The Immortals and the Businessman 2
I don't know how this got taken off the site and I apologize I just realized yesterday that it was no longer on my authors page so I'm re-posting it.
Penelope led Dave into her parents house. She still had her key from when she was growing up and simply unlocked the door.
Her parents knew that they were coming so they wouldn't be surprised at the sound of the front door opening.
"Penelope!" her mother called, as she came in to the entryway, to see who was coming in the front door. "It's so good to see you, sweetie," her mother said, as she gave her daughter a tight hug.
"It's good to see you too, mom," Penelope said, as she returned mother's affection. "Mom, I'd like you to meet David Rossi my fiancé," Penelope introduced. "Dave this is my mother Ivy Garcia."
"It's very nice to meet you ma'am," Dave said shaking the older lady's hand and then kissing the back of it like a gentleman, causing Ivy to blush. "I can see where your daughter gets her beauty."
It was true Penelope's mother was a very beautiful woman, even though she was much older now. She had blonde hair like her daughter, but it was clear Penny's eye color had come from her father. Ivy was tall, especially for a woman, though she did have some extra weight on her, just not enough to call her fat, just slightly overweight.
"Well, your fiancé is quite the charmer," Ivy said blushing again. "I like him already."
"Yes, he can be very charming when he wants to be," Penelope agreed smiling.
"So when is the wedding?" Ivy asked, as soon as they had sat down in the living room with snacks and drinks.
"Not for a couple of months at least, as I've just started planning it," Penelope said. "Dave wanted me to introduce him to you and dad, so you could meet him before the wedding."
"Do you need any help?" Ivy asked.
"No, Emily's helping me with that, though she has admitted she's not very good planning complicated events. Still, she is helping me out where she can," Penelope said.
"You did say she was newly married, right?" Ivy asked and Penelope nodded.
"Yeah, she is," Penelope agreed wondering what her mother was getting at.
"I just meant, that she might not have much time to help you," Ivy explained what she had been thinking. "Newly married couples like to spend a lot of time alone."
"That's true," Dave's said looking at Penelope. "You might as well let your mother help plan it. It'll go faster if you do. I'm sure Emily will be glad to be relieved of the responsibility."
"You're right," Penelope agreed finally. "I should have asked you in the first place."
"So how did you to meet my daughter, Dave?" Ivy asked the handsome man that was sitting beside her daughter holding her hand. Dave had a goatee a rather unusual sight in this day and age, but somehow it suited him, Ivy thought as she studied her daughter's man. He was certainly a handsome specimen of manhood.
"Well, see, Emily met my best friend, Aaron Hotchner and they fell in love," Dave began to explain.
He didn't bother to mention the past lives aspect, as there was no way that Ivy Garcia would believe him and would likely think he was crazy to boot. Penelope had warned him to keep that aspect of their relationship to himself and so he would, as Penny was the one that knew her parents best after all.
"As you know they got married just recently and while the wedding was being planned by Emily's mother she introduced me to her friend, your daughter, Penelope. Since my best friend and brother was settling down I figured it was time I tried to find someone for myself," Dave explained truthfully. "She promised me that anybody she was friends with wouldn't be silly or shallow as I can't stand that type of woman and I definitely wouldn't marry someone like that. I'd have to be crazy to do so."
"Emily's the type that can't put up with somebody who is silly all the time," Penelope explained. "By that, I mean, someone who only cares about fashion or who their friends are marrying or how much their husband's are worth financially and if they think those couples are a good match. Emily can't stand the political scene with reason to do so and I know that if Dave's friend Aaron had had even the slightest interest in politics she would have turned down his proposal, no matter how much she loved him at the same time."
Ivy was nodding at this, because she had met her daughter's good friend Emily Prentiss several times and her hatred of politics was well-known. Ivy could understand that however, because from what she knew of Emily's childhood, she and her brothers had been neglected by their parents and had been taken care of by the servants and a nanny. Politics had played a large role in that neglect, which was likely why her daughter's friend hated them so much now. From the way she understood it, Emily and her mother barely tolerated each other, as both were strong women, with strong, domineering personalities. She'd even heard that the mother had tried to arrange a marriage for her daughter and that Emily had said no, to her face, a not easy thing to do according to Penny anyway, as her daughter had met Emily's mother a few times. It was good to know that her mother hadn't turned Emily off of getting married entirely, so that when she had met the right person she had allowed herself to fall in love.
"I'm glad that Emily is finally happy," Ivy said.
"And the same thing can be said of Aaron," Dave agreed. "I have never seen him as happy as I have, since he met Emily, not in all the years I've known him. I won't say that neither one of us have had relationships, because we have, but none of them worked out."
