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Charlie and I made arrangements to have dinner that night at some simple diner. Alan had his book club.

We sat in silence while looking at menus.

"So...uh..how's teaching?" I asked lamely

"It's going well"

"Again, I'm sorry about talking to Larry about this" I apologized. "It's just I didn't think you'd want to talk to me"

"It's your fault that I'm fighting with my father" he suddenly said.

"What?" It was stupid of me to even hope that this would go well.

" You've done nothing but cause trouble in our family!" Charlie began. "First of, you treat Dad like a servant"

"Servant?"

"He cooks for you..."

"Wait! He cooked for you when he lived at your house!" The man's got nerve!

"And takes care of your pets" Charlie continued.

"He helps me with them! I'd do the same if he had pets"

"I just can't help but think that you get more of the relationship than he does." he said.

"I contribute to the relationship!" He was making me angry again. What the hell? I take care of Alan by making sure he goes to the doctor, and we share the domestic stuff pretty equally.

" Dad needs a true companion who won't be a burden to him." Charlie said flatly.

"I'm not a burden to your father!"

"And one who shares more of his life experiance. For God's sake, you've got the rolling stones on your alarm clock!"

"So we're back to the age thing" I snapped. "Your father and I've got a great thing going! It's not like he was one of my professors or something"

"What if you decide that you want kids? Dad's too old for them."

"I don't want them!"

"You could change your mind. There's time"

"An older woman could find herself having to raise her grandkids" I retorted. "So Alan's risking it either way."

"My scenario is much more likely" he said as I rolled my eyes.

".The only kids I'll ever want will be the furry, four legged kind."" I said, trying to keep calm. Then, I tried to counter his argument with true logic. "If I even had an inkling of maybe wanting human kids later, I would have stuck to someone my age or younger."

"Maybe you're with an older man, because men your age are less willing to put up with you" he coldly said and sipped some water.

"You're worse than your brother!" I snided.

"You know," Charlie continued "Groucho Marx once said that a man is as young as the woman he feels"

"Did he now" I seethed. How could he think that Alan was that shallow? "Do you think that applies to your father?"

"He's human"

Just then, the waiter came

"Have you decided...?" he asked tentatively, sensing the tension.

"No, give us a few more" I said to get him to leave. "Please." Soon, the man left.

"Besides, you don't respect me and Don either!" he continued "You put up with us because you have to!"

"When have I ever made you guys feel unwelcome in my and Alan's place?"

"You don't go out of your way!"

"You and Don mostly go to watch some game, eat and be with your Dad, so I give you guys space!" I said, then retorted "What more do you want? A blow job?

"No!"

"Then?"

"You take advantage of the fact that you're dating Dad to make us do things for you!" his voice got louder.

"For the record, if was your Dad's idea to store my stuff at your house, and to call Don about the psychic cat!" I argued.

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She seemed to have an answer to everything I said. It didn't make her in the right, but we seemed headed for a stalemate.

"Don't you think Dad would be happier with someone who didn't cause so many family problems?"

Natalie glared at me. "I've never asked him to choose."

"Maybe not directly..."

Just then, somebody yelled

"Are there any Vets or doctors here? Please! My dog is hurt!"

Quickly, but calmly. Natalie handed me her car keys. "Go get my medical bag"

"Okay!" I nodded, and went to get it.

By the time I arrived, Natalie was examining a whimpering big dogdog. At the restaurant's parking lot.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Carla ran a little ahead of us, and a bastard with a minihit her and left" a woman complained.

Natalie got out her cell, and made a call. From what I heard, she had contacted a local animal hospital. Then, she proceeded to give the animal first aid, and had me help her. It was sad to hear the poor dog whimpering so much. She seemed to know what to say to the animal, saying it in a very caring voice.

"It's okay, baby! Help is on the way! I promise !"

"Is it badly hurt?" I whispered, not wanting to worry the owners.

"Bones might be broken" she whispered back. "And the ribs might be fractured."

"Oh...Don't you have any pain killers for the dog in that bag?"

"I'm afraid not. Could you hold the dog for me? Thanks!" The dog growled, and tried to bite. The owners had to help us hold it.

Finally, the ambulance came; Nat and one of the owners rode along, while I and the other owner followed in our cars.

TBC