At Bedtime; sequel to 'Lucky Duck'

Back; Chapter 4

"Lucy, Luke is here!" I yell up the steps of my California home. I turn back to the reason I was yelling in the first place, Luke.

"Where have you been the past two weeks?" I lean in and whisper.

"Busy, with, band stuff," he whispers back. I don't buy it, he is up to something.

"You, mister owe me the truth for once. Tomorrow, while the kids are at school. You better be here."

"Okay bu- Okay, darling let's get going then yeah?" He says as Lucy appears behind me.

"Yeah, bye mommy!"

"By Lucy, have fun dear!"

---

"Hi dear," Adam says as he enters the house and kisses my cheek. "Where is my welcoming committee?" he laughs.

"Lucy is with Luke, Peter is in his nap."

"He's back?"

I sigh "once again, yes."

"How are you dealing?"

"I'm meeting with him tomorrow to straighten it all out."

"Best of luck, I'm just a call away," he says and brings me into a hug.

"Of course, I'm going to call Ashton to ask him something," I say. "I will be right back." I give him a kiss on the cheek and got to the back yard. I pull out my phone and dial his number.

He picks up fast. "Hey Bren, what's up?"

"What do I do Ash?"

"Luke again?" he knows better than anyone.

"Yeah," I said somehow ashamed that it got this far.

"What did he do this time?"

"He just can't commit to coming every week. Lucy gets confused."

"Listen Bear, as much as I love him, I also love you. That man may think he's got it all together but don't listen to his apologies. He's just going to keep making mistakes and you are going to have to pick up after him. You've already moved on and he screwed that up for you." My heart hurt because I knew where he was going with this.

"You have to let him go, tell him enough already, stand up for yourself for once."

"Your right Ash."

"I know Bren, but I'm always here if you need me, if Lucy needs me."

"Thanks bro." I said and we said goodbye. Then I called Harry to see what he had to say.

"Sorry to say Bren, but Ash is right, be done with him."

So I had my answers. I would hear him out but before I would clearly state that we were done. That Lucy couldn't see him anymore. To say goodbye for who knows how long.