OLD LUKE

Dad continued to speak and he even told me a little bit about my new identity. My birthday is on the seventeenth of June, a month from now, I'll be turning eighteen. I was abandoned by my parents at birth and raised in a convent and was recently adopted after many fails in the past. I didn't go to school and was taught by the nuns who raised me.

"I hope you won't forget if you are ever asked." Sam said calmly as he plucked a flower from a bush.

"I won't forget." I reassured him and he smiled at me and handed me the flower.

"Give it to your mother. She likes these."

I nodded my head and run back into the house. Bella was explaining something to the girls and by the look of things it is something I am not supposed to know. I went to stand behind Bella and held out the flower in front of her.

"Oh Dee!" she exclaimed placing her hand on her chest,"I love these flowers. Is this what you were talking about with your dad?"

"Mostly." I answered planting a kiss at the top of her head.

I couldn't see her face but I know for a fact that she closed her eyes.

"I suppose he told you our favorites as well." Michelle said expectantly glaring at me.

I froze and looked at the flower I was still holding. I definitely don't know what flowers they like but I could give them the same flower as Bella.

"He didn't talk about any of you." I confessed and Bella laughed at her daughters saying she was still Sam's favorite,"Wanna see a trick?"

They all looked at me like I was a crazy person but they nodded their heads in sync. I went to sit down on the floor with them and hid the flower in the palm of my hands. I closed my eyes and thought of home and about Lynn, the girl I was supposed to marry. I opened my eyes and placed the original flower on the ground. I closed my palms and opened them up to reveal two more and the three flowers started producing more flowers. Their eyes widened in amazement and they started picking up the flowers. The problem no is.....I don't know how to stop this. I wasn't the only one who realized this because Daniella started smiling at me in realization.

"You don't know how to stop it, do you?" she asked playfully and I looked down at the flowers that had now filled up the small space that we had encircled.

Sam walked into the room and saw what was happening while the other boys where coming down the stairs laughing at something. The room fell silent and it remained that way as we all watched the flowers make a heap in the centre.

"Ah....I have no idea what is happening but shouldn't you stop that?" Michael said.

"He doesn't know how." Michelle answered smiling.

"What were you trying to do?" Sam asked.

"He was trying to wow us." Estella said playfully.

"Say something bad to me." I said trying something that always made Lynn stop what she was doing,"Or something completely senseless."

A knock was heard at the door and everyone started panicking. They all came around the flowers and tried their best to hide them. The person at the door didn't wait for an answer and entered. It was a man I've never seen before and he resembled Bella which means he is my grandfather. He had the same daunting smile that Bella had on the day we'd met and I have a feeling it won't be easy to bond with this man.

"Grandpa Luke!" the others shouted and the old man opened up his arms expecting them to run to him.

When no one moved his smile fell and he walked further in frowning dangerously. A younger looking woman walked in behind him with two suitcases and from her raised brows I could tell she was a very arrogant person.

"I came here thinking I would be welcomed by my grandkids but here you are clinging to your new brother." he complained childishly.

"You think we didn't move because of Dee? Ha! We want you to come closer. He has a surprise for you." Bella said joyfully and it made the old man's eyes fall on me.

Not knowing what else I could do I smiled at him but he rolled his eyes.

"Where is the surprise?" he.asked looking so cross I was about to break I to a cold sweat.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath while concentrating on stopping the little truck I had started. When I opened my eyes, the old man was glaring daggers at me and it was almost like I could feel his eyes on me like hands. I stood up from where I had been sitting and he had to look up at me because of our height difference.

"I'm waiting." he said as if to remind me.

"Do you like flowers?" I asked and he chuckled dryly.

"No. My beautiful wife...," he stopped to welcome the woman behind him and she came to stand next to his with what was supposed to be a seductive gait,"....doesn't like the scent of flowers so I stopped liking them as well."

"Oh dad. Mom used to love these, you used to love these, and you're going to stop because of Gill?!" Bella exploded in anger.

The woman, Gill, touched her bossom as if she felt offended and I don't know why but I started to laugh and everyone turned to look at me I shock. I don't want to see Bella looking like this; she is my mother after all. I walked closer to her and placed my hand on her shoulder while smiling. She looked as surprised as everyone else but I'm certain what I'll say will make her feel better.

"Don't think too much about it. Her name is Gill so it makes sense that something found on marine life won't like flowers. She can't even smell them." I said and the people behind me exploded with laughter.

Bella also laughed and hugged me and I hugged her back.

"If we hung the flowers around maybe she'll go away." Bella whispered playfully and I hummed in approval.

We broke the hug and I saw how Gill had turned pale and the old man looked like he was about to join the dead soon.

"Let's make flower crowns." I said to Bella and then I looked at the unwanted couple and continued,"We'll try and keep them away from you."

Bella and I pushed the flowers closer to the couch and we sat down to start making the crowns. The girls were the first ones to join us and then the boys. Sam was the one to take the old man and his wife to their room and I could tell he was trying his best not to laugh.

"Thanks Dee." Bella said when they had gone up the stairs,"I honestly feel suffocated by her and dad too. He changed so much it's like he is a stranger and I have to learn him all over again everytime we meet. I just....hate him."

"I don't think I like her either." I confessed and the others nodded in agreement while making the crowns.

Sam came running down the stairs with a bright smile.

"That's the way to go kiddo! You truly are my son."

I'm glad no one feels bad about what I had said; except the people I had said it to of course. We enjoyed making the crowns and I was happy that I had managed to make them all smile. When we were all done we went to bath and reassembled to have dinner. The whole family was already seated when I went down. Gill shot me a glare and when I looked at my so called grandfather, he was doing the same. I sat on the only seat available that was opposite Gill and she shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"You take your time." the old man said,"We didn't get to introduce one another. I am Luke Bryant, Bella Bryant McGuire's father and the second oldest member of this family."

"Vermont Delsaloriota McGuire, Bella Bryant McGuire's youngest son and your grandson."

Sam was hiding a laugh and Luke was annoyed at how I had chosen to introduce myself. I smiled brightly and reached out to shake his hand. He smiles and sunk back in his chair triumphantly.

"I don't shake people's hands." he said.

To quickly make up for my folly I picked up the bottle of tomato sauce and said,

"Nor I. It seems we are more similar than I thought."

Sam let out a little laugh and made up for it by pretending to be coughing. Gill leaned towards her husband and whispered into his ear. I heard what she said to him but I'll pretend to not know anything.

"So Dee, I heard your birthday is in a month."

"It is." I responded.

"That's nice. It'll be a great.time for you to meet the rest of the family." I nodded so he turned to look at Sam and Bella and continued to say,"How's about we go to the beach house for the party?"

"That sounds great pa." Sam said in agreement.

"Why the beach house?" Bella asked pointedly,"Can't you see you are being used as a puppet by little Miss I'm Perfect over there?"

"What do you mean? I said that.because I know you love it so much."

"It's the only place with mom's memories that you haven't corrupted with Gill!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Luke asked getting up from his seat.

"It means you cheating on mom with my best friend has ruined my life! You killed her!"

What? I certainly did not see this coming.