Chapter Seventeen
Lucas sat across from Diane Clarke wondering if he had made a mistake. He hadn’t told Tucker what he was doing, knowing that his husband would totally be against it. It was a couple of weeks after Ethan had given birth to Ariel and Gabriella when he found out that Rochelle’s parents were filing a suit against Tucker for what they thought was their daughter’s house. Lucas wanted to follow Tucker’s advice to leave things alone, but he couldn’t.
Lucas, more than anyone, knew how Tucker felt about the home he shared with his late wife. And truthfully, he was also falling in love with the house. He was adding his own personal touches here and there, even though he and Zoi hadn’t fully moved in yet. But he considered the house as his.
“Why did you call me here, Mister Hamilton?”
“It’s Hamilton-Stevens,” he said correcting her and didn’t miss her wince. “What’s the real reason you’re trying to get the house? Because if it’s money you want I'll write you a check right now.”
“Money won’t fix everything, Mister Hamilton.”
“Hamilton-Stevens,” he said correcting her again without missing a beat. “No, it won’t. So, let me rephrase the question. Tucker’s been living in that home alone for so long mourning the death of his wife and daughter, and the second he found some happiness you show up. So why now?”
“He doesn’t deserve happiness,” she said looking down at her glass of water and Lucas wanted to throw it in her face but refrained from doing so. “Not after what he did to my sister.”
“What did he do to her? From what I can tell, he loved her with everything in him. Or is it a crime to love someone?’
“He took her away from us,” she snapped.
“No, your fucking prejudice and ignorance did that,” Lucas snapped back. Her brown eyes blazed with fire, but she didn’t deny it. “You saw his color, and instead of accepting the man your sister loved, you judged him. Look around, the world is filled with diversity and it’s not going to change so fucking deal with it.” They glared at each other and Lucas could see nothing he said about Tucker would change her small mind. “I had my lawyers look over the deed on the house. If you took this to court, you and your parents would lose everything. Tucker’s name is the only one on the documents—the only name that's ever been on the deed.” She looked up at him and then back down to her water glass. “You already knew that didn’t you?”
“Yes, I knew,” she answered then smirked. “Roe told me he bought it for her. I remember the first time I saw it; it wasn’t the house it is now. It was a dump. There were so many things wrong with it; I thought he was crazy to want to buy it. The roof leaked, only cold water came out when you turned on the faucets, and there was this ugly peach carpet—or maybe it was white at one time—but either way the carpet was ugly. But Roe saw something different, love was what she said. She saw love. Over time, Tucker would fix things by himself, and for the harder jobs, he’d hire someone to do it. When Roe found out she was pregnant. Tucker worked day and night to make sure Laura’s room was completely finished before she was born.” She stopped speaking then looked up at Lucas. “I know what it seems like, and true at first I saw Tucker’s color, but my sister loved him, and one day she was gone, and he wasn’t there. He was at that blasted house while his wife and daughter were dying.”
“So you blame Tucker for something he couldn’t control? Did you forget that Tucker lost three people he loved that day too? How fucking selfish are you, lady? You just admitted that Tucker practically built that house with his own two hands, and now you feel that you have the right to take away the one thing he’s cherished since his wife and daughter died? Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“You’re rich, why don’t you buy him a new house since you like to throw money around.” She scowled.
“Not the fucking point.” He refrained from calling her a derogatory name simply because his mother taught him better.
“Doesn’t it make you angry that he wants you to live with him in the house they shared together?”
“I don’t see why it should be a matter of thought.”What the hell is wrong with this chick?
“Because that house is where my sister seemed the happiest and he still has a piece of her happiness . . .” Tears streamed down her cheeks; she used the napkin and dabbed the corner of her eyes.
“And you don’t, is that it? You think you don’t have your sister and Tucker has her in the home they shared.” Lucas sighed and shook his head. “Listen, I know what it feels like to lose someone you love and not be able to let them go. I lost my wife a couple of years ago, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about her. But I’m learning, no, I’ve learned to let her go. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but it is something we have to do, or we will never be able to let anyone in. I’m not exactly sure what you want from Tucker but taking the house he lived in with your sister is not the answer. As a matter of fact, Tucker isn’t even an issue where you and your family are concerned. He’s mine.”
Lucas stood and looked down at her as he reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash even though they didn’t eat anything. She looked up at him and then down to his stomach then back to his face.
“I say this with no malice. Drop the lawsuit because we will take everything you and your parents own.” He walked out of the restaurant not looking back. He got in his car and headed home to his husband and daughter.
* * *
Tucker openedthe front door and was greeted with a happy two-year-old jumping in his arms before he could step fully into the house. Tucker realized that while he’s at work he can't wait to get home and how much he needed both Lucas and Zoi in his life. Lifting her in his arms, he kissed her cheek making her giggle before kissing him back.
“Hey, baby girl, did you have fun today?”
“Uh huh, paid wit Daddy an Casey at park."
“Yes, and you also made a big mess,” Lucas said walking into the room.
Tucker dropped his case to the floor and closed the door. “Hey,” he said leaning down, kissing his husband on the lips then wrapping his free arm around his waist, pulling him closer and taking their kiss deeper. They pulled back slowly, and he couldn’t remove the smile off his face. “I was thinking.”
“I don’t see any smoke coming from your ears.”
“Smart-a . . .”
“No cursing in front of the kid,” Lucas said stopping him with an all too proud smile on his face.
