AN: A warm and appreciative thank you goes to all my readers for their kindness and understanding. Here's the next installment.
Tanith
Chapter 2
Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast
*Passenger - "Let Her Go"
Keeping his promise to Jeannie that he would make it to dinner, Steve showered and got dressed in his best suit. Gunning the engine of his Porsche to life, he drove to the upscale French restaurant located near the Embarcadero. It was a busy evening and parking was a challenge in itself. He looked at his watch and saw that he was already late. Abandoning his attempts to find a parking space close to the restaurant, he drove into a small side street and pulled his car against the curb. Exiting the vehicle, he locked the door then started the short walk back to the main road. He tried his best to wear an expression that remotely resembled one of happiness but the emptiness in his heart felt like an open wound, bleeding out and killing him slowly inside. He felt wretched, mostly because he didn't understand why it was hurting so much to lose someone he had no hope in hell of being with in the first place. Jeannie was Mike's daughter first and foremost. He barely got to see her except when she stayed at Mike's during college break. They didn't make an effort to keep in touch while they were a part. Correction, I didn't make an effort. They never even dated for crying out loud! Steve was so frustrated in himself that he walked straight past the restaurant and had to double back when he realized he had been walking for a lot longer than he should have. Using the reflection from the windows, he adjusted his tie one last time before he entered the restaurant and approached the waiter at the front desk.
"Reservation for Stone. Mike Stone," Steve told the waiter who scrolled through bookings on his list then indicated for Steve to follow him.
When Steve reached the table, he thanked the waiter.
"Steve!" Jeannie greeted cheerfully.
"Sorry, I'm late," Steve apologized. He gave everyone around the table a warm smile and felt a little embarrassed that he was the last one to arrive. An empty spot was left for him between Inspector Irene Martin and Whitney Holden. He'd only met Holden once and that was very briefly when he had picked up Jeannie from Mike's place to go play tennis. Personally, he would've taken her bowling but he kept his opinion to himself. It wasn't that he took an instant dislike to the guy. He was openly friendly to him at the time but that was because he didn't think for a moment that Jeannie could be interested in a relationship with him. The way he figured, Jeannie would find him boring and move on from her crush.
No harm done. Right?
Wrong.
"Steve, glad you could make it," Whitney rose from his chair and extended his hand.
Steve shook it in good grace. "Thanks." Of course what he really wanted to say was, Sure you are. You don't even know me, you lying bastard. His rebellious side approved his train of thought while a more sensible voice silently reprimanded him, telling him to give the poor guy a chance.
A toast was soon in order and as expected, Mike had a speech prepared, though Steve was barely listening to a word of it. Finally, menus were opened and a waiter started to take down their orders. When it came to Steve's turn, he had trouble choosing what he wanted and he could barely pronounce the names of the dishes. Mike chuckled and Irene took sympathy by doing her best to communicate to the waiter on Steve's behalf. To add to the young Inspector's chagrin, Whitney fluently ordered for himself and Jeannie in French.
After dessert, the two ladies excused themselves to use the ladies' room, leaving Steve in the company of his partner and Jeannie's fiancé. An awkward silence fell, broken by Mike who asked Whitney what it was like to work with his father.
"He's great! You know, we're working on some pretty big projects in the Mission District and South Beach. Of course, it's a work in progress and with the wedding….well, it could be another six months before we can start demolishing the buildings," Whitney explained.
"Demolishing?" Mike raised his eyebrows. "That's pretty fast. There's a lot of people living in those apartments that your father's company are in negotiations with. With all the protests going on, I just thought it would be at least another year." Mike smiled, not wanting to offend the young man who was to be his future son-in-law.
Whitney nodded thoughtfully. "To be honest with you, I thought the same thing but my father can be a persuasive man. Strictly legal of course."
"So, you're in the development business?" Steve added, searching for clarification, more as a distraction and to be polite rather than anything else.
"That's right. My dad's been doing it all his life but I've just started working with him when I moved here," Whitney revealed.
"So, what have we missed?" Irene asked as she and Jeannie both returned to their seats.
"Oh nothing. Just boring work stuff," Mike chuckled. "Listen, let me take care of the bill and we can head back to my place. Whaddya say?"
Irene grimaced. "I'd love to, Mike, but I have a report to finish tonight and an early start tomorrow so I'm gonna have to cut the evening short." She turned apologetically to Jeannie. "I'm sorry, honey."
"Hey, it's okay, really!" Jeannie smiled and gave Irene an affectionate hug. "I'm just so happy you could make it!"
"What about you, buddy boy, huh? You're swinging by aren't you?" Mike shook Steve by the scruff of his neck playfully.
Steve kicked himself for not being quick enough to think of an excuse so he lamely muttered, "I..uh…I think I'll just head on home. Got a killer headache."
Mike studied his protégé for a lingering moment before he replied, "Okay. What about you, Whitney?"
"Actually, Mike, I told my father I'd swing by his office later to finish a few things for the board meeting tomorrow," Whitney said. He gave Jeannie's hand a squeeze. "I'm sorry, Princess. But I promise I'll make it up to you."
Jeannie leaned forward and kissed Whitney on the lips. "It's okay, babe. We're still on for tomorrow night, right?"
"Of course," Whitney cupped Jeannie's face in his hand and returned the kiss.
Steve shifted uncomfortably in seat and turned away from the happy couple. Suddenly dinner wasn't sitting so well in his stomach and he felt a sudden psychological urge to vomit.
"Mike, thank you for organizing this. It was very generous of you," Whitney thanked Stone before addressing the others. "And thank you all for coming. It means a lot to me and Jeannie."
"You just take real good care of my daughter," Mike wagged his finger and winked.
A round of thank you's and goodbyes followed while Mike took care of the bill then once everyone collected their coats, they filed out and made their way home.
Mike wrapped his arm around Jeannie's shoulders as they walked back to their car. The drive home was filled with silence as Jeannie fell asleep with her head leaning against the window. Returning his eyes back to the road, Mike sighed softly when he thought about walking his little girl down the aisle. While the idea brought him profound happiness, just as it should to any loving father, there was still a nagging question hovering over him. Was Whitney Holden the right man to bestow him with the honor of giving his daughter away? If so, and he had been trying very hard to believe it, then why was there a cloud of doubt nestled in the pit of his stomach? What was it about the young man that didn't sit quite right with him? Did Helen's father feel the same way he did when Helen had announced their engagement all those years ago? What would Helen think of Jeannie marrying Holden? He tried to envision the conversation taking place between him and his late wife but it just made his vision blur with unshed tears. Mike pushed his thoughts aside as he pulled into his driveway and prepared to wake his daughter from her slumber. Seeing his daughter fast asleep brought back memories of Jeannie in her childhood, when she slept in the back seat and he would carry her inside. How fast had time travelled? He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes to clear them. The realization that it was time to let his daughter go filled Mike with emotions he didn't expect.
Jeannie wasn't his little girl anymore. She was a grown woman and one ready to fulfil her own destiny with whom she chooses. He just hoped that she made the right choice.
