Never Say Never Page 2

  "Hey Ric." He said to himself. "It's been a while.”

  Lucas' jaw clenched and he looked out at the sky turning orange from the arriving sunset. The drive from Dunedin was lonely and even with the music on the radio, Lucas felt more alone than ever. Ever since Claudia moved out, Lucas felt completely isolated from the world.

  "It's been rough without you, Ric. Dad seems to be better though, but he still talks as if you never existed. He says he only has one son, but you’ll always be my brother, no matter what.” Lucas wiped his face and frowned slightly. “Mom is still hanging in there, you know how Mom is. She always wants to take care of everything, but I guess that’s just how she is. She’s even tried to take care of me, again, telling me that she thinks it's time I settled down. She reckons that I work too hard, and no respectable woman wants to settle down with a man that works all the time.” Lucas smiled bitterly and knelt down beside the grave. “Women and trouble seem to go hand in hand lately.”

  Lucas took a deep breath and frowned. “Mom is right though. Claudia thought exactly the same. That I work too much. That I am never there.” Lucas felt tears in his eyes and blinked them away. He frowned to himself and gently touched the marble.

  “I still can’t believe you’re gone, Ric. I miss you every day. I’ve got to go. Look after yourself, Ric." He stood up, pausing for a slight second and turned back to his car. He walked a few steps and looked back over his shoulder at the inscriptions on the grave.

  RICHARD COLIN DONOVAN

  * 13-07-1977

  + 25-01-2007

  BELOVED SON, BROTHER AND FRIEND

  YOUR MEMORY WILL ALWAYS

  REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS

  "Mom, why do I have to bath every night?" Owain asked and looked up at his mother sitting on the step next to the bath.

  Hayley looked at him and grinned. "To make sure that you are clean when you go to bed."

  "I understand that, but why every night?" He asked. "What if I didn't play in the dirt, do I still have to bath?"

  "Of course." Hayley frowned.

  "But why?" He asked, skimming his hand over the mountain of bubbles in front of him. "I heard Simon's dad say that boys are allowed to get dirty."

  "That’s because his dad said so.” Hayley mumbled.

  “How do you mean, Mom?” Owain frowned. “Is Simon’s dad wrong?”

  “No, not at all. I completely agree with Simon’s father. You are a boy and you are allowed to get dirty." Hayley nodded.

  "So what's the problem then?" Owain asked.

  Hayley looked at him, and let out a little laugh.

  "It's not funny, Mom. I could be doing other things instead of bathing every night." Owain said.

  "Like what?" Hayley leaned forward and wiped some bubbles from his face. "Watching Spiderman?"

  "Exactly." Owain nodded and Hayley laughed again. “I’m missing out on serious Spidey action.”

  "What do you think Spiderman does when you're in the tub?" Hayley tilted her head.

  "I don't know." He raised his shoulders and frowned. “He fights with the Goblin?”

  “No.” Hayley leaned in closer and looked at him. "He's also in the tub."

  "No way." Owain shook his head and looked at her in disbelief. "Really?"

  "Yup." Hayley nodded.

  Owain sat back in the tub and stared out in front of him for a few seconds. "Mom?"

  "Yes?" Hayley grabbed a towel and placed it on her lap.

  "Spiderman is even better than I thought." Owain said.

  "Yes, he is." She grinned. "Are you done?"

  "Yes." Owain nodded and held his hands out.

  Hayley handed him the towel, but Owain did not stand up.

  "You okay?" She asked.

  "You can go now, Mom." Owain looked at her and she put her hands on her hips.

  "And what if you drown?" Hayley asked.

  "I won’t drown Mom, I’m not four anymore. I’m almost six." He rolled his eyes at her and she smiled at him.

  "Okay fine, mister." Hayley shook her head and left the room.

  "You look good, Luke." His mother, Heather, smiled at him as he sat down on the couch opposite her. “Tired, but good.”

  "Thanks, you too." He frowned and looked around him.

  His parents' house looked exactly the same as it had the last time he was there, which was about six months ago. Usually his mother would redecorate every three months, but everything was still in the same place. "Where is Dad?"

  "He'll be along in a bit.” Heather looked at him and tucked a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I've missed you."

