A Treasure Once Lost, Now Found.
Chapter Two
True to his prophecy Emily sat later that night, wrapped in the hotels' bathrobe, next to Patrick on the bed. Her feet were curled beneath her, knees supporting a white china dish against her chest. With her right hand she twirled spaghetti around the prongs on her fork. Her eyes focused on the news reader on the television screen, her tousled, damp grey curls tumbled around her face, flush from her hot shower.
Patrick rested his hand on her leg, drawing her attention to him.
"Can we talk?" He asked, "About us, the night you left, why…"
"We were young Pat, the excitement wore off, the adrenaline subsided and we'd run out of tequila!"
"I'm serious, Em!" Patrick strained.
"I got scared." She said simply, "I love Ben and you, but being left alone with Ben while you went treasure hunting wasn't fun. Did it ever occur to you that I might have wanted to come? But I had to grow up, we had a child Pat, our son! I'm sorry I walked out on you, I really am. But I was going crazy, I had to get out." Patrick put his hand on her shoulder.
"If it's an consolation" Patrick responded, "I gave up on us too, no matter what I said at the time, it was my fault too."
"Do you…" Emily began. She was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.
"Dad?" Ben called out. Patrick sighed placing his food on the bedside cabinet and getting up.
"He always did manage to interrupt when we wanted time alone!" Patrick laughed softly, taking care not to allow Ben to hear them.
"Dad? Have you seen Mom?" Ben asked, slightly flustered.
"Son," Patrick began, mockingly. "Do you understand the meaning of a 'Do Not Disturb' sign?"
"Not funny! This is serious, I called her several times, I've knocked on her door, I've been down to the bar, the restaurant, the gym, everywhere, I'm worried, no ones heard from her for four hours!" Patrick smiled.
"There's no need to be." he said, pushing the door open wider, to reveal Emily, curled up at the head of the bed, once again engrossed in the television screen.
"Oh." Ben turned and began to walk away.
"Ben!" Patrick called out after him. Leaving his slippers wedging the door open, he followed him. "Ben!" Patrick caught up with him a little further down the corridor. "Son, nothing happened."
"Yeah, ok, so you're sitting on your bed, with my mother! Both wearing dressing gowns and you're saying there's nothing to worry about. Thank dad! I feel reassured!"
"Ben!" Patrick interrupted harshly. "your mother and I are just talking, something we haven't done in a long time and I'd like to give that a chance and I'd hope you would to."
"I'm sorry." He said bluntly, "But that's my mom, and it just, feels weird. You have to understand that."
"You're telling me!" Patrick replied, "But equally she's also the only woman I have ever loved, and so far she hasn't yelled at me since we left you in the cave, something she hasn't done in a long time. So, I think we are making progress." Patrick rested his hand on his sons' shoulder. " I know it's a little difficult to take in, believe me, I never expected to get a second chance, but this might be it. I'm old Ben, and I'm lonely, I don't want to spend the rest of my life regretting not giving us a try. Ben, please, let us at least give this a chance."
"On one condition." Ben stated. "No tequila!"
"Agreed!" Patrick answered quickly, laughing.
Ben walked away, smiling to himself. He did feel uncomfortable with the idea that his parents were reconciling their differences, he couldn't really remember a time when they were together and they weren't screaming at each others throats. He wandered back down the corridor, meeting Abigail as he turned the corner.
"I can't find her, Ben." Abigail said, looking worried.
"I wouldn't worry" Ben began, "My parents are attempting to reconcile their differences." Ben said, smirking.
"Is that a euphemism?" Abigail asked, smirking alongside him. Ben put his arm around her shoulder.
"You don't want to know!" He laughed. "But they're 'just talking' apparently, which is more than they have done in the past thirty two years, so I suppose I'd better give it a chance." Abigail smiled. Together they made their way back to their room.
"I don't want to just talk." Abigail stated plainly as they reached the door.
"Good." Ben said, opening the door and holding it for her to enter ahead of him, taking in all of her figure from behind. Abigail turned and grinned.
"Come on then you, lets reconcile our differences!" Ben laughed and closed the door behind him.