Authors Note: Sorry for the delay. I took a little break from writing and then have been away for work. Back now and will update all stories ASAP. In my absence thanks for all your views, reviews, favs and follows. Each one was appreciated and made me feel very guilty for not updating.
Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Twelve
Arriving home that afternoon I was excited. After finishing my coffee with Jack I had reached out to his realestate broker and set up viewings for the afternoon, and then contacted the airline to hold a ticket on the morning flight to Paris. I had then disappeared down to the bay project to start my first few hours of volunteering. That afternoon as I was pushing past the reporters as I made my way to my front door I was feeling very accomplished. The bay project had seen me collect a bunch of discarded crap across the once clear waters of LA, maybe by the time I'd be teaching our kids to surf they would be restored to somewhat of their former glory that I'd only seen in pictures.
The house viewings had been tedious but I had at least narrowed the list. I'd walked out on the first house on the third room, my Mum's comment about Brenda being classic rather than trend conscious like Kelly had made it blatantly aware that that house would never be us. Shiny surfaces, white tiles, and glass everywhere was never going to be my thing and the fingerprints would drive Bren crazy. The second place had a lot of wood and gave off an old English vibe to it. It was good especially the library but it was a little grand and dark, though maybe Bren could fix the lighting because I did like the idea of a library and bedrooms on either sides of the house but I'm not sure I could return back to living in a place that actually had wing's.
The third was a Spanish style house, bigger and more traditional than Bren's parents with the outdoor area being incorporated into the house. The large terracotta tiled porch was accessible from most of the main floor rooms. That one had less house than the second but better gardens. The outdoors were where the living would really take place with the pool and grass area flowing off the porch. The fourth was the ranch house in the Hollywood Hills. It was just on the borderline of the school district and was built by an actor decades ago that missed his home State of Wyoming. That one was cool but needed work and lacked land to actually have horses. The estate had been sold off in pieces years earlier leaving only the house hidden around a small strip of trees.
I had collected the brochures and floor plans, and the video guy who had gone through each place with us was currently editing the tape that he had filmed. I'd pick it up on the way to dinner with my parents. As I looked at my watch I realised I had enough time to pack before dinner, though I was buzzing too much to think I needed to rush the process- I wouldn't be sleeping tonight.
As I opened the door I realised my good mood was not shared by all. My Dad was sitting on the couch looking sheepish while my Mum was flipping over tarot cards like they had insulted her. "Hey everything okay in here?"
My Mum doesn't lift her eyes but keeps glaring at the cards, "yes everything is fine. I'm just trying to see what damage you're about to do by listening to your impulsive and good time chasing father." I immediately look to Jack.
"The airline called to tell you they were able to take you off standby for Business Class-"
"I'm shocked your father didn't say fly First Class or maybe go by private jet, I'm impressed he showed some restraint in his reckless parenting."
My Dad looked at me and shook his head, "since the airline called and your mother found out about my suggestion on how to ensure Brenda got the house information, she has been vocal in her disapproval-"
"Yes vocal in the fact that your Father has been back in your everyday life for twenty-four hours and already he is showing poor judgment. You don't tell an addict Jack to lie and sneak around, you should know that-"
"He misses his girl, and because of me he may not see her properly without bells ringing for months. They have an opportunity to have this time together, they have a right to this time."
"Not at the expense of risking her parents finding out. Not at the expense of making any type of supported relationship by Jim and Cindy possible-"
"At the expense of everything. You never know when fate steps in to derail your life, every moment, every decision count's. Any decision that takes them away from each other is the wrong one."
"Jack they aren't us, this is not history repeating itself. Forty-eight hours in Paris is not worth the risk-"
"Mum, Dad do I get a say in this?" At that they finally stopped and looked at me. "Mum I'm fully aware, Brenda is fully aware, hell even Brandon is fully aware that Jim isn't going to change his mind now. He's not going to have cooled off and accepted me in her life. He's never going to think that as the son of Jack McKay, as a guy with my past… he's never going to want me for her. It's the start of August her birthday isn't till October, and even then I can't ask her to walk away from them to walk away from our brother her twin. This year is going to be hard and it's going to be shit at times. Dad didn't talk me into it he just showed me that there is a window a small one where I can just have a moment with her that's calm and ours before the frustration and drama begin again."
"Darling if they find out-"
"Mum he hasn't cooled down you saw him at the club you heard him. He even made a dig at you-"
"What? What did he say about your mother? He has no business commenting on my wife!"
"Ex wife Jack."
"Iris don't try and distract me, what did that man say to you?"
"Nothing that wasn't the truth." He glares at her, "Jack he's been more of a parent to our son than we have and so he made reference to that and my absences-"
"Your absence that an illness and my actions caused-"
"He doesn't know that and nor do I want him to. I do not want it to be public knowledge. It's our family business the four of us, my mental health is not going to be gossiped about on the tennis courts of Beverly Hills or at the beach club over cocktails. My family built this State I have no desire for this to become their legacy the story is already tragic enough down my branch of the family tree."
At that he walks closer to her, "I know. It's your story to share when and with whom you choose but you have to understand that even without people knowing the events I won't accept them to comment on you. Even at my worst you were off limits and now I know… well Dylan is the only one who has a right but no one else is able to discuss your parenting."
"Jim and Cindy have done a lot for Dylan-"
"Mum they have but it doesn't mean they get to sit in judgment of you, that Jim gets to say what he wants."
"Dylan it was the day that your Trust closed I imagine that was a difficult day for him. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by that comment or didn't think his words all the way through. Though if he finds out about this trip and that we knew, I'm sure he will have a lot to say about our lack of parenting skills then."
"Would you rather I lie and say I'm off to Baja for three days?"
