Paige looked at everyone as they kind of stood there, not really knowing what to do after Walter had told them so much about what happened as a child. She finally smiled before she spoke.
"Hey guys, if everyone is up for it, I know this great little Italian joint. Family style meals, since we don't really know each other that well yet, we can eat and see if we can bond a bit. My treat." Paige looked from face to face gauging interest.
"Papa Carpinni's?" Cabe asked.
"You know it?" Paige asked as she looked back at him.
"Know it, hell I practically live on their breadsticks." Cabe grinned.
"Happy?" Paige asked.
"Sure, sounds good to me." Happy nodded.
"Sylvester, Toby?" Paige asked.
"Free food, count us in." They both grinned.
"How about you guys?" Paige looked up at Megan and Mark who were still looking down at them.
"We've got Anthony, but thank you." Megan smiled.
Paige shrugged.
"It's family style, Anthony is family, so come on." Paige encouraged them.
Megan looked hopeful at Mark.
Mark just nodded.
"Thanks Paige, we'd love to come." Megan grinned.
"Walter?" Paige asked as she stepped over and wrapped her arms around him.
"It sounds good to me." Walter told her even as he worked to put everything away inside of his mind.
"We'll just have to pick up Ralph from the sitter's place first." Paige told him.
Walter nodded.
"Hey Happy, if you don't mind. I don't like the Jag to sit so much. Since neither of us can drive a stick safely, would you drive it for me tonight?" Walter asked.
"Do I get to take it to the track after?" Happy was grinning while shocked. Never expecting him to ask her to drive it.
Walter laughed.
"Well, I did let Paige drive it on the track. I suppose I should let you too." Walter grinned as he tossed his keys to her.
Happy's mouth dropped open at that.
"For him to let you drive his Jag is unheard of, not to mention on the first date. But damn he let you take it on the track? I don't know of anyone that he's let drive it on the street, let alone the track." Happy looked at Paige in disbelief.
"It was pretty awesome too. I was really getting uncomfortable with it though. He kept pushing me to go faster. But when I saw us getting close to 170 mph I finally backed off and slowed down to let him take over." Paige smiled.
"Hey, can I ride in the Jag with her?" Toby asked.
Walter's head slowly turned in that calculating manner that always chilled Toby, so he could look at him coldly.
Toby swallowed.
"Just because I opened up about my childhood doesn't mean everything is forgiven Toby." Walter told him.
"No problem, probably not a lot of legroom for my long legs." Toby nodded hastily.
Happy watched as everyone started grabbing their stuff to leave and she stepped over to Paige.
"Hey, I know this is probably a little weird for you with me and my past relationship with Walter. I don't want to cause any issues." Happy whispered to her.
Paige smiled.
"I really appreciate you saying that Happy. I'd be lying if I said that it couldn't cause some issues. But, you've been very respectful and I will always do my best not to think that way. And if it ever seems like it is affecting me, you come talk to me. I don't want it causing a problem between us. Are you really sure you're going to be okay with Walter and I here?" Paige said softly.
Happy nodded.
"This Walter is probably closer to who I wish he had been when we met. But no matter how much he has changed or will continue changing. I don't want anything to do with him like that anymore. And, if he ever does anything you don't like, if you need help, you call me. Besides." Happy gestured around them. "We need guidance, and it is for the greater good. So if you think I'm acting like it is bothering me, then talk to me about it." Happy told her seriously as she looked to the loft.
"Thank you, I appreciate you being willing to do that for me, Happy. Do you have a problem with me seeing the art Walter made of you?" Paige reached out and squeezed her hand even as she realized she was talking about Mark stepping back to try and save Megan.
"No, Walter is an amazing photographer. He doesn't let just anyone see them, but they are so good I'd almost be okay if he did. Happy shook her head.
Walter looked over at Paige as they drove down the street to pick up Ralph. He could see the pensive look on her face. He'd already made several calculations as to what it might be about.
"Would you like to get it over with now so neither of us will get indigestion?" Walter asked as he looked back at the road. Knowing which was most likely the case, he needed to get ahead of it.
"What?" Paige asked as she looked at him. She could see a slight upwards curve to the right side of his lips.
"I'm assuming something I said or unlikely, part of my story has rubbed you the wrong way. So I thought maybe we could talk about it before we pick up Ralph and then we'd be in a good place so our dinners can be digested properly." Walter told her.
"Oh." Paige said simply. Walter was going to be a handful. He was beyond intelligent, he was extremely good looking and charismatic. He was perfectly aware of who he was and what he could do. And she was finding out he could read her and others quite well. "I was just thinking of…Happy." She finally said.
"And that I let her take the Jag." Walter nodded.
"Well it is just that with your hand and arm in a cast you can handle that car just fine. So I don't understand why you let her take it." Paige said softly.
