Sunday went fast and I told Lacey I would spend the day with her today as long as there was no bullshit. We decided to go to the mall and hang out before we showed up at court. Lacey lied to our mom and told her that court was after school but it was during and Landon was meeting us their.

"So Landon said you were out with Holden." She said as we walked around the mall.

"We had dinner as friends last night. He was Harvey's date. And we decided to talk about the whole thing and we decided to be friends." I said with a shrug.

"He's really hot." She said with a giggle.

"That he is." I said smiling.

"So you going to go after him?" She asked.

"Nope, I just got out of a relationship and I am not looking for one. I think being friends with him is enough." I said.

"Well, if I was you I would jump on him and never let him go." She said laughing.

"He would never go for someone like me. I am no Harvey. I look like I am twelve and I don't have time for anything right now. I have college to save for. I plan on getting a second job this summer." I said as we entered one of the stores.

"You get good grades do you think you will get any scholarships?" She asked.

"I am going to apply for as many as I can. I think I will qualify for student loans also. I will have good credit. I have been paying my own bills since I got my truck. I think I might have one out standing hospital bill but I think that goes against mom credit not mine." I said.

"What the hell were you in the hospital for?" She asked.

"One of the fights I got into with Landon. I had a few cracked ribs and they had to set a couple of my fingers." I said with a shrug.

"That is so fucked up. I know that there is nothing any of us can do to make up for the hell you went through but I am hoping to build some what of a relationship with you. I want you in my life." She said wiping her eyes.

"You know I sometimes wonder if everyone hates me. I mean I think the world is against me too. I had one person in my life that I thought loved me but he didn't even love me enough to say faithful. I think everyone hates me but I am okay with that. I mean I have been alone all my life. I figure I will start living when I get the fuck away from here." I said.

"We are the reason that people treat you like shit. As far as Harvey, I really did like him but what he did was bull shit. I don't like him so much now. But Holden, hello baby." She said laughing.

"Yeah, he is hot as hell but like I said I am not looking for anything right now." I said.

"Well if it happens it happens. I say go with the flow brother." She said as we left that store with nothing like the other stores.

"We better go isn't court soon?" I asked.

"Yeah, I am going to call Landon to make sure he is coming." She said taking out her cellphone as we walked to my truck. Yeah that's right I drove that way if she pulled something I wasn't stranded.

I was a little nervous about seeing our dad. I only hope he really does want something to do with us. I followed Lacey's directions to the court house. Landon met us there and the three of us look around for the right court room. What we didn't expect is our mother to be standing outside waiting to go in as well. There was this man standing off to the side that looked a lot like our dad but it had been so long since I saw him that I wasn't sure. Landon looked just as confused as I felt. Lacey however looked happy.

"I told you three to stay the fuck away." Mom hissed.

"We told you there was nothing you could do to keep us away." Landon hissed back.

"You need to leave, now." She said.

"Make us. Now is the time to make a scene. I think they would love it." Lacey said.

"Your not old enough to go in the court room so I don't know why you bothers." She said looking smug.

"It's family court." Lacey said with her own smug look.

"Lake's" Some lady came out and said.

The three of us headed for the door the lady was standing at with mom hot on our trail. The man who was standing by the door went in first. That had to be our dad. Lacey nodded at him and smiled before grabbing my hand and held on tight.

Mom's face was bright fucking red when we all took a seat in the court room. The judge came out and they went through this whole list of things that I didn't understand before calling the one name I hadn't heard in forever. William Lakes. That guy was our dad. Holy shit. I blanked out after that because I was this close to our father. I didn't even know what was going on around me. It wasn't until Lacey nudged me.

"Luc, the judge ask you a question." She whispered.

"I'm sorry, sir. Could you repeat the question." I asked standing up.

"I would like to know if you feel any threat from your father?" He asked.

"I never have, sir. I don't understand why there was ever a restraining order in the first place." I said.

"From the papers I have read I don't really understand it either son." He said shaking his head.

I sat back down and could feel the death glare from our mom behind me. Lacey still hadn't let go of my hand and I noticed that Landon was holding her other hand. This was the most connected we have been since birth.

