Chapter 49
LUKE
I knocked on Aspen’s door, my parents behind me.
My heart was in my throat, my palms sweating.
This was it. I needed to make sure she was okay.
That Theo had talked to her about the money.
That I was wrong. That I was standing on her doorstep as Luke so I could try to get her to know me.
Me, with my parents as backup. I couldn’t be any more Luke than with my mother holding my baby book.
“Hello, there!” Mrs. Waddle stuck her head around the corner from the front porch.
Oh boy. I hoped she wouldn’t send me packing a second time. I needed Aspen.
“Hi, Mrs. Waddle,” I called. “These are my parents.”
She disappeared. I looked to my parents who stared at me with amusement. Then Mrs. Waddle came around the corner of the house to greet us. No broom, thank fuck.
“Welcome to Hunter Valley. You must be very proud of your son,” she said.
I frowned, not sure why she was being so nice. Besides the broom, the last time she almost whacked me in the nose with her front door when she shut it in my face.
“I’m Janet and this is my husband, Tom,” Momma said.
Dad took Mrs. Waddle’s hand. “Beautiful home you have here.”
“Thank you. You’re here to see Aspen,” Mrs. Waddle replied.
“Yes,” I said, sighing. Finally!
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you tell your parents what you did, young man?”
My parents eyed me like I’d burned the carpet again. I wanted to kick the dirt and tuck my head. But I didn’t. “Yes, ma’am. I did.”
Not every detail, of course, but that I had fucked up and I wanted to make things right.
“That’s why they’re here. I want Aspen to get to know me and my family’s an important part of my life.”
She eyed my parents skeptically. “Are these your real parents or are they on the show?”
Pops laughed. “Real parents. I don’t know where Luke got his acting skills from.”
Mrs. Waddle eyed us some more. “You all do look alike. I was impressed they’d find actors who look so similar.”
“Is Aspen here?” I asked, anxious.
She shook her head. “No. You’re too late.”
Oh shit. What the hell did that mean?
“Too late?” I asked, a little afraid of the answer.
“She’s gone on TV to find herself a new man. It’s happening right now.”