Chapter 37
After the hassle of Thanksgiving, Kid and Lou returned to their daily routine. The beginning of December came presaging a very cold winter. The first snowflakes spread over the streets, rooftops and fields with a pure white blanket. The city streets ramped up their beauty as they displayed new Christmas decorations and lights, announcing that the season was near. Likewise, shop widows, beautifully trimmed, boasted their best articles, tempting countless shoppers that would be on a hunt for the perfect Christmas present.
Like every year activity at the diner almost trebled, and Lou had to do more than her usual hours. Her boss had almost begged her on his knees she agreed to his request, and Lou had been unable to refuse. The extra money would come in handy, especially since in January she would start her university online course. Naturally, Kid had protested, reasoning that she already worked too many hours, and with her new schedule they would hardly have time to be together. Lou knew he was right, but despite his relentless attempts to persuade her, Lou had not changed her mind.
Her new working hours meant she finished late every evening. They hardly ever had dinner together, walked, or did much of anything. Lou was so tired at the end of the day that she crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow. Kid kept complaining that he missed her, and voiced his concerns about her health if she did not slow her frenetic pace. Lou naturally disregarded his words, and always said that the present situation was something temporary, and she would be back to her normal hours after the holiday. Feeling lonely in his empty home, Kid lately remained in his laboratory longer than usual, working more than he was expected to. Sometimes he hung out with his colleagues at the local bar, and filled those long hours alone.
Just ten days before Christmas Day, like every year, his boss treated the staff to dinner in a luxurious restaurant in the city. Everybody's spouse or partner was there, but since Lou was busy at work that night too, Kid had shown up on his own. In fact, he had entertained the idea to decline the invitation, but he didn't think it was right. After all, he had stopped attending the Barnes' dinners despite his boss's insistence. Therefore, he now felt obliged to go to the Christmas bash, and hoped to have some good fun.
"Where did you leave your damsel tonight?"
Hearing the voice, Kid looked up and found Natasha, who was taking the seat next to him. "Uh… Lou's working," he said.
"Oh what a shame!" she exclaimed and her lips stretched into a grin as she added, "Well, her loss is my gain."
Natasha winked at him flirtatiously and Kid stared in her direction with a dumbfounded expression, not sure what to make of her words. Apart from what strictly concerned work, Natasha had hardly said a word to him in the whole year. There was no real animosity between them despite the clash they had when Kid had refused her advances; Natasha just seemed to have lost interest in him, even in his friendship, so her comment now confused him.
Natasha did not address Kid directly any more as conversation flowed easily around the table. Added to his surprise, Kid found himself enjoying the night, he forgot about Natasha and her previous insinuation. Wine and alcohol got consumed generously as it was common in his colleagues, but Kid stuck to cold tea and juice since he would have to drive home later.
"Will you give me a lift to my apartment when we finish here?" Natasha suddenly asked him, leaning so close that he could smell her perfume and the alcohol in her breath. "I'm even in a generous mood, and I'll invite you in for a nightcap," she said, placing her hand on his thigh and brushing it up and down.
The touch of her hand startled him first, but then he simply sighed. Not again, he thought among gritted teeth. He did not have the energy to fight off Natasha's flirty tricks. Removing her hand from his thigh, he simply said, "No, I don't think so."
"Oh, Kid, where on earth did you leave your manners? I thought you were a gentleman," she tutted as if she were scolding a child, and leaned it closer.
"You know I'm in a relationship, and I can't go frolicking about with you."
"Kid, don't be such a prude. I don't expect a marriage proposal from you. As I told you before, I can be good fun, and you look like you need a good distraction. And I'm bored too."
"Please Natasha, I said no."
Before she could speak, Kid rose to his feet, which attracted his boss's attention. "Samuel, don't tell me you're leaving already."
"I'm afraid so. It's been a delightful dinner, but I must go," he said, and after exchanging goodbyes with the rest of his colleagues and their partners, he retrieved his coat from the cloakroom and marched out of the restaurant. When he was at the door, he heard his name being called, and to his chagrin, he came face to face with Natasha again.
"What about that lift you promised to give me?"
"Please Natasha, leave me alone."
The woman hooked one arm around his neck and brushed her red-painted lips against his cheek. "Oh Kid, you need to loosen up for once. Humor me. Just one time, and I won't bother you anymore. I won't tell a soul… not even your dull girlfriend."
"Are you deaf or what? I said no," he barked, disengaging himself from her arms.
Natasha guffawed loudly. "Oh Sammy boy! You can't lie to me! I do know you better than you think, and you're actually dying to say yes, but you're too honorable for your own good. I bet that if I stalked you to your place and got you in private, you wouldn't resist me."
Kid did not have the energy to carry on with this senseless argument, and simply said, "Goodbye, Natasha."
