20. Daniel

20

DANIEL

I t was a pleasant enough day, cool but calm. When Mom invited me for brunch, I almost dismissed the invitation as another event to avoid, but when she said Nick and Ginny were coming, I decided I’d go. Now I sat around the wrought-iron table on their back patio listening to Nick talk about how successful his business was. Ginny, eight months pregnant, sat across from me, chewing her food quietly. She appeared to not be as pleased with Nick’s business, though I understood. She’d rather have him more available for family time.

“Anyway, things have really taken off and I’m really excited about it.” Nick plunged his fork into the waffles he had selected to eat, and Ginny’s head drooped.

“I’m really proud of you, son,” Dad said, sipping his coffee. “You’ve done really well for yourself like Daniel here. His name is on just about every billboard in the city.” He raised his cup as if to toast and winked at me. “Daniel is on track to be the biggest name in law in this country. I don’t doubt that he’ll be arguing cases at the Supreme Court one day.”

I shrugged, bouncing my eyebrows up and down in one short movement. I hadn’t even considered pushing a case that far, but the thought of it didn’t intimidate me. Still, my mind had been on other things lately. My focus today was getting through brunch and perhaps calling Emily to see if she’d like to have dinner.

“Yes, Nick. Daniel is doing very well.” Mom eyed Dad. “But we’re really proud of you too. The sports industry is just as important to the economy as law. And you own the fastest-growing sporting goods brand in the country. So that’s to be commended.”

Mom always had to bolster Nick’s ego. I was more like my father, chasing law and doing good for others. Nick was always like Mom, free spirited and happy. Not that Dad wasn’t happy. It was just that no one ever saw him happy. I blamed that on the fact that he worked so much.

I had found myself falling into that same trap, not being happy, until Emily came along. It seemed she was all I thought about anymore, even days after seeing her apartment and wondering if everything Michael and my parents had said was true. She had become so important to me, it affected my entire day. When she was down or upset, I was moody and snapped at people.

“So, Daniel, how are things going?” Nick took a drink of his milk and nodded at me, pointing his fork. “You seem a bit happier than normal. Have you met someone?”

I glanced at Mom, who rolled her eyes, then Dad, who looked down at his empty plate, eggs and bacon already devoured. I wondered if it was a baited question, if they had put Nick up to asking it. Ginny’s head was still down, maybe an indicator that they had.

“Yeah,” I mumbled. “I have.”

He furrowed his brow. “You don’t seem happy to tell me.” His smirk told me what I needed to know. Mom and Dad had definitely told him to ask. I breathed out a heavy breath and braced myself for the next twenty minutes of lectures that were about to start. Then I looked up and made eye contact with him.

“Her name is Emily. She is a wonderful woman. She has a master’s in business management from UC Berkeley. She grew up in a small town, but she moved to the city to start her career.” I smiled to myself, thinking of how sweet her heart was, how kind and caring. “She’s a little sassy at times, but she has a big heart. And she is very smart.”

“Big heart, small wallet,” Mom said snarkily. Nick’s gaze bounced from my face to Mom’s. “Tell him what she does for a living, Daniel.”

My father wisely stayed out of things, drinking his coffee and staring at his lap. He knew I’d fly off the handle if everyone ganged up on me. Ginny gave me a look of compassion. She’d been at the receiving end of this once. She knew how it felt.

“She is my assistant,” I said dryly.

Nick started laughing. He laughed so hard he almost spilled his milk because he doubled over, then he cleared his throat and his voice sobered. I wasn’t laughing with him. He sat straighter and glowered at me. “You mean you’re serious? You’re banging your secretary and you call that dating? That’s just an affair, buddy.”

“Shut up, Nick.” I dropped my napkin across my plate, ready to stand up and walk off, but Ginny chimed in, calming me.

“She sounds nice.” Her smile settled my heart a bit, but I was still angry.

“Nice isn’t what Daniel needs.” Mom scowled at me. “The girl is just plain destitute. We had her checked out. Can you believe she lives in Rodgers Park?” She sounded disgusted. I didn’t even want to look at her, so I stared at my plate. “An assistant… not a secretary. And she is twelve years younger than him.” Mom spat the words out like an accusation in a criminal trial. Well, she could me guilty for all I cared. Every time she spoke about Emily like this, I got angrier. It made me want Emily more.

“Dan, that’s crazy. You used to date…” He snapped his fingers in the air, his tiny brain trying to conjure up the name. “What was her name?”

“Keri Davidson,” Mom said, supplying the name I never wanted to hear again.

