Chapter 30

"So what exactly is this "Ice Cream"?" Amay curiously asked Lucas, looking at the sign as they took their seat. Lucas' father, Edward, had brought them to an ice cream store since he found out Amay had never had it before and needed to fix that.

"It's the best thing since sliced bread," Edward said, grinning at Amay. He leaned forward and placed his elbow on the table as he used his hands to talk. "Image taking milk and freezing it to a point where it's nearly a solid, and you blind it together with another flavor or add things into it. Then boom, delicious cold sweet." He creatively explained.

"It's.....not exactly like that. I think you might have confused that with frozen yogurt." Lucas told his dad but wasn't sure how exactly to argue or disagree with how he explained it.

"And I can eat it?" Amay asked while placing her hands on the table as she was more interested in this frozen treat. Her eyes then looked around at the other humans eating it with a spoon or licking it.

"Yeah. You can eat it or drink it in a milkshake." Lucas answered as he looked over at the growing line as he was still deciding whether to try something new or go with his default choice.

"What's a milk shake?" Amay asked. Her eyebrows narrowed as an even more confused look plagued her face. She then started to imagine people drinking actual shaken milk. This thought caused her to scratch her head even more.

"It's what brings all the boys to the yard." Edward quickly answered before his son could. He could see the confused look on Amay's face as she tried her best to understand. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he could see his son shaking his head with embarrassment.

"Is that true?" Amay asked Lucas as she was starting to get flustered and fully unsure about the treat.

"No. He was making a joke to an old song." Lucas said, slightly rubbing his temple a little. He felt as if he was a part of a sick joke at the moment, from trying to help Amay understand to his dad being his dad. He let out a sigh and shook his head before fully facing Amay. "A milkshake is basically ice cream blended well enough to be drinkable. They're really good."

"Fascinating. Is the Ice cream better or the milkshake?" Amay inquired. She was stuck on which one to try now.

"Do you want to try both?" Lucas asked, slightly raising his eyebrow.

"Can I?" Amay asked Lucas. Her eyes went wide out of pure surprise as he asked her so casually. Her face started to slightly blush as she paused for a moment before looking away from him. "I don't know. Will that be a problem?"

"Dad, will it? Or am I paying this time?" Lucas asks as he quickly avoided Amay's gaze as he saw her blush. His eyes met his dad's, who seemed to snap back into the moment. He then noticed his dad was slightly smiling as he gave him a nod.

"This is on me. Consider it my thanks to you for keeping him safe." Edward told Amay while looking at her directly. "Why don't you go pick out a flavor or two? And we will join you in a few?"

"Oh. Okay." Amay said, feeling a mixture of excitement, surprise, and a slight embarrassment. She then looked over towards Lucas for a moment but deciding to go ahead and look for a flavor.

As she got up and moved further away from the table. Edward made a quick circular motion with his index figure before leaning in close to his son to speak directly to him.

"So you and her. How far has it gotten?" He casually asked his son while moving his figure from Lucas and the empty seat Amay was in.

"Oh shit." Lucas thought to himself as he swallowed for a moment. He could feel all the blood leave his face as he began to sweat. He then took a deep breath before answering.

"What do you-"

"Lucas." His father calmly said, cutting through his son's ignorance. "I'm not mad. I just want to know the truth."

Lucas let out a long sigh as he started to feel guilty and embarrassed.

"Only a couple of weeks or so." He answered in a low voice as he became red. "What gave it away?"

"Son. I may be a lot of things, but I know when I see something between two people. The way you talk to her and the way she looks at you. Something happened. So spill." Edward said, looking his son in his eyes. He could see how nervous his son was and a sad look on his face. "What happened?"

"It's not what you think. A week or so ago, Amay and I had a moment to talk, and one thing lead to another, and we kissed. Even since then, we've been secretly making out when we have the chance or just when mom goes to sleep." Lucas confessed to his father. "But we haven't gone past that. Just kissing and slight touching." He immediately added to come fully clean and hopefully lesson his trouble.

"I see," Edward said, taking in what his son said. He then looked over towards Amay, who had her attention fully stuck on the different flavors of ice cream. He then returned his focus to his son, who couldn't look him in the eyes. "And your mom and Martha don't know about this, correct?"

"No, sir. It didn't fully didn't start until weeks in when Martha was gone, and mom has no clue." Lucas answered. He then took a deep breath and spoke. "Dad. I know you're probably mad, but it just happened. She didn't trick me, and I didn't trick her. I.....It just happened." Lucas said, trying to defend himself and Amay.

"Lower your voice," Edward whispered to his son. "I'm not mad. I'm surprised but not mad."

"Wait. You're not." Lucas said, actually surprised, but then heard his dad hushed him. "Right, sorry."

"By the Serpents, you're terrible at this," Edward said, checking to make sure Amay was still focused on the ice cream. After another check, he turned his attention back to his son.

"Look. I'm in no position to say that I'm the best father around, but I do care about you. Your mother would call me from time to time to let me know how you were doing or ask me to check on you. The last few conversations we had were about you. You seemed out of it. You barely went out, and you always seemed lost in your own world. It got to the point we thought you were just going to break or snap someday." Edward told his son. He remembered the late-night phone calls with Elizabeth with her nearly in tears of worry.

"But Martha and I talked a little when I asked her how you were doing now. And seeing it myself now, I see what she was talking about. You seem more lively. You're talking more, you're giving it your all in your training, and you seem a lot happier." Edward told his son as a smile formed on his lips.

"It's honestly thanks to her," Lucas said. "She's kinda been that push for me to do more. Well, she's more like an annoying cat at times. More or less trying to provoke me to do more things. I don't know exactly what we are, but I do like to think we are friends." Lucas admitted as his face slightly blushed.

"Keep it that way. While I don't like you disrespecting and trying to hide things from your mother, I think this is a fine exception. My only concern is if your mother finds out. Her maternal instincts are.....not the best. But she's no fool.....Just be careful. Your mom doesn't handle things too well." Edward said, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah." Lucas softly chuckled. "Did you know she punched me in the eye and then told me to walk it off? Mom really doesn't know how to take it easy."

"Son. You have no idea. The first time I cheated on your mother while we were married. She shot my...snake off. With her bow and arrow from a fucking mile away. While I was running for my life." Edward said in a straight cold voice as he remembered that day and that pain. A single tear formed in his eye.

"Dad...Are you okay?" Lucas asked, concerned for a moment.

"She healed it back but then shot it again," Edward said as his voice go low as he remembered her doing it with a calm face and the words she told him. "She told me she's gonna keep it if I do it again."

Lucas moved his hand to make a cross over himself as a cold fear went down his spine. He even watched as the life drain from his father's eyes. "Did...Did...She ever give it back?"

"Eventually," Edward said, wiping his tears away. "Back to your situation, just be safe and careful. We all love and care for you. I don't mind you doing this thing with Amay, but make sure you think with your head and not your heart or dick. Definitely don't be like me."

"Right. Thank you, Dad." Lucas said as he heard Amay call for him.

"Lucas. Can I get a banana split?"

Lucas turned around to see the line had died down, and Amay was at the counter, ready to order.

"We better go help her," Lucas said, letting out a sigh as he knew if he didn't get up there quickly, she would order everything off of the board.

"I like her. She's like your mother a little." Edward said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Oh let me know if you need protection. Rather you be safe than sorry."

"Dad!" Lucas said feeling his face become red.

"I'm serious. Just let me know if you need some." Edward said, jabbing his son as they walked to join a wide eye Amay.