“How can I when it means losing him to that woman?” Celeste spat out as if that was the worst name she could come up with.
Peter gave his wife of more than forty years a look meant to convey his deep disappointment in her. “This is something you’re going to have to learn to accept. Otherwise it could irreparably damage your relationship with Tony. Is that really what you want? This woman that you're so dead set against could one day be the mother of your grandchildren. Think about that, while you’re busy holding on to your silly old fashioned ideas. Those kids aren’t doing anything wrong. They care deeply for each other and deserve our kindness and support. That's what will help sustain them.”
He crossed the room to climb into bed. Celeste would come around eventually. Years of experience with his wife told him that. She would just need some time to get used to the idea. As far as he was concerned, the young couple was off to a very good start. Just before he’d said goodnight, after Sarah had gone home and Celeste had headed upstairs, he pulled his son aside for a man to man talk.
“You seem pretty taken with your young woman.” He commented.
“Yeah,” Tony grinned boyishly. “Sarah’s pretty special. I’ve never met anyone like her.”
“Where do you see this relationship heading?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” He hedged but Peter wasn’t fooled for an instant. He gave the younger man a look meant to knock out all the foolishness.
“Don’t play games with me son. Do you see yourself with Sarah for the long haul? She seems like that kind of woman if you ask me.”
“You’re right she is. The truth of the matter is I would love to marry Sarah. She's everything I've ever wanted and I can easily see myself spending the rest of my life with her. I’m just not sure if she would ever consider me for a husband.”
“What are you talking about? You’re a great guy and she seems to care a great deal for you. Why wouldn't she want to marry you?”
Tony rubbed the back of his neck. “You know as well as I do, I’ve done a lot of bad things in my past. I know I was a lousy son. I’m sorry about that by the way. I’ve been trying to make it up to you and Mom but I still feel like I have a long way to go before I’m the kind of man you can be proud of.”
“Now you’re just talking foolishness. Your mother and I have always been proud of you. I couldn't be happier with the way you've been living your life. Ever since you went into the military we've seen a real change in you. We know you made a concerted effort to turn your life around and we couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve accomplished. Sarah is a lucky woman to have you and she's clearly good for you. When you finally get up the nerve to propose I want to be the first to welcome her into the family. She’s a great girl and the two of you will do great things together. I’m sure of it.”
“I never knew you felt that way.”
“I’ve never made it a secret that I was proud of you. Why would you think otherwise?”
Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Because there are some things about me you don’t know – things I’m more ashamed of than you can imagine.”
“Like what?”
“Well, did you ever wonder how I made all that money before I bought you out?”
“Yes, I did but since you were old enough to make your own decisions I figured it wasn’t any of my business. It wasn’t anything illegal was it?”
“No, at least not in this country. Dad- I’ve been in films, adult films and that’s where I made all that money. Do you understand?”
It took a few moments but Peter caught on. “I take it you were successful at that sort of thing?”
“A bit, but that’s not the point. What I did was wrong. I sold myself the same way a prostitute on a street corner does. Only it’s worse in some ways because it was recorded for posterity. Can you understand now why I haven’t been myself lately? Every time I think about that time in my life I can’t get past the shame. Can you ever forgive me? I know it’s asking a lot but please don’t turn your back on me.”
Peter pulled the younger man in for a hug, something he hadn’t done in years. His son clung to him almost desperately and the sound of Tony’s choked words as he continued to apologize brought him close to tears himself. His poor son, how could the boy think he would ever stop loving him? “You’re my son, Tony and I love you. That will never change. I may not always approve of your choices but that won’t ever change how I feel about you.”
“I know I’ve been a big disappointment to you and Mom.”
“You’re wrong. It was your choices back then that were a problem but I have eyes. I can see how hard you’ve been working to become more responsible. If you need me to say the words, I forgive you son. I love you and I forgive you.”
“Thanks Dad, you don’t know how hard that was to admit. But as for Sarah- I’m just not sure when or if I should talk to her about marriage. We haven’t been together all that long. I know she loves me but-”
Peter threw a glance over his shoulder to make sure Celeste was nowhere close by before he spoke again. “Does she know all about your previous career, the things you just shared with me?”
“Yeah, she knows. It’s why I had to come clean with you too. I should have told you a long time ago.”
“Does she hold this against you?”
“Not at all, she’s been great about it but you’ve seen what she’s like. She’s so innocent. She doesn’t know anything about the kind of life I’ve lived aside from what she’s been told”
Peter was impressed with what his son just shared and it made him happy to know that Tony had found such a nice girl to love. “She’s a keeper son. A woman like that doesn’t come around every day. I can see how much you both mean to each other. She’s very pretty, intelligent and a great business woman as well as a great cook. How much more can a man ask in a future wife? It shouldn’t matter how long you’ve known each other or what color her skin is or even what’s in your past. Don’t let her slip away no matter what others might say or think.”