  "So have I." Lucas admitted and looked at his mother.

  She was still as pretty as ever, with her shoulder length blonde hair and bright hazel eyes. Both his parents were of Irish descent, but they were complete opposites. His dad had the dark brown, almost black hair, with chocolate eyes. Ric had his father’s features, whereas Lucas had a mixture of the two. He had his father’s dark hair and skin, and his mother’s eyes. Ric had his father’s temper, and Lucas had his mother’s softness. Both of them had zero bullshit tolerance, that’s why they got along so well.

  "You’ve been working too hard." Heather said, and it snapped Lucas back to the present moment.

  "It’s my job, Mom." Lucas said. “I don’t have any control over that.”

  "I know, Luke. I am just worried about you." She smiled at him.

  "You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big boy." Lucas said and leaned back into the couch.

  "You’re still my baby boy, Luke.” Heather smiled at him. “I couldn’t stop worrying even if I tried.”

  “I know.” Lucas nodded.

  “You shouldn’t baby him like that, Heather.” A voice came from the door and Lucas jumped.

  "You're awake, Pat." Heather smiled and stood up, so did Lucas.

  "Dad." Lucas nodded.

  "Come here." Patrick Donovan held his arms out to his son and Lucas hugged him. "It's so good to see you."

  "Likewise, Dad." Lucas nodded.

  "I saw the accident on the news last night." Patrick sat down next to Heather and looked over at Lucas.

  Lucas sat back down again and nodded. "Yes. It was the worst one I have seen in a while. Luckily they’re all stable in hospital."

  "That’s good to hear. Well done, son." Patrick nodded.

  "Thanks Dad." Lucas smiled at him and looked at his mother.

  "Is Claudia working today?" Heather winked at him.

  "I don’t know, Mom." Lucas shook his head.

  "I still can’t believe you broke up with her.” Heather frowned, slightly disappointed. “She was such a lovely girl.”

  “I never liked her.” Patrick muttered.

  “It’s better this way.” Lucas raised his eyebrows and looked at his mother. “Trust me, Mom.”

  “Good riddance I say.” Patrick nodded.

  “You're not getting any younger, Luke. Ric could land a girl easier than..." Heather said.

  "Well, I'm not him, okay." Lucas snapped, instantly regretting it. "I'm sorry; I'm just a little on edge today."

  “You work too hard.” Heather smiled apologetically. “Have you been taking your medication?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the boy, Heather!” Patrick grumbled. “He doesn’t need your constant mothering.”

  “I’m just tired, Mom. Night-shift is exhausting.” Lucas suppressed a smile and looked at his mother.

  "Nothing that a home cooked meal can't fix, I hope." Heather smiled at him.

  "You know me too well." Lucas nodded with a smile.

  "Wonderful, should I get your room ready as well?" Heather asked him and stood up.

  "If that's okay." Lucas looked at her.

  "You don't even have to ask, Luke." Heather walked over to him, ran her fingers through his dark hair and kissed the top of his head. "You keep your father company and I'll call you when dinner is ready."

  "Thanks Mom." Lucas nodded and watched as his mother exit
ed the lounge heading to the kitchen. He looked over at his father sitting opposite him and frowned. "How have you been, Dad?"

  "Better. Your mother has been very supporting and patient." Patrick said with a frown, looking slightly ashamed. "I know it sounds like she gets on my nerves with her nagging, but I wouldn't have made it through without her."

  "That's good to hear, Dad." Lucas nodded and dropped his gaze. "I was at the grave earlier."

  "You should visit more often. Your mother and I miss having you around." Patrick said.

  “Why do you always do that?” Lucas frowned.

  “Do what?” Patrick asked.

  “Change the subject whenever I mention him?” Lucas asked.

  “He was a criminal, Luke…” Patrick muttered. “He disgraced the family name…”

  “Sure, I get that, but don’t you miss him? He was your son after all.” Lucas looked at his greying father.

  His sideburns, that were once thick and dark, were now silver grey and matched the rest of the hair on his head, and his skin was sallow. There were deep laugh wrinkles around his eyes and he could remember his father laughing when he was younger, when Ric was still alive. He tried to recall the last time he saw his father laugh, truly laugh, but he came up empty.

