"Surprise honey!" Diana says cheerfully standing next to my dad. I stood there shocked with my mouth slightly open. "Look at that Mr. Friar he's speechless. I told you he be surprised." My dad chuckles and says "well son are you going to stand there gawking at me or are you going to come say hello?"
I shake my head and walk up and shake his hand. "Sorry sir, I'm just surprised to see you here?" I say rubbing my neck. He looks at me and says "Diana can I have a moment alone with my son please?" She nods her head and kisses my cheek saying she was going to get dinner.
"Well how's the internship going? Is Paul treating you good? I told him you would pick everything up quickly and he should already make you a partner with how smart you are." He says sitting on the couch. I go to the fridge and grab some beers handing him his and say "Paul isn't with the firm anymore dad. Mrs. Matthews is the CEO now."
He spits it out and stands saying "what?! Paul assured me he would stay as long as you were there." I gulp my beer and say "he retired to spend more time with his grandkids." He scoffs and says "bullshit! He told me he stay and mentor you. Well looks like we are just going to have to find you somewhere else to finish your internship at."
I chug the rest of my beer and say "it doesn't work like that sir. Besides I was thinking of maybe quitting the internship and applying for more classes at the college." He pats my shoulder and says "that sounds like an excellent idea you can pick up more law classes and be done with school sooner than expected and come join the law firm I'm at."
I get up and grab another beer. "Dad I don't want to sign up for more law classes I was thinking some chemistry classes." I say looking at him. He watches me and stands up saying "Lucas I told you already no son of mine was going to school to be sticking his hand in dogs all day. You were going to carry on the friar tradition of becoming a lawyer."I nod my head and say "yes sir. I'll let Mrs. Matthews know I'm done with the internship to focus on school."
My dad begins to pace and says "that's why you want to quit being a lawyer for that girl isn't it? Your just like your sister going after childish things and look where she ended up." "Sara is a teacher dad I highly call that childish." He scoffs and says "she could have been a great lawyer but she wanted to follow a boy to college and look at her alone. Don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about your mother would be rolling in her grave if she heard this."
I swallow the lump in my throat and excuse myself saying I was going for a walk. I found myself by the cemetery and go visit my mom.
"Hey sweetie what's wrong?" My mom ask me as I slump into the kitchen chair. "It's nothing.. I just... I told dad what I wanted to be when I grow up." My mom wipes her hands on her apron and sits next to me. "Well that's wonderful Luke. What do you want to be?" She ask looking at me. I take a deep breath and say "I want to be a veterinarian someday."
I look down expecting her to laugh but she grabs my hand and smiles. "I think you would make an excellent vet someday honey." I turn red and she smiles and says "what?" I say "Riley said the same thing when I told her." She chuckles and says "is this the girl you can't stop talking about?" I blush and nod my head. She laughs and says "well she is right you would. But why did you look so disappointed when you walked in?"
I sigh and say "because I told dad and he laughed saying real men become lawyers and doctors. No son of his was going to be a vet." I wipe at my eyes and my mom cups my cheeks and says "you listen to me Lucas James Friar you can be whatever you want. Being a real man has nothing to do with your job and more to do with how you represent yourself. So if you want to join the circus or grow wings and fly you do what makes you happy. You understand me?" I chuckle and say "yes ma'am."
Riley pov
"So my mom's company party is going to be this weekend and I just want to make sure we have everything." I tell Sammy as we go over everything again. "Okay we are closing early that night around 3 right?" He asks I nod my head and he writes that down. "What about decorating or does she not want that?"
I look at my list she gave me and say "she doesn't want it to fancy but not to plain." Sammy looks at me and we both start laughing. "Your mom is weird Matthews." He says shaking his head. I continue laughing and say "oh I know. But she has nothing on my dad." We continue working for another hour and then Maya comes in with Farkle and Zay.
"Hey cotton candy face where is my favorite girl?" Zay says holding out his arms. I smile and say "I'm right here." They all laugh and Zay shakes his head. "Where is Penny?" Farkle says looking around the restaurant. I smile and say "Dr. Matthews is with a patient right now." And gesture to the back booth.
They all turn their heads and smile watching her give her stuff animals check ups. "Aww she wants to be a doctor? I'm so proud!" Maya gushes. I bite my lip and say "she wants to be a veterinarian." They all look at me and Zay says "well... I got nothing." He throws his hands up and Maya hits him. "Ow! What I honestly don't know what to say to that."
