BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 21

Emilia

Not long after Uncle David gave us a tour of the house, I gave Lucas the okay to have the girls brought back to us. While the outside of the home where he grew up looks much the same as it did before the fire, the interior is a different story. The layout of the rooms didn't change, but they've been updated from the rustic wood paneling and accents that were in just about every room. Now, with the dark stained wood beams along the walls and ceilings, beside the creme or sage-colored walls, the space is more modern, yet invitingly cozy.

When Lucas reminded me it was my dad who oversaw the reconstruction, it brought tears to my eyes. I swear I could feel him as I walked through the door. My heart warmed from the inside out, much as it did when he held me in his arms back when I was a little girl. I can't believe he never told me that Lucas's family had assigned him as the trustee, leaving him with the responsibility of rebuilding the house as he prepared for his own death.

Looking around at all the thoughtful details, it's clear to see Daddy made sure that upon his death, Lucas and Nic would have a home to come back to. This confirms what I already knew, that my dad is the most amazing man I've ever known.

"Hi there."

Turning towards the voice behind me, I find Uncle David—or Pastor David, as Lucas calls him.

"Hello."

"Lucas asked me to check in on you." He looks unsure as he walks into the room, though his kind smile never falters. "He's walking the perimeter with Owen, but wanted you to know the girls will be here in about a half hour."

Looking at my dad's oldest friend, I notice the fine lines that now mark his face. Though it's been a long time, the open softness of his features is just as I remember them. I was around 15 at the time, which was about a year before our lives were turned upside down by the fire and cancer diagnosis. It was a warm spring day, and Daddy and I had gone to the lake for a hike before meeting up with Uncle David for an early dinner. That was the last time he came around, not that I saw him very often, maybe a few times a year from the time I was very little. It's why I'm left wondering how it is he came to know Lucas, given I have no memory of the two of them ever meeting.

"Do you remember me?" He asks at the same time he puts his hands in his pockets.

"Yes, I do. You're Uncle David." I smile, hoping it puts him at ease.

"That's right," he smiles back before looking down at his feet. "I, uh, wanted to talk to you privately for a few minutes if that's alright."

When I nod but say nothing more, he points to the couch, and I follow, taking the seat he suggested across from him.

"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but Lucas is unaware that we know each other." He starts, his gaze never meeting mine. "I'll spare you the excuses as to why that is, and just cut to the chase. When Lucas ran away, your dad enlisted the services of a private investigator. When that guy found him, he called the police, hoping they would help bring him home. Sadly, the way the police handled it spooked him, and after a physical altercation, he ran from them and never returned to the area.

"Your dad was livid when he found out. The last thing he wanted was to cause the boy any more psychological harm. It's why he fired that first investigator and hired another. The new guy was instructed to locate, but not approach, which is what he did. By the time he was found, your dad was in terrible shape, so he asked if I'd step in to help the boy. It's how I ended up in New York. On his deathbed, I promised your father I'd befriend the kid and do my best to bring him in from the cold streets where he didn't belong. Once I learned where he was, I applied to become the pastor of a local church, a job I accepted, so I'd have somewhere safe, a home for Lucas to return to."