Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Seventeen
"Wait so you are telling me that he seriously believes you two will actually breakup?" My dad's shock at the naivety of some people clearly ringing through in his tone.
"Honestly, I don't know but he probably thinks that if he makes it hard enough for us then we will both give up sooner rather than later."
"He doesn't get it. Don't worry son no one ever really gets it. They may know love and deep love but to know you only truly feel whole, feel your most authentic self when with the other- they don't get that. Maybe it's because they feel whole enough in themselves, they don't know the struggle the restlessness of the search, knowing that there is something more. It's why no other relationship works, why they aren't at all peaceful; we know that the wrong person will never calm us or set us alight."
Jack McKay's deep and meaningful's before nine am were becoming the strange norm in this house, it was weird as I remember a time when we couldn't talk for four minutes without yelling; though that was a different Jack, a heartbroken destroyed half Jack. "I swear Dad everyday after yoga you are becoming more like Mum. When you pass me a crystal I'm having an intervention."
He laughs, "balance son. We balance each other, the more time together the more you will see it. She'll be less crystal heavy," I give him a bullshit look. "Okay she may stop the wind chime sounds at least and maybe the birds."
"Thank goodness- it's like nails on a chalkboard." As I have my last sip of coffee Mum arrives out on the porch freshly showered and with her morning tea.
"Darling what are your plans today?"
"Well I was hoping to spend them with Bren at the club but I think her parents are also down at the beach club today so that's going to be a challenge as it's not exactly a 'whole' gang event with Andrea and Brandon working."
My mother doesn't even try to calm my bitterness, but instead looks at my Dad. My parents have a silent conversation with their eyes, a more regular part of our daily routine since I arrived back. Once they finish their wordless discussion my Dad looks at me, "I haven't been at the club in year's. Are you a full paying member?"
"Yeah last year I wasn't but this summer I didn't want to abuse Henry's kindness and take advantage of him letting me store my surfboard there without paying. I don't have a cabana or anything but I've got club membership."
"Does that still mean you can you can sign in two guest's?"
"Yeah Dad. Why you want to go to the club?"
He gets his childlike excited look, this isn't going to be good. "Yeah I want to meet your girl in person, I want to lay eyes on the woman your mum see's as our daughter."
I look at Mum with a worried look, her and I going to the club is one thing but me taking them to the club as Mr and Mrs McKay even just as friends is a whole other. This is Beverly Hills socialising to a level she hasn't done since she was married. "Darling it's fine. I don't love it but I've been mixing in these circles since I was a little girl, I know how vapid they can be but I also know how to be in them. Jim and Cindy are going out of their way to be difficult here, if they wanted to be serious and respectful of this family as a courtesy they should of at least invited me along last night. They again made you and Brenda be at a disadvantage in these negotiations-"
"What negotiations? We were told repeatedly that it was their way only, and if we didn't listen Bren would be on her way to Buffalo right now. It's a joke."
"Yes Darling, it's not very realistic especially given her age-"
"Mum don't bring that up if you see them today, if they know that's our deadline on letting them dictate terms then I'm sure she'll be on that plane before we start our senior year."
"Okay okay Darling, you have your father and my word. Now why don't you go get ready to spend a day at the beach with your parents."
I look down at my singlet, I am ready. My father must see my confusion, "Son you are going with your mother and I; the first time the McKay's have been seen at a Beverly Hills venue together in nearly twelve years. It may be nice for you to wear I don't know a singlet that we can't see your nipples through the arm holes of." I roll my eyes.
"Fine but it's the beach no one cares."
"Son brace yourself, you thought being Jack McKay's son was difficult wait till you are surrounded by the new money vultures of my peers and the old money elitist of your mother's. Wear a shirt with no chance of nipples showing- trust me."
When we arrive at the club Dad extends his hand to help my mother climb out of the backseat. They are very… well he is always aware of her, it's nice to see. After we sign in we go out to the main deck area, and I'm hyper aware of the eye's on me. A singlet would have been a bad idea.
"Dylan, it's nice to see you back here it's been a few days."
