Where Will All Come Home?

Chapter 17

Laura couldn't hide her astonishment at Helena's appearance. "Trolling?" She stared at Luke, openmouthed. "Tonight?"

"This might not be the best night, Helena," Luke replied casually. "The joint's gonna be full of police-types tonight. At least that's the word on the street. You wouldn't wanna, ya know, make a friend, and discover he really wanted to haul you downtown, now wouldja?"

Helena laughed musically. Laura's face showed no change in expression, but her spine reacted as if icy droplets of winter rain trickled down its length.

"I could be talked into an early departure in exchange for a little information," Helena smiled slyly. "The individual you were discussing....What brought him back to town?"

Luke blinked at the overhead light, and answered carefully. "If you overheard the first part of the conversation, then you should know that's a question we can't answer. All we know is that Lulu thinks this guy 's sad, and asked her mom to help him." He spread his hands out, and shrugged. "You know as much as we do."

Helena's hooded eyes were fixed on Luke's. "His last name.... place of residence...any other particulars you can supply?"

Luke shook his head. "Don't know. Don't even know if Lulu's right about the guy. He just walked in one night. She took a shine to him, I guess."

Helena directed her gaze toward Laura. "And you?"

"I don't know this man at all. I've never met him."

"Odd," Helena muttered.

Laura tossed her head. "What's your interest in this guy? Who is he? If he's some pal of yours, I sure don't want Lulu involved with him."

Helena smiled slowly. "I saw him the night Lulu did. I found him interesting. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Laura gazed silently at her old enemy.

Helena continued archly. "Never send a foolish girl to do a woman's job. He's no concern of yours, but I intend to make him a concern of my own. Don't interfere with my amusements."

Laura raised a dangerous eyebrow, but remained silent.

Helena smiled once more. "A fair warning, my dear. You have nothing this man needs." She picked up her purse and nodded at Luke. "I'll be off now."

She sauntered across the bar, turning at the door to blow a kiss toward Luke. "Au revoir, cher Luke." She opened the door and disappeared into the gently swirling mist settling over the harbor.

Laura shivered uncontrollably. Luke touched her arm gently. "It'll be okay," he reassured her.

She turned her troubled face toward him, but made no answer. Luke took her arm. "I need some fresh air. How about I walk you down to the launch?"

She picked up her coat from a nearby chair, pulled it on and tucked her scarf around her throat."Sure. Thanks." He took her elbow, and they in turn opened the door and were abruptly swallowed by the night.

__ __ __

On Thanksgiving morning, Laura raced downstairs toward the kitchen. Although she was sure that Mrs. Lansbury had everything under control, that lady appreciated the mistress of the house's attention and praise. There were always last minute details to discuss before the arrival of guests. Today Stefan would want everything to be perfect for Alexis's visit, and Laura wanted to assure herself that the seating arrangements Mrs. Lansbury had planned were appropriate. In other words, she wanted to be sure that Luke was as far from Stefan as humanly possible.

Entering the kitchen she heard Lulu's chirpy voice. "Would you like me to stir, Mrs. Lansbury?"

"Very well, Lesley Lu. But stand on your stool. That way it's not such a long stretch. It wouldn't do to get hurt on Thanksgiving morning!"

"I'll be very careful," the child promised.

"Good morning," Laura called out as she came in. " Could I help you, Mrs. Lansbury?"

Mrs. Lansbury's eyes twinkled. "A few questions, Mrs. Cassadine. Sit down at the table. I'll bring coffee. We'll review the menu and seating arrangements."

Laura winked at Lulu, dug in her pocket, and pulled out an elastic band.

"Thought I'd find you here," she said calmly as she pulled her daughter's hair back and secured it with the band.

Lulu wrinkled her nose. "You're always afraid that my hair will fall in the food!"

Laura grimaced. "Just careful. Knew somebody who got burned once when they were cooking. Not pretty."

Lulu sighed. "Okay. I know it's not safe to let long hair hang over the stove. Sorry, Mommy." She pivoted on her stool to kiss her mom's face.

Laura kissed the tip of her nose, then seated herself at the table just as Mrs. Lansbury and the coffee arrived.

Mrs. Lansbury handed her the menu, seated herself across the table, and waited for comments.

"Excellent as always," Laura said after giving the menu the attention she felt Mrs. Lansbury expected. "I see that you substituted green beans for asparagus."

"Yes, ma'am. I wasn't pleased with the asparagus we were offered."