“Thanks Dad, your support means a lot. I wasn’t sure if you would approve of my seeing a woman like Sarah. But I'm glad at least you understand. We love each other very much and that’s the most important thing as far as I’m concerned but I know Sarah has been worried about what others might think about our relationship. And then there's Mom, I know she's not all that crazy about the idea. She was really quiet all day and when she did talk she acted as if Sarah had done something to her. I've tried my best to convince Sarah that other people's opinions don't matter but getting her to marry me is not going to be an easy sell if my own mother won't make her feel welcome.”
“Don't worry about that son. You know your mother, she'll come around. You've found something rare and precious and were smart enough to recognize it when it came your way. That’s all that should matter. It's easy for others to stand around passing judgment on a relationship they know nothing about. But at the end of the day, you're the one that has to look at this person across the breakfast table every morning for the rest of your life. If you can see yourself with that one person that makes you happy during the good times as well as the bad, the times when you love them more than anything and even when you just don't like them very much then they are definitely the one for you.”
.
Chapter Thirteen
"Hello?"
"Hi Sunshine, how's my little girl doing?"
"Daddy?" Sarah squealed excitedly. "I'm so glad you called."
"You know you could always call your Papa every once in a while." He gently scolded. "I always love hearing from you."
"I know Daddy and I'm sorry I haven't been keeping in touch like I should lately. I miss talking to you. In my defense though, I've been a little busy since graduation with that new job I told you about."
"Ah yes, the manager's position you took at the pet store. So, how is it going? Do you enjoy it?"
"I love it. Most of the people there are really nice and
I'd like to believe I'm making some really good changes in the way we do business. Tony, that's my boss and the owner, tells me all the time what a great job he thinks I'm doing. I even met his parents just yesterday. His dad seemed pretty impressed with the expansion that I helped to orchestrate in the other store. But I don't get the impression Tony's mother approves of me. Either way, I’m having a great time."
There was a long moment of silence. Sarah knew she was talking too fast as she had a tendency to do when she was nervous and wondered if her father was having a hard time keeping up since English wasn't exactly his first language and who knew how often he actually used it aside from when he spoke to her. He shocked her though.
"So, how long were you going to wait before you tell me that you have feelings for your new employer?"
Her mouth fell open and she was glad for once that he was thousands of miles away and couldn't see her expression. His warm laughter filled her ears as she continued to hold the phone. "Come now my little Sarah, did you honestly think that just because I have not held my daughter’s hand in years that I do not know her? I may not be able to see you right now but I can tell by the sound of your voice and the fast pace of your speech that this man is very important to you, indeed."
She sighed while picking absently at a loose thread on her jeans. "Yes, Tony has come to be very important to me."
"Do you love him?" He asked quietly.
"Yes," she answered just as quietly. "As wrong for each other as we are."
"Why would you think you are not right for each other? He is a good man is he not? Do I need to rush to my daughter's side and play the angry papa?"
"I would love nothing more than to see you Daddy, you know that. Angry or not I miss you. I miss being hugged by you."
"I did not mean to make you sad Little One." Nicholas Fournier commented picking up on his daughter's tone. "I know things did not work out the way any of us would have preferred but I hope that you have never questioned my love for you."
"I know Daddy. I was just getting a little down because I-" She took a breath. "I love Tony so much but I don’t' see how it can't last."
"What's wrong? He is not married is he?"
"No, it's nothing like that. He's a really good man and he tries so hard to do the right thing but." She paused and took another breath. "He's white Daddy."
"I see and does he love you?"
"Yes, in a way, I think his feelings might be even stronger than mine. It’s not just what he says. I see it in the way he treats me, like I'm truly important to him. And he has this way of looking at me as if he can't quite believe we're together. I feel blessed to have found him when I did. I just wish things were different."
"Sarah," her father began. "If you two love each other, it should not matter what he looks like. I would give a great deal to meet this young man, especially since he seems to have captured my little girl's heart."
"I would love that too. I’ve told Mom all about him and she really wants to meet him but I just don’t see the point. All it would do it get her hopes up when I know this can’t last."
“Are you telling me that you don’t think your feelings are genuine?”
“Of course they are, but we come from different worlds and I just don’t see how we could make this work long term. Things are great now but what about a year from now or five years for that matter? Will we still feel the same about each other then?”
“I wish I could give you a guarantee that everything would be alright Sarah but that’s not how life works. Continue to use your head but recognize that there will be times when all you can do is take a leap of faith. Don’t shy away from those moments Sunshine. If you do you just might regret it.”
“Thanks Daddy, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I know you will. You were always such a smart girl. By the way, how is your mother?”
Taken by surprise she stammered. "Oh- uh, she's fine - lonely I think, but fine."
"She never remarried, did she?"
