Chapter 11: Oh Baby!

Here we have Tessa Fisher arriving at Luke and Marjorie's home to celebrate the first birthday of baby Curtis. Being a grandma seems to be sitting well with Tessa. She's not her normal sour faced self is she? She seems....joyful and friendly. It is amazing all the changes a baby brings, some are most unexpected.

The gentleman just coming through the front door in the background....well this might be a bit of a shock to you...because we know him quite well, but he too has undergone some extraordinary changes. It's Sammie - family friend and boyfriend to Luke's brother Jethro.

And as Tessa continues, quite out of character, to smile and laugh and dance at her grandson's birthday, here comes Lesley.  Yes - time has moved along for her too. She's still fit and active, but age can not be avoided.

 No one considered that Sammie and Lesley were of the same generation and that the age difference would be so marked between Sammie and Jethro when the years took their toll on him. He and Lesley are now closer than they ever were, but he and Jethro are no longer a couple. They drifted apart when Jethro took a position as a fashion consultant at Shear Perfection Salon and Sammie retired and really started to let himself go.

And right on cue, Jethro arrives with some homemade chili and notes straight away the presence of his ex. Things were going to be a bit awkward. Luke Hans sensed the tension and went into damage control mode, trying to mediate between the warring parties.

"So, Sammie, what have you been doing with yourself since you gave up the domestic engineering business?" enquired Luke.
"Oh, I've GIVEN UP quite a lot more than cleaning people's homes Luke." snarked Sammie eyeballing Jethro. "According to some people, I've also given up being the most fun person on the planet, the sexiest guy with the best hair in town and the slickest fashion."
Jethro snorted and met Sammie's direct glare. "I guess the old gay cowpoke in everyone eventually comes screeching to the surface..." he muttered darkly.

Luke sighed and suggested Sammie would be more comfortable on the couch.

Curtis was finally awake from his nap and Marjorie brought him through to the kitchen to feed him.

Luke managed to settle Sammie near his mother as he crowed happily about the new baby.

"Oooh Luke you'll need to watch that boy. I'm telling ya - he'll be a real lady killer that one! He's inherited his father's charm and his mother good looks alright! Better keep your eye on him..."

Lesley sniffed stiffly. She looked uncomfortable and tense, as though there was something on her mind.

"What's up Mum?" asked Luke Hans. "You haven't said much all day. Is everything okay?"
Lesley held herself formally and looked at her son. She had been hearing all sorts of rumours around the town, from the Blanco's to the Bird's that Luke was working with some not so nice characters, he was doing a lot of work at night and the work he was doing was of the dirty type, lucrative but shady.
"Well with a baby to look after now, you have a lot of responsibilities Luke. Do not forget you are responsible for keeping a roof over their heads and food on their table....you need to be ..." she let her sentence trail off into silence. "Careful" she concluded ominously.

"I am responsible Mum." Luke shot back. He suddenly got the vibe that Lesley knew something about his nefarious activities. "I will do anything for my family. I will do anything to make sure Marjorie and Curtis are happy." This was not good, he thought. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to find out what he had been up to in the dead of night up at the old mill.

To break the uncomfortable silence that ensued, Luke jumped up and began dancing wildly with his mother in law. Tessa had never let her hair down like this at any other family gatherings...everyone looked on with wonder as she shimmied and strolled with both Luke and Jethro.

Jethro gave it all he'd got just to make sure Sammie knew he still had it.

Later that evening when the guests had gone, Luke held his baby boy and played "This Little Piggy". Curtis roared with laughter. He was a very happy baby, Luke thought. I must protect him from the truth.

The truth in Luke's mind was that he knew he was a thief, he was a criminal. He knew it was wrong. But he had somehow compartmentalised that fact and conveniently split himself into two different people. He was also providing for his family and giving them the level of comfort they deserved. He was a good husband and a good father. Somehow the two Luke's never seemed to meet each other.

Luke thought he could keep everything under control. But things were about to go a little awry.

One morning Marjorie said to Luke. "Honey, I have something to tell you. I want you to stay calm and not get all panicky okay?"
"Okay.." Luke smiled at his beautiful perfectly glowing wife. Everyday he asked himself how he had been so lucky. He replayed that thought in his head again this morning - then realised he had noticed how glowing she was. The last time she had been glowing like this she had been.....he looked at the noticeable bump that was there again!
"Pr..pre..egnant?" he stuttered.
"Ummm yes?" she looked at him closely for signs of a freak out.

But he just embraced her and kissed her and told her everything would be alright.

Secretly he was freaked out, it was another set back. But he didn't allow himself to show it.  He would work harder if need be.

That night something even more terrible went down. From an anonymous tip off the Old Mill was
raided by the cops. Luke Hans was caught red handed in the midst of finalising a shipment of illegal animal skins - bearskin, cougar, mink and squirrel. The hand of the law came down with full force on him that night. After the police had taken full inventory of the place, he was taken to the station for further questioning.

 Later that day he was charged with felony theft and fencing stolen goods, possession of stolen goods and trading in illegal animal products, tax evasion and money laundering. It was just about as bad as it could get. Luke Hans Diarmid was now publicly recorded as a criminal.

What would Marjorie do when she found out?