"Good morning, grandmother." He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek as he entered the house.
Laura entered from the kitchen and a huge smile came upon her face as she saw her eldest son. "Hello, Nikolas. How are you?" she whispered as she gave him a quick hug.
"I am fine, mother," he replied.
"Are you sure? There are such dark circles under your eyes."
"It's not necessary, mother."
"What?"
"To be overprotective. Maybe your concern is in the wrong place."
Sensing they needed to talk, Lesley silently slipped out of the room.
"Nikolas, I will always be concerned about you, especially now. This is a rough time for you."
Nikolas turned his eyes from Laura's gaze. "When I heard about Lucky, I was so afraid…" he trailed off.
"You've already lost someone you love. It's natural that those feelings would be particularly acute now. I know how much you miss Stefan."
Nikolas blinked back his tears. "I am fine!" he replied angrily.
"Nikolas, you are not fine! I can see how much you're hurting. I just want to help."
"Are you afraid I'll do what Lucky did?"
Laura sighed. "Can you blame me? I am so scared right now, so I know it must be much worse for you."
"Well, don't worry, I don't want to die."
Laura hugged Nikolas. "I'm sorry to question you like that."
"I understand." Nikolas shifted. "So, how is Lucky?"
"I honestly don't know. He doesn't say much. He actually went shopping yesterday. He bought a couple of blues CDs that he's been playing in his room. He went to a therapy session with Dr. Collins, but he didn't say anything about it. I'm just afraid that I can't reach him anymore."
Nikolas sighed but said nothing.
"The two of you had gotten so close." Suddenly, Laura's eyes lit up. "Nikolas, I just got an idea. Move in with me."
Nikolas choked. "What?"
"Move in here. Maybe Lucky would feel better to have someone to talk to, and you wouldn't be living in that house all by yourself."
"I don't think that would be such a good idea."
Laura's eyes clouded. "Are you sure? The idea of all my children living under one roof just sounds good to me."
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm fine where I am. Plus, the five of us would have to share one bathroom," Nikolas gently kidded.
Laura smiled. "If you ever change your mind, the door is always open."
Nikolas smiled stiffly. "Where is Lucky?"
"He's playing with Lesley Lu in the backyard."
"Would it be ok if I went back there?"
"Sure, honey, go ahead."
Nikolas left through the kitchen to the backyard. He found Lucky pushing Lesley Lu on the swing set.
"Nikolas!" Lesley Lu giggled as she jumped off the swing and ran to him.
Nikolas gave her a quick hug. "Hello, Lesley Lu." He stood up. "Hello, Lucky."
Lucky looked at him but said nothing.
"Lesley Lu, why don't you show Lucky and I how high you can swing?"
Lesley Lu just smiled and sat on the swing. She began to pump her legs, swinging quickly in no time.
Lucky sat on the picnic table and Nikolas joined him. "How are you?" Nikolas asked.
"Just peachy."
Nikolas thought for a moment. What would get a good reaction from Lucky? Well, the truth was stranger than fiction. "Laura asked me to move in."
Lucky quickly turned to Nikolas. "What?" he asked. That is just what I need, Lucky thought. Another person to hover over me.
"But I had to turn her down. I think she was disappointed."
"Yeah," Lucky said, slightly relieved, but still perturbed that Laura would suggest the idea. "So she wanted to bring you in to keep an eye on me?"
"I don't think it was all about that. She's trying really hard, Lucky. She wants to help you, but she can't if you're shutting her out."
Lucky simply stared ahead.
"I think the invitation was also an attempt on her part to hold on to the last bits of our family. I understand her motivation, but I still can't believe she suggested I live here." Nikolas then bit his tongue and hoped that the last statement would not insult Lucky.
"How could you move in here when it represents the family you never had?" Lucky remarked.
"You know, you amaze me. That's exactly what I was thinking."
"I must have inherited mom's sixth sense. Ask her someday about the time I got shot." Lucky looked thoughtful, then spoke again. "But I can understand why you said no. That would be like asking me to live at Wyndemere." Lucky shuddered involuntarily; he felt a weird sense of déjà vu about that idea, but he quickly shrugged it off.
"So, how was your session with Dr. Collins yesterday?" Nikolas asked, hoping he wasn't pushing.
"Not so great." The session did not go well. Lucky didn't utter a word. He just couldn't say anything to Kevin. He wanted to, but he felt like something was blocking him. Kevin just did his best to slowly gain Lucky's trust. "I'm going back Monday."
"That's good."
"How are you, I mean about Stefan and all," Lucky asked, realizing he had been neglecting his brother's feelings.
"Oh, I'm alright," he said softly.
Lucky sighed. "Nikolas, don't censor yourself around me. I'm sick of being tiptoed around."
"You want the truth? I still miss him everyday, even though I am still angry with him for not telling us you were alive. There, are you happy?"
"Thanks." Lucky sighed, and looked at Lesley Lu, who was still happily swinging. "Do you think we were ever that carefree?"
Nikolas looked to Lesley Lu.
"No."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Did you get that, Vincent?" asked Sly to the engineer.
"Yup, stellar work as always."
"Ok, then I'm out of here."
Sly exited the studio and entered the lobby where several band members were left, along with Emily, who had come down to L&B to give Ned a message from Grandfather.
"I'll see you guys later," Sly said.
"Say hello to Emma and Justine for me," Cris called.
"And don't forget Miss Dorothy!" teased Jon.
"What are you guys talking about?" Emily asked.
