The Affair
*At the Au Vin Restaurant*
Walter, a nervous excitement bubbling beneath his composed exterior, sat across from Peggy Sherman, the esteemed senior producer of Good Morning Today.
"So, what's it gonna be, Walter?" Peggy began, her voice a melodious blend of confidence and curiosity, "are we gonna do this or not?"
Walter's lips curved into an eager smile. "You know I want to," he replied, his voice steady but filled with barely contained anticipation.
Peggy leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "I don't think you'd regret it," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
A thrill coursed through Walter. This was it—the opportunity he had been dreaming of.
The back entrance of the restaurant creaked open. Drake and Josh, their faces etched with determination and a hint of anger, quietly slipped through the doorway and hid themselves behind the square shrub lining the edge of the restaurant's dining room.
Their eyes scanned the dining room, searching for their father. They spotted him almost immediately. He was seated across from the glamorous blonde woman that they now knew as Peggy Sherman.
"There they are," Drake hissed, his finger jabbing accusingly in their father's direction.
"Look at him," Josh spat, his voice laced with disgust. "Lunchin' it up with that skunk bag."
A wave of righteous indignation washed over the boys as they watched their father beam at the woman. His unguarded smile, so rarely seen these days, fueled their growing suspicion and anger.
"Whataya think they're talkin' about?" Drake asked, his voice hushed as he leaned closer to Josh.
Josh's eyes narrowed, his imagination running wild. "Probably about how they're gonna run off to get married so they can, ya' know, kiss and whatnot," he whispered back, a hint of disgust in his voice.
The boys watched Walter and Peggy through narrowed eyes, their blood boiling with every shared laugh and conspiratorial whisper. They couldn't fathom that their father, the goofy yet dependable weatherman, would betray their mother like this. It just didn't seem possible. Yet, the signs had been there, growing more obvious with each passing day. The hushed phone calls, the sneaking into the house after midnight dressed in a suit, the secret meeting with Peggy in the park... It all added up to a picture they didn't want to see.
"Come on," Josh whispered, his voice a mix of urgency and resolve. "We gotta get Dad away from that table." He couldn't bear to witness his father's apparent happiness with this mysterious woman any longer. It was time to confront the alleged mistress and get to the bottom of this situation.
A mischievous glint appeared in Drake's eyes as a waiter carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvres passed by.
"Watch this," Drake murmured, a sly grin spreading across his face. With a lightning-fast maneuver, he snatched a lone meatball from the tray. "A meatball," he proclaimed, revealing his "secret weapon" to Josh.
Drake handed Josh a menu, a silent agreement passing between them.
"Follow me," Drake instructed, his voice barely a whisper.
The boys, their faces obscured by the oversized menus, crept stealthily toward the next square shrub strategically positioned in front of Walter and Peggy's table. They crouched behind the shrub, their hearts pounding with a mix of adrenaline and apprehension. The moment of confrontation was at hand.
With bated breath, Drake and Josh peeked out from behind the shrub, their eyes locked on their unsuspecting father.
"Ready?" Drake whispered, his hand trembling slightly as he clutched the meatball.
Josh nodded, a determined glint in his eyes.
With a mischievous grin, Drake launched the meatball like a projectile, aiming for Walter's chest. The missile soared through the air, finding its mark with a resounding splat. Walter let out a startled yelp as the meatball collided with his crisp lavender shirt, leaving a greasy stain and sending him tumbling backward in his chair.
The sudden commotion caused a ripple of gasps and murmurs throughout the restaurant.
Seeing the commotion, two waiters rushed to Walter's aid, their faces etched with concern.
"Are you alright?" one of the waiters inquired, his voice laced with worry.
"What happened?!" Peggy exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm as she rose from her seat.
"I don't know," Walter muttered as one of the waiters helped him up. "I think I was hit by a meatball!"
Peggy's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
Walter's eyes widened as he glanced down at his shirt, a horrified expression replacing his initial confusion. "Oh," he groaned, "look at my shirt! And my tie!" The once pristine fabric was now marred by a large, greasy stain.
