The restaurant buzzed in a reserved sort of way the energy of life and wealth and ego was so palpable that you could feel it in the air, it smelled like old money and pompous ass mixing with bacon and flowers. Nadrea and Vincent were early and she was still tense, she couldn’t help it as the horror of her relationship with her parents and the years of strain had take its toll on her ability to see time with them as much just like time spent with other friends and loved ones as normal. Nadrea just couldn’t bring herself to accept that time spent with one’s parents is just something that occurs in every stage of life, nothing heinous or hateful, ill intentioned or contrived but simply as time together to enjoy another’s company.

As the waiter approached Vincent spoke up. “She’ll have mineral water and juice.” Vincent ordered before he could ask.

“I can order for myself” Nadrea chimed in, the waiter oblivious to the situation politely ask her. “Ok, what kind of juice would you like?”

The question was both standard and innocent.

“Orange,” she mutter in a disgruntled reply, time seemingly dragging on in a torturous monotony, she simply wished that they’d arrive so the entire thing could be substantially closer to ending. Nadrea was unaccustomed to being on time and the scheduled time to arrive had come and past, she sat in her chair sullen and withdrawn. Vincent simply studied those around him and their pretentious actions and self important words. After fifteen minutes Daddy came bounding across the room. “Nod” he called out. Vincent stood out of courtesy and was introduced. At first glance Daddy seemed harmless, gay maybe based on the physique and the hair cut but harmless. The concept of him being gay was quickly dispelled Vincent realizing that her father was only about as gay a he was. Nadrea no sooner finished hugging her dad when the inevitable question was ask. “Where’s mother?” she still held out hope that she wasn’t coming.

Daddy simply replied “Ronald is bringing her.”

Vincent just sat back and watched as the pair tried to converse.

“How was your weekend?” Daddy asked breaking the long silence.

“Nice, I went to an event on Friday with Vincent and spent all of yesterday with Stella.”

Daddy had fond memories of Stella, he like that despite everything else around her she had always been her own person, unencumbered and seemingly happy. Now came the socially odd time for him, should he ask for more, inquire about details, as Daddy tried to decide Vincent spoke up bridging the pause in the conversation.

“I loved her!” he said emphatically. “What a breath of fresh air, artists are often either totally wondering outside the ball park way past left field or the are so pretentious and stuck up they’re completely fucking unbearable.”

Daddy laughed and some how both he and Nadrea were for the first time able to relax and just sit and talk, sure a lot of it was about Stella, Vincent occasionally interjecting or adding in stories about his friend Deb. The pleasantries continued until Mother entered in a controlled huff, following a staff member with a disgusted looked on her face. “Nadrea,” she said as she passed looking at Vincent “and you must be her friend.” Vincent instantly didn’t like her, her demeaning tone and arrogance. He considered just standing up and leaving but instead decided to answer “No Ma’am.” Knowing almost certainly that referring to her as ma’am would most likely instantly piss her off even more. Nadrea worried what was about to come out of his mouth. “I’m just some vagrant that she picked up so she wouldn’t be here sitting alone while she was waiting for you.” Mother who didn’t want to be there any more than Nadrea shot back, “I see and you’re too important to be kept waiting?” Mother was certain that this would put the arrogant prick in front or her back into his place, perhaps Nadrea had failed to tell him what she did. Her blood was beginning to boil. “I was with my patients, and what was you name again?”

His eyes met her “I didn’t tell you, but it’s Vincent Ma’am”

Realizing that he wasn’t backing down easily she bitterly stated with fake white bread pleasantness “ Nice to meet you, Vincent.”

He responded by placing his arms on her shoulders and kissing each cheek and then the left one a second time just for good measure. Mother became visibly distraught.

As mother took her seat she barked “Have you ordered yet?”

Vincent still not liking her, “No, I thought we established that we were waiting for YOU.”