  “I did not raise my son to be a criminal, Lucas!” Patrick grumbled.

  “I know, Dad.” Lucas nodded and looked away.

  “We do miss you.” Patrick looked at him, a heavy frown on his aging face.

  "I know, and I know I should visit more often. Work is very demanding at the moment." Lucas frowned. “I barely get time for myself.”

  "I understand, son." Patrick nodded and looked at him. "Is that why you and Claudia split up?"

  “Yes, she said that I wasn’t there anymore. That I was always working, and that I didn’t have any time for her anymore.” Lucas nodded.

  “You’ll find the right girl, Luke. Just be patient.” Patrick nodded. “I waited thirteen years for your mother.”

  “Thanks Dad.” Lucas chuckled and crossed his arms.

  "I want to show you something your mother and I found the other day." Patrick stood up and walked over to the desk on the far side of the room. "We found it in the attic, when we were looking for wallpaper.”

  “What is it?” Lucas asked.

  “Come look.” Patrick said. “It's an old picture of you two lads."

  Lucas looked up at his father and walked over to him. Patrick handed the photograph to him and Lucas grinned. "That's me?"

  "Yep you were the smaller of the two." Patrick grinned proudly.

  "Dad, I was the youngest." Lucas frowned and looked at his father.

  Patrick had a brief vacant expression on his face and frowned at Lucas. "I know that."

  "We loved Spiderman." Lucas grinned and looked back at the photograph in his hand.

  "That’s the understatement of the century. You were besotted with Spiderman." His mother said behind them. "You know how many times I fought with you and Ric to get you to take the costumes off?"

  "Loads?" Lucas laughed.

  "Even more than that." Heather laughed and took Lucas' free hand. "I'm so glad you came to visit."

  "Me too, Mom." Lucas nodded as Heather kissed his wrist.

  "My little Spiderman." Heather grinned at him and he looked at the picture, feeling a slight ache in his heart.

  Chapter 2 – Stores & Sprinkles

  "Thursdays are cupcake day at our house. My mom and I bake cupcakes with lots of sprinkles; we bake the whole day, until bedtime." Owain smiled broadly at the class and looked at Miss Oliver. "When it's bedtime, Mom cleans up the kitchen."

  "Don't you ever help your mom to clean up, Owain?" Grace asked.

  "No, Mom says that she gets it done quicker without me." Owain frowns at his teacher and thinks for a second. "It's true; I usually make a mess, all the time."

  Grace smiled at Owain and nodded. "Good job, Owain! That was excellent. Your vocabulary is fantastic."

  "Miss Oliver, what's a vocabulary?" Owain frowned.

  "A vocabulary is the words that you use every day." Grace answered. "And yours is excellent."

  "Thank you, Miss Oliver." Owain smiled, looking very pleased with himself and skipped back to his seat.

  "Okay class, it's almost home time, so let's make sure everything is packed away." Grace stood up and watched as the kids scattered around the classroom.

  "Owain, stop it!" Grace heard a little girl yelling and she looked over at them.

  Owain was sitting on a table, holding her pencil bag high up the air, where she could not reach it. Grace walked over to them and the little girl, Tarryn, looked at Grace.

  "Miss Oliver! Tell Owain to give it back!" Tarryn whined.

  "Owain, give back Tarryn's pencil bag." Grace ordered.

  "But she made fun of me, Miss Oliver!" Owain frowned.

  "I did not!" Tarryn yelled.

  "Yes, you did!" Owain yelled.

  "That's enough!" Grace exclaimed. "Owain, give me the pencil bag and get off the table! Now!"

  Owain placed the bag in Grace's hand with a scowl and climbed off the table.

  "Now go back to your seat please." Grace pointed to his seat and Owain nodded obediently. "You as well, Tarryn."

  "But Miss Oliver..." Tarryn pouted.

  "Tarryn." Grace said firmly and Tarryn nodded, heading back to her seat.

  Grace walked over to Owain and knelt next to him. "Owain. Why did you take Tarryn's pencil bag?"

  "She made me angry." Owain frowned.

  "What did she do?" Grace asked.