"I think that Mr. Cassadine will be very satisfied. I am." Laura smiled, and sipped the excellent coffee.

"Thank you. And now if you'll have a look at seating chart, please."

Laura took the chart from Mrs. Lansbury, and moved her right index finger over the graph. Luke was seated between Lucky and Lesley Lu, and at such an angle that he and Stefan would have difficulty making eye contact easily. "This looks fine." She paused and looked again. "But haven't you planned for too many people?"

"No, ma'am. Mr. Spencer called this morning. He and Miss Alexis are bringing an out of town guest. I assumed that you knew." She pursed her lips.

"No! No, I didn't know, but.... " Laura quickly glanced at Lulu who had stopped stirring to watch the ladies talk, "but, it's fine, Mrs. Lansbury. Did he say who the guest was?"

"A Mr. Stuart I believe, ma'am. I have seated him across from Mr. Spencer. I thought that the gentleman might be more comfortable seated near someone he knows. He will also be near you, since you are seated at that end of the table."

"That's fine, Mrs. Lansbury. I want any guest to feel welcome, and if he's nearby, that makes it easier for me to see that he's comfortable."

"Perhaps you would make Mr. Cassadine aware...." Mrs. Lansbury hesitated.

"Yes, of course." Laura glanced up as the kitchen door creaked open and her mother came through.

Laura jumped up and greeted Lesley with a big hug and kiss. "Mom! Good morning! Come sit down and let us spoil you a little." She pulled her mother over to the table.

Mrs. Lansbury had already gone for another coffee cup. By the time Lesley was seated, Mrs. Lansbury had returned with coffee, cream and a plate heaped with homemade scones.

"Oh, Mrs. Lansbury. You know my every weakness!" Lesley grinned at the cook while she poured cream into her coffee.

Mrs. Lansbury smiled as she walked away to hover over Lulu at the stove.

"Morning, piglet." Lesley grinned at her busy granddaughter.

Laura reached across the table, covering her mother's free hand with both her own. "We missed you so much. I was beginning to be afraid you'd miss Thanksgiving. What's so great about Memphis?" she demanded laughingly.

Lesley smiled and gripped Laura's hands with her own. "Nothing about Memphis was better than being here. Nothing is more important to me than you and our family. Nothing." She emphasized the word.

"Well, good!" Laura responded with another smile, which soon turned into a frown.

"But what's made you so tired-looking? You have circles under your eyes, and you've lost a couple of pounds too."

Mrs. Lansbury, at the sink now, thought that Mrs. Cassadine understated the change in her mother's appearance. Dr. Webber looked positively gray-faced and exhausted. She idly wondered if the woman were ill. Mrs. Cassadine would be heart-broken if that were the case.

"It was a great conference There was so much to see and do. So much to learn." Lesley avoided answering Laura's question.

Laura patted her mother's hand again, and didn't pursue the question.

Lesley added, as if it were irrelevant, "Did I tell you that I saw Rick when I called?"

"No," Laura responded quietly. "Did you guys talk?"

"Yes. A little. Ginny was with him, you know. Seeing the sights while he attended the conference. I got an update on Mike. He's doing well." Lesley 's voice trailed off.

Laura rose, walked across the kitchen and returned with butter and jam. "It must have been difficult for you."

"It's been a long time. I have many regrets, Laura. Many. But at the present, Rick isn't one of them." Lesley patted Laura's hand absently. "I'm going to get showered and changed for the day. Then I'm going to take Sergei out for a while. Okay?"

Laura said, "Sure. He would love it. He's upstairs playing with Stefan, but they should be down soon."

Lesley turned toward the stove. "Lulu, do you want to leave Mrs. Lansbury to her own resources and come with me? I have lots of pictures to show you! You can look at them while I get ready. Okay?"

Lulu jumped off the stool with alacrity. "Yes! I was waiting so patiently for the pictures you promised. I almost popped!" She pranced with excitement.

I thought so." said Lesley. "Let's go!" The little girl hugged her grandmother impetuously, and took her hand. As they went out the door, Laura heard Lulu asking. "How did they train those ducks ? Could I train my chickens?

