Mallory gets a surprise visit
Mallory was tired when she got home. She had left the house at seven that morning for school, gone straight from there to work and covered a double shift, and now just wanted to eat something and relax for an hour before tackling her class assignments.
She certainly wasn’t expecting to walk in the front door and find her father sitting in the parlor.
Seeing her father there was so out of place with her normal perception that she just stared at him for a moment. He had never been to this house before. Not once in the six years since her mother had moved her and her brothers here.
“Hello, Muffin.”
She had forgotten that he used to call her that.
“Hey, Dad.” She looked him over, a million thoughts and questions chasing themselves through her mind. She didn’t voice any of them. It was still just too weird seeing him here.
Richard Grace had left his family behind nearly seven years ago to pursue another life, without the encumbrance of a wife and children. She had seen him a since then, if course, but she and her brothers always went to visit him (when visits were arranged); mostly she kept in touch with him through e-mail the occasional phone call on special occasions. Her brothers talked to him more than she did.
When he stood up and held out his arms, she automatically crossed the room and gave him a hug. She was a little sad that she didn’t feel the warm rush of affection that she used to feel when she was younger, and she hadn‘t understood how complicated things were. How long had it been since the last time she’d seen him? A year? She wasn’t sure why she felt sad about it; he hadn’t exactly been the world’s most attentive father, and she’d grown up a lot in his absence.
“Aren’t you happy to see your old man?”
“I’m surprised to see you here, is all. I thought you were filming a mini-series in Seattle. Is everything all right?” She looked at him a little more critically than she had before, looking for any outward signs of illness or anything wrong. He looked great: professionally styled hair, designer clothes, Rolex watch; he actually looked the best she’d ever seen him. Life as Hollywood producer seemed to agree with him.
“Everything’s fine! Better than fine, even! The mini-series is on hiatus for a couple of weeks while one of the actors recovers from a bad ankle sprain. I’m here because I needed to discuss some things with your mother, and because I wanted to talk to you and your brothers.”
“I don’t think either Simon or Jared is home from work yet. Their car‘s not in the drive.“
“That’s all right. Come and have a seat and talk with me for a bit.” He sat back down on the sofa, and patted the spot beside him in invitation.
She would have really liked to find out where her mother was, and how she was handling having him here, but she took a seat beside him and toed off her sneakers. Her feet were killing her after her double shift. “It’s not like you to take a trip all the way out to the boonies like this just to talk to us. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Never better! I came because, well, because I’m getting married.” He had a fixed smile on his face, as if he expected an emotional outburst from her.
“Oh. Well, congratulations, I guess. Is it anyone I’d know?” She didn’t really feel anything in particular about this bit of news, other than a detached sort of concern that her mother might be upset about it.
“Her name is Susan, and we’ve been dating for a few months. I came out here to ask you and your brothers if you would come to the wedding.”
She wondered for a moment if he really wanted them there, or if it was just because he thought it would look bad if they didn’t come. It didn’t really matter, she supposed; if he wanted them there, her mother would probably urge them to go just to keep the peace.
“When is it going to be, and where?” Her summer classes will be over in three weeks, and then she’d have a couple of weeks off before the next semester got under way. She might be able to swing it, as long as it didn’t interfere with her classes.
He gave her a relieved sort of smile, as if he’d decided to take her interest (or at least her lack of a flat-out refusal) as a good sign. “In about a month. We’ll be having the ceremony on the island of Kauai. We’d fly you and your brothers there, of course, and pay all your expenses. You could even stay for a week or two and have a little vacation at the same time! You mother says you’ve been working hard!”
“We all have.” She wasn’t sure, but she thought her brothers would probably want to go. School would be back in by then for Jared and Simon, so anything longer than a few days would be out of the question. “I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t go, if my classes don't get in the way. If we left on Thursday night or a Friday morning, and go back by the next Tuesday, the boys wouldn’t have to miss more than a couple of days of school.”
“Well, I’m sure you could miss a day or two of classes, for your own father’s wedding!” He said it with a chuckle in his voice, as if it was a given that she’d rearrange her schedule for his convenience.
Annoyance trickled in, and she bit off a sarcastic reply. Instead, she simply shrugged and said, “Not really. I can’t afford to miss any classes, and I have work to think about. I’ve been working my butt off, and don’t want to fall behind.”
“I sent your mother a check to pay for your tuition,” he said, obviously trying hard to make it sound off-hand. “You shouldn’t have to work too hard.”
Mallory gave a little snort and shook her head. “You paid tuition, yeah, but I also have to buy books, clothes, various school supplies-- pay insurance on my car--which breaks down every other month and adds to the money I pay out.”
“Well, what’s your mother using the child support I send her for?” He sounded agitated, suddenly, like a petulant child.