I start laughing and wipe the tears and say "I don't either. Isn't that funny? She looks just like me but is starting to act like her father." I keep laughing and they all look at me. "Riles honey are you okay? You're kinda freaking me out here?" Maya says sitting down with me. I keep laughing and nod my head. "I'm okay it's just so hilarious. Don't you think so?" I say wiping my eyes.
They exchange a look and Farkle kneels in front of me and grabs my hands. "Riley is everything alright? Maybe you and Penny should get away for a couple of days. You can go to the beach house Penny would like building sandcastles." He says looking at me with pity on his face. I drop his hands and stand "I'm fine Farkle and I'm not running away. I'm just a little sleep deprived okay? So everyone stop worrying."
I start putting away my papers. "Riles we are just worried. You can carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and never ask for help." Maya says putting her hand on mine stopping me and making me look at her. "I know Maya and when I need your help I will ask. I know I can't carry the world but I will carry my world and my daughter's world on my shoulders to make sure she has what she needs."
"Just promise me something? If it gets to be to much don't retreat into rileytown and wish it away look to the people around you and know we have your back. Always." Maya says hugging me. I lightly chuckle and Zay and Farkle join in on the hug. "I promise peaches."
"Riley I thought you left already?" Sammy says putting on his jacket. I shake my head and say "yeah I should be gone but I want to make sure nothing is missing from the list for the party and go over the new look for the bakery reopening." Sammy whistles and says "damn you're my hero." I giggle and he looks around and says "hey where is the boss?" "My dad came and got her earlier my grandparents are in town and wanted to see her."
He smiles and says "you mean spoil her?" I laugh and nod my head. "Of course they do everytime they come to town." "I wish my grandparents did that when they visit me? Well night Riley." I laugh and say night. I was sitting at the bar when someone comes in and clears their throat. "Sorry we aren't open." I shout getting up looking at my papers.
"I didn't come here to eat Ms. Matthews." I freeze knowing that was one voice I wish I could have went my whole life without hearing. "Well it seems the money I send you sure helped you out didn't it?" Mr. Friar says looking around. I cross my arms and say "I did this on my own I didn't use your money." He chuckles and says "well you sure didn't send the checks back so I'm assuming you did something with them? Maybe that fancy house you live in now perhaps."
He walks towards me and I stand my ground refusing to let him intimidate me. "Everything I have I did on my own without any of your money or influence. So what do you want to come here and tell me to stay away from your son again?" He chuckles once again and says "that's exactly why I'm here. I guess I didn't make myself clear the last time. Lucas is destined for great things and you and that kid of yours are just not one of the things he needs or wants."
I grew angry with every word he was saying so I say "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told you I don't want anything from you or him. And my daughter is not a thing she is a person and if you can't respect that then you can get the hell out. You will not disrespect my daughter like that. My question is what are you going to do when he finds out she's his daughter and you knew this whole time?"
He smirks and says "the real question is what are you going to do?" I smile and say "absolutely nothing. You had him sign his rights away and if he tries anything I'll take you and him to court and take everything from you just like you're trying to do right now to me." He stands there and I smile wider knowing I knocked that smirk right off his face.
"Heed my warning miss Matthews." He says one last time. I chuckle and say "I think it's you that should heed my warning Mr. Friar." He leaves and I go and lock the door and lean against the wall trying to get my hands to stop shaking. I gather up my stuff and head to my parents house. "Riley there you're sweetheart!" My grandma says coming up and hugging me.
I smile and say "hi grams where's grandpa!" She laughs and waves my question off and says "teaching Penny some old boxing moves." I stare at her wide eye and she laughs. "I'm kidding he is reading to her in your old room." I laugh and head up that way. "Mommy look at the book pops got me?!" Penny cheers getting up to show me the book.
I smile looking at it and tell her to go back to reading it. "Grandpa are my parents around?" He says my dad went on the roof for air and my mom wasn't home yet. I make my way up to the roof and see my dad sitting on the bench drinking hot chocolate. "Hey sweetie when did you get here?" He says smiling. I slump next to him and he puts his drink down and says "what's wrong Riley?" I start to cry and say "I think maybe we should let mom in on the whole story."