__ __ __

The morning passed more quickly than Laura could have imagined. Nikolas woke up and had a light breakfast before joining Stefan for a ride. Stefan took Laura's hasty explanation of Luke's unexpected guest with such a saintly mein that Laura wondered at his phenomonal forbearance. Then Lucky and Liz tumbled in the door from Audrey's house, and ran upstairs to play pool. The loud music that floated down the stairs made Mrs. Lansbury wince visibly, but Laura laughed when she saw that unflappable lady stop in a corner, insert ear plugs, and continue about her duties in her usual serene manner.

By the time Lesley had returned with the younger children, and Laura had supervised baths and changes of clothes for each of them and freshened up herself, Stefan and Nikolas had returned and gone upstairs to dress also. Lucky and Liz finally ended their raucous game, after each loudly pronounced the other to be the winner, and likewise retired to ready themselves for the family feast.

Laura seated herself in front of the fireplace to watch Sergei play. She idly counted her many blessings in the moment of calm before the family came down. The boys were doing well at school. Lucky and Liz were happier than ever. Lulu and Luke seemed to have finally come to terms with each other. The Welfare officer had called yesterday to tell her that the allegations against Luke had been investigated, and no further action was planned. She smiled to herself. Hangover or not, he must have used all his charm on the social workers who visited his bar. Her mind strayed back to the night she had sobered him up just before the case workers had arrived. What had Helena's threats about staying away from that man Lulu liked meant? Laura was puzzling over this question when Mrs. Lansbury escorted Luke, Alexis, and their guest into Wyndemere.

Laura jumped up. "Welcome!" she said. She gave Alexis and Luke a little hug, and extended her hand to their companion. Luke introduced him as a Mr. Stuart.

"Call me Stu, please." her unexpected guest said. "It's so good of you to have me here on short notice."

"We're delighted that you could share the holiday with us. Come sit down. May I offer you a drink? " Laura showed the man a chair, and turned to Luke. She raised her eyebrows in a private message of indignation meant for him alone, but her voice remained light and pleasant. That of the perfect hostess. "Lucky and Liz should be right down. They'll be delighted to see you."

"Great!" said Luke. He made a mental note to avoid private conversation with Laura. She had a dangerous look about her. The temptation to bring Stu had been too great when he had run into him again the night before. Helena couldn't have been serious about threatening Laura to stay away from the guy. And how often did he get an opportunity of this type? A chance to stick it to Cassadine but good. All under the guise of holiday peace and goodwill. What could be more enjoyable?

Lulu ran in from the kitchen where she had returned to assist Mrs. Lansbury. "Daddy!" she called out and ran to give Luke a big hug.

Sergei, who had been seated on the rug with a selection of favorite toys chose this moment to howl. One moment he had been quietly playing, the sole object of his doting mother's attention. Now there were strangers, loud talking, noise. His small face puckered in confusion, he wailed for his mother, leaning toward her, great eyes beseeching, arms held straight out.

"Oh, baby, it's okay." She swung him up in her arms, and he buried his face against her neck.

Alexis came over, and gently began trying to coax the baby into looking at her.

Seated quietly across the room, Stu wondered if his face expressed any of the astonishment that welled up within him. Here he was, the lonely childless widower of a few weeks ago... a man who faced the end of his own mortal life with little concern, but the loss of his steady hand on his family's business with sincere consternation. Now, literally overnight, everything had changed. He was a father and a grandfather. A grandfather four times. This comical, red-faced infant, the youngest of his three grandsons, was rapidly relaxing thanks to the cossetting offered by his mother and aunt. Here, for the first time in his life, he sat, on Thanksgiving Day in his own daughter's house. He was so transfixed at the thought that it was some time before he realized that Lulu was speaking to him.

A concerned Lulu shook his arm. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Yes, of course. My mind just wandered a bit. What a pleasure to see you today, my dear."

"I'm so glad to see you! Would you like me to show you around our island, Mr. Stu?" Lulu asked.

"Yes. Thank you very much, Lulu."

"Good," said Lulu. "Right after lunch when everyone else is stuffed, we'll go out. Don't eat too much!" she added warningly. "That'll slow us down."

"I won't," he smiled.

Stefan and Nikolas came downstairs followed by Lesley, Lucky and Liz. After exchanging a few awkward greetings and cursory introductions, Mrs. Lansbury entered the room.

"Dinner is served, sir," she said formally to Stefan as he turned from greeting Luke and his unexpected guest.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lansbury." He responded with equal formality, taking Laura's arm as he politely invited their guests to join them. Sergei leaned over his mother's shoulder, green eyes wide, and stared like a small, uncertain owl as the party decorously followed them into the dining room.

