Joe Merrill was in the bathroom, tinkering around with the sink trying to fix a leaking faucet. He was just putting everything back together when the door opened and he looked up to see his son.
"Dinner time, Pop," he called out through a cloud of cigarette smoke, before walking away again.
Joe finished up what he was doing and went to the dining room. He was surprised to see John's girl sitting down there already.
"Hello," he said gruffly, before taking his usual seat.
"Hello Mr Merrill," she replied, half smiling at him.
He was struck again at the strangeness of his son having gotten himself such a polite girl.
"How was your day at school dear?" Grace asked Laura once she had finished serving.
"It was okay," she replied halfheartedly, she'd had a math test which was enough to ruin anyone's day.
"And how's your mother, not to busy I hope?"
"No, she's coming home tomorrow so I'll see her then."
"Let her eat Ma," Ace said, interrupting his mother from asking another question.
"And what have you been doing with yourself?" she asked turning her attentions to him, "I feel like I never see you around here anymore."
"Keeping out of trouble," he said smirking at her.
She smiled back, she doubted that very much.
After stopping a few more times to answer questions Laura finished her meal and asked to excuse herself so she could put her plate in the sink.
"Don't worry about that dear," Grace said, "John, where are you going?" she asked as Ace grabbed Laura's arm and started walking towards his bedroom.
"I just need to show Laura something," he said, "look I'll leave to door open," he said, swinging it wide open before disappearing inside.
"It's weird hearing people call you John," Laura said, sitting down on his bed.
"Why?" he said smirking, "it's my name."
"I know, I even told people that was your name when they asked me but it always felt like I was talking about someone else."
"Like who?" he asked surprised.
"Just some people I met on holiday," she said dismissively, glossing over the fact she had danced with one of them.
"Do you like my name?" he asked her.
"Yes," she said, "John is a nice name. It suits you."
"Call me John then," he said. "Anyway this is what I wanted to show you."
He opened the bottom drawer in his closet to reveal a collection of bundles of money held together with elastic bands.
"Where did you get that?" she asked him surprised.
"I earned it," he said vaguely. "I got it so I can take care of you. So don't worry about that girl you saw in the street or anybody else. I'm going to take care of you okay."
"Okay John" she said smiling.
He kissed her quickly, liking the way she'd used his name. "We better go back outside before my Ma thinks I've started molesting you...and before I start molesting you," he said kissing her again.
"Dessert!" came Grace's voice from the dining room.
"See what I mean," he said. He helped her up and they both went to eat their dessert.
Afterward Ace got Laura her coat whilst she said goodbye to his parents and drove her home. When he came back his parents were sitting in front of the television.
"You might have given me a bit more warning John," his mother said when he sat down beside her.
"What?" he said, lighting a cigarette, "didn't you want her to come over."
"Don't put words into my mouth," she said, "and stop blowing smoke in my face."
"Sorry Ma," he said, knowing full well that he was doing no such thing.
"So, pretty serious are we?" she said smiling again. "How long have you been seeing each other now?"
"About eight months," he answered, knowing where this was going.
"How old is she?"
"She's turning seventeen in a few weeks."
"Well that's old enough," she said thoughtfully.
"For what?"
"To be married of course," she said as though it were obvious.
"Ma," he groaned, this woman was way too keen for grand children he thought to himself.
"What," she said innocently, "you must like her or why else keep seeing her."
He looked at her slyly, she could be crafty when she wanted to.
"Surely you don't want someone to beat you to it?" she said, "and she'd be such a beautiful bride."
"I'm going to bed," Ace said, getting to his feet, "goodnight Ma."
"Just think about it," she said kissing him on the forehead.
Joe watched the scene with interest, noticing one thing. He hadn't said no. Maybe his son was going to grow up after all.