I reach out and accept his extended hand, "hi Henry, do you know my parents?"
"Mr and Mrs McKay it's nice to welcome you back to the club."
"It's nice to see you again Henry, but please enough of the Mr McKay just call me Jack."
After my father draws back his hand he automatically places it on my mum's lower back, "it's lovely to meet you and please call me Iris. It's such a beautiful day and with all the events here we thought we would take the opportunity to have one of the last day's of summer together."
"Well we are glad to welcome you both back. Now it is a busy day here, every cabana is occupied and your friend Walsh is run off his feet." I smile if every cabana is busy that means Mr and Mrs Walsh are here and that means my Mrs McKay is here. "Would you like me to reserve you all a table for lunch?"
My mother instantly responds, "that would be wonderful Henry."
"Well I know they are all occupied at the moment with Brunch just finishing up, but while I sort something out I'd suggest as you wait you go for a walk to see the start of the sand sculpture competition they are looking good." Henry turns to me with a smile, "Dylan I believe some of your friends including Walsh's sister are down there right now."
"Henry, that's a great idea. Son let's go see the start of these sculptures." I laugh at my Dad's enthusiasm he was desperate to meet my wife, well to him my girlfriend.
As we approach the two blonde's and my brunette I hear the normal bickering between the three of them. Three stubborn powerful women in their own right with their own opinions, Donna was not playing the peacemaker between the two fiercest of their group which means one of them had stirred her up. "Ladies, do I even want to know what has got you so riled up?"
They instantly turn around and my wife gives me her cheeky smile, "we are trying to create a map of Paris with three dimensional landmarks for the competition. We are just figuring out which ones should make the cut."
As she was speaking the three of them move closer to us, "and Brenda what's on your list?"
She smiles her incredible smile, the one that makes everything in my world better, "Jack I want the Eiffel Tower, Balzac's House and Pont des Arts."
"Great choices." I give her a teasing look, our Paris she wants our Paris on the map. The tower that was in front of our eyes when I disliked hearing that we were dating, the house where I decide what I wanted, and the bridge where she agreed to jump right into the deep end with me forever.
"And your friends sweetheart what would they like?" My Dad can't hold the charade for a minute pretending that they are unknown to each other, thankfully it's only the girls here and not Jim.
"Well Donna thinks the fashion district should feature as the city is known for fashion, as well as the Louvre." Bren looks at Donna when she gives her list.
"So Donna's the visual arts lover then," he smiles at the blonde who preens at his words liking the characterisation, "and that must make you Kelly." My dad gives a smile to Kel.
"Hi Mr McKay, it's nice to meet you."
"Kelly please call me Jack, so what do you think should be included?"
"The Arc de Triomphe and maybe the Moulin Rouge."
"Well they are well known as well, don't you agree Iris?"
"Yes they would all work, so what is the problem can't you do them all?"
"Lack of man power." My mother cocks her head to the side, "don't look at me like that Iris you know I mean arms not male's." My Dad and I chuckle at our two strong women.
My mother smiles and comes over and places an arm around her daughter in law, "of course Darling. As a Scorpion you wouldn't dare undermine your female power." She squeezes her close, "I've missed you this summer our phone calls weren't enough."
Bren rests her head on Iris' shoulder. "I'm sure you have heard, phone calls is all we may get for a while."
"Yes I heard and I'm not thrilled, our house needs more female energy those two are very difficult. I'm finally in LA for the foreseeable future and I don't get to have more time with my daughter."
My Dad has demonstrated since he has been out that he wants to make my mother happy, and I can tell he doesn't like the looks on either Mrs McKay's face. "Sweetheart why don't I go introduce myself to them that may soften the blow- I can be quite charming."
Brenda and Iris laugh, "who told you that Jack?"
"I blame myself when we first started dating I told him that, he has believed it ever since." My mum's sparkling eye's aimed at my Dad soften the blow at both their teasing.
"Thanks for the offer Jack, but I think it may do more harm than good."
