Father Knows Best
One week later David sat outside his father's office trying hard to look like a confident, mature adult, and not a nervous schoolboy awaiting a meeting with the principal after being caught in the act of some mischievous behavior. The problem was that talks with his father were always centered on how David was wrong and what he needed to do differently.
David hadn't always had such a contentious relationship with his father. In fact, most of his life it had been almost as if he didn't exist. George Nolan had put all his energy into David's older brother James. About five years ago, George had quit his job as a District Attorney and returned to private practice. His move had been precipitated by the fact that James was about to graduate from law school and the two wanted to set up a father-son law firm together. That had left David free to pursue his love of animals. With his father's approval, he had used family funds to set up a non-profit animal rescue and shelter. George had actually been mildly supportive of the effort because he had used it to build his client list through a reputation as a philanthropist. That was until that awful day three years ago when David's life had been turned upside down.
He had just gotten home one evening when he got the call that there had been an accident. His parents had been having dinner with James and his new girlfriend, although latest conquest was probably a more accurate description. James had never stayed with one girl long enough for them to really be considered a serious girlfriend. At some point during the dinner, George had been called in to work, so James was driving his mother home. He had lost control in a curve, flipping the car multiple times. James was thrown from the car and killed instantly. David's mother had hung in there for several weeks before succumbing to her injuries.
His mother had continually said that she was feeling better and admonished David to stop worrying about her. Things had looked positive and the medical staff had been increasingly optimistic about her recovery, so David was extremely shocked when his father called with news of her death. Looking back on it, maybe he should have known.
The night before her passing was the night that she had held his hand and told him all she wanted in life was for her sons to be happy. She had told him how proud she was of him. She talked to him about hope and happy endings, about love and family. She had taken the ring off of her finger and given it to him. She told him how it would lead him to true love if he would only believe. David had humored her. He figured she was just lamenting over the fact that she would never be able to say these things to James, so she wasn't going to waste a minute with him. So he had smiled and taken the ring, as he jokingly promised to put it on the hand of the girl who captured his heart and made him feel like he could conquer dragons with her by his side.
He should have sensed that this was her way of saying goodbye. He would have begged her to stay with him. He would have told her that he still needed a mother, even though he was almost twenty-four years old. He would have refused the ring and told her he wouldn't take it until the day he was able to introduce her to that girl himself, but he didn't. David's life had been run by guilt ever since.
Guilt that he didn't notice his mom was dying and help her be strong enough to hold on. Guilt that he can't be the son his father wants. He has tried since then to please his father, but he always comes up short. His father wanted him to quit the shelter and go to law school. He compromised by using his father's contacts to secure a job in law enforcement. It hadn't been enough though, and his father continually let him know he was disappointed. George eventually became more accepting after he met and began dating Kathryn Midas. She was from an important Boston family, and was quickly making a name for herself by winning her first several cases out of law school.
As David sat there contemplating his life, he determined that he couldn't quite call himself unhappy. While he missed working at the animal shelter, he actually enjoyed his job with the police force. After years of watching his father manipulate the justice system for his own gain, David liked the idea that he was helping to keep people safe and bringing forth justice.
And while his relationship with Kathryn may not be the adventure that he thought love was going to be, they seemed to be happy enough. That was until talk of marriage came up. Now, every discussion ended in tears, frustration, and anger. David realized that the life that he once imagined for himself would probably not be a reality with Kathryn as his wife. She was more career driven than he ever knew. She desired success, and all the trappings that came along with it. She thrived on power and social status. She wanted an immense house where she could host large, elaborate dinner parties. She wanted to hold off on having children indefinitely, insisting they should travel and enjoy life while they are still young.
He thought that children were part of the joy of life. He dreamed of living in the country with a house full of kids and animals. He imagined school plays, youth soccer games, and weekend trips to amusement parks. He pictured loud, laughter filled days playing with his kids, and quiet nights snuggled on the sofa with his wife, watching movies and stealing kisses during the commercials. Those were the images that were playing through his mind when his father's secretary told him that he could go in.
His father's office smelled like old leather and cigar smoke. As usual, it was too warm. David always imagined that he kept it that way on purpose. He wanted his clients to actually feel that whole cliche of sweating it out. One look at his father's face behind the imposing black desk, and David knew it was just as he thought. He took a deep breath, sat back, and prepared to be reprimanded for whatever imagined offense his father had found to blame him for now.
George put aside the documents he had been reading and brought his fingertips together in a gesture that, for his father, meant this was a serious matter. "So would you like to tell me what's going on with you?"
"I don't know what you mean?"
"I've talked to Kathryn and she's worried about you. I'm just wondering if I should be worried too."
"And what exactly would you have to be worried about father?"
"Don't get smart with me boy!" George growled as he leaned forward in his chair, pointing his finger directly in his face. "Kathryn is the best things that ever happened to you and you're about to break her heart over some ill-conceived notion of true love. I won't let that happen!"
George slapped the flat of his hand loudly on the desk. The two of them sat there staring at each other. The force of George's anger felt between them in the echo that still vibrated from the wood desk. Finally, George continued, his voice quieter, yet still stern.
"I have asked Kathryn to come and work for me. Together the three of us can build the family firm that I've always dreamed of. That your mother and brother would be proud of. Do you want to be responsible for the downfall of what's left of this family? Would you really dishonor the memory of your mother and brother over some fairytale fantasy?"
David stood, anger at his father's low blow overtaking him. "How dare you insinuate that I would ever dishonor the memory of them? I loved them! Memories are all I have left!"
David turned to leave, but George quickly stood to stop him, his face and voice softening as he implored with David not to leave. Maybe he realized that he had gone too far and felt bad for his son, or maybe it was just the lawyer in him who knew when it was time to switch tactics. David couldn't tell for sure, but experience told him it was probably the latter. Still, guilt squeezed at his heart like continuously moving tenticles, at his father's plea.
"Son, I'm sorry. I know you loved them. I loved them too. I'm just trying to preserve the family I have left. I have been patient with you. I have indulged your youthful passion with the animals shelter, but David, it's time to grow up. You need to leave boyhood fantasies behind. Call Kathryn and say whatever it is needs to be said to fix this before it's too late and you've made the biggest mistake of your life."