"True enough. But there are several reasons for it and only one of them really has anything to do with Happy. First up is the three of us can't fit in it. With it sitting for several weeks now, it really needs to be driven properly. After our wreck I don't trust my hand if something goes wrong at high speed. If I was single and with anyone but you, I'd have no problem risking that. But risking you and Ralph that would be completely unacceptable. And with us starting to make this relationship between us, it makes me consider risks a bit differently. And lastly, I don't trust many people with important things, as Happy pointed out before we left, and that includes my Jag. You are the first person I've let drive it actually. This is Happy's first time. The only other person I'd let drive it is Megan, but of course that wouldn't be wise with her condition." Walter explained.
"But just to reiterate, I didn't do it because I have any romantic feelings for Happy. There is only one woman who is on my romantic radar. So while you have nothing to worry about, I realize that the situation can present issues. Just talk to me about any feelings, I will always answer you honestly about anything. But make sure you want the honest answer." Walter told her.
Paige wrapped her left arm around his right and hugged it to her for a moment.
"Thank you for saying that. But what do you mean, make sure I want the honest answer? I'd always want the truth." Paige looked at him.
"The guys and I have told you, I wasn't always a good guy. I was a real nasty piece of work. So if you ever ask me about that life, you have to be sure you want the truth. Because not only was some of it just plain mean and vindictive, some of it was illegal. And it could make you an accessory after the fact." Walter told her.
"That is how much you mean to me. No one knows everything about me. Happy knows a lot but she doesn't know everything. You are the first person I've met that I'd be willing to share everything you want with you." Walter told her as he flexed his bicep, and pulled her arm tight to his chest.
"So, was your home and now my home paid for by so-called dirty money?" Paige asked.
"Well an argument could be made to say that all my money is dirty money because of cross contamination. But technically no. When I bought it I had way more than enough legally obtained money to buy it. And the money only came from my legitimate bank accounts." Walter smiled at her.
"So how much of your money was illegally made, right now?" Paige looked at him.
"A very small percentage actually. Despite what others think, anonymously, I have donated all of that money to different charities and aid programs. I've got a bit more than one and a half million that I recently acquired that I haven't gotten rid of yet. I maintain several overseas bank accounts that money was always kept in until it was disbursed. And no, I don't just donate that money. I typically donate fifteen percent of my legal income each year to charity on top of that." Walter told her as they pulled up in front of the sitter's house.
"So, before I go up and get Ralph…This money that wasn't obtained legally. Did any of it come from what someone would call a victim or someone who was so-called bad?" Paige asked.
Walter half turned in his seat after putting the car in park.
"Well, currently the money came from someone who is a mix. He did something really disgusting against someone I liked. Someone I considered mine and I protect that which I view as mine." Walter smiled at her.
"You considered me as your? What, property?" Paige asked with an edge to her voice.
"At that moment of time, when I first met you, it was more like property to be honest. But not my property when it happened, especially not now. Now it would be mine as to how important you are to me. So in a way at the outset I saw you the same way I saw most people with a big difference." Walter told a frowning Paige.
"I'm not sure I like how this is going. What was the big difference?" Paige asked hesitantly.
"Everyone before you, including Happy, I laid claim to them the moment of our first meeting. You were different, from the very start. When I first met you at that diner I was prepared to dominate you before my dessert was over. But, that difference, whatever it was, it was already changing me, I just hadn't realized it. I had this need to build a relationship with you, even if it was just as a customer to a waitress. I needed that connection with you. I had never wanted or tried for one with anyone since even before moving to the US. I had to get to know you and so I began going to see you every chance without risking freaking you out." Walter told her before he pulled her hand up and kissed her knuckles.
Paige stared at him as she tried to reconcile all she now knew about Walter and how he felt towards her. Finally she nodded.
"I think I can accept that. Besides, if I was to tell the truth, I've been yours for over ten years…mister." Paige smiled at him.
Walter's smile grew and they shared a tender kiss before they were interrupted by Ralph running out to the car.
Happy sighed quietly as she looked up from the table they were all sitting at as Walter walked into the restaurant with his arm around Paige and Ralph walking just ahead of them. Like the family she had always wanted to be in with Walter.
"You okay?" Toby whispered as he had heard her sigh slightly over the din of the noise in the restaurant. It hadn't taken much of his Harvard training to realize instantly what had brought it out of her.
Happy nodded.
"I hope you don't mind Paige, I invited my Dad along since we were going to have dinner tonight." Happy said as she cleared her throat when they got to the table.
Paige shook her head even as Walter pulled out her chair and she sat down.
"Family is family, good evening Patrick." Paige greeted him. "This is my son Ralph." Paige introduced him to Patrick.
"Thank you Paige, good evening. It is nice to meet you young man." Patrick smiled at Ralph.
Ralph looked at him briefly and nodded before he turned to Walter.
"Can we play a game now?" Ralph asked quickly.
Walter chuckled along with most everyone else.
"Make your move." Walter told him.
"Queen bishop's pawn to D3." Ralph replied.
Paige shook her head as Walter countered.
"How often does that happen?" Toby asked.
"Oh they have had at least four games a night the last couple of days." Paige sighed. "But it really helps bring Ralph out more and more. I just wish I could connect more to him like that."
