Note: This chapter is for jess who expressed an interest in seeing how Mr.
Banks is taking all this. Thanks for giving me the idea because I hadn't
thought about it before then but I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I
hope you like the chapter. Thanks to allie, katie and Emily for your
reviews of chapter 7 and to Nellie2, anne918, and crazy4nc128 for reviewing
chapters 7 and 8. I promise that you will find out what Charlie and his
friends are up to in the next chapter.
Angela Banks' POV:
"Well, actually the three of us were going to go see my parents tonight as we spend Christmas with Phil's parents," I told Gordon when he asked if I had plans for the night. "But I don't think Anthony would mind staying here with Adam instead so why don't you stay at Casey's for the get together. I know I wouldn't want to try supervising all those kids by myself either," I told him. I really didn't want Gordon to have to spend Christmas Eve alone here with Adam. He had already done so much for my youngest son by taking him in. It would be good for Gordon to be out for a little bit and I knew Anthony would have no problem staying with his brother.
"Are you sure?" Gordon asked me again.
"Yes, it's not a problem, I reassured him."
"Okay, thanks," Gordon said.
"Your welcome. Bye Gordon," I told him as I hung up the phone. I turned around and jumped as I found Anthony standing behind me leaning up against the counter.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Anthony said. "Adam's sleeping. So, what's going on?"
"Gordon wanted to stay at Casey's for a little longer but he wanted to make sure one of us could stay here with Adam. I told him that you would be glad to," I told him. "You can stop by another day to see grandma and grandpa before you go back to college."
"That's fine," Anthony said. "To tell you the truth, I wasn't looking forward to it. Its going to be awkward. I know grandma disapproves with Dad's actions and your parents never did like Dad that much anyway."
"Is it really that obvious?" I asked. My parents hadn't been happy when I decided to marry Phil. After they saw that they couldn't change my mind though they accepted the marriage and at least tried to tolerate him for my sake and for Adam and Anthony. When I told them what had happened between Phil and Adam my Mom had used it as an opportunity to say "I told you he wasn't right for you."
"Yeah, both Adam and I have known for years. Now with what has happened I have to say I think I'm with them," my oldest son said with bitterness in his voice. I knew his relationship with his father had been strained ever since he had chose to become a lawyer and not pro-hockey. His opinion of his father, I know, had not gone up in the last few months.
"Your father loves you both of you. Don't forget that," I told him. "Its okay to be angry at what your father did, I am, but don't let that anger push the two of you further apart. I couldn't stand not having either of my sons at home for holidays," I told him.
"I will Mom," Anthony told me giving me a hug. "I'll hold my tongue for your sake," he said quietly.
"I need to get going," I said when I pulled away from him. "If you need anything you know where I'll be or just call Gordon over at the Conway's."
"We'll be fine," Anthony told me.
"Okay, love you," I told him as I headed for the apartment door.
"Bye Mom," he called out to me.
I quickly headed down the two flights of steps to the ground floor and headed out to my corvette. I knew my parents were going to be disappointed that they wouldn't see either Anthony or Adam but they would understand. It was probably actually better that he wouldn't be there. This was the first time that my parents had seen or talked with Phil since he had disowned Adam. They had both voiced their disapproval to me but what would they do tonight. I was hoping that with it being Christmas Eve they would keep quiet and keep the peace but if they didn't I was glad my son would not be there to see it.
Philip Banks' POV:
I glanced at the clock on the wall again and let out a sigh. They were late. I didn't need this. I didn't get along with Angela's parents as it was. Being late was not going to help matters. It was probably Bombay's fault just like everything else has been lately. That no good Bombay had been sabotaging my relationship with my youngest son since I had met him four years ago and now he was turning the rest of my family against me to. Making me out to be the bad guy why he plays hero and tries to fix everything.
I heard the front door open and rushed into the front foyer as my wife walked in the front door.
"Your finally here," I greeted her.
"Well, hello to you too," she replied calmly.
