I hate these functions.
I always have. For as long as I can remember I've been dragged to them for some reason or another, sometimes they're raising money for rare diseases, sometimes it's a new hospital wing, but tonight takes the cake.
Tonight of all things, they're raising money for the rare manuscript foundation; of all the charities in the world, what moron picked this one?
Anyways, my point is that no matter what the occasion is, these things are always filled with the same dull people who have more money than they know what to do with but will still donate the bare minimum because they wouldn't want to take away from their plastic surgery fund.
It's already been two hours of forced smiles, fake hellos and how are you's and the worlds driest chicken dish you'll ever taste accompanied by the oldest person alive telling the most boring story in the world about how rare manuscripts are important and its up to you to save them.
No matter how many of these things I've been to the food seems to get worse every time.
The only saving grace tonight is the fact that I have Andie on my arm. She was supposed to be at a book signing tonight, but after hearing me whine for two days straight and seeing me beg on my hands and knees, she finally called her publicist and asked her to reschedule it.
"Thank you for being here tonight, I know it was selfish of me to ask you to miss your thing, but I just can't handle these things without you anymore, you've spoiled me" I smirk
"Yeah well I could tell it was important to you that I'm here. Besides, Mrs. Vancubric has had her eye on you all night, and what kind of wife would I be if I didn't stake my claim"
"Oh please" I laugh "Mrs. Vancubric is like 95 years old. I could do better than that"
"Really…" she raises an eyebrow "that's your argument? Keep it up; I've got my eye on you Salvatore" she winks playfully
I've always loved our easy banter, it's what first attracted me to her, besides the fact that she's gorgeous; and it's what's kept me on my toes after three years of marriage.
"Well it doesn't matter who's got their eye on me, all that matters is that I've got my eye on you, and soon little Sarah too" I place my hand on her stomach
"Does that mean you're finally agreeing to the name Sarah?" She beams up to me
"As soon as you admit that you were wrong about her being a boy, I believe you still owe me twenty dollars for loosing that bet" I tease
"Yeah well, I'll be sure to take it out of our joint bank account tomorrow" she teases back
"I'm gonna hold you to that" I point at her teasingly
"Damon, Andie; it's good to see you both" my father greets
"Hey dad, you're looking sharp, looks like you hit Armani's new fall line" I tease as I brush the lapel of his tux
"You too Damon, not bad for someone who looks like they hit the sale rack at Macy's"
"Touché" I tip my glass of champagne at him in a mock toast
"Andie dear, you looks beautiful as always, you're glowing darling" he kisses her hand
"Thank you papa Salvatore" she smiles
My dad approves of very few things in my life, Andie being an exception. The first time I brought her to meet him five years ago, he was as firm and stoic as always; she marched right up to him and told him that she was planning on being in my life for a very long time so he might as well cut the crap so they could go straight to getting to know each other. No one ever talks to my dad that way, he never stood a chance; he was enchanted with her from that day forward. Sometimes I think he likes her more then he likes me.
My father and I have a rough relationship. He did the best he knew how, he woke up every day put on a fancy suit, and went to his law office,just as his father and probably his fathers father did. He wasn't the type of dad who took his sons to ball games, but he did provide for us, and he did a damn good job, we never wanted for anything.
Then mom died when I was 10 and my brother Stefan was 8. Dad had to then figure out how to raise two boys on top of his work duties. As a result Stefan and I often got put on the back burner. I rebelled, as teenage boys do, and when it came time for me to go to college, I broke dad's heart when I told him I would be attending Columbia instead of Yale.
"Six generations of Salvatore's have gone to Yale" he said, but I was determined to not be the seventh.
I still became a lawyer just like him, but not because of him. I'll admit that it was one of the few things I always admired about him, but in the end it was because I genuinely enjoyed studying law in school, and I love my job.
