It took me a long time to come back to this story, but I hope everyone is safe. Take care everyone. Please keep your eyes open and be educated while our government f*cking us during this pandemic.
Eileen was in the middle of a phone call when her husband, Liam came barging to her office. She bid the caller when she saw the rage in his eyes. She took a deep breath and calmly sat down.
"What is it?" She asked, gesturing at the other chair but he ignored her offer.
"Do you know?" He started pacing, furious at what he found.
"Do I know what?" Eileen followed his steps with her eyes.
Liam stopped to stare at her as if to analyze if she is lying or not. He was furious. He was out eating lunch with some lawyer's when James, the father of Jack, his daughter's ex-boyfriend had told him about his daughter's new boyfriend. The man was not even being subtle about it, but he was not furious about his daughter having boyfriend rather he is furious at the kind of boyfriend she was with. He was even more mad that they have been together for a while and they were just finding about it now.
"Sharon has a boyfriend," he answered, spitting the word boyfriend like he was disgusted about it.
Eileen's eyes widened for a moment; she did not know that Sharon put the man out of his misery. She cleared her throat," I know that there was a man that's courting her b- ", she stopped when he turned sharply to her.
"You knew and you didn't bother to tell me? Do you know what kind of man she was with?" He said loudly but lowered his voice when her narrow at him.
"I already met him, and he was a nice man," she shrugged making him more furious.
"He had a fight with James' son inside the campus, if that doesn't tell you anything- "
"It's not telling me anything. Come on, Liam as if you did not pick a fight when you are in college. It's normal and Jack probably did something to make him mad." He stared at her in disbelief.
"it screams that he's a violent man and I never fought with anyone in college," he argued.
Eileen sighed and tried to be more understanding," you're overreacting."
His eyes flashed in annoyance, why couldn't his own wife understand what he was saying. "I'm not overreacting, I just don't want my daughter getting hurt. I'm going to talk to Sharon." With that, he was out of her office as quickly as he came in.
Eileen grumbled before picking up her jacket and followed his step but not without telling her assistant to cancel all her appointment for the day. Why couldn't her husband see that Sharon is a grown woman. They had to let her live her own life and to let her make her own mistake.
Sharon was cleaning her little abode before Andy arrives. They talked about spending more time together before the holidays. She was putting water on the vase when she heard the loud knocking. She stopped for a moment as it was not the usual knock of Andy. She slowly approached, she debated if she would open the door or not but when the knocking starts again, she opened the door and she was met by the face of her father contorted in anger.
Sharon was about to greet her father when her mother appeared in his back shaking her head. She tilted her head and looking at them curiously.
"What's going on?" Sharon asked cautiously but her father walked by her, straight to the living room.
"He found out that you have a boyfriend and he came to talk some sense to you," Eileen rolled her eyes at the notion.
Sharon's eyes widened in realization, "Mom, Andy is on its way here," she whispered. Her hands coming together and starts panicking. Eileen rubbed her temple, as if things could not get any worse.
"He's on his way, that's good," her father chimed in from behind. Sharon's back stiffened at the tone of her father.
"Who told you?" Sharon asked when her mother closed the door.
"It doesn't matter who told me. You're going to break up with him when he gets here," he ordered but Sharon was not having any of it.
"I'm not a child anymore and no, I'm not going to break up with him just because you told me to," she fired back. Eileen had to stifle her laugh; they were very much alike, but she knew her husband would step down from his throne sooner.
"He had countless women on him, and he's constantly involved in a fight," he stated. Couldn't his daughter be more stubborn.
Sharon huffed and rolled her eyes," let me guess, Jack told you. Despite his reputation, Andy is a good man. Those girls you were talking about were just his admirers and the fights, Andy only became aggressive when he knew it was not going to be negotiated with a simple talk," she explained. Liam shook his head, obviously, her daughter was already into that man.
"Andy," he stated and nodded his head, "I'm not going to have my daughter be with a man who doesn't know how to control his anger," he spit out.
Eileen put a calming hand on his arm, he was being carried away, "why don't you meet him first instead of believing everything what your so-called friends are saying," she suggested. When Sharon was about to say something, she put her palms up, "and you should calm down."
Sharon looked at her father with a determined face before turning away. Eileen had to push her husband towards the balcony.
"I'm going to repeat this again because you can't get it in your skull, Sharon is grown woman. She is entitled to make her own decision, to date anyone and to love. The minute she was born, you knew that you cannot control her. Just trust her, she knows what she is doing, and wouldn't you know, Sharon is picky when it comes to a man. I'm sure he's a good man," she reasoned out, but he was shaking his head.
Liam knew what she was saying is true, but Sharon was only 20 and that man was older than her. Thinking about it now seems foolish, he was acting like a child.
"Fine, but I don't like it," he sighed but Eileen give him a reassuring smile.