__ __ __

After the meal, family members relaxed all about the house and grounds. Lulu secured Stu's company and took him on an exhaustive tour of the house and grounds. Stu relaxed and enjoyed her carefree companionship.

So much time to make up for. He was happy to meet every horse, cat, dog and chicken that she could muster. He and Lesley would speak to their daughter later today, this evening they hoped. Only the afternoon to pass. He wondered what Laura would think when she found out the truth: that her father was alive and had never known that she also lived. Cassadine was uneasy, fearful of causing his wife more pain, but Stu and Lesley felt that it was imperative that she be told immediately. Lesley was exhausted from the strain of hiding the secret and anticipation of her daughter's reaction, while Stu simply longed with all his heart to claim his child and grandchildren.

Lulu's tour ended finally in the rose garden, where they found Lesley sitting alone on a bench. Lesley invited Stu to join her for a tour of the garden and Lulu, soon bored with their adult discussion, made her way indoors to find Liz, whom she adored.

Inside Wyndemere, Stefan and Alexis sat side by side on the sofa downstairs, chatting and reminiscing.

As Lulu came in the door, she heard Alexis ask, "Isn't Thanksgiving an odd holiday, Stefan? What's the point besides eating yourself into a stupor?"

He laughed, but answered quite seriously, "Harvest festivals are common to cultures spanning the entire globe, as you well know. The overeating is indicative of the sure knowledge that food supplies...."

"Stop! Stop!" She covered her ears. "I know. I know. But you have to admit, feasts and holidays were not so much fun in Greece!"

"Well, certainly not at home." Stefan smiled wryly. "Our best holidays always revolved around the absence of family. We had some good times on our own though, didn't we?"

"Like the summer you learned how to send me down the dumbwaiter into the wine cellar?" Alexis grinned, then suddenly whacked his shoulder with one hand. "There were spider webs and other creepy-crawly.... " Words failed her. "You know." She waved a hand. "Thingies."

He arched a brow. "Alas. What has exposure to popular American culture done to your vocabulary? Now, I must stand accused of permitting you to be menaced by "thingies?"

Both burst into laughter.

Across the room, Luke, Laura and Lucky stood together talking.

"No, Luke," Laura laughed. "That's not the way it happened. We were in North Africa, but you've gotten the towns mixed up. Remember, Lucky? The awful food in that little open air market?"

"Yeah, Mom's right, Dad. Don't you remember? We left and moved on to the next town. That's the one you're thinking about.... where we rented those awful rooms from sleazy guy. You know the one with the long, droopy mustaches." Lucky gestured to indicate how far the mustaches had hung, then he laughed suddenly. "You kept telling him how mulish and ill-tempered Mom was. How often you had to beat her to keep her in line."

Laura looked shocked. "Really, Luke?"

"Yeah, man. He thought you were hot. I had to convince him that killing me to get you wasn't worth his trouble."

The trio burst into laughter.

Lulu, who had been watching them in fascination from the vantage point of Liz's lap, looked around the room, and spotted Nikolas slipping upstairs. She looked back at Luke, Laura, and Lucky, who had begun another hilarious round of stories, then got up and followed, moving slowly, watching her parents and brother over her shoulder until she reached the staircase. Once at the staircase, she turned and quietly followed her older brother upward.

Across the room, Alexis gestured toward Luke, Laura, and Lucky. "They're having a good time over there." She looked quizzically at Stefan. "Maybe a little too good?"

A serene Stefan returned her gaze. "It is good for Lucky to remember happy moments from his childhood. I only wish that Nikolas had more such memories. I regret the dearth of family holidays and joyful occasions in his life."

"No one could have done a better job with Nikolas," she asserted.

"Their conversation will not last much longer," Stefan responded with a certain air of satisfaction, watching Laura and Luke. "I am not the only Cassadine with power over Laura. One of my most valuable allies is growing restless." He looked down at Sergei, who was gnawing a toy with a dissatisfied look on his face. "He is sleepy, and likes to nurse this time of day. Soon he will demand her attention."

Alexis watched quietly, and Sergei responded as her brother had predicted, importunately calling his mother in a succession of urgent sounding calls. Laura excused herself and crossed the room. Stefan picked up Sergei and the three of them walked away quietly together.

Luke joined Alexis, and patted her leg. "Have you seen Lulu?" he asked, looking idly around the room. "I thought that she was here."