"I'm gonna go clean up," Walter announced, his voice tight with embarrassment.
"Of course," Peggy replied, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
Walter made a hasty retreat towards the men's restroom, his gaze darting around the dining room as he tried to discern the origin of the mysterious meatball.
With the commotion subsiding and Walter out of sight, Peggy settled back into her chair, a perplexed expression clouding her features. Behind the shrub, Drake and Josh exchanged determined glances.
"Okay, that's our cue," Drake whispered, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes.
Josh nodded resolutely. "Let's bust us a skunk bag," he declared.
With a shared nod, the boys emerged from their hiding spot, their eyes fixed on the unsuspecting Peggy. They approached her table with feigned confidence, their hearts pounding a steady rhythm of anticipation.
With an air of feigned nonchalance, the boys settled into the chairs opposite Peggy, their eyes studying her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"What's up?" Drake inquired, a playful lilt to his voice that masked his underlying tension.
"Hi," Josh chimed in, his tone more cautious.
Peggy's eyebrows furrowed, her confusion evident. "Hello?" she questioned, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Did I order two teenagers?"
Drake and Josh erupted into a chorus of forced laughter, their awkwardness hanging heavy in the air.
"Actually, Walter's our... our dad," Drake stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Oh..." Peggy's smile faltered, replaced by a tense grimace. "Well, this is awkward. See, I really don't think Walter wants you to know what's going on just yet."
"Yeah? Well, we do know," Josh retorted, his voice firm and unwavering. "And we're not too happy about it."
Peggy's confusion deepened. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I thought two teenage boys would find it rather exciting."
Drake and Josh exchanged bewildered glances, their brows furrowing in confusion.
"Well, we don't," Drake retorted, his voice laced with a hint of indignation. "So, maybe you wouldn't mind backin' off?"
Peggy's eyebrows shot up, a mixture of amusement and irritation flashing across her face. "Excuse me?" she retorted, her tone icy.
"Just who do you think you are," Josh interjected, his voice rising with righteous anger, "going after a married man like this?!"
"Yeah!" Drake echoed, his voice filled with newfound confidence, emboldened by his brother's outrage.
Peggy leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed defensively. "What exactly are you suggesting?" she demanded, her voice a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
"You know darn well what we're suggesting!" Josh retorted, mirroring her crossed-arms posture.
"We know you're secretly dating our dad behind Mom's back!" Drake blurted out, his voice a blend of accusation and outrage.
Peggy's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in surprise. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" she exclaimed, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. "You boys have got it all wrong!"
Drake and Josh exchanged skeptical glances, their eyebrows raised in unison. "Got what all wrong?" Josh challenged, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Peggy leaned forward, her eyes locking with Drake and Josh's. "I am not dating your father," she declared, her voice firm but tinged with understanding. "I'm the senior producer of Good Morning Today, and I've been in talks with Walter about potentially making him our new weatherman."
Drake and Josh's jaws slackened, their eyes widening in surprise.
"Oh..." Drake muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," Peggy continued, her tone softening slightly. "We're not having an affair. We're simply discussing a professional opportunity for your father."
The boys sank back in their chairs, a wave of embarrassment washing over them. They had jumped to conclusions, their imaginations running wild with unfounded suspicions. The silence that followed was heavy with their shame and regret.
Walter emerged from the restroom, his shirt freshly pressed and his composure regained. As he stepped back into the dining room, his eyes fell upon a scene that instantly froze him in his tracks: Drake and Josh, seated at his table with Peggy.
"Drake? Josh?" Walter sputtered, his voice thick with surprise.
The boys turned to face their father, their faces a mixture of sheepishness and defiance.
"Dad..." Josh began, offering a weak wave. "Hi."
"What's up?" Drake chimed in, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.
Walter's brow furrowed, his arms crossing over his chest. "What are you two doing here?" he demanded, his tone sharp with concern.
Drake and Josh exchanged a nervous glance, their minds racing as they tried to formulate an explanation for their unexpected presence. They had a lot to answer for, and they knew it.