“I don’t know, Dad. It might be spent on Jared and Simon’s clothes, extra curricular activities, car they share, the upkeep and insurance for it, maintenance on this house, feeding Simon’s animals…it’s not like we’re all living in the lap of luxury, here. You’ve never even been here before--you don’t get to act like we’re wasting the money you send for your own kids, when you’re living in a four bedroom house in the Hollywood Hills and driving a Bentley.” Her lecture was made all the more effective by the fact that she didn’t raise her voice or let her tone get emotional.
“I didn’t mean that, Mal. I just meant…” He realized that he didn’t really have a leg to stand on. “I didn’t realize that you had so many expenses, or that things were that tough.”
Mallory sighed and put a hand on her dad’s arm. She wanted him to understand, but she wasn’t sure that he even could. “Dad…you always send what the courts tell you to send, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all we need. Things aren’t so tough that we’re not getting everything we need, but they could be easier. Legally, you don’t have to send child support for me anymore--and I appreciate that you paid my tuition more than I can say. It means the difference between being able to go to school now, and having to save up for a couple of years. I don’t mind working to pay for the stuff I want or need, but focusing on school would be easier if I didn’t have to.”
“I had no idea…” He looked uncomfortable, and a little ashamed. “You’ve grown up so fast, and become a beautiful, strong young woman. I’ve always been so proud of you: your ambition, the way you charge at life and do things your own way, your fencing skill! I love hearing about all of the tournaments you compete in. It’s always amazed me that I helped create someone so great.”
“Dad, I haven’t fenced in a tournament in months. I just don’t have the time and extra money to keep up with that right now. I also don’t have the option of taking off for Kauai for a couple of weeks, if it means that I’d have to skip a semester of school because I couldn‘t meet the attendance requirement, or afford books or risking losing my job by taking vacation days I don‘t have coming to me.”
“I see.” He’d looked startled when she told him she hadn’t been competing. “I hadn’t considered that.”
She wasn’t trying to put him on a guilt trip (well, not too much), but she wasn’t going out of her way to spare his feelings, either. “I promise I’ll look into my school schedule once you give me the exact date of the wedding. I need to talk to Simon and Jared and find out how they feel about it, and to Mom, because I care what she has to say, too. I’ll come to your wedding, if there‘s a way to do it.”
“Fair enough.” He didn’t seem upset about not getting an immediate answer. It seemed like he listened to everything she said, and she hoped he took the time to really think about it. She leaned over and put her arms around him in a hug, and kissed his cheek. .
“I’m glad you’re happy, dad.” She heard the muffled bass of a stereo outside, and stood up. “It sounds like the boys are home. I’ll let you talk to them alone.”
She picked her sneakers, gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile, then went to see how her mother was coping. She had a lot to think about and check into.
She certainly wasn’t expecting to walk in the front door and find her father sitting in the parlor.
Seeing her father there was so out of place with her normal perception that she just stared at him for a moment. He had never been to this house before. Not once in the six years since her mother had moved her and her brothers here.
“Hello, Muffin.”
She had forgotten that he used to call her that.
“Hey, Dad.” She looked him over, a million thoughts and questions chasing themselves through her mind. She didn’t voice any of them. It was still just too weird seeing him here.
Richard Grace had left his family behind nearly seven years ago to pursue another life, without the encumbrance of a wife and children. She had seen him a since then, if course, but she and her brothers always went to visit him (when visits were arranged); mostly she kept in touch with him through e-mail the occasional phone call on special occasions. Her brothers talked to him more than she did.
When he stood up and held out his arms, she automatically crossed the room and gave him a hug. She was a little sad that she didn’t feel the warm rush of affection that she used to feel when she was younger, and she hadn‘t understood how complicated things were. How long had it been since the last time she’d seen him? A year? She wasn’t sure why she felt sad about it; he hadn’t exactly been the world’s most attentive father, and she’d grown up a lot in his absence.
“Aren’t you happy to see your old man?”
“I’m surprised to see you here, is all. I thought you were filming a mini-series in Seattle. Is everything all right?” She looked at him a little more critically than she had before, looking for any outward signs of illness or anything wrong. He looked great: professionally styled hair, designer clothes, Rolex watch; he actually looked the best she’d ever seen him. Life as Hollywood producer seemed to agree with him.
“Everything’s fine! Better than fine, even! The mini-series is on hiatus for a couple of weeks while one of the actors recovers from a bad ankle sprain. I’m here because I needed to discuss some things with your mother, and because I wanted to talk to you and your brothers.”
“I don’t think either Simon or Jared is home from work yet. Their car‘s not in the drive.“
“That’s all right. Come and have a seat and talk with me for a bit.” He sat back down on the sofa, and patted the spot beside him in invitation.
She would have really liked to find out where her mother was, and how she was handling having him here, but she took a seat beside him and toed off her sneakers. Her feet were killing her after her double shift. “It’s not like you to take a trip all the way out to the boonies like this just to talk to us. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Never better! I came because, well, because I’m getting married.” He had a fixed smile on his face, as if he expected an emotional outburst from her.
