~*~Chapter 47~*~
Luke storms into the house, slamming the door loudly behind him.
“Another dead end?” Laura asks, turning around on the couch to face him. He groans and stomps into the living room, throwing himself down next to her.
“I’m getting so sick of these wild goose chases, angel. I keep thinking the next one will be the real thing, but it never is.”
Laura rubs his shoulders, trying to help ease some of his tension. “Sooner or later, it will have to be the right one. She’s out there somewhere, and sooner or later, someone’s going to see her. Until then, all we can do is follow these tips and hope they lead us to her.”
“I know, but it’s so exhausting! Trekking to Canada and back isn’t exactly my idea of a grand time I had forgotten how cold it is up there!”
She chuckles and sits back, pulling him to lean against her. “Didn’t you say yourself that you don’t think she’s in the United States anymore? Maybe Canada’s on the right track. Or maybe she’s in Europe somewhere.”
Luke sighs in frustration. “This world’s just too damn big, you know that? How are we supposed to find one tiny little woman in that huge mess of people out there?”
“I don’t know, but we have to. I think the only think holding Lucky together right now is the thought that she’ll be found. If we give up....”
“No one’s giving up, baby, don’t worry. No matter how many tips come in, I’ll follow every last one of them if I have to. I just wish she could do something to help us find her.”
~*~
Francis opens the door to the penthouse and pokes his head in. “Mrs. Morgan,” he says as Carly brushes past him. He chuckles and closes the door.
“Hey Carly,” Lucky says from the couch, turning off the TV.
“Hey, little cousin,” she greets. “How’s it going?”
He shrugs. “Okay, I suppose. You here to see Sonny?”
“Nope, I’m here to see you.”
He looks at her suspiciously. “Come again?’
“What? I can’t visit my cousin without being questioned? “ she asked, acting offended.
“So, you’re just here solely to check on my well-being?” Lucky asked, still doubtful. “No other reason?”
“When did you get so suspicious?” she asks, dodging the question.
Lucky isn’t falling for it. “Our with it Caroline,” he says, staring her down.
Carly sighs. “You’ve been hanging around with Uncle Luke too long!”
“Well, he is my dad,” Lucky answers with a chuckle.
“Yeah, I know. Sorry about that, by the way. Anyway, I need someone to baby-sit Michael tonight, and there’s no one else around. Normally, I wouldn’t ask you because I know you’re still hurting, and being around kids doesn’t help, but I’m desperate. Please, Lucky, will you do this?”
“You know, seeing you beg almost makes it worthwhile,” he says, laughing at how pitiful she’s being.
“So you’ll do it?” she asks excitedly.
Lucky nods. “Sure, why not? Michael’s a cool kid, how hard can it be to watch him, right?”
“Right,” she says, bounding to the door. “Be there at seven, okay? Thanks again, Lucky. You’re my favorite cousin!”
“I’m your only cousin!” he shouts after her as the door closes. A minute later, it opens again.
“Miss Ardanowski,” Francis says, showing V inside.
“Hey, V,” Lucky says, smiling up at her from the couch. “Let me guess, it’s about the release party?”
“Big surprise, huh?” she asks, chuckling softly. “I just wanted to let you know it’s going to be at Jake’s.”
“Jake’s?” Lucky asks, trying not to look disgusted. “Why there? Isn’t it awfully small?”
V shrugs. “Maybe, but it’s got the right atmosphere, and besides, I promised Jake a long time ago. She let me book 98 Degrees in there a few years ago, and I swore that I’d let her have my first big artist.”
“And that’s me?” Lucky asks, still not sure he was as great as she always made him out to be.
“Of course it is!” she exclaims, walking to the door. “I have a million things to do before next week, so I have to run. I’ll call you later with the details. Bye, Lucky!”
“Bye!” he shouts after her, then sighs. The release party would be at Jake’s, the one place he didn’t want to go. Hopefully, Kimber wouldn’t be working that night.
~*~Chapter 48~*~
(Nothing much is going on over in Greece, so both chapters in this part are going to be about PC)
Kimber walks up to the bar and smiles warmly at her boos. “Hey, Jake, I was wondering if I could work tomorrow night.”
“You actually want to work? Most people try to avoid working when we have a band playing. Why the sudden interest?” Jake asks.
