The only two things Harold Elmer loved in this world more than the clickity-clackity sound of his keys as he opened the door to his home – where the heart is, and in his case, the heart was with his family – were the graceful voices of his beautiful young son and his loving wife greeting him after a "long" day of work.
Harry didn't exactly feel as though his work days were long. If he could explain it in words: he could work day in and day out without getting tired, bored, or even complaining; and if it weren't for his constant and compelling desire to be in the presence of his family, he would do just that.
"Welcome home daddy! I missed you."
He loved his son with all his heart, but the very thought of spoiling Little Lucas angered him. He did not want a brat for a son.
"I missed you too. But don't try to shirk out of this one boy. Don't you remember what we talked about last night?"
"When I got out of bed to ask you for a glass of water? I was just thirsty!"
"Don't play dumb with me. You're old enough to know exactly what I'm talking about."
Except maybe he wasn't. The fact of the matter was that the idea of "Little Lucas" existed way before the currently 10-year-old boy was even born. Way before he was even conceived, really.
In truth, Harold had been in love with Everleigh since he could remember. What he could remember, though, was not understanding. Not understanding why her emerald eyes mesmerized him, not understanding why her laugh always made him smile, not understanding why he wanted her to come back so so bad as soon as she'd leave from his side. His feelings perplexed him. Perhaps Lucas was perplexed, too. Either way, he needed to be taught a lesson about consequences.
Another thing he did not understand was why Everleigh loved his name. A girl with the most gorgeous name he had ever heard in his life, was the only person who acknowledged his name as "cool."
"No you're wrong! I think his name is super cool!" she would say to anyone who'd mention otherwise.
"Harold" was such a basic name, yet she loved it more than he did, even though it was his. She loved it enough to defend it in front of others. It warmed his heart. He didn't understand that feeling either.
She hated her own name, and she had a decent reason for it. She got mad that everyone would mispronounce it and say "Ever-lay" when it was really like saying "Beverly" but without the "B."
She would get so furious, it was so damn cute.
"Daddy you forgot to close the doors! The house and the car!"
"Huh... uh... the-"
"I'll get them for you daddy!"
"the doors?"
Harold's heart started beating fast, and his eyes opened wide as if he had seen a ghost. He didn't know why, all Little Lucas did was say he'd go close the doors. Calm down Harry, Calm down.
"Now, what was I thinking about?"
"What daddy?"
"Nothing boy, go to your room, we'll talk in a little while."
Right, he was thinking about how young he was when he fell in love with Everleigh. The perfect girl when he met her, and the perfect woman when he married her. But before that, when they were still teenagers, they had already decided they would have a boy.
This boy they would have, (and luckily, they did have. It was really just lucky that it came out a boy and not a girl, else their plans would have been ruined.) would be named Lucas. This wasn't Harold's decision, but he found it interesting that a girl with the a unique and amazing name like "Everleigh" would name her son something so basic.
"I want to make sure that no-one ever mispronounces his name like they do mine! No one should go through the divine suffering I went through as a child!" she would always declare, jokingly.
Today, all their dreams had already been realized. They had the "Little Lucas" they always wanted, they had a massive house with a balcony that had a captivating view of the ocean, and they had all the money they needed to be happy and then some. This was thanks to the man of the family being a successful doctor. Loving his job and making this much money from it was great, he could treat patients and save lives all day and all night for the rest of his life. Last of all, they had each other, and loved each other unconditionally.
This was what Harold had wanted since he was as old as Luke. To spend the rest of his life with Everleigh and grant her every wish that she desired. Sure, he wanted this for her sake partly, but mostly – and selfishly – because he loved seeing her smile. He really was living the dream.