"No, and as harsh as this may sound Daddy, I think it was because she never got over loving you. I've never even seen her go on a date or show any particular interest in any man. She just goes to church and work and that's it. When she goes out it's usually to dinner or a movie with a couple of her friends."
There wasn't much to say after that and soon they were hanging up the phone.
Chapter Fourteen
"I don't know what a man like Tony could ever see in someone like you." Christy said, contempt dripped from every word as she looked Sarah up and down.
"I mean come on. There is nothing special about you. You're a short, big-breasted bimbo that probably gave him a blow job just so he would hire you. You’re not good enough for him. What are you going to do teach him how to wear his pants baggy and go on drive-bys? Oh no wait! Maybe you could braid his hair and have a whole bunch of babies that you can't afford and live in a housing project while collecting welfare."
"Gee Christy, tell me how you really feel." Sarah mumbled rubbing her forehead wearily while trying to reapply herself to her task. After the weekend she’d spent entertaining Tony’s parents and trying to pretend she didn’t notice that Celeste seemed to hate her, she was exhausted and fresh out of patients. She hadn’t been sleeping well since she’d been forced to sleep alone in her own bed and she missed being alone with Tony. The last thing she wanted was to have such a personal discussion with Christy of all people. She glared impatiently at her.
“Just what are you yammering on about?”
Christy huffed indignantly and propped her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t yammering as you put it. I was simply pointing out how ridiculous you look trying to pretend you have anything but a snowball's chance in hell of keeping a man like Tony happy.”
Sarah carefully set down the pen she’d been using to work out the new schedule for the week and looked at the other woman standing on the other side of the counter. "I’m really sorry Christy but I’m tired and I just don’t have the energy to give your jealous tirade the attention it deserves."
The sneer on the girl’s face was enough to make Sarah want to slap her. It didn't matter that there were times when she felt the same way. Regardless of how much she loved Tony and wanted things to work out between them she still had moments of doubt about how long their relationship would last. It was a reality she would have to deal with eventually but for now she had no intention of defending herself to anyone. She’d done enough of that for a while and just didn't have the energy to keep at it.
"Why in the world would I be jealous of you?"
Sarah rolled her eyes to the ceiling as if she were considering the question. "Hm -let me think for a minute. Oh yes, now I remember. I have the job and the man you seem to think were stolen from you. You have even gone so far as to create these little accidents hoping I would get hurt badly enough to get me out of the way."
"That’s not true. I never deliberately tried to hurt you. Why do you think I tried so hard to get you to keep me on the sales floor that day during inventory? I'd set things up so I would be the one to fall from that ladder."
There was a strained silence while Sarah put all the pieces together. "So you were going for the damsel in distress act in order to reclaim Tony's attention? Seriously, that was the best you could come up with?"
Sarah shook her head. "Don't you know you could have killed someone doing something that stupid and for what, a man that never wanted you in the first place? Are you really that blind?"
The other woman refused to back down. "It's not stupid. It would have worked if you'd done what you were supposed to and stayed the hell out of my way. He would have caught me falling from that ladder instead of you and we would have been back together. I’m the one Tony loves, not you."
Sarah's anger flared and for just that brief moment she didn't care about restraint. Giselle had warned her she needed to put this girl in check but hadn’t believed her friend. Stepping around the counter she invaded Christy's personal spa
ce. "If that was true why isn’t he with you now, hmmm? You claim to know him so well so tell me. Do you honestly think if you mattered to him he would have let anyone or anything stop him from being with you? You need to accept the fact that Tony is my man now. Whatever you had, no matter how twisted, is over. He doesn't want you. As for my job, I am fully qualified to run this business and Tony knows it. That is why he gave me this position and not you. I did not have to resort to using sexual favors to get what I want and if I ever hear you say anything like that again I’m going to personally show you the door. Your disrespect is really starting to get on my nerves and I do not appreciate the stereotyping or your jealous tirades. If my relationship or my job doesn’t work out, it will be because of my own failings not because of your interference.
This is the last time we’re going to have this conversation because I'm warning you. I may not act or talk like I'm from the streets but I can be as ghetto as I need to if you get in my way. You feel me?"
Without waiting for a reply, Sarah turned and stalked off. She had just rounded the corner heading towards the kennel in serious need of a puppy fix to wash away the urge to slap someone when she felt a hand at her shoulder. Thinking it was Christy again she spun on her heel ready for another assault. Only it wasn't Christy. It was Tony and he was grinning at her like a loon. Trying not to smile back she grumped. "And what do you want?"
He leaned in to kiss the tip of her nose. "You, but I also wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I heard what you said back there. I was on the back stairs while the two of you were arguing. I'm glad you finally stood up to her. You're the manager here and she needs to learn to accept it. I can't believe how crazy she sounded. She actually thought nearly killing herself was a good way to bring me back into her life."
His Redemption Page 16