When Lonely Hearts Meet...

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke nodded as he followed her out of the room. Children ran rampant, sliding down the banisters, playing a game of hide and seek in the hallway.

[BoJamesDuke]

Without batting an eyelid, the lady caught one of the children as he slid down the banister and put him gently on the floor, calling out a warning.

"You are dangerously close to losing dessert and now your bedtime story as well!"

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"You sure got yer hands full," remarked Luke, hiding a laugh.

[BoJamesDuke]

The lady chuckled a little, shaking her head.

"You could say that...there's usually more of us here but some of the other workers are on leave and the two that were supposed to be here today called in sick..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke nodded sitting down in the chair she directed him to.

[BoJamesDuke]

It wasn't long before the lady had Luke's details and what the plan was for the trip out. She'd heard of the Dukes before and knew that they were indeed good people and so trusted Luke and his family to look after Zac while he was in their care for the day.

"Well I think that's everything, I hope he's not too much trouble for you while your with him...he hasn't been out with anyone before besides his parents..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"He'll be fine I'm sure," answered Luke. "He's a nice boy."

[BoJamesDuke]

The lady nodded with a smile

"Yeah he is..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Soon enough, Luke had hunted up Zac, holding his hand out to the little boy. "You ready?"

[BoJamesDuke]

Zac was sitting on his bed with his jacket and boots on, still facing the window, George still hugged tightly in his arms. He glanced up as Luke held his hand out to him, swallowing a little as he gazed back outside worriedly.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"I promise... we won't stay longer than you want to...but I think George would like a banana split to share with ya....and I'd like to hang out with you a bit...." said Luke still holding his hand out to him.

[BoJamesDuke]

Zac bit his bottom lip, swallowing hard again before gingerly getting off the bed and going to Luke, clinging to George with one arm tightly but putting his other little hand into Luke's trustingly.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"Good boy," reassured Luke giving the hand a little squeeze as he led him outside picking him up and putting him into the truck gently buckling him in befoore getting in with him, and heading into town.

[BoJamesDuke]

Zac kept looking back at the window as Luke led him out the room, swallowing as he looked around the place he had lived in but never really explored. He shied away from the children as they ran near him, shouting and yelling things, moving closer to Luke.

Once placed in the truck, he curled up again into a little ball, hugging George close to him as he looked out the windows of the truck nervously.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke glanced at him stroking a hand through his hair. "Bet it'll be nice to get away from all that noise," said Luke as he drove out towards the town.

He mostly was trying to make small talk, in order that Zac might feel comfortable with him. "What's your favorite kind of ice cream Zac?"

[BoJamesDuke]

Zac jumped a little as Luke touched him, not used to that kind of affection - he hadn't felt it in a long time - and he had been deep in thought and concentration at the time too as he stared out the window. Swallowing he looked to Luke.

"H...huh?"

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke swallowed as he pulled his hand away, afraid he had done too much too quick. "I asked what kind of ice cream you like..." he answered softly.

[BoJamesDuke]

Zac blinked a little...he'd never really been asked what he liked before. He had always just done what his parents had told him, eaten what they had given him...didn't matter if he liked it or not, it was all they had.

"Ummm..I...I only's had...da white one afore..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke smiled a little. "Well...time t' show ya what else is out there then..." he said as he pulled up to the ice cream shoppe in the square. Getting out he crossed over to Zac, helping him down before taking his hand and leading him up to the person at the counter.

[BoJamesDuke]

As they walked, the little boy gazed around the square with interest, noting that while there were more people than in the orphanage, they weren't all running around screaming like the children. They were adults like Luke who were going around doing all kinds of things...and his little mind couldn't help but wonder if his parents were one of them.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke took him up to the counter. "Hey there Jenny..." he greeted the girl behind the counter, shooting her his famous smile. "Like you to meet a friend of mind...this here is Zac...and the one with the tail is George," he added.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jenny smiled back at him before leaning over the counter a little to look at Zac who was obviously looking anywhere but at her. He seemed to her to be fascinated with every little thing, gazing through the glass at the different flavour and colour ice creams on display whilst hanging on to and showing George the same thing.

"Awww well they're both very cute, what is it I can get for you today Luke?"

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"I'll have the usual..." began Luke as he crouched down beside Zac. "You two see anything that looks good to yas?"

[BoJamesDuke]

"George wants Bannana's...he likes dem a lot..."

Zac murmured a little.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke nodded with a smile standing up. "How bout we get a banana split for George and he can split it with Zac...could ya put lots of whipped cream and sprinkles on it?" he asked giving her a wink.