It's then that Kelly steps closer, "I don't think you'll get a choice your dad's walking this way."
Crap. I look at my Dad but before I can tell him to be good my Mum beats me to it, "Jack."
He gives them both what I imagine is his charming smile, "I'll be on my best behaviour."
I look at my wife, less than twenty-four's home and I can see she is weary of this; I imagine once I left and even this morning it's been a conversation on repeat in the Walsh house. My mother gives her one more squeeze, I'm thankful that she is getting some support but it stirs my stomach that I can't be the one to lend her strength, it frustrates me that it is needed at all. I pat my chest as a reminder to keep my head, just like my wife did last night- I feel my ring dig in. Bren puts her hand in her pocket I imagine to do the same, her red bikini top while very much appreciated by me, means her chain can't be worn. We agreed to wear them always, with me even slipping the ring on my finger to surf- I don't trust the chain to hold up to the waves.
"Brenda, what do you think you are doing?"
"Dad can we not do this here we can go back to the cabana and I can explain?"
"Jim. Brenda did nothing wrong she was just working on the girls entry into the competition. Henry is arranging us a table for lunch and while we wait he thought we should come down and see the sand sculptures being created. I saw Brenda and wanted to say hello to her in person."
"Iris you saying hello is fine, but Brenda and Dylan know the rules. It's not even a full day and they are already breaking them. This isn't going to work young lady if we can't trust you to follow the rules then Buffalo is probably best for you."
"Mr Walsh-" "Dad-" My wife and I are both cut off by my Dad.
"Jim as I'm the rule that was broken let me apologise. Hi I'm Jack McKay, it's nice to finally meet the man who helped Dylan so much over the last two years." My Dad extends his hand. Jim looks at the gesture and instead of acknowledging it looks to Brenda.
"Young Lady lets go." His expression leaves no room for argument as he turns from the situation and the outstretched hand. Bren gives me an apologetic look and squeezes her Mother in laws hand before she immediately follows.
We are all quiet and uncomfortable for a minute.
"I didn't know it was that bad, Brenda didn't say it was. Dylan are you okay?"
Of course she didn't say how bad it was, she knows McKay's keep all their cards close to their chest or hidden under the table for back up. Before I can respond to Kelly my parents surprisingly jump in.
"Kelly thank you for your concern but it's fine, it's nothing to worry about."
"My wi… ex-wife is right. They are just a little nervous about me it will blow over soon. My son and honorary daughter just need to wait a little till the tensions calm."
My parents attempts at underplaying the situation are interrupted by Brandon who as he walks up says, "Hey D your table is ready." He immediately moves to my Mother and kisses her cheek, a greeting habit that he has picked up from the many meals he has shared with us this summer. He was thankful that she had come to help me and his twin, and be a voice of reason to calm him during the anger at home over the threat.
"Brandon Darling I would like to introduce you to Dylan's father Jack."
Brandon smiles and out streches his hand, "you sure son I'm not going to get you in trouble?"
Brandon gives a quizzical look but shakes his head. After the two break the handshake Brandon looks around, his posture immediately tenses- he starts to pick up on what's happened. "He came and got her didn't he?"
"Yeah you just missed it."
"Shit, I was out the back taking care of the towel delivery. How bad was it?"
I give him a concerned look, "he mentioned Buffalo."
I assume my wife has filled him in as he is instantly alarmed. We have always shared one goal in common we want her close to us- obviously in very different ways though. "Okay I better get up there."
As he begins to quickly move away I loudly say, "B!"
Over his shoulder he looks at me, "McKay there is not a chance in hell and if he tries I'll be in the seat next to her."
As we watch him jog away my Dad turns to no one in particular and asks, "how come I can say hello to one twin and not the other?"
I run my hand through my hair feeling frustrated at me impotence in this situation, it makes me respond bluntly but truthfully. "Brandon is being raised to be his own man and Brenda is required to be Daddy's little girl. When he leaves them alone Brandon is usually given the responsibility to take care of my w- woman though Bren has never needed to be taken care of, she actually usually takes care of her twin."