Once in his car, he drove past the restaurant and Natasha still stood there. As she noticed him inside the vehicle, she laughed and blew him a kiss. Kid shook his head, totally befuddled by what had happened. It was surreal, and he only hoped that this had been just the alcohol acting up. The last thing he wanted was to suffer another campaign of her harassment. The year before had been totally awkward, and Kid had thought that since it was public knowledge that Lou was in his life Natasha would have given up on him. Kid told himself he would not consent this woman to bother him with her whims whenever she felt like, and if necessary, he would have a few serious words with her.
When he reached his apartment, he got changed into more comfortable clothes and was heading for the kitchen, intending to cook dinner for Lou, when the doorbell rang. Glimpsing at his watch, he realized it was late for anybody to call on him for a social visit. As he wondered who could be at the door, the bell sounded again. Suddenly, Natasha's words came back to him, and the idea that she had followed him to his home became a probable possibility. "This is definitely the last straw," he grunted aloud in the empty apartment. How dared she bother him at his place? If Lou showed up now and found that woman, she would have a fit, and nobody could blame her. Although Lou believed him to be faithful, finding another woman in the apartment she shared with her man could shake anybody's trust seriously. Kid knew he wouldn't react well either if the situation was reversed.
The doorbell ding-donged a third time, and in a couple of long strides Kid marched down the corridor, intending to give Natasha a piece of his mind. With a strong pull he yanked the door open. The words were already on the tip of his tongue, but he froze when he saw the person on the other side was not the one he had expected to find.
The man cleared his throat and said, "Uh… good evening. My name's…"
"I know who you are," Kid replied in a serious tone. "Lou's not here."
"I know. I was actually hoping to talk to you."
"Me?" Kid exclaimed with a surprised frown.
"Your name's Samuel, isn't it?" Kid nodded, and the man added, "I want to ask you a favor."
Kid was not sure where the man was going, but the mere fact they were talking made him awkward and agitated. "I don't think you should be here."
"Please you have to help me out. You're my last resort," he pleaded. "My daughter's been a stranger to me for almost twelve years. Can you even imagine how painful that is for a father?"
"Lou has her reasons for not wanting anything from you. She feels very strongly about it, and nobody, not even me, has a right to question her."
"All I'm asking for is a chance…only a chance. I'm just a man with a weak heart, nothing extraordinary. I'm not the first man and won't be the last to fall for somebody else other than his wife. If I'd known I'd end up losing my girl, I'd never have looked at Grace twice."
"A real man wouldn't look at another woman in the first place when he has a wife at home," Kid stated firmly.
"You're right, but when you aren't happy in your marriage, it's difficult not to sneak a few glances here and there and…"
"Look, Mr. Boggs," Kid cut him off. "What happened between you and your former wife isn't my concern. All I care about is Lou. She doesn't want anything from you, and I don't plan on going against her wishes."
"Please," John Boggs begged. "I'm sure you could talk her into listening to me for once. Doesn't a father deserve a chance with his daughter? I don't think that's asking too much."
"I don't think…"
"Just let me wait for her in your apartment, and I'm sure she'd allow me to talk. Please."
His dark eyes pleaded with Kid so powerfully that he could not ignore the man's request. Sincerity and real pain shone in those eyes which were so similar to Lou's. Despite everything, Kid found himself nodding his permission, and as he did so, he already knew he was making a very big mistake.
Kid walked Boggs to his living room. Awkwardness was thick in the air, and Kid soon excused himself and moved to the kitchen. For fifteen minutes he busied himself, cooking some dinner to Lou as he had first intended. When he returned to the living room, Boggs was standing before the shelves on which there were a couple of framed pictures. One showed Kid and Lou posing side by side, their arms around each other's shoulders, both with ample smiles on their faces. The other framed photograph that Boggs was holding in his hands was a close-up of Lou's face and upper chest.
Hearing Kid's steps behind, Boggs turned his head and said, "She's always been a pretty little thing… since the first moment she was born. Had her mother and me wrapped around her little finger. She's grown into a beautiful woman, that's certain." Kid did not reply to his comments, and Boggs added, "I don't even have a photograph of my own daughter the way she looks now." He shook his head, replaced the framed picture on the shelf, and addressed Kid again. "Tell me, is this thing between you and my daughter serious?"
"As serious as can be."
The sound of a key opening of the front door saved Kid from further awkwardness, and drew both men's attention at once. They shared a look, and Kid said, "Just stay here. Let me talk to Lou first."
Kid closed the door, and dashed to the hall just as Louise slipped inside. "Hey!" she exclaimed cheerfully as soon as she saw him appear. "I didn't think you'd be back from your dinner so early. Did you have fun?"
"I never have fun when you aren't with me," he replied in an awkward tone, silently wondering how he was going to fess up about her father being in the apartment.
"And you cooked me dinner too!" she exclaimed as she could smell the aroma of the soup that wafted in the air from the kitchen. "You're the best."
Kid shrugged his shoulders. "You must be tired, and I can't let you go hungry or make your dinner yourself."
Louise smiled. "That deserves a kiss," she said, and leaning in, he planted a soft kiss on his lips. Kid heard her sniff, and when she pulled away, a frown marred her so-far contented countenance. "You stink of woman's perfume."