Contrary to what anyone would have thought. Walter's attention to the game wasn't distracting him. He still knew what was being said around him and they saw his hand reach over and, without looking, took Paige's hand in it and squeezed it gently trying to reassure her.
Paige smiled at his gesture and then excused herself and went to the bathroom.
"So, you're the new flavor of the month huh? You won't last it out, I'm surprised he'd lower himself to a woman with a kid." Some redhead Paige didn't recognize, said to her as Paige came out of one of the stalls.
"I'm sorry?" Paige looked at her a little closer as she stopped before her.
"Oh that must be it, Walter gets off on airheads." The woman snorted.
"Look, I don't know who you are, but if you have a problem with Walter being with me, tough. He's mine now." Paige told her.
"Right, I could take him from you in a hot minute." The woman scoffed.
"Prove it bitch." Happy said as she walked into the bathroom.
"Happy!" The woman said nervously. "I don't want any trouble."
"Tough, you found it. Back off and leave Paige alone. You know you will never catch Walter's eye again. You also know what Walter will do if he finds out you did this Sandra." Happy stepped up closer to her.
"You are actually going to defend this bitch?" Sandra asked incredulously.
Paige was shocked at how fast Happy's hand flew out and caught Sandra's throat between her thumb and forefinger. The force caused Sandra to choke up as she doubled over clutching her throat.
"Disrespect Paige again, I dare you." Happy told her. "She's my friend and part of my family."
Sandra shook her head as her eyes teared up.
"I won't." Sandra choked out in a hoarse voice even as she fled the bathroom.
Paige looked questioningly at Happy.
"I saw her walking towards the bathroom after you walked in here. I figured she might try to start some crap with you. Seemed logical for me to come in just in case, rather than let Walter deal with her." Happy smirked.
"Thank you Happy, but I doubt she'd have actually attacked me." Paige smiled.
"No, as long as she thought she could get away with it, she would have. She attacked me once before she learned who I was. She does a decent job of covering up the scar over her left eyebrow but it is still there. I would have thought what Walter did to her after would have made her stay away." Happy stepped over and washed her hands even as Paige did the same.
"What did Walter do to her?" Paige asked as they washed their hands.
"Well I shouldn't say Walter did anything, I can't prove it. But considering she was set to retire from her investments when she was twenty eight and suddenly all of her money was gone. Not more than four days after." Happy smirked.
As they sat back down a man in a nice suit followed by Sandra came over to their table.
"How dare you assault my date." The man said to Happy.
Walter frowned even as he stood.
"What's going on?" Walter asked.
"Your ex-girlfriend came into the bathroom after me and tried to make a power play over you." Paige told him.
"Wait, what? Sandra said she was minding her own business when you two attacked her." The man frowned as he looked at Sandra who was now rather red. "You're on a date with me and you want to start some kind of catfight over another guy? I'm out of here." The guy told her as he turned and stormed out.
"What's family dining without some drama?" Toby smirked.
Greetings! I hope this finds you well!
Railman - Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, I'm not looking forward to writing the deathbed expansion of this story if it does talk. Walter coming face to face with his Dad especially will be difficult. Part of him pulled by whatever familial tie still remains and repulsed by the acts committed against him. LOL Paige might want to try it, never know. Taking in your sleep can be embarrassing for sure! lol
Lucy - I'm glad you liked it! I think everyone has a better understanding now.
Pearliegirl - lol I was just offering...no sadism intended. lol
LouBe - hehe Not sure! It was a difficult chapter, but definitely something he needed to do. LOL Oh Toby was drooling, but I think Walter put fear back over his happiness. LOL Thank you for the new word to look up! It kind of suggested what Google said it meant but always good to know for sure! lol Your poor son! lol My youngest brother as twins and 1 is high on the autism spectrum. They'd gone to some family event on her side as I recall and the twin went running down a hill towards a pond and my brother gave chase. Sadly for him he face planted and needed surgery. Broken bones in his face. *ouch* Glad your son was okay after some chocolate! Megan was definitely gone way too soon, they progressed her systems too fast. She needed to be around longer, she could have helped Walter through his nonsense with Paige faster. *sigh* They really missed so many opportunities. The song was kind of a lightning in a bottle moment. I was writing part of the story, chapter 4 to be exact and it was playing at the time and I stopped as my eyes looked up and I was like...wholly crap! This song is absolutely perfect for this scene! lol Couldn't have found a better song for it. Nude illegal street racing! LOL love it...but wrong answer, minus 5. I hope her husband is doing well as well! Sounded horrific!
JerBr23 - Right? Like who does he think he is or is kidding? The most professional thing about him is his hat and as far as objective...I don't think so! lol Glad you enjoyed it! I think she does...I think she got the validation she always wanted to know, was her little brother still in the monster he had become? Yep, he's there and roaring to be free of what he once was!
Susan - hehe Well thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! I promise, no more mentions of Walter with Happy. lol He knows he doesn't have anything to say about it...and he knows she wouldn't listen to him even if he did. But he only means it in the context of after being the one to cause her so much pain, he wants her to be safe but happy as well. Something closer to a big brother. Hope that helps.
To the Adventure! -Tim