Mother's Day Chapter 3
The three of them sat in the backyard for over an hour after their Amanda had left them. Not one of them speaking or saying a word until Phillip stood up and said, "Well, nothing has to be settled today. I think I am just going to go home and get some work done." Jamie stood to shake his hand as he left but Phillip just pulled him in giving him a hug before leaning down and kissing his sister on the head.
Phillip pulled out of the driveway and headed for the park that was close to the house. He got out and went and sat on the benches watching the new neighborhood kids play ball. Some of these kids even belong to friends of his that he ran with when he was younger.
He thought of all the times as a teenager that Lee would bring him there so he could talk without his mom hearing in on guy things. His mind drifted to when he was fifteen and was getting really serious about this one girl, Suzy.
"Come on, Chief, I am in the mood for some basketball why don't we go to the park for a while?" Lee asked when he noticed that Phillip was doing more day dreaming out the window than he was on his history report in front of him.
"I have to finish this report on Munich. You know mom's rule, homework first."
"Yeah, well, since your Mom is in Munich right now she isn't gonna know if I let you work on it later tonight after dinner now is she?"
Smiling at his step father Phillip went and changed his clothes then he and Lee walked to the park. After about an hour of hard hitting basketball and getting his ass kicked by Lee, Lee suggested they take a break.
"So, your report on Munich when is it due?" Lee asked taking a large drink of water.
"Not until next Thursday."
"I can see why you weren't really interested on working on it then today. I mean you have so much time left. I use to do the same thing. If I didn't like a project or report than I just wait and do it the night before. My Uncle wasn't happy, but I got done. I get it. What were you thinking about though if you don't mind me asking?"
Looking away from Lee's gaze Phillip mumbled, "Nothing."
"Nothing, huh, well what is nothing's name?"
Phillip snapped his head up meeting Lee's mischievous smile and said, "How did you know it was about a girl?"
Lee waved his hands in front of his chest as if to say 'really'. "Phillip, I don't know if you realize this but I am a guy and I used to be a boy who at your age redefined breaking boundaries with the opposite sex. I started officially dating girls at thirteen, my Uncle thought it was fifteen, and at your age I was skinny dipping and rounding most if not all the bases, if you get my meaning. So, again, what is her name?"
"You were having sex at my age?" Phillip seemed shocked.
"I was doing a lot of things at your age that I shouldn't have been doing. It was mainly to piss off the Colonel."
"What was it like?"
"What was what like?" Lee asked knowing the real question but wanting confirmation.
"Sex, what is it like?"
"Well, that first time it wasn't so great. I mean how great can sex be if you have never done it? It is nothing like the movies and television."
"Lee are you going to tell me what it really is like or not?"
"It was crazy and fast and over really quickly. The first time for anyone is bad. You are trying to figure out if you're doing it right and the only thing you know is the two parts are supposed to fit together. Okay but what do you do after you get them together. I know your mom had this talk."
"She explained how the parts fit, but like you said after you get them together what happens?"
"Your body knows what to do, just the first time it gets really excited and does it too fast. Besides you have this voice in your head that tells you if it is time for you to do that or not. Being a virgin in college is not the worst thing that can happen to you." Lee said hoping Phillip got the message.
Phillip did get his meaning but made a joke any way, "No, being a virgin in college and having your frat brothers rat you out is the worst thing."
Laughing hard Lee said, "Then I guess you don't let them know. Now do you want another game or are you ready to tackle dinner and Munich?"
"Dinner and Munich sound pretty good now; thanks Lee and not just for today but for every day."
Phillip left the park and headed home. He was surprised to find Carly home when he got there. "Hey, I thought you had a dinner party at the restaurant to prep for?"
"I do, but I still have time. I wanted to know how you visit went with your Mom?"
Phillip sat and continued his thoughts in silence before Carly said, "Hey, are you in there? What are you thinking about?"
"I went by the park where Lee and I use to play ball. We had more talks there I think then we did games. He told me about his younger days and would give me advice. He gave me advice once with a girl. She was new and I thought she was wonderful. He told me to take it slow. I did and well she was a little faster than I was and moved on quickly."
"I guess that is good for me then." Carly laughed and snuggled into his arms not knowing what to expect because Phillip rarely talked about his step-father.
"I graduated high school, went to college, joined the fraternity, and met a great girl. She was more my speed. Unfortunately, our pace picked up but our safety precautions didn't and well she became pregnant. We made the choice together not to tell our parents and not to have the baby." The tears in his eyes began falling as did Carly's.
"I borrowed the money from Lee, not telling him what it was for, he didn't ask. He just said that if I needed it then it was no problem, he just thought it was extra money for Spring Break. The day we went to the clinic we were walking out and Lee was across the street at a diner meeting some man. He just stared at me as I Amber into the car. He had never looked at me that way before. Do you have any idea what he did when I came home that weekend?"
Shaking her head Carly pulled back to look at him. "What did he do?"
"Nothing, Lee never said a word and he must have never told mom because she has never said anything about it. The look of disappointment on his face was more than any words he could have ever said to me. I would have rather of had his anger and shouting than his silence."
"You two got past it didn't you?" Carly asked her brows closing together as her face scrunched.
"Yes, it took a long time but we did. I just wanted him and my parents to be proud of me. I thought by becoming a hot shot lawyer to the rich and deviant would do that. Carly, you know I have already made more money than most do in a lifetime, representing the men I have in my career. Would you be terribly upset if I changed the course of my legal focus?"
Smiling she said, "I thought that you understood that when I said I would marry your cheeky ass that I would also support you in whatever you do, just as you would support me. What new direction do you want to take?"
"I want to open my own practice. Something smaller, something that will in time be important and my name will not be linked to some of the past clients that I have represented and I can't bring in those clients at the firm I am in now. Am I being crazy?"
"No more crazier than I was when I left a great paying job to learn how to cook and now look at me, I have my own catering business and we are pretty successful. I want you doing what makes you happy and if your own firm and a smaller client base is what you want then go for it."
Phillip went to sleep that night for the first time in months without any cares or worries.