"Where's Anthony?" I asked.
"He's not coming tonight. He's staying with Adam for a little while longer."
"Where's Bombay?" I asked. Even though she hadn't said it I had a feeling Anthony was only staying because Bombay wasn't there. "What he do skip out because you two were there and never come back."
"Gordon," she told me evenly "went over to Casey's tonight. I told him to stay over there as long as he wanted to. My parents will understand while Anthony isn't there."
"See, he isn't responsible. I don't know why you ever wanted Bombay to look after your son."
"It wouldn't have been necessary if you hadn't disowned our son," she told me putting an emphasis on our. "Gordon, is doing a great job looking after Adam. He already spent one night waiting in a ER with him alone, which he wouldn't have had to do if someone hadn't hung up the phone on him."
"I never kicked him out of the house," I told her defensively. Like I had told Adam that night, I had a legal obligation to feed, cloth, and put a roof over his head until he was 18. I had been prepared to follow through with that and instead his mother kicks him out of the house but is he mad at her. Of course not.
"You acted like he didn't exist when he came home for Thanksgiving. He ran away to get away from you. I couldn't ask him to live in those conditions. To live in a house where his own father won't even recognize his existence. He's better off with Gordon until you decide to swallow your pride and apologize."
"Me apologize. He's the one that should apologize. He defied me. All I have ever wanted for that kid was the best. I tolerated him skating with a team beneath his level while in Peewees because it didn't really matter at that level. He goes to Eden Hall and makes Varsity and first chance he gets he throws it away and goes back to that misfit team. He didn't have to that. He didn't have to throw everything I ever did for him back in my face."
"Everything you did for him. All you've ever done is push him too hard. Take away the fun from the game. I think that being put on the Ducks four years ago was the best thing that ever happened to Adam. Gordon showed those kids how to have fun while winning not to win at all costs. You pushed Anthony away from the sport and if it wasn't for Gordon and the Ducks you probably would have pushed Adam away too."
"By staying with the Ducks he showed me that he didn't want to go pro. If he really did he never would have taken the step back."
"Did you ever stop to think that maybe he doesn't want to play professional hockey. That maybe that is your dream not his."
"Well it doesn't matter whose dream it is now because without my connections he'll never make it."
"If he wants it, Adam will make pro without your connections," Angela told me defiantly.
"Can we go?" I asked her changing the subject quickly. This was just another problem that Bombay had caused. My wife had never openly questioned me until recently. She had always gone along with what I said like a wife should. If it wasn't for Bombay this argument never would have taken place.
"I'm ready," was all she said.
We walked silently out to my car and got in. The ride over to her parent's house was just as quiet. I was not looking forward to this.
As I pulled the car into the Carraways driveway, Angela's Mom stepped out onto the front porch. My wife and I got out of the car and walked to the front porch together.
"I was starting to worry," Mattie Carraway told her daughter giving a hug.
"I'm sorry mom. I was running a little late," Angela told her returning the hug.
"Nice to see you Phil," Mattie said turning to me and shaking my hand.
"Merry Christmas, Mattie," I replied.
Mattie showed the two of us inside and was greeted my Robert, Angela's father. After the greetings were out of the way we headed into the living room where Mattie had refreshments already sitting on the coffee table.
"Anthony couldn't make it?" Mattie asked a touch of disappointment in her voice.
"He's with Adam," Angela told her. "Casey Conway asked Gordon to help supervise the kids gift exchange and I told him to stay."
'Yeah, he's with his slut girlfriend,' I thought to myself.
"That's nice," Mattie said. "It can't be easy for him to suddenly have a fourteen year old kid to look after but Gordon is doing a splendid job from what I hear. I've called a few times to see if he needed help with anything and he always declines."
"Yes, Gordon is doing fine looking after Adam and Adam seems to be adjusting okay to living there,"Angela told her. "Anthony wanted me to tell you that he'll stop over here one day before he goes back to college to see you."
