DINNER WITH ABIGAIL'S PARENTS
I want it now
I won't let you down
tired of being alone and looking for love
I want it now
I want it all
I want it now,
I want the good things in life, hey
I want it now,
I want the good things in life
I need you Baaaby…
Moodblanc "Good things in Life"
Abigail's parents chose a nice seafood restaurant close to their hotel for dinner the next night.
She dreaded the inevitable questions that were going to come up.
Her parents even sounded surprised that she could get a whole week off from work. Apparently they thought the Commissioner worked her like a slave. Or so her dad had joked about it.
She wondered if it was wise to order a glass of chardonnay with her dinner. Perhaps it would come out all wrong when she told them of her new relationship with her boss.
But then again that liquid gold might just give her the courage to spill it. Ha.
Her parents chatted casually about the ridiculously hot weather in Florida for March and how much traffic there was thanks to spring break.
Her parents had relocated to Boston from NYC where they could still visit each other within a couple hours drive. But it had been awhile since they had all caught up.
"So," her mother began as they received their plates. "How's everything with your detective career? You know sometimes I think you're being held back by staying in that stuffy office all the time working like a secretary for goodness sake…"
Abigail sighed. Here we go.
"Yes Abby, I agree with your mother. Why does that Commissioner feel like you are being able to perform at your best being a..a um…executive assistant up there?"
"Look Dad, it's not like that. I enjoy my work. And I enjoy who I work with," She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks as she thought about how much she really enjoyed working with someone in particular.
"Yes but Abby, you've been there for a while now. Don't you think you should be going up to the next level of detective by now?" Her dad questioned as he leaned forward looking at her.
"It's that Police Commissioner," her mother nodded disapprovingly. "He's holding her back is what it is."
Abigail took a swig from her wine glass. Goodness gracious. This was like being on a sitcom.
I need my courage now.
She took a deep breath and said, "It's not him. And to set the record straight…we uh…we are uh…"
Her parents had both dropped their forks looking at her intently.
Oh God give me strength, she thought.
"We are um together. In a um…relationship."
Her parents looked back at her blankly.
She took another swig of her wine.
"What?" her mother asked hollowly.
Abigail spoke slowly, "The Commissioner and I are…seeing each other."
"What?!" Her dad blinked in surprise as his fork clattered to the plate.
Her mother's jaw dropped.
And just then Abigail's cell was ringing. She quickly grabbed it where it was facedown on the tablecloth.
Turning it over she realized it was Frank calling her.
"Uh I gotta take this!" she jumped up from the table leaving her parents in stunned surprise.
She picked it up, "Hey, you have no idea how much I love you at this moment."
Frank sounded bewildered, "What?...Why? What's going on?"
Abigail spoke in hushed tones by the ladies restroom. "Um, well I'm out to dinner with my parents and um…I literally just told them about us."
"What?!"
Now it was the Commissioner's turn to give her an earful. She held the phone away as he practically shouted in her ear.
She treaded cautiously, "I hope that's okay…"
He sighed deeply over time and space through the phone. "Yes, yes. Um I'm sorry it's been pretty hectic here since you left. I wasn't prepared for what you just said. But you know what's best…so did they handle it well?"
Abigail laughed nervously, "Well uh, I kind of just dropped the bomb on them right before you called."
"Wow. Okay. Well good luck with that." he replied with a chuckle.
"Gee thanks," She laughed.
"It's really good to hear your voice," he said quietly. "I um missed you last night."
Abigail felt warmed hearing his affectionate words over the phone, "I"m sorry I missed your call. We were meeting up with aunts, uncles, cousins I haven't seen in 20 years."
"Sure I understand," He replied.
"How are things at 1PP?" She asked, still feeling a twinge of guilt leaving so much on their plates there with her gone.
"Ehh well you know that you're a valuable asset to the office here. It just doesn't run the same without you," he said tiredly. "I don't run the same without you."
Abigail paused. It was nice to be missed and even nicer to be hearing him boldly speak about it.
"Well, I don't want to keep you from your exciting night with your parents," she could see him practically grinning over the phone.
"I wish you were here for moral support," she said and felt the tug in her heart as she realized how far apart they were at this moment in time.
"Hey," he said gently.
"Yes?"
"I'm always supporting you. Even if I'm not physically there."
She smiled over the phone. "Thank you."
"Now put your brave pants on and get back in there. That's an order."
Abigail laughed, "Yes Sir."
"Oh and Baker?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"Hurry up and get your Florida tanned butt back up to New York. We need you here. I love you."
Abigail grinned. He was having fun with her now. "I love you too. And copy that."
She turned back and headed towards the table where her parents still looked completely flabbergasted at her earlier words.
This is gonna be a long night, she sighed.
A/N: A fun scene to write. More discoveries to come haha.
Btw, I thought I'd mention that when I first started writing this Baker & The Commissioner series I had just recently started watching the show. I was maybe in the 2nd season. I didn't even know that 1. Baker was married on the show and 2. that she had kids. There was literally no personal info about her in the early seasons. So it just made perfect sense to me that the interactions of these two characters on the show ( I mean COME ON, all of the looks they give each other constantly?) It's like they have their own language haha. I've made it up to season 12 now but I still think their relationship would be totally believable on the show. Thoughts?