"We've been talking about moving away from New York, as Emily wants to get away from her mother in particular and I can't really blame her for that," Penelope said and again Ivy nodded, as to her that made sense. "Since all of us are so close Dave and I intend to follow wherever they go."
"I can certainly understand that. I've met Emily on several occasion," Ivy explained to Dave who nodded. "I don't know her as well as my daughter does, but I know her well enough to know that she hates politics and that she and her mother don't get along."
"I think trying to arrange that marriage for Emily was the last straw," Penelope offered. "It showed a complete disregard of her daughter's feelings on the matter. From the way I understand it, Elizabeth Prentiss didn't even bother to ask Emily what she wanted, which is something that she would hate, to have her opinions ignored. They've been at cold war ever since and the only reason Emily allowed her mother to plan the wedding, was to get her out of her hair. She also didn't get pregnant until she was married, as she knew her mother would raise hell if she did."
"So she's pregnant already?" Ivy asked and Dave nodded.
"We just found out before we came to see you," Dave said grinning. "Aaron called me, so excited. The doctor told him that Emily was indeed pregnant. We had discussed how she might be right after they got back from their honeymoon, but they weren't sure if she was at the time."
"We were at the airport, just ready to get on our flight," Penelope added, smiling widely.
"Aaron doesn't really get excited about much," Dave told Ivy. "But I've known for years that he wanted a family. He is usually very calm and steady, so he was as excited as I've heard him in a very long time."
To replace the family he lost was what Dave didn't say. Penelope knew what he was thinking and squeezed his hand gently in understanding.
"We also have to remember that Emily's older now and she has to have at least four children," Penelope added.
"Why does she have to have a least for children?" Ivy asked confused.
"It's in the family statutes according to Emily," Penelope explained to her mother. "The Prentiss name is an old one and the one of the first lords of the family wrote it into the statutes of the family that each of his children had to have at least four of their own to get their portion of their inheritance. The Prentiss are originally from England and moved to America hundreds of years ago."
"Why would anyone insist on that?" Ivy asked in astonishment. "It seems rather old-fashioned."
"Because it was written back when children died from so many diseases that there was no cures for at the time," Dave said. "Emily explained it to Aaron and I and I don't think Aaron is going to mind having that many children, as he's always wanted a large family."
"The statutes are still valid according to the Prentiss lawyer," Penelope added. "It's not that Emily minds having that many, it's being forced into it that annoys her."
"Well, even if she doesn't get her inheritance it's not like she needs the money anymore, as Aaron has plenty of that," Dave said.
"I think it's the principle of the thing," Penelope told Dave who nodded, because he could understand that very well. It was unfair to leave the females out just because they were female. Also Emily Prentiss didn't like to be forced into anything, and before she had met Aaron she had still wanted her inheritance and it wasn't even that she didn't want children, she just hated being forced to have a certain number, because of an old-fashioned family statute that had been around at least since the seventh century.
"So the statutes were written back when children died so often," Ivy said and both Dave and Penelope nodded.
"According to Emily the Prentisses have been around since at least the seventh century and are originally from England where such things are commonplace, particularly in wealthy families. I think Emily's ancestors wanted to make sure that their family lines lived on if say three of the children died. Of course, the more children that a woman had the more likely that there would be sons, which was also likely another reason. Daughters were often marriage bait back so long ago and their names changed when they got married. It's not like today where a woman can keep her maiden name if she's already well established in a career. Also, a girl couldn't inherit so long ago either, so the money went to the oldest son, if there was only a female left in the family because of some tragedy or because no sons were born. This was especially true in places like England, who are very traditional, even today," Dave explained.
"I understand," Ivy said. "Women haven't really had many rights for more than 100 years or so here in America and really, it hasn't been quite that long," Ivy agreed.
"The Lord back then might've had good intentions, but why the family still follows it I have no idea," Penelope told her mother. "Maybe they have no choice. Yes, I can understand having as many children as possible back so long ago, because Dave's right, they died from a lot of illnesses that can be cured or have been eradicated now."
"I believe that's one of the reasons that Emily and her mother don't get along," Dave said. "I never met the woman, but Aaron has, as Emily had to introduce him to her, whether she wanted to or not. Emily's sure that Elizabeth Prentiss did a background check on Aaron to make sure he wasn't a gold digger."
"Even if he was, there is no way that Emily's mother could've stopped her daughter from marrying him, as this is not a century where a women had to obey their fathers," Penelope said. "Emily can be determined to do exactly what she wants to do and I doubt she's about to listen to the woman who made her entire childhood a misery."
"That is so sad that parents don't spend time with their kids to establish at least a decent relationship," Ivy said shaking her head.