"Well, I have read over all these papers at least ten times and I don't understand any of it. From what I am understanding a father has been out of his children's lives for almost ten years for no reason. He has paid his child support faithfully and has taken all the classes that I don't even understand why he was told to take. I am going to throw this restraining order out. I am going to grant Mr. Lakes visitation. From this day forward Mr. Lakes will get his children every other weekend, every other holiday and for at least half of the summer. I am also going to leave it up to the children if they would like to go see him more or even decide to live with their father." The judge said.

"But they don't even know him." Our mom stood up and said.

"Well don't you think it's time they do. I look at it this way they are almost 18 they will either do it now or when they turn 18. Ms. Lakes I don't understand why you did all this but I am sure that those three kids would like to get to know their dad." The judge said. The three of us nodded our heads.

"Get to know your dad kids. Enjoy your time together." The judge said to us before dismissing us.

The three of us stood out side the court room not knowing what to do. Mom stomped out of the court room and then out of the court house. Lacey still hadn't let go of our hands. I didn't know what we were going to do when he walked out the doors and where we could actually talk to him.

"Hey guys." He said walking out the doors and over to us. I didn't know what to say.

"Hey dad, so would you like to go get some lunch or something?" Lacey asked.

"I would love to get the hell out of here and be able to sit and talk with you guys, where did you have in mind?" He asked.

"How about the cafe on the corner?" She said.

"Okay, would you guys like to walk?" He asked.

"Sure" she said looking at the two of us before answering.

The four of us walked down the sidewalk towards the cafe. Lacey had finally let go of our hands and now I missed it. Lacey walked next to dad a head of us and Landon and I walked behind them both of us with our hand in our pockets. 

When we got to the cafe we found a seat close to the door. I was so nervous I didn't think I could eat but I ordered food anyways.

"So I guess I am going to ask this and hope that I don't piss everyone off. Why did you wait until now to go to court and fight to see us? I mean we are 17." Landon asked. Good question.

"Well, from what your mother has said over the years is what stopped me. You see we had to meet one a year because I demanded progress reports on the three of you in order to except the deal they handed me in the divorce. So once a year on your birthday your mom and I would meet and she would tell me how you three were doing. She has always told me how much you three hated me. And I didn't want to cause you guys any more pain. She said even mentioning me hurt you guys." He said.

"Well I guess she would be a little right in that. She did tell us you abandoned us. And that pissed us off at least it did Landon and I, she really never talked to Lucas." Lacey said.

"About Luc, how is your drug recovery going?" He asked.

"My what? I was never on drugs. I don't even drink." I almost yelled.

"Luc has never done anything like that." Lacey said.

"Well she said she needed money last year so she could pay for his treatment. I gave her almost ten thousand dollars." He said shaking his head.

"No way, she didn't pay for anything for me. I have taken care of myself for a long time. I have never needed any treatment." I said.

"I think I know what the money was used for." Landon finally spoke.

"And what would that be?" Dad asked.

"Lacey and I's cars. She bought us both cars last year when we turned 16." He said looking a little green.

"What about Lucas's car?" Dad asked.

"I bought my own car." I said feeling like I was almost defending myself.

"So she hasn't changed. I would have thought she would have changed by now. I should have known. I should have fought harder." Dad said shaking his head.

"She has never treated Lucas like she has us. In fact she told us Lucas was the reason you left. She turned us against him and we, I am ashamed to say have helped her make his life hell." Lacey said.

"She has been like that since you guys were two. So I started doing things with Lucas while she what doing things with the two of you. She would shower you two with gifts and have you play with them in front of Lucas and when he would ask for something she would send him to his room. I don't know why. I think it is because he was always the one getting attention when you guy were born. But he was the smallest and the one who was in the hospital the longest. He still is the smallest I see." He said with a little chuckle.

"But that's not his fault." Landon said.

"You mom has always been the kind of person who wanted the most attention and with the two of you she could get it. Everyone loves twins the more they look a like the more people love them. So that gave your mom the spot light she needed. With Lucas she didn't get it and neither did you guys and that pissed her off. So as you got older she would make you guys shine and him stand in the shadow. When I finally saw what was going on I started to try and make Lucas a little more equal and buy him what ever you guys had or take him places you guys went. I failed because one day I left for work and when I got there I was served with divorce papers and a restraining order. I fought for three years against it all but failed again." He said wiping tears that were coming out of his eyes. I felt them on my own cheek but didn't care.

