DaisyMaeDuke

No sooner had Bo left then Luke hid his face in his hands and sobbed, rocking himself slightly.

Luke nodded softly, though he felt as though his heart was breakiing.

Luke hugged into him shakily, closely, not wanting to let him go.

Luke squeezed his eyes shut nodding as tears leaked out. "M...msorry..."

Luke whimpered in his throat, turning away as tears dripped down his face, thinking his cousin would not come back.

Luke's mouth clamped shut. There were lots of things but expposing them to a stranger was not something he could do.

"I...I keep...gettin the desire to...to....end my life...." sayid Luke softly. "I...I hate ...I...I hate me," he added, the blunt honesty surprising everyone including himself.

"I...I...." he swallowed, ashamed to tell her. "See I...I was..."

Luke swallowed hard. "Lu-lukas Kevin Duke...S-september 9, 1958."

Luke nodded a little keeping hold of Bo's hand, clearly frightened.

Luke nodded a little looking to Bo anxiously. "Don't go," he pleaded his heart thumping with nervousness.

Luke swallowed nodding a little, though he wasn't looking forward to it.

Luke placed the order at the ice cream counter, knowing exactly what Abi wanted withouut being told. Soon he bent down handing her her sundae, before getting one of his own and taking her by the hand, led her over to a shady spot sitting on the ground and drawing his beloved daughter into his lap as they ate their ice cream. "How is it?" Abi gave him a big smile. "Yummy!" Luke smiled, just watching her. Some days he couldn't look at her long enough.

Luke swallowed hard but nodded. "If...if you think it's best...we'll...we'll go get some ice cream...c'mon cutie," says to his daughter crossing the street with her. Abi proudly rode on her daddy's shoulders, her sore hands forgotten with the promise of ice cream.

Luke swallowed. If Bo had asked him eat a chicken, feathers and all, it would have come easier than for him to talk to a stranger about what he was feeling. He could hardly tell those he loved most.

Hey all, Just thought I'd pass word that Karis had an apppendix attack on Saturday Night and had to have emergency surgery. She and Elly had planned on going with John this past weekend to NJ, but that is why they didn't make it. I'm sure it's all been extremely stressful for them...and for John being away from Karis like that. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers...

Luke started tearing up as he felt Bo's hand. The small touch meant a lot to him, and the thought of disappointing him was mor ethan he could take. "Wh-where's the doctor...wh-what'll they do?" he asked more scared then he showed.

Luke nodded slightly, listening to the soft sound of machines beeping and a wheeling cart going down the hallway. He simply nodded. I...I'll try."

Luke stayed quiet as he once more picked his daughter up setting her on his strong shoulders, looking up to her. "You ready Freddy?" Abi's answer was to bend over and kiss the tip of his nose. Luke nodded. "Let's go."

Luke gripped Bo's hand. "Wh-what if...they can't help me..."

"Uh...yeah...c'mon Bo...let's go get Abi some ice cream..." he said making sure to include Bo, and not quite willing to let Abi out of his sight. "Yay!" squeeled Abi. "Can I have sprinkles?" "You was so brave, I think you deserve sprinkles and whipped cream AND a cherry."

"Love you Bo...I...I do...I...." he started choking up so conflicted with emotion he didn't know how to even say what he wanted to say.

"That'd be it...c.mon munchkin, I'll give ya a piggy-back ride to the faucet over there." Abi readily hopped on, tears still welling in her eyes, but refusing to cry, so like her daddy. Luke walked her quickly over, starting to wash her hands gently and tenderly, taking the time to calm down. "Only some scrapes...only some scrapes," he repeated softly to himself.

Luke looked up at him, sniffing on the tears that tickled his nose. "I'm sorry...I did this...to you"

"I concur," answered Luke softly. "Only one thing I know...t' cure scraped hands...." "Wh-what?" asked Abi her lip still trembling.