"Oh good," Mattie said. "It seems like forever since I saw him."
The conversation steered away from the kids after that to other things. Mattie and Robert told Angela what her brother and sister and their families were up to. I couldn't wait for the night to be over though so that I could retreat back to my home.
Angela Banks' POV:
"Well, actually the three of us were going to go see my parents tonight as we spend Christmas with Phil's parents," I told Gordon when he asked if I had plans for the night. "But I don't think Anthony would mind staying here with Adam instead so why don't you stay at Casey's for the get together. I know I wouldn't want to try supervising all those kids by myself either," I told him. I really didn't want Gordon to have to spend Christmas Eve alone here with Adam. He had already done so much for my youngest son by taking him in. It would be good for Gordon to be out for a little bit and I knew Anthony would have no problem staying with his brother.
"Are you sure?" Gordon asked me again.
"Yes, it's not a problem, I reassured him."
"Okay, thanks," Gordon said.
"Your welcome. Bye Gordon," I told him as I hung up the phone. I turned around and jumped as I found Anthony standing behind me leaning up against the counter.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Anthony said. "Adam's sleeping. So, what's going on?"
"Gordon wanted to stay at Casey's for a little longer but he wanted to make sure one of us could stay here with Adam. I told him that you would be glad to," I told him. "You can stop by another day to see grandma and grandpa before you go back to college."
"That's fine," Anthony said. "To tell you the truth, I wasn't looking forward to it. Its going to be awkward. I know grandma disapproves with Dad's actions and your parents never did like Dad that much anyway."
"Is it really that obvious?" I asked. My parents hadn't been happy when I decided to marry Phil. After they saw that they couldn't change my mind though they accepted the marriage and at least tried to tolerate him for my sake and for Adam and Anthony. When I told them what had happened between Phil and Adam my Mom had used it as an opportunity to say "I told you he wasn't right for you."
"Yeah, both Adam and I have known for years. Now with what has happened I have to say I think I'm with them," my oldest son said with bitterness in his voice. I knew his relationship with his father had been strained ever since he had chose to become a lawyer and not pro-hockey. His opinion of his father, I know, had not gone up in the last few months.
"Your father loves you both of you. Don't forget that," I told him. "Its okay to be angry at what your father did, I am, but don't let that anger push the two of you further apart. I couldn't stand not having either of my sons at home for holidays," I told him.
"I will Mom," Anthony told me giving me a hug. "I'll hold my tongue for your sake," he said quietly.
"I need to get going," I said when I pulled away from him. "If you need anything you know where I'll be or just call Gordon over at the Conway's."
"We'll be fine," Anthony told me.
"Okay, love you," I told him as I headed for the apartment door.
"Bye Mom," he called out to me.
I quickly headed down the two flights of steps to the ground floor and headed out to my corvette. I knew my parents were going to be disappointed that they wouldn't see either Anthony or Adam but they would understand. It was probably actually better that he wouldn't be there. This was the first time that my parents had seen or talked with Phil since he had disowned Adam. They had both voiced their disapproval to me but what would they do tonight. I was hoping that with it being Christmas Eve they would keep quiet and keep the peace but if they didn't I was glad my son would not be there to see it.
Philip Banks' POV:
I glanced at the clock on the wall again and let out a sigh. They were late. I didn't need this. I didn't get along with Angela's parents as it was. Being late was not going to help matters. It was probably Bombay's fault just like everything else has been lately. That no good Bombay had been sabotaging my relationship with my youngest son since I had met him four years ago and now he was turning the rest of my family against me to. Making me out to be the bad guy why he plays hero and tries to fix everything.
I heard the front door open and rushed into the front foyer as my wife walked in the front door.
"Your finally here," I greeted her.
"Well, hello to you too," she replied calmly.
"Where's Anthony?" I asked.
"He's not coming tonight. He's staying with Adam for a little while longer."
"Where's Bombay?" I asked. Even though she hadn't said it I had a feeling Anthony was only staying because Bombay wasn't there. "What he do skip out because you two were there and never come back."