"I truly believe that if Elizabeth Prentiss had a choice she might've had one kid, but not four," Penelope said. "Thanks to the family statutes she had to have at least that many in order for her husband to get his inheritance. I'm actually surprised that the lord who wrote them left any of his money to the females, since they had so few rights back then. I mean, the husband or the father had a right to beat their daughters so long as they didn't kill them on a daily basis if they cared to. There was so few laws protecting women back centuries ago after all, that the husband was allowed to force his wife into having sex, even if she wasn't willing."
"Penelope is right," Dave told Ivy who looked horrified. "It wouldn't have been considered rape back so long ago. A husband was allowed to do anything he liked, simply because he was a man and there were more laws about the cruelty to animals then there were about women, before the 20th Century. Now, many parents were very indulging, loving and kind, but many also were not. Many fathers or husbands back then would never imagine beating their wife or their daughters, but we all know that many would. Those laws protecting women were a long time in coming and should have been around for several hundred years at least. The money that went to the daughters back then was probably considered a dowry for when the females got married," Dave added.
Penelope was nodding at this, knowing very well that Dave was likely right and that it was probably the main reason the Prentiss females of the time had been given a portion of the money, along with whatever brothers she had.
"Well, at least things have changed now," Ivy said.
"Yes, they have," Dave agreed.
"You don't need to worry mom, Dave isn't like those man we just mentioned," Penelope said seeing her mother's slightly worried expression. "He's gentle and kind. He treats me like a queen. I have no fear that he's going to turn into a abuser. Besides, women have the right to divorce their husbands now, if they are abusive. This isn't 100 years ago."
"That's true," Ivy agreed relaxing. She knew her daughter was a good judge of character, so Dave was probably nothing like those abusive men of the far past.
"No, I could never mistreat Penny," Dave promised, even as he kissed his fiancée's cheek.
"Look at what he gave me," Penelope pulled a necklace out of under her shirt. It was a gold heart with a diamond solitaire in the middle. It was exquisite and very discreet.
"Oh, that's lovely," Ivy said, in envy.
"Dave has good taste," Penelope said smiling. "I wear it almost all the time I love it so much."
"I'm glad you like my gift so much. Of course, you wearing it just makes it lovelier," Dave told her, even as he kissed her cheek again causing Penelope to beam at him happily.
Ivy watched this and saw how tender they were being with each other and knew that her fears were groundless and that Dave would never turn abusive. He was apparently the romantic type or at least he was with her daughter, but then, love could do that to you.
"So are you staying for a few days are you going back home tomorrow?" Ivy asked.
"We'll be here all week at least," Dave answered. "See some of the sites and you and your husband can get to know me a little bit better before the wedding. One of the main reasons for coming was to assure you and Penny's father that I was a good person and not a bastard. I know very well, that there are a lot of bastards with a capital B in the world and Penny told me that you were something of a worrier, so I thought a trip out here, so you could get to know me before the wedding was prudent at least."
"He's always so thoughtful," Penelope told her mother smiling. "And it's one of many reasons I fell in love with him. He's one of the most thoughtful men I've ever met, as most of them would never remember my birthday. Most of them forgot, even if it was only a couple of months after we started dating. When they did, that told me that the man I was dating was thoughtless and careless and Dave is anything but."
"To forget someone's birthday or their anniversary is a good way to end a relationship, especially if you do it constantly. My parents taught me better than that and they're just as in love today as they were when I was growing up."
"Yes, his parents are wonderful. I met them at the wedding of Emily and Aaron," Penelope said.
"You could probably hear my mother's excited squeals when I told her I had asked Penny to marry me for several miles," Dave grinned. "She was very happy and excited for me."
Dave didn't tell Ivy the real reason for this. The fact, that he was immortal and that he had been around for a very long time, so it was far past time for him to settle down, according to his mother anyway.
"It's always exciting when one of your children finally decides to settle down. Penny's older brother settled down several years ago and at least I have a couple of grandchildren," Ivy said.
"I wanted to settle down for a long time, but I've had a hard time finding somebody I felt I could do so with. Its not always easy to find somebody you feel like you can love. So many women whine and complain or think you're cheating on them with no evidence that you actually are. I couldn't live with somebody like that for very long, just like I couldn't live with somebody who was so shallow that all they cared about was fashion and status. That kind of shallow woman would drive me crazy in no time," Dave said.
"So your mother was so excited, because you have finally found someone you want to wed?" Ivy questioned.
"It's more the fact that I'm the oldest son and most of my siblings have settled down long since," Dave explained with a shrug. "According to my mother I should have settled down a long time ago."
"Not everybody is lucky in love," Penelope said. "I certainly haven't been until I met Dave."
"So how many siblings do you have Dave?" Ivy asked.