"I think Luc should come live with you." Landon said.

"I don't want to change schools. I also have a job and shit to worry about. I have lasted this long with her I can make it another year." I said.

"Actually I only live about a block for the high school but I need to tell you guys something. I have been in another relationship for about a year now and I am really thinking about taking the next step. She is a wonderful woman and she has two kids. Both are a little younger then the three of you but good girls. We don't live together yet but I am hoping to give it a try this summer. I would love to have you all live with me but if that is going to happen I need a way bigger house. I have a small house that is good enough for me." He said with a smile on his face. Good for him. 

"I don't know about moving in but we would love to help you find a bigger place so that if we do you'll have enough room for your girlfriend and her kids." Lacey said almost bouncing in her seat.

"I don't think a bigger house will be needed. We are almost 18 and will be going away to college. Why should he get a bigger place for one year? If we were to all live with him then it would only be for a little over a year." I said.

"True, but a bigger house will help with the girlfriend and her kids. And what if we wanted to come home for visits during college, are you going to go back to mom's?" Landon asked.

"Hell no, she is going to kick me out the second I turn 18. Or she will try and make me pay an ungoshly amount of rent again." I said.

"Rent?" Dad asked.

"Lucas has been paying rent for at least five  years now. But I put a stop to that." Lacey said.

"She gets child support. I also give her money when ever she needs it. I don't understand." He almost yelled.

"Yeah well Luc has been taking care of himself for a long time." Lacey said with a sigh.

"What about the school clothes and supplies I give her money for?" He asked.

"Nope he buys his own." Landon said.

"And did the three of you get computers for Christmas last year?" He asked.

"Mom and the two of us did. Lucas hasn't had Christmas with us in a long time. He tried to work those days." Landon said pointing at himself and Lacey who got computers.

"Did she at least give you the cellphones I added to my plan for the three of you?" He asked looking shocked.

"No" was all Lacey and Landon said.

"I have my own cellphone." I said. Making Lacey and Landon look at me.

"I bet your mom has the other one." dad said.

"She said that she was paying the bill." Landon said.

"I have a feeling that a lot of the things we thought mom was so great for happened to be dad." Lacey said.

"Yeah I am getting that feeling too." Landon said.

"Okay enough about this depressing shit. Tell me a bit about the three of you." Dad said.

"Hello my name is Lucas. I work at the video store in town. I am a junior in high school and am currently single and not ready to mingle. I am gay and don't care what people think about that. I am going to the University of Florida and I am hoping to become a web designer." I said with a giggle.

"Okay not what I meant smart ass but I like what I am hearing so far." Dad said laughing.

"Do any of you play sports?" He asked.

"Cheer leading and soft ball." Lacey said.

"Football and baseball." Landon said.

"Boy watching and running." I said smiling. Yeah did I forget to mention that when I am nervous I can be a smart ass? 

"Who has hobbies besides boy watching?" he asked giving Lacey and I pointed looks but smiling while he did it.

"I like to take pictures and I collect rare money. Well not rare just different." I said.

"I like to take pictures and I like to find different styles of bottles and fill them with colored sand." Lacey said.

"I don't really do anything." Landon said.

"Well I have collected baseball card since I was like five and I like to send post cards home when I travel." Dad said.

"Do you travel a lot?" Lacey asked.

"For work and sometimes for vacations." He said.

"I would love to go anywhere. We have only went to Colorado once." Landon said. 

"When you guys were little we all went to Paris. I have pictures of all of you in front of every tourist attraction I could find." He said laughing. I don't remember any of that.

The four of us sat at that table until it started getting dark out. We made plans to go to our dad's for dinner on my next night off which was Saturday. I was looking forward to it. We all also exchanged numbers and dad promised to have a new cellphone for me by Saturday. I tried to argue but he and Lacey wouldn't hear it and Landon kicked me under the table to shut me up. Asshole. I really didn't want to go home because I knew our mother would be in the worse of moods but maybe with Lacey and Landon I can bare with it. At least she will be pissed at them too right.