Chapter 42 Play Dirty
PLAY DIRTY
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” his father asked him on Friday afternoon.
He had to be to have scheduled lunch with his parents today.
Both were in town, a lunch was easy, fast, and less messy in public to get this over with.
He should have known his father adhered to his own rules.
“He gets it from you,” his mother said. “Can’t keep his dick in his pants.”
“Enough,” he snarled. “Both of you. I didn’t have to tell either of you. Or could have sent it in a text. Maybe just hit you with news of the baby when it was born.”
“Why didn’t you?” his mother asked. She picked up her lunch martini and took a delicate sip. His mother wouldn’t draw blood in public, even if her words sliced through.
It’d been said with a calm, snide smile meant to disarm. She’d perfected that trait.
“Because that would be almost as rude as you’re both being. I thought I’d be more considerate than that since it’s your first grandchild, but maybe I was wrong. I’ve got no problem stepping away from you both.”
His parents looked at each other. They wouldn’t like that.
Or more like they would end up on the same page because one would refuse to let the other get more. Even if it meant he was bargaining with his unborn child.
Hey, got to play dirty like they did.
It’s not like he was looking for them to get along. Reconnect. Even be civil.
He just didn’t want to have this conversation twice.
“I don’t know about your father, but I’d rather be in any of my grandchild’s life. Though I wish it was with someone else.”
“What’s wrong with Natalie?”
“Yeah?” his father asked. “She was smoking. She’ll give him good-looking kids.”
“Gross, Dad.” He didn’t need his father looking at the mother of his child like that.
“Your father doesn’t know any other way to be than that,” his mother said. “It comes from spending so much time around women that are little more than young adults themselves.”
He didn’t need the reminder. Nor the fight when his father opened his mouth to argue.
“It’s not the time. Lunch is ordered. I told you what is going on.”
And maybe he didn’t want to know why his mother said that about Natalie. It wouldn’t change how he felt. Wouldn’t change a damn thing other than piss him off even more.
“No,” his mother said. “You didn’t tell us much. Are you marrying this woman that you’ve been dating for what, three months?”
“It hasn’t been discussed. I’d like to. It’s what I hope will happen, but she’s not ready.”
“What’s she holding out for?” his father asked. “She’s already got a trip on easy street carrying a Crest.”
“She’s not holding out for anything. She’s not that way.”
“Every woman says that,” his mother said. “Even if they are in love. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of when the time comes.”
“No,” he said. “Don’t even think of it. It’s my life and I’ll handle it.”
Didn’t seem he did that great of a job with what she’d dumped on him two days ago though.
His grandmother only added to it and took Natalie’s side yesterday when he visited.
The more someone was chased, the faster they ran, he’d been told.
He had to remember that and why he’d never told Natalie he came to the island for her to begin with.
“Your father always said the same thing. He’s the broke one trying to convince some twenty-year-old his body is as old as the work on his face.”
“You’re one to talk, Erin. You’ve had more work than me. To your body and your face.”
Arik put his hand on the table hard enough to rattle the glasses.
This was a mistake.
But it was what he needed.
To see how dysfunctional his parents were together reminded him everything not to do or be.
That meant listening to Natalie when she said she needed space.
It’s not like she was going out on the town looking for someone else.
“Do you two ever stop?”
“You’re the one that asked us to meet together,” his mother said. “I only said yes because I was positive your father would say no.”
“And you could hold it over my head. I don’t think so,” his father said, draining his scotch, then lifting his hand and the empty glass for another.
Since Arik was paying, his father would take advantage. It was why they ended up at this country club that he’d never be caught dead in at another time.
Of course both his parents were members. Wouldn’t want either of them to miss a perfectly staged opportunity to outshine the other.
It was a game of theirs.
Just like being here with him. Most of the members already knew his life story thanks to his parents broadcasting every detail like it was a competition.
“I don’t care what either of you thinks. I’m going to be a father and I’m excited.”
“Are you staying on that island?” his mother asked, the sneer practically etched onto her face. She’d claimed to enjoy her visit, but he knew better. Places like that were fine for a weekend, but not much more.
“That’s where she is, so yes.”
“You have enough to fight and move your child.”
“Never.” It hadn’t crossed his mind. “Why would I? I’ve got nowhere else that I need to be. I happen to like it there.”
“Doing nothing,” his mother said. “That’s just your excuse to not go back to work.”
At this rate, he’d need a dentist; his teeth were clenched so tight it was a miracle they hadn’t cracked.