"Nine of them," Dave said, though he really had many more then just nine, because his parents never got too old to have children. Nine siblings was what he had grown up with, so that was what he told Ivy he had. He never told anybody how many children his parents really had as most people would never believe him. Nine was a lot in today's world and Ivy looked amazed, just as Dave had known she would be.
"Wow! That's a lot," Ivy whistled in an amazed tone.
"Not for when my parents were born it wasn't," Dave shrugged. "They're in their 70s, though they don't look it, but then, when you're in love you don't show a lot of the stress that life brings, because you handle any problems together and talk them out. They've been in love for decades."
Dave hated to lie, but he couldn't exactly tell Penelope's mother that his parents were actually centuries-old, as he would never be believed and would likely be considered quite insane or at least delusional.
"They still have the energy of people much younger," Dave said. Here, Dave was speaking nothing but the truth, as they really didn't look more than 40 and a young 40 at that, just like he did. Really, immortals stopped aging at 30, unless they were changed and not born, like his mother.
"To still have the energy of someone so much younger says a lot about them," Ivy murmured in envy.
"Love can do marvelous things," Penelope said speaking for the first time in awhile. "I have no doubt it's because they love each other deeply that they don't argue very much at all, which wastes energy and causes bad feelings besides, which means, that the normal stresses of everyday life likely don't get them, as badly as they do most couples."
"Which means that they don't age as fast as most people do, at least not mentally and emotionally." Ivy murmured in understanding. "They are so lucky to have that kind of relationship, that is as rare as a fire breathing chicken."
There had been reports of a fire breathing chicken out in Minnesota and it turned out that the chicken had eaten some corn feed that had been soaked in gasoline, which had started the chicken breathing fire. It had been the story of the week back when it had happened a few years ago. The gasoline soaked feed had turned out to be a competitor that had wanted that person's farm to fail. Farmer McFee was his name and his farm was much more effective and productive then his competitor's, so the other farmer had wanted to get rid of the competition. He had figured by soaking the feed in gas that the chickens would die due to being poisoned, but instead it had produced a fire breathing chicken. Farmer McFee's eggs were one of his main products that ended up in grocery stores around the country and were a large part of his profits, as he produced quite a few eggs. It wouldn't have ruined him, but it sure would have cut into his profits for a few years, as the chicks he would have to buy to replace the chickens he had lost took time to grow up where they produced eggs to sell. Who knew what the other farmer was planning if his original plan had worked. The farmer that had done such a thing had gotten in a lot trouble and had to pay a huge fine, as well as pay farmer McFee for the chickens he had lost, due to the rest dying, except for the fire breathing one, who was hardly likely to produce edible eggs after it's experience and in any case, had died a few days later.
"Now that was something," Penelope laughed
Dave didn't know what they were talking about so Penelope explained.
"I see," Dave said laughing right along with the two women. "The other chickens died, but not that one apparently, at least not for awhile."
"No, it lived long enough to become the story of the week," Ivy said her blue eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Apparently, it died shortly after that or at least that's what I heard," Penelope said finally being able to stop laughing. "Why that one lived for a couple of days after the rest of them died I don't know."
"It probably didn't get as much gasoline in it's system," Dave suggested with an amused smile. "It probably got just enough that it was able to breathe fire for a few hours, every time it cackled. The source of the flames would eventually have been used up, so that it would stop breathing fire after that. I'm sure for the chicken it was like having acid reflux, which can be painful or at least that is what I've heard, since I've never had that problem."
"And then it died," Penelope said a little sadly.
"It's more likely it was killed by McFee, because it's not like you could eat the meat, as it probably would've faintly tasted like gasoline and even if it didn't it might've made the family sick. I doubt the chicken would've produced eggs after what happened to it for a long time if at all."
"Besides, I doubt the eggs would've tasted right after the chicken's experience with the gasoline soaked feed," Ivy mentioned.
"I suppose," Penelope agreed finally.
"While I love your kind, caring heart, there's nothing we can do about it anyway, as it was several years ago and even if we had met back then before that event occurred, I don't believe we could have done anything to save that chicken," Dave said softly. "The other farmer was heavily penalized for what he did and he's only lucky that he didn't go to prison. Hopefully, he learned his lesson about trying to sabotage someone else's business and won't ever do it again, just because he doesn't like the competition. If he hasn't, and tries it on someone else, then that's on him when he gets caught."
"If there is a next time, I wouldn't be surprised if the consequences are stiffer and more severe," Ivy observed. "After all, if he doesn't learn his lesson the first time, that's no one's fault but his. The authorities are not likely to go very lightly on him a second time."
"You should tell Aaron and Emily the story when we get home, as believe me, they'll get much amusement out of it. Everybody needs some laughter now and then," Dave added still chuckling.
"I'll think about it," Penelope said.
~~~Dave and Penelope~~~