"Oh, they're just some of Sly's fans," said Cris.
Emily looked puzzled. Did he have another show?
Sly smiled at his friends. "Come on, Emily. I'll show you."
Emily followed Sly out to his truck. He threw his acoustic guitar in the bed of his truck. Emily looked up to the cab. Sly got in and opened the door. "Come on, climb in. I promise I won't bite, unless you want me to," Sly joked.
"Oh, that was corny." Emily climbed into the cab and closed the door.
Sly started the truck and soon they were on their way. An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
Sly spoke up first. "Emily, about the other day…"
"Don't worry about it, Sly. It was a weak moment for both of us."
"Weak moment? Emily, I," he stopped to look at her, but she had turned her head. He sighed. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…" he whispered softly to himself. We'll talk more later, he thought.
Soon they were pulling into Highland River, a retirement co-op on the other side of town from L&B. Sly parked in a space and got out of the cab. Emily closely followed him as he got his guitar out of the cab and entered the community portion of the buildings.
"Where are we going, Sly?"
"You'll see," was all he said.
They came to a set of doors with a sign on them that said "Community Chapel."
Sly opened the door and Emily followed him in. The chapel was small, with a few stained glass windows. There was an altar in the front and the whole room was filled with flowers.
There were about fifty people in chairs set up in the room. They looked like they were all friends and they were talking quietly.
"Hello, Sly!" a couple of women called softly.
He walked to them. "Hello, ladies," he cooed. He kissed a few on the cheek. "Emma, Justine, you look beautiful as always."
"Oh, Sly, is this a new lady friend?" asked a woman with a head of curly salt and pepper hair.
"Actually, Emma, she's an old friend. Emma, Justine, may I introduce Emily Quartermaine?"
"Lovely to meet you dear," Emma said.
"What's a Quartermaine doing slumming around this part of town?" Justine, a woman who appeared to be near ninety years old, said.
Sly chuckled softly, but Emily was not insulted. Emma lightly hit Justine on the arm. "Behave yourself," she said.
Emily laughed. "That's ok. My family name brings up the most interesting reactions."
"I'm ninety years old. I've earned the right to say whatever I want," she laughed, "but the ability to laugh at yourself is a good thing," said Justine. She leaned over to Sly and whispered in his ear. "I like her."
Sly just smiled and said, "We'll see you after Mass." He walked up to the front of the room and Emily followed. A music stand and a few chairs were set up. "Welcome to my second home," he said softly. "I'm the music director at the Mass they hold here at the Highlands. Actually, this is a service of the Holy Name of Jesus parish to the people here who can't get to Mass at the church. Father Jim asked me to asked me to play here when the organist couldn't do it. I like it; it's a nice change from the band. I do bring the guys in though for Christmas Eve Mass. The people here seem to like it, and they're all pretty good singers themselves."
"That's nice, Sly." She sat next to him as he tuned his guitar.
"So, are you ready to make your debut?"
Emily stared at Sly. "What are you talking about?"
"You're going to sing with me. Come on, I've heard you sing along in the studio."
"But I'm not good."
"Oh, Emily, yes you are." Sly looked at her, amazed someone so beautiful could be so insecure about some things. "Look it's very easy- we're early, and I'll teach you the parts."
"But I'm a lapsed Catholic, am I even supposed to be here?"
"The Mass is open to everybody. You just won't receive Communion, that's all."
"I'm still not sure."
"Emily, please, do it as a favor to me? I'm dying to have someone sing harmony with me."
Emily looked into his brown eyes, and any resolve she had melted away. "Alright."
"Oh, thank you." He turned and gave Emily a music book. "Here, we'll start with this, just sing after me. 'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.'"
Emily sang it back: " 'Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia."
Sly smiled at her. "You're a natural. Here's the opening hymn."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The Mass began soon after Sly had quickly taught Emily the songs. So here she was, Emily Quartermaine, who had no musical aspirations, singing to a God she had only hoped existed.
Sly began his part on the guitar and then started to sing. The whole congregation had already risen. Emily joined in:
Awake from your slumber
Arise from your sleep
A new day is dawning
For all those who weep
The people in darkness
Have seen a great light
The Lord of our longing
Has conquered the night
The priest had processed in during the first verse, and he bowed to the altar before moving behind it.
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the Lord, our Light and our Love
Has turned the night into day
The song quickly ended. The priest greeted everyone and everyone made the sign of the Cross. Emily looked carefully to see how they did it, but refrained from doing it herself. Then after some prayers Emily wasn't familiar with, everyone went to sit down. Emily was confused, and Sly sensed it. He whispered to her, "Just follow what I do."
There were some readings and Emily noticed everyone in the whole congregation responded to the readings quickly and their voices were in unison. Emily tried to listen to what the readings said and the homily that the priest gave. She followed Sly's motions, and actually sang and felt pretty good about it.
What really impressed Emily was the way Sly reacted to the whole event. His tone was reverent and serious, but Emily could see how much he enjoyed being there. His singing and playing took on a whole new dimension. It was like he was offering his music as a gift to the congregation and to God.
After the Mass was over, the priest approached Sly and Emily. "That was wonderful as usual, Sly. I especially liked the harmony parts that this young lady provided."
"Father Jim, this is my friend Emily Quartermaine."
Emily shook the priest's hand. "You were wonderful," he said. "Will we be seeing you again?"
Emily thought for a moment, then she smiled at Father Jim and Sly. "Yes, yes you will."
Song Credit: "City of God" by Daniel L. Schutte, S.J.