"It's kinda a long story," Josh stammered, a nervous smile plastered on his face.
Drake took a deep breath, bracing himself for the inevitable fallout. "We... kinda thought you and this lady were, you know, dating behind Mom's back."
Walter's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth forming a silent O. "What?" he finally managed, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yeah," Josh continued, his voice low and apologetic. "We followed you here and saw you having lunch with her."
"We thought you were on a date," Drake added, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Walter shook his head slowly, a mixture of amusement and disbelief on his face. "No, boys, I'm not dating Peggy," he clarified.
"We know that now," Drake mumbled, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Yeah," Josh added, his voice barely audible. "Peggy explained everything."
Peggy nodded in confirmation, her gaze softening as she watched the brothers squirm under their father's disappointed stare.
Walter shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. "I can't believe you would think that way about me," he said, his voice tinged with hurt. "You know I love your mother too much to ever do something like that."
Drake and Josh winced, their heads hanging in shame. He was right. They should have trusted their father more, knowing his unwavering devotion to their mother.
"We only thought you were dating Peggy because you've been acting really secretive lately," Drake explained, his voice a mixture of apology and justification.
"Remember when you came home at midnight all dressed up in a suit and claimed you went out to get milk, but drank it all on the way home?" Josh added, a hint of accusation in his tone.
Walter's face reddened as he recalled that night. It had been a clumsy attempt to conceal his secret meetings with Peggy, and he knew it.
"Yeah..." Walter mumbled, his voice heavy with guilt. "I'm really sorry about lying to you like that."
Drake and Josh's hearts softened as they saw the genuine remorse in their father's eyes. They realized that his intentions, though misguided, were rooted in love and concern for their feelings.
"It's okay, Dad," Josh offered, his voice forgiving. "But why did you keep this whole thing a secret if you weren't cheating on Mom?"
Walter paused, his gaze dropping to the floor. He took a deep breath, summoning the courage to be honest with his sons. "I didn't tell you guys about this because I didn't want to get your hopes up in case I didn't get the job," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Drake and Josh exchanged a knowing look, a silent understanding passing between them. They had seen their father's dreams crushed before, and they could empathize with his fear of disappointment.
"We get it, Dad," Josh said, his voice gentle. "We know how much this job means to you."
Drake nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're just glad you're not, you know, cheating on Mom or anything."
Walter smiled, relieved to see his sons' understanding. "I'm sorry for being so shifty," he apologized. "I should have just told you guys the truth instead of sneaking around like I was up to no good."
He looked at Peggy, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "And I certainly didn't want my sons accusing you of being my mistress!"
Peggy chuckled, her tension easing. "Don't worry, Walter," she said. "I've dealt with worse accusations in my line of work."
Walter's smile widened, his relief palpable. "So, about that offer..." he began, his voice hesitant but hopeful, "I'm still interested in taking it, if it's still on the table."
Peggy's smile mirrored his own, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "Oh, Walter," she chuckled, "of course it's still on the table."
Walter's face lit up, a wave of joy washing over him. "Really?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Peggy nodded, her smile growing even wider. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "After seeing what a good father and devoted family man you are, I don't think there's anyone more deserving of this weatherman position than you."
Walter's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy and disbelief.
Peggy's smile widened, her warmth radiating across the table. "Welcome aboard, Walter," she said, extending her hand for a congratulatory handshake.
Drake and Josh, their initial suspicions forgotten, jumped up from their chairs and enveloped their father in a group hug.
"Congrats, Dad!" Josh exclaimed, his voice booming with pride.
"Way to go, Dad!" Drake added, beaming at his father.
Walter hugged his sons tightly, a tear welling up in his eye. "Thank you, boys," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "This means the world to me."
Peggy watched the heartwarming scene with a contented smile. She knew she had made the right decision. Walter's genuine warmth and love for his family would undoubtedly resonate with viewers, making him a valuable asset to Good Morning Today.
Walter, basking in the embrace of his sons, vowed to be more transparent in the future. He had learned a valuable lesson about the importance of trust and communication, and he was determined to never repeat his past mistakes.