"She was, but she followed Nikolas upstairs. About five minutes ago." Alexis checked her watch to be sure of the time.

"Okay," Luke grunted.

"There's a rule against eavesdropping in this house," Alexis added.

"And?" Luke asked.

"I like your daughter," Alexis answered obliquely, "Not just because she's your kid. For herself."

Luke grunted again.

"She did something today I never expected to see a Spencer do," Alexis continued.

Luke raised an eyebrow.

"She put Nikolas first. I think that he felt left out. She saw and followed him. Whatever it is that they're saying to each other...."

"You think that breaking the eavesdropping rule would be in my best interests?"

Alexis looked away toward the fire for a moment. "Yes," she said thoughtfully. "I think there was a question waiting for Lulu. It may have found her today. If I'm right, she'll tell Nikolas."

Luke uncoiled his long frame, and stood up slowly. "I'm probably about to eavesdrop on a game of "Go Fishing," but whatever....." He carefully surveyed the area for watchers, and seeing none, headed upstairs.

Alexis placed a protective hand over her abdomen and stared into the fire.

Where Will All Come Home?

Chapter 18

Sneaking down the second floor hallway, Luke snorted to himself. He couldn't imagine that he would hear anything of importance from eavesdropping on Lulu and Nik.

He slowed as he turned the corner to Stefan's study. There. That's where they were. With the ease of long practice, he moved quietly toward the door, eyes alert for any sign that his presence had been noted.

Within Stefan's study, Lulu was curled up on the sofa by Nikolas, her head against his shoulder.

"It must have been tough for Lucky when Mommy and Daddy broke up, huh, Nik?" Lulu was asking.

"Yeah." Nikolas answered in a monotone. "It was."

"Worse for you to grow up without Mommy," Lulu added thoughtfully. "But you had Papa and Mrs. Landsbury and Aunt Alexis." Lulu had thought of this many times, but a life without her mother made no more sense to her than life without sunlight. She could not fathom it.

"I was okay," said Nikolas, "most of the time."

"How could you have been okay without your mommy?"

Nikolas tightened his left arm around her shoulder. "It was hard, but I had Father. I loved him more than I can say. I still do. " He went on, "But I always felt badly about ruining Lucky's family. After we came to Port Charles, they were never happy again.

Lulu looked up into his face. "That wasn't your fault, Nikolas. You came to save me. You needed your mom."

He looked away from her, toward the fireplace. "You saw what they were like downstairs. Laughing and talking. That's the way they used to be. They were very happy."

Lulu nodded. "It looked like they were having so much fun." she added wistfully. "But, I'm not sorry that I don't remember that," she continued fiercely. "It doesn't matter. I didn't miss anything. I have you, Papa, Sergei, Mommy, and Grandma Lesley....."

"Don't." Nikolas interrupted. "Don't lie. Not to me. Not to yourself."

Lulu's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed.

"You looked at them today and wondered what it would've been like. If they'd stayed together, I mean. What fun you might have had. Admit it."

"Maybe. A little..." Lulu said quietly, "but," she continued stoutly, "you can't miss something you never had. I feel sorry for Lucky. I bet it was hard on him, but..."

"Of course you can miss something you never had!" Nikolas added with authority. "Of course you can!" His voice became gentler. " You can also decide to be thankful for what you do have. Not to waste time being bitter about what you might have missed."

He turned and held her by both shoulders. "I don't want you to lie to yourself. I don't want you to waste even one day pretending that you don't wonder what it might have been like if your mom and dad had stayed together. It's okay to wonder about that.

"Pretending makes people angry and bitter. Sometimes they get all twisted up inside - so twisted up that they can't tell what's true from what's not. You can choose to be happy, but you can't make that choice if you're lying to yourself. Do you understand me?" Nikolas stroked her hair.

Lulu stood up on her knees on the sofa and wrapped her arms around her brother. "Yes, I think so. But Nik, this is the way it is for me. You are my beginning."

"If you hadn't come to Port Charles, I wouldn't have any life to worry about. Lucky might have kept his family, but you wouldn't have found yours. I would have died. Sergei wouldn't ever have been born."

Nikolas buried his face in her hair, so she wouldn't see his tears. It smelled of baby shampoo, of comfort, and home. All the strangeness of the day - Luke and Alexis at the dinner table, the surprise guest whom he was sure meant nothing but more trouble - for a moment, none of it mattered.

"I love you so, Nikolas," she whispered and kissed him.