Kimber shrugs. “I just like to keep up on new music, that’s all. Plus, I could use the extra money. So, is it all right?”
Jake thinks for a minute. “Sure, I guess so. I’ll just give Ron the night off instead. He pulled a double for me last week, so it’s the least I can do.”
“Great! Thanks Jake!” Kimber says excitedly, then bounces away from the bar. This time, Lucky wouldn’t be able to ignore her.
~*~
“How are doing up there, honey?” Nikolas shouts up the stairs. Emily had been getting ready for Lucky’s release party for hours, and there was still no sign of her.
“Almost done,” she shouts back. “Just hold your horses! I’d like to see you try to get dressed up with a beach ball strapped to your stomach!”
Nikolas chuckles to himself and sits down to wait. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. He goes over and answers it, quickly hugging his parents as they come inside.
“Where’s Emily?” Laura asks, looking around the otherwise empty room.
“Still upstairs,” Nikolas answers. “Apparently, it’s much harder to get dressed when you’re pregnant.”
Laura smiles, nodding. “Oh yes, I remember that all too well. Why don’t we have a seat while we wait?”
The three make themselves comfortable on the couch as Emily continues to bustle around upstairs.
“So, how do you think this thing is going to go tonight?” Nikolas asks his parents, not quite sure what to expect. This is the first time Lucky will be performing without Elizabeth around, and it will most likely be pretty hard on him.
Laura sighs. “I don’t know. He claims he can do this, but I’m still kind of worried about him. But, I’m also extremely proud of him for moving on and doing this. I think it’s been good for him to have something to do to help take his mind off of everything.”
“Well, you have to admit, ever since he moved in with Sonny, he’s been doing a lot better,” Luke says. “He’s starting to seem more and more like his old self.”
“I know, I just wish he had found somewhere a little safer to live. Living with Sonny is just asking for trouble,” Laura mutters.
“Baby, we’ve been over this before. He likes staying there, he’s happy there. Plus, that penthouse is like a fortress. Sometimes I think it’s more heavily guarded than Fort Knox!”
“Someone should have reminded Brenda of that when she was getting shot at in his shower!” Laura grumbles.
“Okay, I’m ready, let’s get out of here!” Emily shouts as she comes down the stairs. Nikolas hurries over to help her, and they all head out the front door.
~*~
V opens the door to Lucky’s small dressing room and steps inside. “Almost time, Lucky. Is there anything else you need?”
“Um, some water would be good,” he says, trying to calm his nerves. “V, I don’t know if I can do this.”
V rushes over to him. “Oh no you don’t! You’re not backing out on me now. Come on, Lucky, we’ve worked too hard for this to throw it all away. I already agreed to let you do a short show, only a few songs, so please don’t run out on me now!”
Lucky sighs and looks up at her. “I know, and I appreciate everything you’ve done, I really do. It’s just that this is the first time I’ll be singing without Elizabeth in the audience. I don’t know if I can do it.”
“Lucky, listen to me.” She crouches down in front of his chair so they’re at the same eye level. “Your parents will be out there, your brother, Emily, all your other friends. I’ll be right in the front, too, cheering you on. If you have to, pretend I’m Liz. I don’t care what you have to do to get up on that stage and sing, but whatever it is, do it. Please?”
Sighing, Lucky turns to the mirror and studies his reflection. “Fine. I’ll try, but that’s all I can promise.”
“Thank you!” V says, hugging him quickly before leaving. “I’ll get that water now.”
Once she’s gone, he leans forward and really looks at himself. His eyes seem to be perpetually bloodshot these days, and his face is pale and thin. “What have you gotten yourself into this time, Spencer?” he asks softly, starting to regret ever signing with L&B.
There’s a soft knock on his door. “Come in!”
The door opens, then closes again. “I heard you needed some water,.”
Lucky groans at the familiar voice and turns around to glare at the visitor. “What do you want, Kimber?”
Kimber smiles sweetly and holds out the glass of water to him. “I’m just doing my job, that’s all. Have a good show. I’ll be out there, cheering for you.”
He takes the glass and sighs. “Fine, you do that. Now, can you please leave? I need to finish getting ready.”
“Of course,” she says, backing out of the room. She closes the door behind her and makes her way back to the bar. “You haven’t seen the last of me yet, Lucky Spencer,” she mutters under her breath.
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