Chapter XI: A Monumental Night Part I
Spice Meter: 1 flame
To my gentlest readers: My dears, I know I left you with the worst of predicaments. The news of Papa Joe being rushed to the hospital must have been devastating. But alas, like I mentioned the last time we chatted (or I chatted, for that matter), I'm not going to have Joe reach for the pearly gates any time soon. That man will have to live to be 100!
This time around I do have to share events that find our dear Joe infatuated with the lady vet doctor. Will she be the one, like Joe desperately hopes? Let's unfurl the curtain and find out!
Joe was pacing. He never paced. He was usually very sure of himself. He didn't know why he was so nervous. After all, he'd already gone out with Vivianne a few times, and she'd even accompanied him when he went to Shane and Oliver's for dinner. For some reason, asking her out this time felt different. He felt it might be a game changer in their budding relationship. Was it a relationship? Well, he fervently hoped he and Vivianne were on the same page. If they weren't, as difficult as it may be, they'd have to part ways. He was more than halfway in love with her already. It would be just too painful to continue seeing her if she didn't see a future with him.
Oliver might have his qualms, thinking his father was moving too quickly. However, Joe knew his son was as slow as molasses in the development of his relationship with Shane. In retrospect, Joe didn't blame him. Everyone has a unique way of operating in romantic relationships. Oliver needed to heal before he could give himself fully to Shane. However, he and his son were two different people. Joe felt he didn't have the luxury of time on his side. At his age, when you want something, you go for it, as there was simply no time to waste.
Seeking fortitude, Joe took a deep breath. He picked up his cellphone and called Vivianne. She answered on the second ring and greeted him happily. "Hello Joseph, it's lovely to hear from you."
Vivianne had started calling him by his proper name only recently, after he kissed her goodbye on one of their dates. It had been a spontaneous reflex on her part, his name rushing out of her mouth in a breathy sigh. He might have said it had sounded intoxicating with the mix of her husky voice and accent. The rest was history, for Vivianne, he would always be Joseph. Every time she called him by his proper name, his stomach tightened. He really doubted Vivianne knew the effect she had on him.
"Hey there, Vivianne. How have you been?"
"Busy. Happy. Thinking about you." Joe swore he could feel her smiling as he listened to her reply.
He stood there for a moment, letting her words wash over him. Joe loved the cadence of her voice; it was like she savored every word. Every time she opened her mouth he was simply mesmerized. He imagined what she looked like as they continued their conversation. Most likely she was looking down, trying to hide her expression from either Juliette or her grandson, a curtain of platinum hair shielding her face from prying eyes.
"I want to take you out on a proper dinner date, Vivianne."
"Oh! That would be delightful, Joseph. You don't have to feel any sort of obligation, though. I have loved our casual outings very much."
"I don't feel obligated… I very much want to do this. Will you honor me by accepting?"
"When you put it that way, how can I refuse?"
Joe heaved a sigh of relief. "Is Saturday okay?"
"That would be great, but I have Olivier's violin recital that evening. It'd be wonderful if you could come, too."
Joe couldn't help but think that was promising… that she wanted him to go to a family function such as that. "I'd very much love to escort you to your grandson's recital."
Vivianne felt a rush of joy, as she very much wanted to introduce Joe to her daughter and grandson. It had all fallen into place without forcing anything and she couldn't be more pleased. "Pick me up at Moonrise Ranch at 5:00? We can have an early dinner. The recital's at 8:00 at the Boettcher Concert Hall."
They agreed on the details and said goodbye, looking forward to seeing each other in a few days. After ending the conversation, Joe found himself praying. He really wanted Vivianne to be the one.
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"Dad, that's encouraging!" Oliver exclaimed, after learning his father would accompany Vivianne to her grandson's recital.
"It is, right?" Joe's lips quivered into a nervous smile.
Shane's head popped into the doorway of Oliver's den. "What are you two gorgeous gentlemen chit chatting about?"
"Dad has a big date with Vivianne this weekend," Oliver leaned back in his wingback chair, a smug look on his face.
"Ooooohhhh, Dad, do tell! I want to know everything. Are you having dinner? Of course, you must have dinner. What are you wearing? Oh, Oliver, you must loan Dad the Jaguar. He can't pick up Vivianne in the truck! May I recommend a restaurant? Make reservations for you? How about we go shopping for a new outfit? Do you want to get a haircut?"
Shane's excited rapid-fire questions wiped the smug look from Oliver's face and replaced it with a bewildered one. Joe simply started laughing over his daughter's enthusiasm!
"Shane, if I didn't love you as much as I do, I swear you'd drive me bonkers with your manifestations of obsequiousness towards my father," Oliver proclaimed, as he tried to keep a straight face.