“I’m working, not that it’s any business of yours. I’m heading to the airport after lunch and flying to Seattle.”
“Doing what?” his father asked.
“I don’t need to explain my every move to you, but I’m consulting with the last company I was with. It’s six months tops. I agreed to fly out for a retreat this weekend and then meet with some of the staff for a few days next week.”
Things were going well, but they could be better. He was making progress, and though his mother thought he was lazy, he wasn’t.
Once he sank his teeth into something, that was it, he’d stick with it and make the best of it, because walking away just wasn’t in him.
Which just went back to his fear of thinking he couldn’t stick.
He did.
All the time.
Once he was done, that was when he moved on.
Why hadn’t any of this occurred to him before?
He hadn’t realized there was nothing long term in his life prior. There was now!
His parents were hissing insults back and forth at each other. Something about his father watching the young woman who brought him another scotch.
“She’s got an engagement ring on her hand, Eric. Can’t you not look at women as sex objects for an hour?”
“There isn’t anything wrong with looking,” his father said.
It didn’t warrant a reply. Nothing ever did with his parents.
“You were saying you had some job,” his mother asked. “Are you considering investing in another company?”
“No. I don’t mind the consulting. It’s actually fun and not something I’d thought of before. When this is done, the baby will come shortly after and I’ll have other priorities.”
“I’m sure Natalie will be fine with the baby alone,” his father said.
“The plan is for her to return to work. She loves her job and I’d never tell her she can’t work. Just like you didn’t tell Mom.”
That shut them both up. For one minute.
“That’s different,” his mother said. “You’ve got a lot more than your father ever did or would. And it’s not as if she’s got a career like we do.”
“She has a great career she loves. It’s more than I can say about my life. I wouldn’t take that from her any more than I’d want someone to take it from me. My point is my life is just that. Mine. I’ll figure it out when I need to, my way.”
Their food was delivered; he picked up his burger and bit in. He wouldn’t stop eating or chewing until it was time to go. He was done talking and hoped they were too.
The bill came, he handed his card over, added double what should be a generous tip for the trouble the poor server had dealing with him and his parents, then stood up and left without saying goodbye.
“How did it go?” Natalie asked him hours later.
He was sitting at the airport waiting to board.
The past few days had been tough fighting the urge to reach out to her. But he needed to know what she’d do. Would she check on him? Or stay silent and let the space grow that she’d said she needed?
Either could have happened.
She checked in. A few times a day.
The relief was greater than he had imagined it would be.
“They were still arguing at the table when I left. I’m not sure they saw me leave.”
“That bad?” she asked.
“Any time they are in the same room it’s like that. The same table... that was my fault for taking the easy way out wanting to make my announcement once instead of twice.”
Natalie laughed so hard on the other end of the line that he could almost feel the joy hundreds of miles away. “You know as well as I do that wasn’t the easy way.”
“No,” he said. The smile filled his face and he wished she could see it. “But it’s over with. I made it clear that I didn’t have to tell them this early or at all. I could have just surprised them with a baby.”
“I thought you might do that.”
He’d joked about it a few times.
“It’s wrong. And maybe I didn’t want you to judge me for being that cold.”
“Arik. Your relationship with your parents is just that. Yours. I can’t judge it or tell you how to handle it.”
“But they will be our child’s grandparents,” he said.
“And I know beyond a doubt you can handle them if need be.”
“Thank you for that.” He needed that small spark of confidence from her as proof that he hadn’t completely screwed everything up over the past month.
“I don’t want you upset with me for speaking the truth. I feel you are.”
“Not really. It was more a shove in the face to get my shit together.”
“You have it together,” she said. “Things are still fresh with us and we are working through it. I know you’re not going anywhere. I believe it. If you’re holding onto that fear, let it go. You know I’m not leaving.”
Not the island, but if he kept his crap up, she might leave him.
“I’ll do better. I promise. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said.
“Still?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t get mad, but are you still at work or home?”
It was almost five.
“I’m home. I have to work tomorrow. I only worked a half day two days earlier in the week. I’m not overdoing it and I don’t want you to worry if I am. Hunter won’t let me anyway. Neither will anyone else in my family.”
“I’m glad to know so many are watching out for you. Are you biting their heads off too?”
The silence that followed made him wish he could rewind time and keep his damn mouth shut.
“I’m sorry if I’m a little testy. I want to blame it on the hormones, but some of these things have to be said.”
“They do.”
“And just so you know, you’re not the only one getting that tone of voice.”
“Phew,” he said. “Now I really do feel better.”