Perfect Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter Eighteen

            “Plans with your mom have already been set.  Dad and I gave you and Lyle an extra week with your mom.”  I turn Lucas’s cheek so that he faces me and I give him a stern look.  “We talked about what the purpose of this vacation is before we left.  We are here to get to know Hayley and I need you to be enthusiastic about that for me, like you were the past few weeks here. This is really important to me okay Luke?”

            “Why does dad always do everything for you?” Lucas grumbles angrily, crossing his arms.  He quickly sneaks a look at his phone before I grab it from his hands.  “He makes us all go on vacation for you.  He always took us with him whenever he wanted to be with you.  Lyle and I didn’t get to do so many things because you wanted something from dad.”

            Lucas’s words hurt me, but I know that he is just angry that he isn’t getting his way, so I brush it aside.  Besides, out of all the things Lucas has said throughout the years, this wasn’t really anything.  Lucas loves me as much as I do him and I know he doesn’t mean what he is saying. 

“This attitude that you have is unacceptable.  You should thank me for not telling your dad about this attitude you hide from him,” I scold him quietly, recoiling my arm.  I am careful not to set off any alarms that will pull peoples’ attention.  I scroll through his phone, which is still unlocked and I promptly change the password so he is unable to access his phone; it was a tactic Preston and I adopted to punish the boys when they acted out.  “You know, I was very proud of you for not acting out at all this entire trip, but this is not how you should behave as a fifteen-year-old, especially not for a boy who is about to turn sixteen.  Now apologize.”

            Lucas keeps his eyes trained on his phone, which I grasp firmly in my hand.  From the corner of my eye, I can see Lyle look curiously at the two of us.  “Wipe your frown off your face,” I tell him, handing his phone back to him.  “You don’t want your father to get involved in this right now, in front of all these people, do you?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t think dad would enjoy this potentially embarrassing situation.”

            Lucas unscrews his face and looks at me apologetically.  “I’m sorry for what I said.” 

            “Lucas, you know that dad and I love you right?” I say, brushing his hair aside.  Lucas nods at me.  “I know that this isn’t fair to you and dad knows it too.  I really appreciate you being a grown up about this situation and even after your little outburst right now, I guess I should tell you that dad and I planned something very special for just us.”

            Lucas’s eyes light up in excitement.  “Just Lyle, dad, you and the twins?”

            I nod my head gently.  “But if you don’t get your act together, I will tell your dad to not allow you to go on this trip we’ve planned.  This is the last straw okay Lucas?”

            “Okay mom, I promise I’ll behave,” Lucas promises, tucking his phone into his pocket. 

            I squeeze Lucas against me and kiss his temple, much to his embarrassment.  It is an act of affection that Preston and I had been banned form showing since he turned twelve, and I giggle in triumph, loving the fact that I got a free pass, especially after weeks of struggling with Lucas.

            I watch from my spot as Lucas approaches Adeline, who shoots him a nasty smile, but regardless he settles on the couch next to her and strikes up a conversation.  I watch as Lucas says a few things, without reciprocation, but then he obviously says something funny because Adeline lets out a peal of laughter.  I smile to myself and linger only for anther moment before going back to rejoin Preston.