Chapter 6: October 2014 – Fall Primary School Concert
Dennis waved Hermione over to the open seat he had saved for her in the school auditorium. She weaved her way through the crowd of iPhone toting parents and made her way to the empty spot.
"Fiona's not going to be able to make it?"
"No, I'm afraid not. She left a message saying they had a break in a case and she and Ron had to go chase someone down. I know it's killing her though. It's Hugo's first performance and it's his new primary school."
"Well, I suppose that is why we have these handy, dandy phones, then. We shall just tape it all and it will be like she was here for every minute of it. But just without the uncomfortable chairs and stuffy air."
"Modern parenting, huh?"
"Hugo seems to be liking it, though. Rose loved Mrs. Thompson's class."
"Oh my goodness, yes. The only way he could talk about her more is if they added hours to the day."
"Do you know what his class is singing tonight?"
"I think the little ones are sticking to God Save The Queen this evening. Or – at least that is all he has been practicing."
"Ah. Well, Rose's class will also be entertaining us with a lovely little song about William the Conqueror."
"No doubt a classic."
"Oh, absolutely."
"Fiona would have loved this."
"She will love it when she sees on video later."
"I know. But Hugo will know she's not here."
"I know it's hard being married to someone with such a demanding job. Actually I don't know anything about marriage at all, but I can imagine it would be difficult. Especially when you want them to be happy, and you know they are doing important things. But you still want them by your side anyway."
"It isn't easy. And I do try not to begrudge it. I know it's important, and that it's part of her very soul to do that work. I thought I was ok with it, but watching Hugo miss her at this type of thing makes it harder."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Of course. But you probably would no matter what I said, wouldn't you?"
"Ok, yes I would. But it's still polite to ask. Do you ever get jealous of her partner and all the time he gets to spend with her?"
"Ron? No. I honestly don't. I wondered if I would at first. But, you have to understand I have known Ron since I was 11 years old. And he was this larger than life amazing older kid at my school. And while he was popular and on the sports teams and everything, he was always kind. He was never dishonest. He was sneaky as hell, which makes him good at his job, but he is good at his core. You know when I figured that out?"
"Obviously not."
"One night I saw him sneaking back down toward the cafeteria area after we were supposed to be in our rooms for the night. I thought he was going to get some more food, so I snuck after him. But you know what he was doing? He was staying up late to help the kitchen staff because he felt bad they had so much to clean after the big dinner they'd made. He did that when he thought no one was watching. So – I know he is a great guy. And I know Fiona loves me. She adores Ron. She loves him and trusts him, but she is in love with me. I'm who she comes home to. And I am ok with that."
"Why has Ron never married? Do you think he could be gay?"
"No – I would say he definitely isn't gay. He had this one ridiculous girlfriend in school that he snogged all over the place. We still take the mickey out of him about it even today. It was truly awful. But he was a randy teenager, so you can't hold it over his head twenty years later I suppose. And he dated a lot of different birds there for a while after he got out of school. But, I think he just isn't willing to settle. He comes from a huge family. And he has a lot of examples of the ideal in his life – his parents, his older brothers, his younger sister and Harry. They each have great marriages, and wonderful children. So – he knows how good it can be if it's right. But, with the work he does, he can also see how bad things can be when they are wrong. And, if he can't have it all, I think he's just willing to dedicate himself to his work. That's one of the reasons we picked him as Hugo's godfather. I don't know that Ron will ever have kids. This way he can have a special relationship with a child that isn't one of his many nieces and nephews."
"Sounds like a great guy. Maybe I should-"
"Oh look, the kids are starting. Get the video running. Can you see Hugo?"
