat down on the couch and patted the cushion beside her.
Luke sat down and looked at her. And opened his mouth to lie to her.
“And don’t you dare insult my intelligence by telling me nothing’s wrong.” Grace softened her voice and leaned towards him. “Something happened Luke. You look dead inside. And I know only very few things could make you look like that.”
Luke’s body gave a slight shudder and tears sprang to his eyes as he looked at one of his oldest friends.
“It’s Lucky.” Luke drew in a deep breath. “He’s dead.”
“Oh Luke…” Grace couldn’t finish the thought, she just pulled him into her arms.
After a few minutes Luke pulled away.
“Why aren’t you with Laura?” Grace asked softly.
“She doesn’t need me.” Luke said putting up his normal walls.
“Are you still whining about this Stefan guy?” She asked exasperated.
“She’s with him Grace.” Luke said angrily.
“Luke, you love her. And remember who you’re talking to when you try to deny that.” Grace gave him a level look. “You’re letting your stupid pride get in your way like you always do. And as much as you preach about how fearless the great Luke Spencer is you’re scared.”
Luke started shaking his head to deny the accusation.
“You are! You’re scared that Laura doesn’t love you anymore, and you’re afraid of being rejected. So you’re here, moping, when you should be comforting your wife and trying to win her back!”
“Grace!” Luke said through gritted teeth.
“OK fine, if you want to be a baby about it, I’ll drop it. How’s Bobbie?” She asked smiling innocently.
~~~~~ End Flashback ~~~~~~
Luke had spent two nights there, if he had known it was the last time he would have seen her he would have stayed longer.
Grace was his best friend and the only friend from Florida he kept in touch with. Her husband had died when Dani was five, and that’s when Luke became a bigger part of their lives. He had taken Laura down to see them many times.
Grace always told him when he was being an idiot, and was always there for him when he needed her. Luke looked up, expecting to find comfort in his son’s smiling face but he was gone. Luke shook his head and picked up the phone to make plane reservations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Florida
Luke walked into the house just like he had done so many times before. And curled up on a chair was his beautiful goddaughter. She looked just like her mother with her knees pulled up to her chin like that and with her dark hair in her eyes.
She looked up and saw him and her eyes were filled with fresh tears.
“Oh Luke.” She got up and hugged him tightly.
“When?” He said as she pulled away.
“A few days ago, the doctors said it came out of nowhere. But that’s not the reason I asked you to come.”
Dani walked to the coffee table and picked up a letter.
“Mom left this for you.” Then she left the room so Luke could read the letter in peace.
Luke opened the letter slowly.
Dear Luke,
I can’t believe I’m writing one of these, I said I never would. Never say never, huh? I wanted to tell you this so badly when you told me about Lucky. I know I should have, but for some reason I couldn’t. But I did decide that you needed to know. I know, I know, I took the coward’s way out by telling you after I was dead. But what can I say; I always was a scaredy cat. Please don’t be mad at me. You’re Dani’s father. I married Joe after I found out I was pregnant, because I was scared. You had left for Port Charles and I knew Joe loved me. I wanted to tell you when Joe died, but by then you had Laura and I didn’t want to complicate your life. I think I did a pretty good job of raising my daughter, but she’s gonna need you. There was something else I didn’t tell you. I’m dying. That’s why I’m writing this letter now. The doctors say it’s a matter of weeks. Dani doesn’t know, and I don’t want her to. She’s gonna tell you that she’s old enough to take care of herself, and in some ways she’s right. But for the most part she’s just putting up a brave front. She’s scared and she needs her Dad.
She got a letter too, so by the time you read this she probably already knows you’re her father. Please take care of each other. I love you both so very much.
Grace
Luke looked up from his letter and into the eyes of his daughter. He couldn’t believe Grace had kept this from him.
“Dani…”
“I know you didn’t know about me Luke, it’s OK.” She said quietly.
She was being tough but Luke could see that this was killing her.
“I mean I’ve known you all my life and you’re just about the only father figure I’ve ever known so…”
Luke silently came up to her and hugged her. He could feel her body shaking with sobs.
“When I was little I wished I was your daughter.” She whispered.
“I always wished I was your father.”
Dani pulled back and looked at him questioningly, almost hopefully. Luke just nodded.
“When is the funeral?” Luke asked as Dani walked to the other side of the room.
“It was yesterday. I know you’re not big on funerals.” She said smiling sadly at him.
Luke nodded “You’re right.”
“So are you going to sell the house?”
Dani looked at him like he was crazy. “Why would I sell the house?”
“Because I want you to come back to Port Charles with me.”
“What?! No way, this is my home! I have a life here.” Dani said defiantly.
“Look I just found out that you’re my daughter so sue me if I want you with me!” Luke challenged. Dani turned to stalk out of the room.
“I want you to meet your baby sister.” Luke said quietly.
Dani stopped in her tracks and after a minute, slowly turned around. She had tears in her eyes as she did.
“And tell me stories about my brother?” She asked in a small voice.
Luke closed his eyes against the tears and nodded. He felt her arms around him and he hugged her back tightly. When he opened his eyes he saw his son standing on the far side of the room leaning on a bookcase and smiling.
Dani pulled away and saw Luke looking at something behind her. She turned and looked and saw nothing there, but she didn’t mention anything.
“So when do we leave?” She asked.
“Well, as soon as you can. But first I have to call my baby girl.” Luke said with the inevitable smile that always came when he thought of Lulu.
Dani smiled, “How about tomorrow morning?”
“So soon? I figured you’d want to settle things here first.” Luke said picking up the phone.
“My Mom’s boss said she’d handle it, I’ll just give her a number in Port Charles where she can reach me.”
Luke nodded as the melodic voice of his estranged wife came over the phone line.
“Hello?”
“Laura, it’s me.”
“Luke, I’m glad you called. Lulu was excited about hearing from you.”
“That’s good, could you put her on?”
“Sure.” There was a moment of silence and then a timid voice came through.
“Daddy?”
“Hey there Princess, how are you?” Luke said softly.
“Great! Nikki’s teaching me to roller blade. He said that Lucky was great at roller blading and that I could be too.” The little girl said excitedly.
“That’s great sweetie.” Luke said halfheartedly. “Well, honey I can’t talk long, but I’m coming home tomorrow.”
“Really!” Lulu exclaimed.
“Yep and I have a surprise for you. Now could you put your mommy back on the phone?”
A few moments later Laura’s voice came on the phone.
“Luke?”
“Laura I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“So soon? You’re usually gone for at least a few months.” Laura said, trying to sound casual.
“Well, something happened and I have some news.”
“Is it bad Luke? Are you all right?” Laura said not bothering to conceal her concern.
“I’m fine, but there is something I need to tell you tomorrow.”
“OK, well just come by when you get in town.”
“Sure, I’ll see you.”
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