In the hallway, Luke shoved his hands across his eyes hard, and took a deep breath. His acquaintance with scripture was of the hit and miss variety, but he knew there was a verse about a little child leading them somewhere.

He straightened up, lifted a hand, hesitated with it in midair, then finally knocked on the doorframe. Lulu and Nik looked up. They had been so engrossed in their conversation that neither had been aware that they might have been overheard.

"Excuse me for disturbin' you, but I was just lookin' for ya, Lulu," Luke began awkwardly. He stopped for a moment, like a hurdler eying the distance before his last, most important trial. The antique clock ticking on the far wall seemed to mark eons rather than seconds. He felt the palpable tension emanating from Nikolas, who wiped his face with as much nonchalance as he could muster.

"I overheard a little of what you two said. It occurred to me that I'd never properly thanked you for savin' Lulu's life. Or for bein' such a fine brother to Lucky either, for that matter." Luke put out his hand toward Nikolas.

For a few, long seconds Nikolas looked at the proffered hand in disbelief. Then he extended his own.

Lulu watched the men shake hands, then hurled herself at Luke. "I am the thankfullest girl in the whole world!" she proclaimed.

Luke swung her up into his arms, and pressed her close to him, kissing the side of her head. He looked at Nikolas before he replied in an unusually gentle tone. "You did okay when they handed out brothers."

__ __ __ __ __


After Sergei was tucked into bed, Laura gently closed the door to the nursery and made her way down the hall. Turning the corner, she waited for a member of the security staff to head upstairs. On a day like this, Stefan would not permit any of the children to remain unaccompanied for long. He felt that confused comings and goings of guests and the excesses of holiday merriment were an invitation for kidnappers or terrorists. She nodded at the steady young man who passed her on his way to the nursery. Her baby would be in good hands. She could relax.

Stefan was alone in the conservatory. He leaned toward the fire, idly poking it. He tossed the poker back in place with unusual force, straightened up, turned, and saw her at the top of the stairs. His heavy-lidded eyes lit up. His brilliant smile diminished, but could not conceal the tell-tale circles under his eyes, the lines of tension in his face. She saw what a casual observer would almost surely miss. There was something very wrong with her stoic husband.

Her hand trailed down the bannister as she made her slow descent into the room. Once she reached the foot of the stairs, she steeled herself for the confrontation she had delayed too long. "All alone?" she asked.

He answered her question with a grave smile. "Yes. Alexis walked down to the stables. I'm not sure where the others are. She said that Luke is with Nikolas and Lesley Lu. It seems improbable, but...." He shrugged expressively. "I am not sure where they might be."

"I'm sure they're fine." She nodded, then stepped closer. "I promised myself not to do this. But when I came downstairs and saw you ...." Laura began. "I can't wait. Tell me what's wrong."

He cupped her face in one hand. "You know me too well. It terrifies me."

Her eyes searched his. "I can't help it. I'm frightened. You said that woman died of natural causes, but there's more. About that woman's death or maybe something else. Please tell me."

He took his hand away from her face and turned back toward the fire. "I am keeping a secret. One which is not mine to divulge."

"A secret that concerns us, our family?" she asked.

"Yes." He turned around, and tears glinted in his eyes.

Butterflies danced in her stomach. The room shifted off its moorings and the floor swayed beneath her feet. She gasped and stepped backwards, away from her husband. This was clearly worse than anything she had expected.

The bright blue eyes gleamed against her ashen face. Her voice trembled. "Will you stay with me?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Will things between us change, because of this secret?" The painful uncertainty in her voice shredded his composure.

"No! Fate could not be that cruel!" He pulled her toward him. "Nothing could change the way I feel about you!" He wrapped his arms around her, and kissed the nape of her neck. "Never doubt that."

When Luke, Lulu, and Nikolas came downstairs they found them there, entwined in each other's arms, oblivious to anyone else.


___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Fortunately, before anyone could become embarrassed, Lucky and Liz flew in the doorway, flushed from racing each other across the island.

"It's time for "Miracle on 34th Street!" Liz said. "It's a must do on Thanksgiving. We're on our way to Gram's to watch it, and wondered if we could take Lulu."

Lulu's eyes widened.

"It's fine with me," Laura said.

"I need to talk with father privately," Nikolas encouraged her. "Why don't you go with them?"

"Alexis and I are about to take off, so go ahead." Luke grinned at Lulu.

"Are you meeting us later, Nik? asked Lucky.