"Oliver, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you and I didn't understand what you just said." She pulled up a chair and sat next to Joe. She took his hand and said, "Dad, is there anything you want me to do for you to prepare for your big date?"
Joe looked into his daughter's eyes and melted. He understood Oliver in a way. How could he deny Shane the pleasure of getting involved in his big night with Vivianne? "Of course, sweetheart. You can recommend a restaurant, make the reservations, and take me shopping for something new to wear," Joe patted her hand, as Shane's face was transformed by one of her brilliant smiles.
"And what can I do, Dad?" Oliver asked, a delightfully joyous, yet almost childlike grin on his face.
"You can lend him the Jaguar and stay out of the way, Oliver." Shane didn't let Joe reply, and with her statement, Oliver's face fell.
"I can't believe you, Shane," Oliver's voice was deep with feeling.
Joe started laughing again. "You guys warm an old chap's heart. Some people's children avoid their parents at all costs. I have two fighting over who gets to help me." His voice broke, a lump in his throat.
Shane and Oliver looked at each other, their expressions softening. Shane nodded at Oliver, letting him take over the moment.
"We will always be here for you, Dad. Remember, no more leaving in this family. And this is just wonderful! I will admit at first, I thought you were rushing things…but Vivianne makes you happy and that's all we want."
"Thank you, son…Shane… I love you both so much. I wouldn't be able to move forward with Vivianne without your blessings. I just hope she wants to move forward as well," Joe mused.
Shane was bewildered. "How could she not? Does she not know the amazing hunk of a man you are, Dad?"
Oliver blinked at Shane's statement of "amazing hunk" and Joe couldn't help but start laughing again. After composing himself, Joe sighed and replied, "My dear, I hope to talk with Vivianne about our future…"
"What! Do we have to get you an ugly green tie…?!" Shane gushed.
"NO!" Both Oliver and Joe cried out at the same time. While Joe almost busted a gut laughing yet again, Oliver looked completely discombobulated.
"Shane! It's too early! I just want to know if she sees a future with me. Otherwise, I don't want to continue seeing her… it'd be too painful. I'm halfway in love with her already."
"Oh, my goodness, Dad, you are?" Oliver asked Joe, his eyes widening at this somewhat shocking bit of information.
"I believe so, son," his expression softened, and he gave Oliver a half-smile.
Shane stood behind Joe, wrapping her arms around him, then dropped her chin onto his shoulder. Joe placed a hand over hers, delighted in the comfort she gave him. "Dad, Vivianne is an intelligent woman. She must know the jewel she has within her grasp. If she doesn't, it's her loss, and I will make snarky comments every time I take Flynn and Valentino to Happy Paws."
"Oh, dear Lord, no." Oliver said, as he hung his face in his hands. "If that happens, we'll just have to have Rita or Norman take the fur balls to the vet."
Joe shook his head, smiling over his kids' antics. "You guys are way too ahead of yourselves. Let's just take this one day at a time, shall we?"
Oliver and Shane had to agree. As always, Joe was right.
"So, Shane… we have some shopping to do. What do you recommend?"
"Oh Dad… a 3-piece suit, of course. I guarantee she won't be able to take her eyes off you!"
Like magnets, Shane and Oliver's eyes met and held, and Shane bestowed one of her knowing smiles upon him. Oliver confirmed yet again his life was richer because Shane was in it.
Ah, gentle reader, this Author thinks one Mr. Joseph Henry O'Toole is already madly in love with one Dr. Vivianne Marie Dupont. Isn't it something how she calls him Joseph? I can hear the sounds rolling off her tongue in her lovely accent. Yes, I can see how Joe might find the utterance of his proper name from the French doctor's lips completely inebriating. I simply can't wait to see how their date plays out. Kudos to Joe for seizing the day! Time shouldn't be wasted, at any age.
And what about our dearest Shane? Wasn't she just the cutest wanting to "help" Joe get ready for his big date? I simply adore her. You know… I heard her confess to Rita she had instigated Joe's meet-cute with Vivianne. Of course, she wanted to take Oliver away for a weekend anyway, but it all played beautifully with Joe taking care of Flynn and Valentino. If she happened to coordinate that grooming appointment at Happy Paws so Joe could get his eye on Vivianne…well, that was all left to providence, wasn't it? After all, it wasn't like she forced him to ask her out on that initial coffee date…
I hate to leave you here… but as the saying goes, it is what it is. Oh dear, that's too harsh, isn't it? This Author promises you, dearest reader, that when I return, we will be with Joe and Vivianne on their date, every single step of the way.
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