“Damn, yeah. She's listed among the wealthiest women in the city now. Dude, how could you lower your standards?” Nick shoved another bite of food into his mouth, and I wanted to cram the fork down his throat with it. How could he take their side after what they did to Ginny when he was dating her?

“Keri and I didn’t see eye to eye.” That was an understatement, but I was pinned down. “And I think I need to use the restroom.” I stood, excusing myself, and went to the toilets where I hid for a few moments after reliving my bladder. I reached for my phone, checking notifications. There were none from Emily, who was the only person I wanted to speak with at that moment, so I returned to the table after washing my hands.

I was surprised to see that only Ginny remained seated. I heard Dad and Nick chatting around the corner where they usually smoked their cigars after eating. Mom was nowhere in sight. Ginny looked up at me expectantly. I lowered myself into my seat and she whispered, “I think Emily sounds great.”

The smile I gave her was genuine. It was refreshing to hear that at least one person in my life supported me, even if I did have my doubts about it all. “Thanks, Gin. I knew you’d be the only one to understand.”

“Tell me more about her?” she asked, leaning on the table with her elbows. She planted her chin on the heel of her hand and grinned at me.

“Well, she’s funny. She knows how to make me laugh. And like I said, she’s so smart. I believe she’s really going places, just like Nick has.” I thought of how my parents once doubted he’d do anything with his life because he refused to go to law school. “When she smiles, she has a dimple right here.” I pointed at my cheek. “And she’s beautiful, so beautiful.”

I couldn’t help feeling a bit lovestruck, though I knew Ginny wouldn’t mind. She was a helpless romantic if there ever was one. Emily and Ginny would get along great, once they met.

“I’m really happy for you, Daniel. Your parents are so strict. I knew they hated me when I met Nick, and I was happy that you and Nick stood up for me. I’m glad they’ve come around now too and stopped treating me so badly. So I totally understand how you’re feeling. Just don’t get too upset with them. They only want what’s best for you. Okay?” She reached out and touched my hand lightly. I nodded.

“Yeah, I understand that. I’m just frustrated that they seem hell-bent on destroying what I have with Emily before we even really get started. I just want a bit of space to figure out life for myself. I’m nearly forty years old.” I chuckled. “You’d think they would want me to leave them alone to live their life at this point, but they still hover over me.”

Ginny pulled away and tucked her hands in her lap, though she snickered. “Well, I think you’re on the right track. You’re successful. You provide for yourself. You aren’t entirely a slob.”

I laughed with her. “I try to be clean.”

“And most of all, you have a good heart. You don’t judge people based on the way they look or the way they dress. Their financial status isn’t important to you. And I think that makes you okay in my book.”

I thought of how Emily’s apartment was so rundown that I cringed at the thought of sitting on her couch, and Ginny’s words made me feel guilty. I had judged Emily, not outrightly, but in my heart. Part of me was discouraged and even made suspicious by how she hadn’t told me how much she struggled financially. Or maybe to her, that wasn’t struggling.

It remained a possibility that Emily was doing really well for herself, and I just hadn’t seen how she grew up. I didn’t know how to feel about that. I didn’t want to be a judgmental asshole, but I also wanted to know that she wasn’t just out for my money. She’d never done anything that would cause me to believe she was. That was all something planted in my head by Michael and my parents.

“You look troubled.” Ginny’s kind eyes pulled me in.

“Something my mom said, about Emily being a gold digger.” I didn’t really want to get into this with anyone, but Ginny seemed compassionate, not at all like the rest of my family.

“You’re worried she’s using you?”

“Yeah.”

“Has she asked you for money? Asked you to pay her bills?” Her eyebrows rose, and I saw sympathy in her eyes.

“No, not at all. It’s been a pretty normal relationship so far.”

“And did you pursue her, or the other way around?”

I had to think about that because even though I put the moves on her first, it felt like it was more a mutual interest. “I don’t really know. I do know I asked her to kiss me first.”

“Well, then, I think you sort of have your answer. Just trust your heart. Don’t let other people influence your thoughts. If you love her, you go get what you want. If you feel hesitant, then wait and see.”

Mom appeared in the door carrying a glass of wine and a bottle, and that was my cue to leave. I stood and nodded. “Thanks, Ginny.” She shook her head and then looked back down at her plate. I turned to Mom. “I’m headed out. I’ll give you a call later this week, okay?”

“Yes, Daniel. Run away before your brother can talk any sense into you. Just be careful out there. The world is full of evil women hoping to swindle you out of your heart.”

I rolled my eyes and headed into the house and out toward the front. I wanted to call Emily now, not wait another second. After talking with Ginny, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to see her, to tell her I loved her and it didn’t matter where she came from or what her desire for me even was. I wanted her no matter what.