"Gordon," she told me evenly "went over to Casey's tonight. I told him to stay over there as long as he wanted to. My parents will understand while Anthony isn't there."
"See, he isn't responsible. I don't know why you ever wanted Bombay to look after your son."
"It wouldn't have been necessary if you hadn't disowned our son," she told me putting an emphasis on our. "Gordon, is doing a great job looking after Adam. He already spent one night waiting in a ER with him alone, which he wouldn't have had to do if someone hadn't hung up the phone on him."
"I never kicked him out of the house," I told her defensively. Like I had told Adam that night, I had a legal obligation to feed, cloth, and put a roof over his head until he was 18. I had been prepared to follow through with that and instead his mother kicks him out of the house but is he mad at her. Of course not.
"You acted like he didn't exist when he came home for Thanksgiving. He ran away to get away from you. I couldn't ask him to live in those conditions. To live in a house where his own father won't even recognize his existence. He's better off with Gordon until you decide to swallow your pride and apologize."
"Me apologize. He's the one that should apologize. He defied me. All I have ever wanted for that kid was the best. I tolerated him skating with a team beneath his level while in Peewees because it didn't really matter at that level. He goes to Eden Hall and makes Varsity and first chance he gets he throws it away and goes back to that misfit team. He didn't have to that. He didn't have to throw everything I ever did for him back in my face."
"Everything you did for him. All you've ever done is push him too hard. Take away the fun from the game. I think that being put on the Ducks four years ago was the best thing that ever happened to Adam. Gordon showed those kids how to have fun while winning not to win at all costs. You pushed Anthony away from the sport and if it wasn't for Gordon and the Ducks you probably would have pushed Adam away too."
"By staying with the Ducks he showed me that he didn't want to go pro. If he really did he never would have taken the step back."
"Did you ever stop to think that maybe he doesn't want to play professional hockey. That maybe that is your dream not his."
"Well it doesn't matter whose dream it is now because without my connections he'll never make it."
"If he wants it, Adam will make pro without your connections," Angela told me defiantly.
"Can we go?" I asked her changing the subject quickly. This was just another problem that Bombay had caused. My wife had never openly questioned me until recently. She had always gone along with what I said like a wife should. If it wasn't for Bombay this argument never would have taken place.
"I'm ready," was all she said.
We walked silently out to my car and got in. The ride over to her parent's house was just as quiet. I was not looking forward to this.
As I pulled the car into the Carraways driveway, Angela's Mom stepped out onto the front porch. My wife and I got out of the car and walked to the front porch together.
"I was starting to worry," Mattie Carraway told her daughter giving a hug.
"I'm sorry mom. I was running a little late," Angela told her returning the hug.
"Nice to see you Phil," Mattie said turning to me and shaking my hand.
"Merry Christmas, Mattie," I replied.
Mattie showed the two of us inside and was greeted my Robert, Angela's father. After the greetings were out of the way we headed into the living room where Mattie had refreshments already sitting on the coffee table.
"Anthony couldn't make it?" Mattie asked a touch of disappointment in her voice.
"He's with Adam," Angela told her. "Casey Conway asked Gordon to help supervise the kids gift exchange and I told him to stay."
'Yeah, he's with his slut girlfriend,' I thought to myself.
"That's nice," Mattie said. "It can't be easy for him to suddenly have a fourteen year old kid to look after but Gordon is doing a splendid job from what I hear. I've called a few times to see if he needed help with anything and he always declines."
"Yes, Gordon is doing fine looking after Adam and Adam seems to be adjusting okay to living there,"Angela told her. "Anthony wanted me to tell you that he'll stop over here one day before he goes back to college to see you."
"Oh good," Mattie said. "It seems like forever since I saw him."
The conversation steered away from the kids after that to other things. Mattie and Robert told Angela what her brother and sister and their families were up to. I couldn't wait for the night to be over though so that I could retreat back to my home.