HEART TO HEART
WHO: Parker & Xavier Rhiding WHAT: A Small Talk WHEN: End of February WHERE: Rhiding Estate MENTIONS: (BY NAME) Catlyn, Philip TRIGGERS: None
The call from his father had been unexpected. Especially since last time he had spoken to his father it hadn't gone well at all. It wasn't like his father to call him. Usually that was his mother's job. Ellie actually cared about her son, but she didn't do anything to stop her husband from annoying him about things Xavier had learned to almost ignore. (Even though his father still made him mad every time they spoke. But Xavier had no excuses. He really didn't at this point. Because his social life had become almost non-existent and the only person he hung out with was Catlyn.
Xavier pulled into the driveway of his house and parked the car in the driveway. He almost expected his mother to come out of the house, but she didn't. His father said it was only going to be the two of them. That made him even more nervous. Especially since he really didn't want to talk to his father anymore than he had to. Xavier locked his car-- which was more of a habit than anything else-- and walked up to his old house. Letting out a sigh of relief as the door opened and the maid opened up the door. "Ah, you're here. Good. Let's go to my office. Lunch is being brought up shortly," his father said, greeting him with a smile.
Formalities were not important, apparently, Xavier thought and smiled nervously. He followed his father up to the small office. While his father was retired, he occasionally took cases that he deemed worthy to take. Xavier wondered for a moment about Catlyn and if she needed a lawyer and if maybe his father would take the case. Probably not. Catlyn was a nobody to his father. "What's this all about?" Xavier asked, as he settled down into the chair across from his father. He was confused. Genuinely confused at what his father wanted from him.
"It has come to my attention that perhaps the reason that you've always been so resistant to me setting you up on a date is because you already have a girlfriend. If this is true, then why have you not said anything to me before and who is this girl?"
Xavier felt the blood rush out of his face. He froze. His father was smart, Xavier had known that. But this was not something he ever expected his father to say. For a moment he sat there, completely shocked. He could say that he had a boyfriend, and maybe that would get his father to shut up, but he knew his father would never believe that. He bit back a sarcastic comment, saving them for later.
"Well-- I just... she--" he stopped. Xavier had no idea what to say to his father. He didn't have a clue how to explain anything. Catlyn wasn't his girlfriend. They weren't official anyway. Of course, he didn't go looking for a relationship. He didn't want a relationship with anyone but her. And her job made things complicated. But Xavier had never cared about her job. It didn't make him jealous or angry.
"You're going to invite her to dinner," Parker said, leaning back in his chair. "I want to meet her."Xavier shook his head. What was the probability of him getting Philip to help him out, or get one of his work friends to help him out. No, he wasn't shameful of Catlyn. He was shameful of his father. "No, I don't think that's a good idea," he explained. "She works a lot..." Xavier added, trailing off. "She's--" what lie could he tell that wasn't really a lie, but enough of a lie that he could feel good about himself later? Nothing, he realized.
"Well, why not son?" his father questioned.
"Because, I feel like you're going to judge me. Judge her. I don't want you to do that. I don't want you to look at her like you look at everyone else in this city." Xavier didn't care about his public image. People didn't get to look into his private life and judge him. That's what his father did and it angered him. "I'm ashamed that you're my father. Ashamed that you treat everyone around you like they aren't worth anything at all, as if no one is good enough for you or your family. You don't get to make that choice for me. You don't get to make me feel like I have to do something I don't want to do. I'm ashamed that you are going to hate this girl before you even get to know her."
It was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.Except, now he had to deal with his father's reaction, which was something he wasn't looking forward to. Xavier kept the frown plastered on his face.
"Why would I.. but-- you..." Parker started to say, but couldn't figure out what he wanted to say first. "Xavier, what makes you think that I'm going to judge her?"
"The fact that you've judged everyone in my life before."
"No, but I--" his father shook his head. "I've. You're ashamed of me?"
"Yes. I'm very ashamed of you. I'm ashamed of what you think of me and how you treat the people that I care about. I'm ashamed that you're going to judge the life I want. Just because you don't love mother doesn't mean that I want a loveless relationship."
"I love your mother," he retorted.
"No-- no you don't. That's not love. Not anymore. That's you being a controlling jerk to her. She never can say anything without looking to you for approval. I don't want that. My wife will be my equal. In fact, her word will probably mean more than my own." Xavier paused. "I'm falling in love with her." Xavier hadn't even admitted that to himself yet, but he realized it was true. "And I don't care who she is... or what she does. That's not important to me. I care if she's happy."
For a moment, neither of them said anything else. Xavier bit his lip, wondering what his father would say back to him. If his father reacted negatively, he was finished with trying to make their relationship work. Xavier put too much thought into their relationship, trying to mend what was broken and he couldn't do it anymore. He didn't want to do it anymore. Letting out a sigh, he started to stand up.
"Bring her to dinner," his father said calmly. "I want to meet her. I need to meet the woman who's stolen your heart."
Xavier didn't look at his father. He couldn't bring himself to do so. He only nodded in response, wondering when he could make this happen, or if he even wanted to. "Goodbye, father," he said, leaving the room as quickly as he could. His hands were shaking, but maybe this was a turn for the best. Perhaps his father was starting to see things from his side now. Perhaps he was about to understand. Xavier took a deep breath of air, letting a shaky sigh out. His father had a long way to go before their relationship would ever be considered on good terms, but this was a start.