December Rain (22 page)

“So she called you the minute she moved out?”

“No. That same friend dragged her to San Francisco and asked me to “bump” into them.”

“Seriously? That’s all it took to break that whole waiting thing huh? What a puss.”

“I debated it, but knowing she was nearby... I caved.”

Jay smiles taking the darts from his brother’s hand and pulls him into a hug. “I assume you told her about everything else then right? I mean, you scheduled this
jet-set around the country to see all our houses
trip. So you told her?”

“No dickhead. Believe it or not I thought that spilling everything would just double the amount of stress she’s already dealing with.”

“She’s not stupid, you were just living-”

“Yeah she’s suspicious and asking a bunch of questions, but my work is selling. I’m capable of supporting this life, so it’s not that big of a deal.”

Jay bites his Cheshire lip and then ducks when Quinn takes a swing. They wrestle around on the floor for a minute until a throat clears at the door of the game room.

“You two having fun?” Megan stands with her arms crossed. “We’re gonna be late, and I don’t want to add to the great display of disappointment.”

The guys untangle and help each other up. Jay gets dressed and loads the in-law’s gifts into his car for their Christmas Part II. He tosses Quinn the keys to their SUV and wishes them good luck. Quinn and Monica finish getting ready for their own dreaded parental visit without saying much. Monica hopes it’s an opportunity to clear the air and recover the connection she saw on Christmas morning. They climb into the SUV and drift into their apprehension.

Quinn turns into the driveway of a brick colonial surrounded by large trees bare of all leaves. It’s a large 1920’s home with a portico and columns at the front door, brick quoining at its corners, and a real slate roof. Monica notices the landscaping isn’t pristine or even formal in style which keeps it from being pretentious like the rest of the neighborhood. As they get out of the SUV Frank appears from inside the open garage door and does a double-take.

“I would’ve sworn for a minute that you were Jay.” Frank grins and walks over with his hand out-stretched. “Hi son.”

Monica feels immediately relieved that he didn’t close the door and flip them off like her family might have.

“Oh, what a great surprise!” Ellie says as she walks towards her son for a hug.

“We aren’t gonna stay long, but I was hoping to talk to dad for a minute.”

Ellie looks at Frank with a warning in her glance, and then smiles at Monica as she moves to hug her as well. “Come with me dear, I’ll show you all the fun places Quinn used to hide and paint when he was little.”

Monica follows her inside leaving Quinn and his father to stand awkwardly for a few moments.

“How long are you two in town for?” Frank asks. He walks back into the garage where he appears to be staining an old table.

Quinn runs his hand over the raw edge feeling at ease with the fumes in the space. “We leave tomorrow morning, that’s why I came over. I don’t want to leave things the way I used to and go years getting the silent treatment because you don’t approve of my life.”

“Son,” Frank holds up his hand to stop his rant, “I don’t know what went on between you and that woman, but if she cheated on her husband what makes you so certain she won’t do the same to you?”

“I’m not,” Quinn says. Frank nods his head as if he’s won. “But nothing is certain dad. What I do know is that I trust her completely and I can’t see my life without her anymore. My career is moving where I want, I feel like I’m finally starting to really live, and she’s a huge reason why.”

Frank looks into his son’s eyes and softens. “I just don’t want you to hurt like...” He stops and Quinn sees his father’s building tears for the first time in his life. Frank looks down at the table and closes his eyes. “I don’t want you to know what it’s like to have your heart ripped apart like mine.”

Mom? No...

Frank glances at the door to the house before lowering his voice. “You know I traveled too much when you boys were little, but I was trying to provide a good life for you and your mother. I tried to bring you along as much as I could so you could see the world, and yet nothing I did stopped my heart from being ripped out.”

“What happened in Baltimore?”

Franks eyes enlarge. “You remember?”