"No that's what started this mess." She exhales trying to maintain her calm in this conversation. "Darling I want you to be honest like you and Brenda have been since you rang me for help, like we have been working towards for the last twelve months in our phone calls, and while I understand your desire to go there I'm just concerned that this could make it worse for you both in the long run."
"Mum do you honestly see Jim letting her be with me, come over here with Dad living with me, even if you stay?"
"No but maybe he would be open about you going over there."
"Iris that's a Band-Aid solution on a big cut."
"So what's your solution then Jack we help encourage and aid them to lie and sneak around?"
"No. We let them make their choices together and we be the parents who support them. Make sure they don't go to extremes but also be the one's who always know where they are and know that they are safe. You left LA last year because you knew that he knows how to look after himself pretty well, it doesn't mean he's not going to make mistakes though. Let's let him look after himself and do what he thinks is best, if it blows up then he knows we are here to help if he or Brenda want." He reaches out and holds the top of my mum's arms with his hands and looks at her, "they already have a set of parents that are all controlling and playing games with threats and trips to Paris. Let's be the set of parents who they can hopefully talk to. We have made so many mistakes but I'd like us to get this one right, and if anyone knows what they are feeling and how crazy at times it can get it's you and me. You said they lost their balance before the summer, it's something that we learnt a long time ago. We can't teach it to them but we can maybe help them by being around to let them know they aren't crazy, and the depth of it while limitless is amazing when you just go with it."
She breathes out, "no more suggesting international getaway's. If we are going to let them lead then let them lead." He smiled his big beaming smile at her, "you didn't win so stop looking like that."
As she turns away from him he quietly chuckles, "not smiling because of a win I'm smiling because I'm enjoying our balance."
As she moves to leave the room she calls over her shoulder to me, "Dylan shall we go to the Pakistan place on Melrose for dinner?"
It was my turn to laugh that place was burn your mouth off spicy, Brandon and Brenda still talk of their takeout experience from there. "Sure Mum." As she disappears into her room I imagine to get changed for dinner I look at my Dad, "you should eat a sandwich before we leave."
He shakes his head, "thirty hours together and she is already losing her relaxed zen with me." He smiles again, "it's great isn't it?"
It's my turn to shake my head and walk away. God only knows what they'll be like together after me leaving them alone in a house for three day's.
Dinner was an experience. I've never seen this dynamic between my parents before or remember much of any, it was interesting to watch them together. It was interesting to see how my Dad immediately protected my Mum as we left the house pushing through the reporter's out the front. He was equal parts his usual charming self with them and instant grizzly if they got too close to her. My Mum instinctively turned into him when they overwhelmed her or the flashes too bright, even after all this time and all the hurt she knew he'd protect her. It's those images and the many subtle remarks and gestures between the two that night that I contemplate on the long flight over the Atlantic.
Having found it difficult to sleep the night before I crashed when I got to my seat but woke when lunch was being served and had been going through my new home life dynamic ever since. I had shown them the houses after dinner and while they didn't share a vocal preference I could tell the Spanish was their favourite. Iris visibly stiffened at the British manor, I guess it was too similar to our old McKay Estate of my childhood for her comfort.
Arriving in Paris at the break of dawn I quickly made it to my hotel, and then showered, called home so they wouldn't worry and then decided to see if Bren was following her usual Saturday schedule. Early morning newspaper and baguette in the park. As I make my way into the park I immediately notice her. She is sitting on a bench wearing a leather vest and what looks like a short skirt. As I take her in after weeks of missing her face, I notice a tall brown haired guy approach her with a backpack and a map in his hand. Yeah the time of me looking from afar is over.
As I move behind her I hear the bumbling idiot pretend to need help reading a map. Dude you're in a large park it's therefore the big area that is coloured green on the paper you hold.
Oh it gets worse when he thinks she's French, from her body language I can tell she is amused that this is his attempt at swagger. I don't blame her for pretending she doesn't speak English so she doesn't have to talk to him more than necessary.
When he starts sprouting off pickup lines I have reached my threshold of finding his act tolerable. It's time to put a pin in this idiots attempts.
"Hi sorry to disturb you Miss but I seemed to have misplaced something on this bench and I was wondering if you have seen it?"
Her eyes are dancing and I can see it takes everything for her not to leap into my arms. Before she can respond and break her French persona, I apologise and ask in French if she speaks English.
"Oui a little."
"Great. So have you found anything on the bench?"
"I don't know. What have you lost?"
"A chain an a pendant."
"Oh it must be important for you to come searching for it."
"It's very important, it's well… it's everything." At the clearing of the throat next to me I'm surprised to see the guy wearing the too tight shirt is still there. I turn to him and before he can say anything I jump in. "Oh you were lost right?" I grab the map. "We are in this district", and point it out "and this is the largest park in the area, so the green shading on the map is where you are standing. Metro is one block that way." I point my finger in the direction and then clap his back in dismissal, quickly moving to sit down near my girl. "So Mademoiselle have you seen the chain and pendant?"
"Could you describe it to me please? It may help remind me."
"It's white gold and goes around the neck", I trace two fingers along her neck. "It's a long chain so it would drop below the v of your vest." I run my fingers along the v starting from her shoulder all the way down to the slither of cleavage, "I can show you were the pendant would drop but I'd have to undo this button." She lifts her brow wondering how far I'm willing to take this in public. As I go to lean in I hear the clearing of a throat. Seriously?! I should have drawn on the map where he can buy a clue- she's taken.
"Miss are you okay here?"
She doesn't look at him but instead gives me a teasing smile, and in her fake French accent responds. "No I'm not okay at all. I'm perfect."
I'm immediately leaning in and capturing her lips. When air becomes an issue I pull away and lean my head on her forehead, pulling the chain out from underneath her vest I smile. "Found it."