CHAPTER 7 Loyalties
"NO, and that is final! Who do these people think they are, allowing a child your age into their home without the parent's consent and then keeping you past a reasonable time? And you, do you think so little of me to have no respect for my rules? Don't you realize you're my entire world Gustave, and if anything were to happen to you it would kill me? Do you think these pernicious women are going to collect you like a stray pup, no; they would take advantage of you. Why else would they be showing such interest in you? No one in the world is more than self-serving; regardless of the façade they try to present you. I warn you not to be so easily deceived."
On and on the tirade went. The boy had never exhibited a temper like Erik's, but after a lifetime of dealing with the Vicomte's bad humor he was prepared to deal with these outbursts. After the day spent with Lisa, Gustave had managed to make it home and have an uneventful dinner with his father though he ate little. It wasn't until he tried to slip out early the next day that his father's anger had exploded. Gustave knew it wasn't that his father meant to hurt him with any of his comments. The concern came from his fear of being alone.
One talent his mother had imprinted upon him was to be a good listener, to hear the feeling behind the words and consider the why of what people did to themselves and to others. As with most situations, his father's biggest fear was losing Gustave, and he considered the entire world both a threat and competition for his son's love and attention. The boy took the time allotted while his father continued to rant to formulate a plan that could both ease his father's mind and allow him the freedom to visit Lisa.
"Are you listening to me?" came a voice very close to his face. Lost in his musings the boy had stopped paying attention to his father's words, and the man now stood towering above him with a mix of hurt and vexation written across the unmasked left side of his face.
"Yes, father. I'm sorry, but I've told you. They aren't interested in anything more than being my friends. Mrs. Aguilar is already a wealthy lady and isn't interested in money, and Lisa is a widow who lost her husband many years ago. They're not trying to trick me into anything and haven't asked anything of me except friendship. I think they're just a little lonely and… I can understand that." said the boy. His father took a small step back, almost as if he'd been struck, then settled on the piano next to his son. It took only a moment for him to formulate a retort.
"Don't you think I'm lonely without you here, especially knowing you prefer the company of these strangers to that of your own father." That comment did make Gustave flinch, like he too had been hit by some unseen hand. It was at times like this that Gustave felt more like the mature adult in the relationship. He placed his hand on his father's shoulder and tried to turn his torso to face him. He was unable to repress the pang of guilt when he saw the small shimmer of moisture that had collected at the corners of those haunted eyes.
When his mother had died, Gustave learned the hard lesson that parents weren't infallible beings. They were as vulnerable as anybody and made mistakes all the time. Gustave had the thought, as he often did at these moments, that this was the man his mother had fallen in love with, not the hard stoic powerful rock of a man normally presented to the world.
"They are just friends, new and novel, but they could never replace you. You are my father and always will be. I love you, and you're also the only person I have in the world." It was the honest truth, he wasn't trying to manipulate or sway his father. They needed one another and if all the rest of the world fell away they would always have each other.
His father pulled him into a tight hug, desiring as much as ever to feel the solid reality of his son, alive and vital. Gustave knew what the right thing to do was, though it irked him slightly to give the thought life. For all his innate wisdom and maturity, inside he still had the selfish child that wanted to keep a new toy all to himself, but a voice from deep within his heart sang to him to act out of love.
"Father, Lisa… Mrs. Faolan that is, asked me to invite you, at your convenience of course, to come with me one day to visit." He pulled back from his father as he spoke, and the man looked down at him with a perplexed look. "Perhaps if you meet them it would make things easier, more comfortable I mean."
"I'm not sure that would be the best idea." His father remarked as he released his hold and turned in his seat to face the piano's keys. He began to tap out an old melody that Gustave recognized as one he'd been unable to finish since losing his muse.
"Well, I hope you'll consider it, and I hope you'll reconsider your opinion of them." Gustave had turned to watch his father's fingers as they flew effortlessly over the keys. The tune, with its rise and fall, tone and rhythm, was more effective than any words in conveying the emotions of the player. They sat together until the music faded. The man closed the cover folded his hands over the dark wood.
"Fine Gustave, you have my leave to continue visiting your new friends, but I still reserve my judgment of them for the time being." He said, so low only the person nearest him could have heard it.
"Thank you father." Having received the consent he'd been pining for, Gustave was sure his father expected the boy to go bounding off to visit the women, but Gustave was the best of his mother.
"So, will we be heading into the park today? Aren't you due to inspect the new costumes for the Independence Day shows? And I heard Ms. Fleck mention some of the carnies wanted to open a new game booth." For the first time in a while Gustave felt encouraged by the idea of spending time with his father, especially while overseeing park functions. The man looked over to his son's eager face and couldn't help but thank his angel for such a wonderful gift.
"I thought you planned to spend the day in the city now that you have permission?" he asked.
"Perhaps tomorrow afternoon, I already spent all of yesterday there. I want to spend today with you. Could we go have breakfast in the café?" asked Gustave. His father nodded and together the pair departed to Coney Island.
From then on Gustave took special care to balance time away from home and what he spent with his father, so as to spare the man anymore pain and avoid any unpleasant confrontations. But his desire to be at the mansion only grew with each visit. The months went by quickly.
Even with the passing of August, summer was reluctant to make way for autumn and the crowds still filled the boardwalk every day, spilling onto the beaches. It kept Erik busy, although he never failed to notice when Gustave headed into the city.
His visits had become regular enough that Lisa made some small accommodations for him, like leaving the gate open on the days he was expected and having Kara prepare some of his favorite treats. Gustave was particularly fond of her chocolate cake that was nearly as delicious as the one his mother used to make for him.
The boy could feel something new was beginning, but he also knew something else was ending. He was afraid of not knowing what the consequences of all this would be, but he was more afraid of what would happen if nothing in his life changed.