Author's Note:
Hey guys. Yeah. I'm just going to start out by begging everyone's forgiveness. I'm an evil, evil girl who deserves for bad things to happen to her and her pets. But anyway, here it is in all its dubious glory. In my defense, I'll give you the same spiel I gave liveforit2002 when she emailed me with the virtual kick in the pants (thanks by the way). I was going to finish the story up but then I broke my hand. When it finally healed up, it was a scant two weeks until my graduation. After graduation, I had to get ready for grad school. I'm a bad person, but I apologize. I will try to be as regular as possible with my updates from now on. As always, let me know what you think.
I also want to thank everyone for the support that they have shown through reviews and encouraging emails. It is very nice to know that there's someone out there reading this. If it weren't for you guys, I would never have taken up this story again.
And I'm sorry that this is so short, but I told you guys two weeks and failed to keep my promise. So this is what I have. More to follow soon.
Instability
Chapter Two
Jeff rose as he spotted his son. Beside him, a 30ish brunette smiled as Dade approached the table. Jeff noted that Kate trailed behind Dade, looking far too mature a woman for his child.
"Dade. Kate, I'm so glad you could make it. I want to introduce you to my good friend, Gina Marshall."
Gina rose to shake both Dade's and Kate's hand. "I'm very glad to finally meet you, Dade. Your father has told me wonderful things about you. He didn't mention that your girlfriend was so pretty though."
Kate smiled and Dade spoke. "He'd actually never met her until this afternoon. Less than stellar circumstances, I can assure you."
"Well, we get past these things." said his father. "Let's sit down."
After the group had managed to settle down and order, Gina tried to instigate a bit of small talk. "How was it that you two met?"
Dade and Kate looked at one another. Without a word an entire conversation passed between the two. "Should we tell them the truth?" "He's your dad." "True." "Well?" "Eh, why not?" "Kay." Facing front once again, Dade began. "I met her at school. She was assigned to show me around the first day."
"Oh," Gina interjected. "Love at first sight."
"More like intense, blood boiling abhorrence."
"I don't understand."
"Well, she told me that the school had a pool on the roof."
"Which," Kate began. "We don't. But in my defense, I wasn't going to tell you that. Someone told me to."
"Peer pressure. Want some crack with that?"
"Thanks. I try to stick to intravenous drugs." The two smiled at one another.
Dade snapped his head back toward his father and his guest. "Anyway, I went up to the roof, the door locked; it rained."
"So, after that, sworn enemies."
"From what I saw earlier, you must have gotten over that."
"There are my many and varied manly charms to take into account here. She was powerless against me."
Kate smirked. "Indeed."
"As your father, I'm not sure I want to know."
A dark look passed over Dade's face. "Probably not."
Kate frowned at his tone of voice but let it go.
Gina must have noticed the shadow that fell over the table, because she changed the subject. "What do you two plan to do after graduation?"
"MIT." They answered together.
Gina looked impressed. Jeff once again was shocked. Not only was his son's girlfriend absolutely gorgeous, she also had brains enough to get into MIT.
"I knew you were considering it, son. Kate, congratulations. What do you plan on majoring in?"
Once again, they answered together. "Computer science."
Jeff looked uncomfortable with this admission. He also became doubly worried about Dade's relationship with this girl. She could get him back into that computer trouble. Of course, he had heard all about the Ellington thing. He would simply rather forget about it than have to deal with it. Jeff never could understand the reasons for his son's delinquent habits. Why couldn't he latch onto something normal– like skateboarding or, if it had to be cerebral, chess?
"Maybe you should look at your options, Dade, before settling on something." Jeff suggested.
"I'm decided."
Once again, it was Gina who noticed the dark trend at the table and changed the subject. "Are you going to live on campus or get an apartment?"
Kate answered. "Dade's going to live in a dorm, and I'm getting an apartment. We're going down to look at studios in a few weeks."
"Oh," said Gina. "Who's we?"
"My mother and I."
"What does your mother do?" asked Jeff.
"She's an author."
"What kind of author, dear?" asked Gina.
"Oh, let me." exclaimed Dade. "She's a militant man hating feminist author, who's still mad Kate isn't a lesbian." Smile.
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Give me time."
"Her last book was entitled Women Who Love Men Who Are Emotional Amoeba."
"Ruth Libby?" asked Gina excitedly. "Wow, I love her books. I saw her speak once at a conference in Phoenix."
Kate smiled. "Yeah. She's great."
"So that's enough about us. Where did you meet my dad, Gina?"
It was the adults' turn to exchange a glance. "We met at work. Gina came into the office to give a work skills workshop. She's a psychologist."
Dade was getting tired of sitting around. By this time the food had arrived and they were nearly done. He decided to get to the point. "So, what brings the two of you to New York?"
"Well, Dade. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Gina and I have actually been seeing each other for awhile now."
"Yes--"
"We're getting married. About three weeks after you graduate."
Dade looked blindly at his father for a second, while Kate watched him for a reaction. Finally, "Congratulations."
Jeff released a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Thank you, Dade. We, of course, want you to be in the wedding. I'd like you to be my best man."
Dade nodded.
"Would it be possible for you to fly into Seattle the week after graduation? It will give us time to prepare for the wedding."
"I'll have to ask mom."
Jeff paused only half a second. "Absolutely. We were also wondering if you wanted to accompany us on our honeymoon."
"That can't possibly be the most fun for newlyweds. I mean, I wouldn't want to cramp your style, as it were."
Kate sat watching Dade very carefully. Outwardly, he seemed okay with this announcement, but she could tell he was hurt. He was talking normally, but he didn't move as he did it. He simply sat straight up in his chair and look at his father.
At this point, Gina came in. "I want to get to know you Dade. We're going to Greece. You're old enough to take care of yourself. It would just be a little like a family vacation."
"And when we get back, Gina and I would like you to spend the entire summer with us. It is the last summer you're going to be required to be around. I want to spend some quality time with you."
Dade sat back in his chair. Kate shifted toward him slightly; she recognized this as his fortified position– the way he sat when he anticipated a verbal battle.
"I'll come to the wedding. I'll ask mom about Greece, though I doubt it. And no, I won't move in with you."
Jeff looked shocked. "Why Dade? You could see your old friends. And you've been with your mom since the divorce. I'd like to get some time in. If you're worried about leaving Kate, you're going to be seeing her at college all the time."
Dade began quietly. "What you mean is, 'Dade, you chose to go with mom, so you owe me this.' Secondly, no one worried about me missing my friends when we had to move here. And lastly, who said I was worried about leaving Kate? I'm not going leave mom, like you did."
"That's not fair, Dade. Your mother and I had issues that led to our divorce."
"Yeah, "issues" means me."
"Dade, it wasn't your fault."
"No, it was yours." Dade said, standing. "I'm heading home. Mom should be in soon. I'll talk to you tomorrow. It was nice to meet you, Gina. I guess I'll be seeing you again."
With that, Dade took Kate's hand and left the restaurant. Dade, once they were outside, leaned on the side of the building and closed his eyes. Kate put a hand on his arm, but didn't say anything.
Dade slowly opened his eyes and stared down into Kate's. "Remarried. It hasn't even been that long."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not me I'm worried about. Mom's going to be hurt. And he's done that enough."
"Why don't we go back to my place. My mom's on a book tour. We can talk."
Dade nodded.