"Yeah, I'll call you in about an hour, and we'll decide where and when."

"Okay, then. We're set." Lucky turned to his mother. "Mom, Stefan, thanks for the great dinner. We'll call tomorrow."

"Good. We'll come pick Lulu up later ourselves. Wenders has the night off."

Stefan added, "They are lighting the town Christmas Tree in the square at 8:00. Lesley Lu, your mother and I will pick you up at Mrs. Hardy's house and take you to see the festivities, if that would please you."

"Yes! Thank you so much!" Lulu hugged Stefan and Laura before scampering out the door with Liz and Lucky.

Laura returned from seeing them out and said, "Stefan, why don't you and Nikolas talk here? I'll just pick up a shawl. Luke and I'll go out in the rose garden. We need to have a private word also."

Luke rolled his eyes heavenward and wondered idly where Stu had gotten off to. There was no escaping Laura now. She had been superficially charming all afternoon, but one disadvantage of a long marriage was the ability to see when the other person's irritation had escalated from slow simmer to a furious, rolling boil. He was about to get scorched and knew it. He followed Laura outside reluctantly. Knowing that he deserved the tongue-lashing he expected didn't make anticipation of the pain any more pleasant.

__ __ __ __ __

As soon as the door closed behind Luke and Laura, Nikolas began. "I had hoped that you would bring this affair out into the open, but I can't wait any longer to address this issue. What are you and Luke doing to Mother?"

Stefan's brows drew down into a puzzled 'V' shape. He crossed his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. "This has been a most exhausting holiday. You aren't the first to feel compelled to unburden yourself to me. However, in your case, I find myself both bewildered and insulted. Under what circumstances can you imagine that Luke and I would work together against your mother? The very idea is ludicrous."

Nikolas's dark eyes flashed with anger. "You let Luke bring his so-called guest here today. What could be the point of that?"

"I believe that Luke still thinks that we are in someway responsible for the death of the gentleman's wife. He probably enjoyed the idea of unsettling me on a holiday."

"How could Luke be that oblivious to the obvious?" Nikolas snarled.

"What is obvious? Last time you were home you made some vague accusations and stormed out. Perhaps," Stefan continued coldly, "You might be more direct. I too, am tired of waiting. Tired of waiting for you to come to the point. What are you talking about?"

"Luke's guest. Mother's father. My grandfather. Why did you find him? He never wanted us before. Why now?"

Stefan's eyes narrowed. "How did you come to this conclusion?" He looked around the room cautiously before moving closer to Nik, and laying a hand on his arm.

"Son, speak quietly. How did you find out?"

__ __ __ __ __

Outside in the garden, Luke brushed some debris from a stone bench before sitting down. "I might as well make myself as comfortable as possible," he said.

"How could you bring that man here today? You heard Helena threaten me. "

"You've never let her dictate your life before," Luke answered lazily. He looked at her through half-closed eyes.

Laura paced up and down the path in front of her ex-husband. "How much do you know about him?" she asked. "What's in it for you?"

He shrugged innocently.

"I know you. You had a reason for bringing him here today."

"His wife died recently. I thought that he might like a home-cooked meal."

"His wife died?" Laura stopped pacing. "That's terrible, but..."

"In Cambridge," Luke continued. "Sudden death. Just fell over at a party."

Laura's eyes narrowed. "Oh, my God. This is the family.... You're trying to convince this man that Stefan killed his wife?"

Luke squinted into the reddened sun. The day was beginning to die. "Actually, Stu's convinced that the death was natural, but I've never trusted Stefan. Never will," he added icily. "It amused me to watch your beloved squirm today. I know him well enough to know that he's up to somethin.' I just don't know what. That's all."

"Luke, you've taken a terrible risk for no good reason. Helena hates me. She specifically told me not to get involved with this man. You know how lethal she is. We're too old to play dangerous games for no reason."

"Yeah." He scratched his upper lip thoughtfully. "I guess I should ask him some questions. See what he's really up to here. I don't get her interest in him myself."

Laura added "Could this Stu be working for Helena? It's unusual for a man of his age to make friends with a little girl like Lulu. Could he be part of some scheme to hurt her or get to us through her?"

"Perhaps," a quiet voice answered from beyond the hedge, "your questions should be directed to me."

Stu and Lesley walked through the open gate and faced Laura.

Chapters 15-16

Chapters 19-20

Where Will All Come Home?
Index