“I remember you and mom fighting all night, and I remember you telling me the trip to Bali was canceled as well as all others after. I remember that from that day on you were a bitter, angry man who didn’t resemble my dad anymore.”

Frank breaks into a sob. “I’m so sorry son. I let my pain kill everything you and I had.” Quinn surrenders to his father’s vulnerability and wraps his arms around him tight. “Your mother regretted it. She begged me to forgive her and not to break-up our family, but I couldn’t trust her enough to leave anymore. I took a desk job that I hated, and spent the rest of my working years resenting her for it.”

“So we stopped traveling because you changed jobs? Because mom had an affair? You just pretended to hate the world?”

“That was part of it. I was angry for so long.” He cups his hand around Quinn’s neck. “I loved seeing the world with you and through your eyes son, I just couldn’t see past my anger anymore.”

“You forgave her eventually though right? You stayed together.”

“I love your mother more than I can ever put into words, and her mistake didn’t make that go away. I wished it had a thousand times, but I just couldn’t imagine living without her. Eventually, I realized trust was a little easier and I wasn’t as angry, and I forgave her. By then you were in high school bucking me at every turn, and I felt like you were the spite she never got to express.”

“I was using the creativity you instilled in me. You made me see how beautiful the world is and want to add to it. I couldn’t figure out why you turned completely against that or why you wouldn’t come to any of my art shows. Why didn’t you just tell me all of this years ago?”

“I didn’t want you to look at your mother any different. She had a moment of weakness when I wasn’t there for her, but I never believed you needed to know.”

“Give me a little more credit than that. Nothing would change things with mom. I love her, I love you both no matter what.”

Frank reaches for another hug. “I love you too Littleman.” The nickname from Quinn’s first steps in life is a welcome comfort. “I did see your Soho show by the way.”

“You did?”

“Of course. I had to fight some schmuck for your Jakarta painting.”

“You bought Jakarta? Is it here?”

“It’s in the living room.”

Frank guides Quinn into the house, his hand never leaving his shoulder. The sight of this painting in particular brings an ironic smile to Quinn’s face. It’s the only painting in which the subject reflects memories of his father, and most critics say it’s his most somber piece entirely painted with cold blue and purple tones.

“I remember that night,” Frank says. “You were so funny.” He chokes out a laugh. “So goddamned funny. I thought I’d stump you. I took you two to the filthy ugly slums and asked you to spy something beautiful, and you didn’t look around for more than a few seconds before seeing that old man building a tricycle from garbage parts. I remember standing there with you boys watching him as he tried to figure it out and get it to work. When he got the wheels to all turn we cheered. I was always amazed at the things you saw. That didn’t come from me son, that was just your talent.”

“It’s beautiful,” Monica says walking in the room with Ellie. Frank sees Quinn’s eyes light up as they land on her. He watches as Quinn’s entire world and focus shifts to the woman he’s harshly judged and feels shame.

“Has mom given you a good tour?”

“Oh yes, I got to see your old room which gave me a little more insight.” She raises her eyebrow in jest. “And I saw the photo wall upstairs, very funny, and the tree house you broke your arm falling out of.”

Quinn looks at his mom with a smile. “I didn’t really fall so much a thought I could fly with my hang glider wings made from old kites.”

“I should have known he wasn’t just collecting them. He never flew the damn things.” Frank laughs.

Quinn rolls his eyes and squeezes Monica’s hand. “Are you ready to head back? We’re going out to the city tonight.” She nods seeing his eyes are brighter and a faint smile has returned, hopefully signals that this trip was a success.

He moves to his mother and holds her in his arms for a long time, not letting her go. She strokes his head and kisses his cheek before seeing in his eyes that her secrets were revealed. She starts to lower her gaze in shame, but his kiss assures her she has no worries. “I love you mom, no matter what.”

Monica watches as Frank wraps his arms around them both forming a parent sandwich. When they break apart Frank approaches Monica and says, “I’m sorry I’ve been an old fool. An ass really, I’ve been an ass.” She laughs at the blunt admission and opens her arms to him. Their hug is beyond anything Quinn expected.

