Vignettes - Part 35: Varsity
Title: Vignettes - Part 35: Varsity
Author: ladygray99
Chapter: 35/36
Pairing: Charlie/Colby
Rating: FRC
Disclaimer: Belongs to many other people, not me
Warnings/Squicks: None
Summary: What moments mark a friendship, a love, a marriage, a lifetime?
Previous chapters: Courting
Notes: So very close to the end folks but there will be more I promise. Wanted to do one more family moment before a big time jump.
Beta(s): The amazing irena_adler long may she write.
Varsity
Colby could smell something really good coming from the kitchen as he walked in the door. Esther had to be cooking. When she was seven, she’d gotten tired of her fathers’ culinary attempts and read Escoffier's Le Guide Culinaire, in the original French, of course. This had led to the kitchen becoming contested territory between Esther and her grandfather for many years.
“What’s cooking?” Colby asked the house at large.
Charlie was setting the table. “Something neither of us can pronounce.”
“So, something good then.” He gave Charlie a kiss. “What’s the occasion?”
“I don’t know. She has something she wants to tell us but wants to ply us with good food first.”
Colby panicked and grabbed at Charlie. “You don’t think..?” Colby had developed the unholy fear possessed by all fathers of teenaged daughters of hearing the words ‘I’m pregnant’ only slightly followed by ‘I’ve met someone, he’s a drummer.’
“I’m sure it’s fine. She’s had a shit-eating grin on her face since I got home. And whatever it is, Dad knows and won’t tell.”
“That table better be set ‘cause I’m plating up right now!” Came the shout from the kitchen.
Charlie and Colby quickly set the four places as Esther and Alan ferried food out from the kitchen.
Esther sat down. “Ok everyone, eat.”
“Don’t you have something you want to tell us?” Colby asked.
“Eat first.”
Colby realized he’d somehow managed to raise a child that was evil. He silently blamed her mother and tucked in. The food was good. Something with duck and coconut. When the food was finished, everyone sat silently at the table.
“Well?” Charlie prompted.
Ester tried to keep a straight face but a smile was pulling hard at the corners of her mouth. “I got a letter today.”
“Ok?”
“From the Oxford Journal of Applied Linguistics.” Her face broke into a grin. “I’m getting published!” she squealed out with the kind of glee usually reserved for cheerleaders getting their first pompons. Colby and Charlie both ran around the table to give their daughter a hug.
“I. Am. So. Proud. Of. You.” Charlie said between kisses. Colby pulled her in for a bear hug.
“Oxford. That’s big time right?” Colby asked.
“That’s varsity, dad.” Esther said. “It’s so big.”
Alan got up to join the hug. He’d been there when the letter arrived and had witnessed much jumping up and down and squealing already.
“Tell them about the other letter.” He said.
“Another letter?”
“Yep!” Esther rummaged through her pocket for the folded envelope. “They peer reviewed my article with a guy from CIA Linguistics and he sent a letter too and really wants to meet me!”
“If he wants to spend a weekend at a bed and breakfast in Santa Barbara, the answer is No!” Charlie said quickly.
“Daaaad. He just wants to talk. He’s really impressed with my work. And it’s the CIA!”
Colby looked at his husband. “I told you letting her dress up as James Bond when she was four was a bad idea.”
“I’m not the one who left Ian Fleming novels out where any impressionable three year old could get a hold of them.”
“Oh, so this is my fault?” Alan said.
“Oh, stop it you three.” Esther scolded lightly.
“You know we need to call everybody?”
“We need to get a sky writer and tell the whole damn city.” Colby said. He knew he was going to be insufferable at the office tomorrow and really didn’t care.
All three men leaned in and gave Esther another hug. “This is good.” Colby said softly to her. “This is good.”
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