Chapter 10:
"I apologize for the delay, Amanda, there was a problem with my luggage," Jeffrey Moon said, closing the car door after climbing in.
"It's not a problem, we still have plenty of time before the prom starts. How was your flight?" she asked cordially.
It was always like this between them, a cold politeness between two people who'd once had a passionate affair. It had been 17 years since they'd met; she'd been 18 years old. He was older, handsome and successful, even at age 25. She was fresh out of high school, an up-and-coming dancer and new to Manhattan's social circles. Even now, when she sees him, she can't help but feel 18 again. Shy, naïve. She has to shake herself to remember that she's a grown woman, the mother of an almost-grown man, and a successful dancer and businesswoman. A quick glance into the mirror above reaffirmed this for her.
She pulled into a nearby café so they could have dinner and discuss their son and his future. They contrast one another in both appearance and nature: Jeffrey in an expensive tailored suit and Amanda in a long crocheted dress and sandals. Austin favors his father in appearance, but his worldview is more his mother's. Amanda believes, however, Austin is more like his father than he realizes.
After they ordered, Amanda started the conversation, "Let's cut to the chase here. Austin's incredibly upset, I think you know that."
He frowned at her. "I know he's upset, but he's got to understand…"
"Jeff," she interrupted, "He's got to make this decision on his own. He cannot feel you are making the decision for him, especially out of some sense that you don't believe in him, or support his dreams. The thing he needs more than anything is to feel that his father supports him."
"I do support him, Amanda. I am trying to secure him a better future," he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"But it may be a future he doesn't want. Look, I know we don't agree on this, but the reality is, he's almost an adult. He's almost 17, he'll be a senior in high school this fall. We need to realize that the decision just isn't entirely ours to make now."
"By we, you mean me," he sighed.
"Both of us," she emphasized. "Look, if Austin wants to go to the prep school, then I'm not going to stop him and I won't fight you on it. Will it be hard on me for him to leave a year sooner? Of course. But if it's what he wants, I'm not going to object."
"You only say that because you know he won't even consider it. He's too attached to you, and to Miami. He always has been," he accused.
She nodded. "And to his friends, probably much more so than to me. But if he wants to be a performer, he knows he'll have to leave, sooner rather than later. You're just a train-ride away from the city. It would be better for him to go with you."
"He'll never want to leave now that he's got this girlfriend," he shook his head.
"She's not his girlfriend. Not yet, anyway. They write music together. The songs he performs, she writes them. She's quite talented."
"So Austin tells me. The girl…"
"Ally," she offered.
"Ally," he recites. "This was all her idea?"
She smiled sadly. "Yes, but I'm afraid she thinks this trip here will convince you to drop the idea of the prep school and of Austin moving in with you."
"So, then why did you invite me down here at her request?" he looked at her questioningly.
She gazed at him with a detached coolness and responded evenly, "In order that you and our son might reach an agreement. Keep in mind, Jeffrey, that he is still a minor and I still have primary custody. With only one year left as a minor, and no showing of the move being in his best interests, the judge would never order a modification of timesharing. Not to mention, we would be caught up in litigation over it for the better part of the year anyway. The reality is, we may have joint custody, but this is my decision, not yours. And I've decided that Austin can go - only if he wants to."
"Sounds like someone met with her lawyer," he mumbled.
Her eyes darkened. "You're right; I did. After all these years with you, of course, I did. And no matter how much money you throw at this, it isn't going to help you get what you want. Look, I don't disagree with you here. It probably would be best for him to go. And you have the opportunity to persuade him this summer. So, I suggest, if you really want to convince him, that you start taking an interest in the things our son cares about, and find out, together, whether the school is a good fit for him and, if it isn't, how you can otherwise support our son in his goals."
He smiled at her. "I'll concede. You're right. I will take a different approach with him. I'll watch him perform tonight, and at the end of summer, if he isn't convinced to move to Connecticut, then I'll stop pressuring him, and I will find some way to help him do what he wants to do, even if it's his unrealistic ideas about the music industry."
She smiled at him. "Thank you. I'm glad we can agree. He loves you, you know. He just wants you to be proud of him."
"I am proud of him," he nodded.
"I tell him that, but he doesn't believe me. He needs to hear it from you," she said.
"I know. So, this girl… Ally. She's not his girlfriend?"
The limo ride to the restaurant is awkward, at best; however, Ally is relieved to find the source of the awkwardness, for once, isn't her. Austin, Ally, Trish and Dallas can do nothing more than try not to stare at the sight of Mindy shamelessly groping Dez.
After exchanging a horrified glance with Trish, Austin clears his throat, "So, Mindy, I guess you and Dez have been seeing a lot of each other lately…"
"We sure have. Dez can't get enough of me, can you?" Mindy laughs throatily. Dez can only smile helplessly, before Mindy presses her lips to his again.
"Well, good talk, Mindy," Austin muttered. "Uh, Dallas, how's the new job coming?"
"Great. It's a lot better than the cell phone kiosk. The library's nice and quiet, and I get a lot more homework done while I'm there, and get paid."
"Oh, that's really nice. I wish I could get more homework done at the store, but I never seem to get enough done. I'm always having to stay up late doing homework after we close," Ally said.
"That's probably because if you aren't with customers, I'm always there bugging you for a new song," Austin grinned.
"That's true. Or Dez is, I don't know, getting a bologna sandwich stuck in a trombone, and I have to spend two hours cleaning it out," Ally replied.
"Mrrmrph," Dez replied, still smothered by Mindy.
"Can he breathe?" Dallas asked them quietly.
"He isn't blue, so I guess he's still alive," Trish replied unhappily.
"Well, I'm looking forward to the restaurant," Ally offered. "I heard they have amazing lobster bisque. My dad's been raving about it."
"Yeah, my mom loves this place too," Austin replied.
"I've lost my appetite," Trish said, shaking her head. She was the first out of the limo as it came to a stop in front of the restaurant.