A/N: I don't own the proposal or any of its characters.
- mum? Called Andrew once he was downstairs.
I'm in the kitchen Honey.
Hey guess what?
You and Margaret finally did it?
Gammy! We were only upstairs for ten minutes.
The time has no importance. What matters is how good it feels.
Andrew closed his eyes and sighed.
I really need to go see a shrink. Okay, I got promoted to editor.
Oh honey that's fantastic, cried Grace, hugging her son. I'm so proud of you.
Yes that's great news. Not as great as if you and Margaret had done it, but…
Gammy.
I'm proud of you to my boy. Come here, give you gammy a hug.
Andrew motioned to her and grabbed her in his arms. Annie laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
Where's Margaret? Asked Grace.
Oh she wanted to take a shower.
Ah. Well we need to celebrate.
Celebrate what, asked a voice behind them.
The three of them turned around at the same time.
Joe, you're home, said Grace, coming to kiss her husband. Where have you been? She whispered in his ear.
Son.
Dad.
So you're back.
Yep.
And hum…Margaret?
Upstairs.
I see.
Joe, you'll never guess? Said Annie.
What?
Andrew has been promoted to editor!
Really? That's fantastic. Was it before or after he slept with his boss?
Dad…
Joe!
I'm just wondering. Isn't it a bit sudden? What deal did you make this time?
I got this promotion because of my work.
Right and this has nothing to do with you…dating, if we can call it that, this woman?
This woman is named Margaret and I love her.
The one that blackmailed you to marry her? The one that lied to us? The one that abandoned you at the altar?
She did it because she cared about us.
Right. Don't be so naïve son.
Andrew shook his head and tried to keep his cool. That was before he heard his father say:
how old is she anyway? She's probably just trying to have fun before it's too late for her…
okay that's enough dad! You don't talk about her that way!
How can you love her? You hate that woman.
Not anymore. She's. ..different than what I thought. I don't understand, I thought you were okay with this?
You were in shock. I thought after you'd given some thought about it, you'd understand that this wasn't going to work. I don't want to see you waste your time and youth with someone like her. You could do so much better.
Margaret tried to push away the dog that was coming toward her with her foot but he barked, making everyone turned their head in her direction.
stupid dog, she muttered.
Margaret, hum how about a little stroke? Offered grace.
Yes, we can catch up, added Gammy.
Andrew and his father just need to…talk.
Margaret smiled and glanced at Andrew, who was obviously really mad. She hesitated as to what to do but then realized that Andrew needed to sort things out with his father, once and for all. She nodded and with one last look at him, she followed Gammy and Grace outside.
I'm sorry dear, my son can be a little…obtuse sometime, said Annie, once they were outside.
Yes don't worry about it.
I wish I could but…I can't help but to think that this is my fault.
Oh trust me, those two had troubles way before you came.
Grace is right. Joe never understood Andrew's career choice. When he left to New York, he was really…well, pissed.
Margaret nodded.
still, I'm sorry. About lying to you and using your son.
Oh sweetie, don't worry. The moment we understood you were in love with him, we forgave you.
Exactly.
Despite herself, Margaret felt her eyes tear up.
I don't know what it is about you guys but whenever I'm around you, I cry like a baby.
Maybe that's because you need to, sweetie, said Gammy.
Andrew watched Margaret leave and turned around to face his father.
what don't you tell me what this is really about, huh dad?
You know what this is about. I don't want to see you get hurt.
Bullshit dad! The truth is you can't stand the choice I've made with my life. You dreamt that I was going to New York, fail and then come back and step into your shoes. And I'm sorry I didn't but it's not what I want.
You never even tried. You just took off one day.
Because I couldn't stand to see the disappointment in your eyes. Every time you looked at me, I could see it. This is not about Margaret, this is about you not having the son you wanted.
Joe didn't answer. They stared at each other and when he couldn't take the silence anymore, Andrew stormed out of the house.