Sharon was nervous, she did not know how Andy would react to this. They have not even talked about it. The gentle knock on the door made Sharon look at her mother as if asking her if she should open it.
Liam caught the shared look between them, "let him in," he said while they walked back to the living room. Sharon bit her lip worriedly before taking a deep breath. She plastered a smile on her face before opening the door. Andy had his usual charming smile and she let guilty for everything that would happen today.
Andy was about to kiss her cheek in greeting when he realized that her smile did not reach her eyes. "What's wrong?" He held up aa paper bag," I bought you your favorite, I know you haven't eaten yet."
"That's very thoughtful of you," a voice answered from behind Sharon. He looked past her head to see her parents observing them.
Andy had to gulp hard before looking at Sharon, she was looking at him worriedly. "My parents are here, and they wanted to meet you," she whispered, looking at her hands.
While Andy stood there, gathering his thoughts, she took the bag from his hand and take his hand. He felt the sweat forming on his forehead, he was not prepared for this moment. Sharon tugged at his hand when he did not move, he mentally slap himself for being too nervous. It was bound to happen.
"Just be yourself, they are not going to kill you," she joked even if she's also nervous, she had never seen Andy so tense before. He gave her a small smile, squeezing her hand before releasing it.
Sharon put the bag on the table, "Mom, Dad, this is Andrew Flynn," she introduced, her hands fidgeting again.
Andy stepped forward, offering his hand to Sharon's mom for a handshake," it's just Andy, Mrs. O'Dwyer," he smiled. Eileen smiled back and take his hand.
" It's nice to meet you again Andy, you can call me Eileen," she patted his hand. Andy flashed her with his charming smile before turning to her father.
"Sir," the judge takes his hand and gripped it hard, but he was not bothered by it. It was like he was giving him a warning and he could not let Sharon see that. The two men were staring at each other with Andy confidently giving a calm stare.
"Why don't you two steps out in the balcony," Liam said, his hand still holding Andy's.
"Dad," Sharon warned while looking at Andy.
"It's fine," Andy reassured with a smile. How can he still smile like that when her father was almost breaking the bones on his hand?
Eileen led Sharon away when her husband gave her a pointed look. She knew he will just talk to him and there is nothing to worry about. When they were already out, Liam released his hand and crossed his arms.
"Sharon is our only child, I'm sure you know that," Liam started ,"countless of men had tried to get her attention, men who held great images but she had to choose Jack and now, you." He gave him a hard stare, but Andy would not be fazed by it. "Tell me why we need to approve of you."
Andy cleared his throat before answering. "Because maybe at some point I can prove to you and to everyone that I'm the missing piece of your beautiful art, Sir."
"Why don't you prove it now?"
"As much as I want to prove it now, Sir, but a missing piece to an art takes it time to prove its beauty. Besides, if I rush to prove myself to everyone Sir, I might step into a hole. Please allow me to prove you every day how much I love your daughter." He answered sincerely.
Andy felt like he was asking her father for her hand in marriage with all these questions, but he understand it. Sharon has a strict parent and they were just protecting their daughter.
Liam was taken aback by his answer, but he did not show it. He did not know that he could answer like that because from what he had heard, he is only taking criminology and he has no idea that he can be a well-spoken young man.
"I don't want to see my daughter crying over a man again because I never made her cry. If you hurt her, I'll make sure that you'll regret it," he threatened. His hard stare and his voice laced with menace was overwhelming that it did not even register to Andy that he already got the approval.
"Yes, sir." Andy feel inclined to salute but he didn't do it. His eyes widened when he replayed his words on his head. He felt a weight was lifted off his shoulder. He had to stop himself from jumping joy. Andy glanced outside the balcony to see Sharon watching them, his eyes twinkling.
"I still need to talk to you without my girls watching us." Liam said with a pointed look before gesturing for Sharon and her mom to come inside.
"Of course, sir." Andy agreed, he knew it was not that easy.
Eileen smiled at them, her right hand going behind Sharon's back to give a little assurance. "Andy, you should come to our New Year's Eve party," she invited. Liam huffed which turned to cough when he saw her eyebrow raised. Andy looked at Sharon, he did not want to push himself too hard, but he could not read her. Eileen noticed the glances so she chimed in immediately," but it's okay if you can't come. I'm sure family have other plans," she smiled reassuringly.
Sharon was still feeling uneasy with everything. Her little talk with her mother and the way his father still looking like he wanted to punch Andy did not make her feel any better. The only thing assurance that everything was okay was Andy looking at her with light in his eyes. Her mother had to act like nothing has happened and invite him. She did not want him to be overwhelmed.
When he looked at her as if asking her permission, she wanted to say that he could go but she did not to push everything to him that her life intakes in just one day. She just hopes her parents would not stay for long.