  "She made fun of me." Owain looked at Grace.

  "What did she say to you, Owain?" Grace asked.

  Owain looked at her, slightly hesitant and shook his head. "She called me an orphan, Miss Oliver."

  "Owain, an orphan is someone who does not have parents. You are not an orphan. You have your mom." Grace frowned.

  "I guess so." Owain nodded.

  "You don’t have to get upset over something that is not true, Owain." Grace said.

  "It made me angry. I don’t like it when she makes fun of me.” Owain admitted. "I'm sorry it disrupted the class, Miss Oliver."

  "It’s okay." Grace smiled at him. “Just promise me that you won’t do it again.”

  "I will try my best, Miss Oliver." Owain looked at her with a nod. "Could you please not tell my mom? You know how she likes to worry."

  "I promise I won't tell your mom." Grace smiled at him and Owain looked a little relieved. “And yes, I know she likes to worry, but it’s because she loves you that she worries.”

  "I know. I just don't want to upset her." Owain whispered. “I’m not the easiest to be around sometimes.”

  "Your secret is safe with me, Owain." Grace ran her fingers through his hair with a chuckle. "But next time Tarryn, or anyone else makes fun of you, try to stay calm, okay?"

  "Okay, I promise." Owain whispered and put his finger in front of his mouth. “No more disrupting.”

  “Good boy.” Grace tilted her head at him and stood up.

  As she turned back to her desk, she noticed an unfamiliar black car standing in the parking lot. A shiver ran up her spine and she felt slightly uneasy. She strained her eyes to see if there was anyone in the car, but Tarryn tugged on her pants and she looked down at her.

  “Miss Oliver?” Tarryn whined. “May I go to the bathroom?”

  “Of course, Tarryn.” Grace nodded and heard a car start outside. She looked through the window again and watched as the black car sped off.

  Lucas stopped at a red light and looked over at his best friend and confidant, Nick Jenson lighting his last cigarette. He met Nick when he moved into his house in Aberdeen Street, as Nick was his next door neighbor. Soon after Lucas started working for Mease General Hospital as a medic, he realized that Nick was a police officer, and since then the two men have met up at the scene of an accident on a regular basis. They soon became close friends, having the same love of baseball, a
nd every Thursday afternoon, they go over to Knology stadium to hit some balls. Nick was the closest thing Lucas had these days to a brother and they were really close. After Claudia moved out, Nick also became his unofficial roommate, as he was at Lucas’ house more often than he was at his own house.

  "You know smoking can kill you." Lucas frowned and stared out into the dark.

  “You don’t say.” Nick took a deep and long drag of his cigarette and looked at it between his fingers. “I can’t believe you actually quit.”

  “Two years next week.” Lucas nodded and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

  “How was the visit with the parents?” Nick asked, looking over at Lucas.

  “It was alright. My dad seems to be doing a lot better. My mom is still the same. She seems tired, but won’t show it. She’s always been like that though.” Lucas said.

  “Moms are like that, dude. They have to be the strong one.” Nick nodded. “My mom is also like that. It kind of goes with the territory, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know. If they’re not strong, who’s going to be?” Lucas agreed.

  “Exactly.” Nick nodded. “So have you heard from Claudia at all since she bailed?”

  “Not a word.” Lucas’ jaw clenched.

  “What happened there anyway? Or should I rather not ask?” Nick asked.

  “It was mutual.” Lucas said simply.

  “That’s usually code for she dumped you.” Nick said, blowing smoke out the window and Lucas glared at him. “Sorry, but it’s the truth.”

  “We want different things.” Lucas said.

  “Which are?” Nick frowned.

  “She wants me to work normal hours and to be home when she is home, and I can’t do that. My job doesn’t allow that.” Lucas said. “Also she wants to go out all the time and I don’t. I’m over that, man.”

  “You sound like a forty year old.” Nick frowned. “Not that you’re far from it.”

  Lucas playfully punched Nick on the shoulder and Nick let out an unintentional girly shriek. “Dude, that’s my pitching arm.”

  “That’ll teach you.” Lucas smirked.

  “So, back to the matter at hand. You two are through, completely?” Nick asked.