"How did the Doctors appointment go?" he asks
"Well, the baby is healthy and average size for 5 months, so I would say everything is great" she rubs her belly lovingly
"Yes, well I would say that this is one instance where average is good"
"That is so typical of you, you really should stop being so predictable, it's going to start affecting your court cases old man" I shake my head
"It was a joke Damon, relax" he scoffs
"Whatever, have you seen Stefan? Is he here yet?" I ask
"No, his residency ran late, so I told him to go home and catch up on some rest"
"Ugh, that's not fair why do I have to come to these things and he doesn't" I whine
"Really Damon, how old are you…" he shakes his head
I look to Andie for support "no way, I'm with him, whining is not a good look on you" she jokes
"You guys are mean" I pout "when can we leave anyway? Is it time to make our donation and get the hell out of here?"
Andie gives me a pointed look
"What" I question "don't give be that look, you know that old bastards speech was a one-way ticket to boresville"
"At least make the rounds before you go, there are important people to meet tonight Damon and connections to be made, have I taught you nothing?"
"Oh no, thanks to you I can recognize disappointment from a mile away, an ability I'm very proud of" I smirk
"Damon, stop it" She warns with a look that tell me she's had enough of my sarcasm.
She's always wanted my dad and I to have a better relationship, for us to stop taking digs at each other whenever the opportunity arises; and we have to an extent. Things between us are better than they have been in the past. What she doesn't realize is that things are only better because he finally agrees with my decisions, the moment he stops agreeing with me is when he can no longer be bothered by me, and that's something that will always come between us.
"Yes well, do say goodbye before you leave, wont you? Andie, it was wonderful to see you as always" he kisses her on the cheek "and Damon, please behave yourself"
"Yeah nice you to see you too dad" I mock as he walks away
"He means well, you know that" she smiles at me
"He means something, that's for sure" I roll my eyes "There's a client over there that I do need to say hello to though, God I hate when he's right. I'll be right back" I hear her chuckle as I walk away
"I can't tell you how thankful I am that you came with me tonight" I reach over the center console of my car to grab her hand "I couldn't imagine getting through the night without you"
"I'm glad I came, I've always liked watching you in your element, seeing you dazzle everyone with your wit and dashing smile. You probably have two new clients because of that smile" she teases
"No, I have two new clients because you offered to sign a copy of your book for both of their wives" I correct her
"We make a pretty good team you and me" she lifts my hand to her mouth a places a kiss on the back of it
"Yeah we do" I smile to myself
"And we're gonna be kick ass parents" she states
"You think so?" I ask
"I know so. I know that you still worry about what kind of dad you're going to be, and that you're scared of becoming your father, but that's not going to happen" she says mater-of-factly
"How can you be so sure?"
"Nobody has a map on how to be a great parent, but you do have one on what kind of parent you don't want to be, and that means something Damon" she smiles at me comfortingly"besides, I can't even count how many times you've been there for me, to encourage me when I'm scared, pick me up when I'm down, and hold my hand when I'm lost, and I have zero doubts that you'll do the same and more for our daughter"
I clear my throat, because I'm not confident that my voice wouldn't crack if I tried to talk right now
"It means a lot to hear you say that" I says sincerely
"I just wish you would believe it, and trust me when I tell you that I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it; that's just not my style. You can also read about it in the dedication portion of my book" she smirks
"I know, you're honesty is one of the many reasons I love you so much" I feel her give my hand a squeeze "I owe you apology by the way…"
"Damon, you already apologized, and it's really not a big deal, I would rather spend an evening with you then go to a book signing any day" She interrupts
"What I was going to say , before you rudely interrupted, was that I owe you an apology, because I don't believe I've told you how beautiful you look tonight" I take my eyes off the road to glance at her "really Andie, you're breathtaking" I smile
She looks at me and smiles, our eyes meeting for just a second "well, you're not too shabby your… Damon look out!" she screams as soon as she turns her attention back to the road
I look back at the road just as a car swerves into our lane; I turn the steering wheel as fast as I can before everything goes black.