Daddy smirked secretly inside of his head, he was enjoying watching someone not care about what his wife thought for a change. Nadrea again looked on in horror hoping Vincent would just shut up and let them get through the meal.

Vincent continued “ I don’t like to be kept waiting but would never be so rude as to order before an expected guest arrived, a cocktail perhaps even a round of appetizers but never a salad or entrée.” His tone was polite but pressing.

Nadrea had never seen anyone deal with her mother quite like he was, most just kowtowed to her, before running back into the shadows. Suddenly the idea of being there with her mother became bearable, for once mother wasn’t focusing her wrath and her disappointment at Nadrea.

“I thought we established I was with my patients.” Her words directed at Vincent who could have cared less, he was not at all inclined to give an inch let alone back down he pressed further.

“Yes, you did say that, were there unexpected problems?”

Mother just glared at him, he continued. “No? No problems. How was traffic?”

She just stared at him indignant that he dared to question her about her actions, refusing to speak she Physically turned away from him, an intended insult. “That’s exactly what I thought.” Vincent added mocking her earlier tone, becoming the fake assed positive person that his profession required continuing on “So that means one of two things, we are not important enough for you to be here on time for or your time management skills fucking suck. Which is it?”

Daddy couldn’t help himself as an audible giggle escaped from his normally cautious lips

Mother finally responded “And what is it that you do that that makes your time so important, an artist? Actor? Or a well dressed sanitation engineer.”

Nadrea watched not able to look away as the conflict escalated Vincent and Mother had yet to sit back down since he had greeted her with a kiss, she thought that she had finally put the bastard on his place.

Vincent pulled out her chair in a gentlemanly gesture “ I invest in companies.”

Daddy’s ears perked up, dialing in closely to what Vincent was about to say, a fellow business man, a finance type he thought perhaps all hope for Nadrea was not lost. Perhaps she finally met a decent human being and actually liked them, even if it was only a little.

Vincent continued “The companies I invest in are primarily in technology, some pure data the occasional bio tech and there is one that is working on next generation surgical equipment but it won’t be much use to you since they are trying to cure something slightly more substantial than undersized and sagging breasts.” His direct, seemingly honest and slight spiteful twist at the end caused another chuckle from Daddy, which quickly met with Mother’s disapproving glare.

Her nostrils flared like Nadrea’s when she wasn’t getting her way. “No wine yet Nadrea? Or did you have them slip Vodka into the juice for you?” Mother knew her daughters propensity to indulge in too many drinks, she never once thought that she at least in part might have anything to do with why.

Vincent was unrelenting “No wonder she didn’t want to show up today. Is your bedside manner this deplorable?”

Mother stood “I’m leaving!”

Vincent not caring, “OK, have fun.”

She looked at Daddy, “I said I was leaving.”

Daddy sat there pausing, analyzing the situation like a financial transaction, the very second she stood Mother expected him to leap from his chair and follow her out. Instead Daddy replied with, “Vincent has a good point. I’ve been sitting in restaurants waiting for you for years and years.” He had never spoke up before, and for the first time it dawned on Nadrea that maybe Daddy didn’t like the way mother treated him either. As she began to step away from the table he added, “Fine we can discuss it later. Now sit down Carroll.” She sat down and it was the most fun Nadrea could ever remember having at meal with her parents, Daddy turned it into a get to know each other session, and small talk when the inevitable question came up of “how did you meet.” He expected that it was it would be through work or perhaps a charity event. Vincent was mostly honest in his reply. “Nadrea picked me up in a restaurant.” Nadrea thinking to herself “thank God he didn’t say bar.” Vincent continued on “To be more specific in the hallway of a restaurant.” The table all nodded in understanding and Vincent felt the need to add “and it went about as well as when I met Carroll today.” Turns out for all the things Vincent wasn’t he was at least the same direct person no matter who was around him. After the meal was finished they left the table like animals boarding Noah’s Ark, two by two.

Next Chapter DC Bound

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