They start walking out the front hallway to leave when Monica stops to look at a framed photo right next to the front door. “Is that you with your grandparents? Where was this taken?”

Quinn sighs knowing his mother is probably not going to answer. “Yeah, that’s Kansas City. Look familiar?”

“I know that park.” Monica turns to look at them. “My grandpa took me to this park too before he died.” She looks at it again. “Wow. You didn’t live there though right?”

“No. I don’t even remember that to be honest.”

She admires the two little boys clinging to their grandparents at the bottom of the slide. “Well no, you were probably what two or three there, but wow. We could have been at the same park as little toddlers. How crazy is that? Such a small world.”

Monica fades into her own memories as the room stands quiet. Once she starts feeling awkwardly alone in memory lane she thanks them, and they continue back to Jay’s house. On the ride back she thinks about the possibility of their paths crossing in childhood, and it makes her feel as though she’s been orbiting his world from their beginning.

Jay’s car pulls into the garage while Quinn shakes out their umbrella. “Hey! You guys didn’t stay long.”

“Ah, yeah. It wasn’t worth it,” Megan says. They follow her inside where she drops bags of gifts and left-over containers on the kitchen counter. Amber runs upstairs already on the phone with someone.

“We can get ignored by them any day, huh babe,” Jay says, wrappings his arms around her. “I’m sure it was as fun as my parent’s house.” He glances at Quinn who looks happy. “Did it go that well buddy?”

“It did. We’re good.”

“Seriously? Everyone’s talking? No yelling or silent treatment? No avoiding your name?”

“Everything is good.” Jay’s face takes a rare turn, losing all sarcasm and humor, he smiles at his little brother with pure happiness and nods. He plants a little kiss on Megan’s head, still wrapped in his arms. “I think we should head out early. Take in some of those window displays you love.”

Quinn is already watching Monica like a puppy, feeling their carefree adventure making a comeback. A wash of relief rushes through as she kisses him like it’s Christmas morning all over.

Megan clears her throat. “What do ya say guys?”

“We’re up for anything,” Quinn says, still looking at Monica.

“New York City here we come baby!” Jay gives Megan a little celebratory twirl.

“Sweet. When you leaving?” Amber asks, tossing a duffel bag on the kitchen floor.

“I don’t like the tone missy. What’s in the bag?”

Amber rolls her eyes with a smirk. “Usual. Clothes, shoes, pedicure stuff… magazines.”

Jay’s face is fighting a smile. “What kind of magazines?” He goes for the bag.

“No! Dad!”

A high pitch squeal echoes in the kitchen as she jumps on his back. He takes the duffel into his chest laughing. “I just wanna see who’s on the cover this week! Is it Niel? No. Maybe it’s Liam.”

“Dad! Stop teasing… give it back!”

They continue to tussle as Jay pulls out a thick stack of teen heartthrob magazines. “Wow. How much allowance do we give you? There’s a fortune in here!”

Amber retreats and stands with her arms folded in a pout.

“Give ‘em back Jay,” Megan says.

“Oh, I will… I just have to know,” he says shuffling through them, “November, September? That’s so yesterday. Oh!” He stops and holds one to his heart with a ridiculous smile. “It’s Liam!!! I knew it!”

“Are you done?” Amber says, trying not to laugh at her father.

Jay winks at her and carefully places the magazines back in the bag. He zips it and hands it back. Before Amber can get it back he tugs once more, then flashes his hands in surrender. Megan smacks him on the arm making him laugh harder.

“I’m gettin’ it from all sides here,” Jay says to Quinn. “Personally I liked the purple polish more than that blue sparkle.”

Amber is not amused. “When are you leaving? Should I have Jessica’s mom come get me?”

“I can be ready in fifteen,” Megan says, looking at everyone else.