“Oh. Well, congratulations, I guess. Is it anyone I’d know?” She didn’t really feel anything in particular about this bit of news, other than a detached sort of concern that her mother might be upset about it.
“Her name is Susan, and we’ve been dating for a few months. I came out here to ask you and your brothers if you would come to the wedding.”
She wondered for a moment if he really wanted them there, or if it was just because he thought it would look bad if they didn’t come. It didn’t really matter, she supposed; if he wanted them there, her mother would probably urge them to go just to keep the peace.
“When is it going to be, and where?” Her summer classes will be over in three weeks, and then she’d have a couple of weeks off before the next semester got under way. She might be able to swing it, as long as it didn’t interfere with her classes.
He gave her a relieved sort of smile, as if he’d decided to take her interest (or at least her lack of a flat-out refusal) as a good sign. “In about a month. We’ll be having the ceremony on the island of Kauai. We’d fly you and your brothers there, of course, and pay all your expenses. You could even stay for a week or two and have a little vacation at the same time! You mother says you’ve been working hard!”
“We all have.” She wasn’t sure, but she thought her brothers would probably want to go. School would be back in by then for Jared and Simon, so anything longer than a few days would be out of the question. “I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t go, if my classes don't get in the way. If we left on Thursday night or a Friday morning, and go back by the next Tuesday, the boys wouldn’t have to miss more than a couple of days of school.”
“Well, I’m sure you could miss a day or two of classes, for your own father’s wedding!” He said it with a chuckle in his voice, as if it was a given that she’d rearrange her schedule for his convenience.
Annoyance trickled in, and she bit off a sarcastic reply. Instead, she simply shrugged and said, “Not really. I can’t afford to miss any classes, and I have work to think about. I’ve been working my butt off, and don’t want to fall behind.”
“I sent your mother a check to pay for your tuition,” he said, obviously trying hard to make it sound off-hand. “You shouldn’t have to work too hard.”
Mallory gave a little snort and shook her head. “You paid tuition, yeah, but I also have to buy books, clothes, various school supplies-- pay insurance on my car--which breaks down every other month and adds to the money I pay out.”
“Well, what’s your mother using the child support I send her for?” He sounded agitated, suddenly, like a petulant child.
“I don’t know, Dad. It might be spent on Jared and Simon’s clothes, extra curricular activities, car they share, the upkeep and insurance for it, maintenance on this house, feeding Simon’s animals…it’s not like we’re all living in the lap of luxury, here. You’ve never even been here before--you don’t get to act like we’re wasting the money you send for your own kids, when you’re living in a four bedroom house in the Hollywood Hills and driving a Bentley.” Her lecture was made all the more effective by the fact that she didn’t raise her voice or let her tone get emotional.
“I didn’t mean that, Mal. I just meant…” He realized that he didn’t really have a leg to stand on. “I didn’t realize that you had so many expenses, or that things were that tough.”
Mallory sighed and put a hand on her dad’s arm. She wanted him to understand, but she wasn’t sure that he even could. “Dad…you always send what the courts tell you to send, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all we need. Things aren’t so tough that we’re not getting everything we need, but they could be easier. Legally, you don’t have to send child support for me anymore--and I appreciate that you paid my tuition more than I can say. It means the difference between being able to go to school now, and having to save up for a couple of years. I don’t mind working to pay for the stuff I want or need, but focusing on school would be easier if I didn’t have to.”
“I had no idea…” He looked uncomfortable, and a little ashamed. “You’ve grown up so fast, and become a beautiful, strong young woman. I’ve always been so proud of you: your ambition, the way you charge at life and do things your own way, your fencing skill! I love hearing about all of the tournaments you compete in. It’s always amazed me that I helped create someone so great.”
“Dad, I haven’t fenced in a tournament in months. I just don’t have the time and extra money to keep up with that right now. I also don’t have the option of taking off for Kauai for a couple of weeks, if it means that I’d have to skip a semester of school because I couldn‘t meet the attendance requirement, or afford books or risking losing my job by taking vacation days I don‘t have coming to me.”
“I see.” He’d looked startled when she told him she hadn’t been competing. “I hadn’t considered that.”
She wasn’t trying to put him on a guilt trip (well, not too much), but she wasn’t going out of her way to spare his feelings, either. “I promise I’ll look into my school schedule once you give me the exact date of the wedding. I need to talk to Simon and Jared and find out how they feel about it, and to Mom, because I care what she has to say, too. I’ll come to your wedding, if there‘s a way to do it.”
“Fair enough.” He didn’t seem upset about not getting an immediate answer. It seemed like he listened to everything she said, and she hoped he took the time to really think about it. She leaned over and put her arms around him in a hug, and kissed his cheek. .
“I’m glad you’re happy, dad.” She heard the muffled bass of a stereo outside, and stood up. “It sounds like the boys are home. I’ll let you talk to them alone.”
She picked her sneakers, gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile, then went to see how her mother was coping. She had a lot to think about and check into.