VISITING HIS PARENTS

We drive through the Riccafortes' gate. We park and get out. 'Are you ready?" I ask my tiger here because he has been quiet all the drive through. He looks tense. I reach for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. 'All shall go well," I assure him.


He nods. 'I hope so. If this never works today, then…"

'Sh..." I cut him off. I don't have time for negativities anymore in my life. And this, this needs to work. I am doing this for my parents too. I am sure they will be happy if we can live together in peace. 'Love? Be positive. Everything will work out, okay? Trust me."

He nods. 'Alright."


Hand in hand, we swim through the swarm of guards loitering everywhere. You wouldn't miss a bunch on each slight turn of your head that you make. How much do they spend on their security? Jeez!

The guards at the door open it for us with slight bows to welcome us. Her mother meets us step-in, her face all smiles. She gives us a hug each. 'Welcome. I am glad you two could visit. Please, come in," she nicely ushers in, but Damian stops a few steps.


'Umh, mother? We want to speak to Dad first. Where is he?" He asks.

'Yes, he is in the study," she responds.

We nod to her and excuse ourselves. Actually, I thought this tough nut could handle his father alone just fine. I didn't know he would need me there with him. But the way he is hugging my hand, huh? I guess I will not be helping my mother-in-law in the kitchen like I had anticipated.

Reaching to the door of his father's study, Damian scratches the door slightly. 'Come it," the flat voice of his father echoes from inside.

We walk in. He is surprised to see us, but, well, you know this gender and emotions, especially when they are not on so good terms with someone. That is why he is seated, smiling at me and evading his son at all costs.

'Hi, Dad?" I decide to lighten the mood.

His smile broadens as he stretches his hand to shake mine. 'How are you, my dear?" he asks.

'I am great, Father," I respond, and to my relief, he shakes Damian's hand.

'Please, sit. So, what brings you here?" He asks, his eyes still on me expectantly. He is way too cold to his son.

Damian and I sit across from him. 'We have some news for you, father. Ellie and I are officially engaged."

Eei! Excuse this one. Like, was that really where he should have started? Was that the best pick-up point he could come up with? Mylawd!

His father's expression softened a little bit, looking at Damian. 'Congratulations. That is indeed good news. But," he wavers, thinking for a moment. 'For some couple who were able to forge even a marriage and made it seem extremely real, this is cheap news, son. Tell me something more exciting."

Yeah! We were one crazy couple. Falling in love without even knowing who we really were. Getting engaged secretly. Faking a marriage. What didn't we do? I so love this journey of ours.

Damian nods, understanding his father. 'I know. I am sorry if we cause you all any trouble in our love endeavors. And like you said, I am here for something else. I want us to talk about business."

Now that stroked his father's curiosity and attention in full swing. 'I am all ears."

Damian clears his voice. 'Dad, I know you have been upset with me ever since I took over Ellie's father's business. No, actually, even way long before that. But I want you to understand why I made that decision. It wasn't because I didn't care about your business or didn't want to be involved. Dad, I care about you and this family, but I have a huge obligation. I am overly burdened, and I feel like I can't handle more. My fear right now is adding more to this load and then failing in the end."

His father shakes his head, meaning that he is not in agreement with the explanations that his son is giving.

A moment of silence passes. He still refuses to say a thing. Damian continues again. 'I am also running my motel chain, which is a huge responsibility. Adding your business to that would be too much, Father. And for the longest time, Father, I refused to work for you. But now that I want to do that, I just don't want to please you by accepting this and then failing. I would not want to rush into this and mess everything up, please." His last part is a plea.

Mr. Riccaforte's eyes softened as he listened, and he spoke after a while, 'But I also need you, son. As your father, I need you. Your mother needs you. This family needs you. We need to feel your presence and your commitment."

I feel bad for my man. It seems like he is in so much demand. My father snatched him before anyone. Then here I am. And his parents now feel like he is neglecting them.

'I am your father, son," his father begins again, his voice low and soothing, 'I apologize for all I did and said to you in the past. I am embarrassed of myself and proud of you at the same time because you made it. Without my help, you made a name for yourself. Forgive me, my son. And please try to understand where I am coming from. I know Richard was my best friend, and I am not asking you to lay down your responsibilities to what he bestowed on you or negate your wife. Far from it, son."

He stands up, and Damian stood up as well. He walks to where Damian is; he hugs his shoulders, a smile warming his face.