Kid was taken aback by her comment and it surprised him to see how good her sense of smell was. A tired sigh left his lips. He had not intended to tell her about Natasha's incident because it would only worry her, but now she could not dodge her implicit question and had to tell her. "Uh… that's why I left earlier. Natasha sat by my side during dinner, and she got kind of… touchy."
His answer only managed to worry her even more. Placing her hands on her hips in a challenging pose, she asked, "Touchy? How touchy?"
Kid took a step closer, rested his hands on her tense shoulders, and gazed into her eyes. "Look, Lou. I'll tell you everything in due time, but there's another situation that needs your attention first." Kid took a deep breath before saying. "Lou, your father…"
The word in his lips felt like burning fire in her soul. "My father? What about my father?" she asked in a strident tone.
"He… he showed up here, and… and… well, he's now in our living room."
Lou blanched and her eyes widened in horror. "And you didn't tell him to beat it? You know I don't want to see him!" she cried almost hysterically.
"Lou…"
Kid could not utter another word as Lou furiously bolted down the corridor and barged into the living room, hitting the door against the wall strongly. "I want you to leave right now!" she ordered in a threatening, low tone, sending daggers in her father's direction.
"Louise…"
"Didn't you hear me? Out! Now!" she cried, folding her arms over her heaving chest in a defensive manner. Kid came to stand by her side, and she threw him a glacial glare which spoke louder than words.
"Please Louise. I'm only asking you to hear me out. Only this once. Don't you think you could do that for me? It's been more than twelve years, Apple Pie."
"Don't call me that!" she barked angrily, took a deep breath, and added in a calmer voice, "What the hell do you want to talk about? Are you gonna list your lame excuses for abandoning us, from throwing us out of your life without remorse? Mom was sick, we were just children, and you never looked back. Despite all the years passing, it still hurts too much to admit that you never cared for us… for me."
"That's not so, Louise. What happened between your mother and me has nothing to do with you. I really cared for you and your siblings. I loved and love you."
"You have a funny way of showing it!" Lou growled angrily. "We could have starved to death, frozen or gone to school without clothes on for all you cared!"
"What are you talking about? I always made sure you children and your mother had no financial cares."
"Oh don't make me laugh! Do you think I'm an idiot or what? You're talking to me as if I hadn't been there! I started working seven days a week when I was sixteen because there was no money… because you, my father, refused to pay what was right, and we couldn't even afford to have hot food on our table or pay the bills! I had to step forward and shoulder the responsibility that should have been yours!"
Boggs shook his head. "I don't know why you're making that story up, or if you got everything mixed up. You children were my top priority, and I don't know what your mother kept telling you, but money was never an issue!"
"Stop lying! Stop lying!" Louise barked throwing her arms to the air. "I'm tired of listening to your lies and poor excuses! And leave my mother out of this!"
"I'm not lying, Louise, and you know it! Money went to your mother's bank account without fail… every month, and if I had not paid as you claim, the law would have come after me!"
"The law! I begged Mom to report you so many times, but she was weak and sick, and despite everything she loved you till the last day of her life! And what did she get from you? Nothing but a pathetic bunch of flowers on her grave! Well, she doesn't need anything from you now!"
"Louise, please, you…"
"I don't want to talk to you any more! I'm dog tired, and this conversation makes no sense. Please leave!"
Without waiting for a response, Lou swirled around and dashed out of the living room. Boggs remained on the same spot, bearing an expression of utter confusion and anguish. "I think you should heed her and leave now," Kid broke the silence, echoing Lou's words. "You had your say. That's what you wanted to do, and it's already done."
Boggs nodded sadly, and with slow steps he started for the door. Before letting himself out, he stopped and turned to Kid. "Please just look after her. That's all I'm asking you."
Boggs never saw Kid's nod as he walked away without sparing another look. After closing the door, Kid found Louise in the dark bedroom, curled up under the bedding. Without making a noise, he slid under the covers, snuggled behind her body and his hand coiled around her waist. Louise turned towards him and wrapped both her arms around his chest, pressing her face against his. "How are you?" he asked, and as she kept quiet, he insisted, "Lou?"
"What happened with Natasha?"
"Lou, do you even need to ask?"
Louise kept quiet for a few seconds, and whispered, "I guess not."
"Honey, if I wanted to be with another woman, I wouldn't be here with you. You know I'm a one girl man, and that's you."
"Yes," she whispered.
"And please forgive me for letting your father in," he added in a soft voice. "I know I shouldn't have done it, but I don't know… it was daft. And let me tell you I'm very proud of you. Lou, you didn't freak out like other times, and stood up to him. That was very brave."
"Then why do I feel like crap now?" Lou asked, and snuggling closer to him, she hugged him more tightly. Kid knew she did not want an answer, and in the silence and darkness of the room, they simply remained in a close hold, comforting and protecting each other from anything that could still harm them out there.