Another man approaches our table, but this time it's a customer. He's wearing dark gray dress pants and a white shirt but no tie. The shirt is unbuttoned at top and the sleeves are rolled up, revealing a Rolex watch on his wrist.
"Pearce." The man shows off a wide toothy grin as he steps up next to the table. His teeth are so white they're almost blinding.
"Richard." My dad smiles but he's not happy to see the guy. He's giving him that tight smile he uses when he's annoyed or doesn't want to be bothered.
"So happy I ran into you." He extends his hand but my dad pretends not to see it, so the guy quickly puts it down and reaches in his pocket and pulls out a business card. "I'd love for us to get together next time you're in town." He sets the card on the table next to my dad.
He turns toward Richard, his menu still in his hand. "I've already made it clear I'm not interested in being part of the show, so I would appreciate it if you would stop calling my assistant. It's not going to change my answer." He turns back to the table. "Now as you can see, I'm having dinner with my family. I would like some privacy, please."
"Yes, of course." He smiles at me. "Lilly, you've grown up to be quite the beautiful young lady. Would you ever consider—"
"Richard," my dad says in a deep, powerful voice. "Leave her alone. That goes for Garret as well. They are not interested. And if you contact them again, there will be consequences."
Richard's body tenses, and I notice Reed's does as well. My dad has that threatening look in his eyes that scares Reed and most everyone else. Sometimes it even scares me. The white tablecloth shifts slightly and I see Rachel's arm move. She's nudging my dad under the table, signaling him to calm down. She knows his temper and she knows how it comes to life whenever someone tries to use Garret or me for publicity, or TV ratings, or in some other way that will benefit them.
"Yes, yes, of course," Richard stutters as he takes a step back. "I was simply putting the idea out there in case—" He stops when my dad whips his head to the side and glares at him. Richard puts his hands up. "Sorry to have bothered you. Enjoy your dinner." He hurries off.
"I apologize for that," my dad says as he faces the table again. "Richard's been pestering me for months and it's getting rather tiresome."
"If you don't mind me asking," Dean says, "what exactly did he want?"
Rachel answers, knowing my dad doesn't want to discuss it. "He'd like Pearce to be a judge on one of those shows that gives business advice to entrepreneurs."
Dean's brows rise and he says to my dad, "And you're not interested? Isn't that the basis for your consulting? Helping small businesses?"
"I don't consult," my dad says. "I give speeches. Usually to large corporations. And as for Richard's offer, it's for a reality show which is nothing close to reality. The so-called entrepreneurs are actors with made up companies and the judges' responses are scripted. If it was indeed a show with real entrepreneurs trying to achieve business success, then perhaps I would be interested. But that's not what it is."
"Let's not talk business at dinner," Rachel says, in her cheery, tension-defusing tone.
She's an expert at handling my dad and his temper. If it weren't for her, my dad would be outside right now, shoving Richard up against a wall and making sure he never bothered us again. My dad wouldn't be this upset if the guy hadn't spoken to me. That's what set off his temper. Richard wants Garret and me to do a reality show, where cameras follow us around all day. He's sent both of us a letter about it, and when we told Dad, he was furious. He doesn't want us in the limelight because he said it'll put us at risk. He prefers to keep us hidden and out of the public eye.
The waitress returns. "Are you ready to order?"
I start, and as I'm ordering, I notice Rachel lean over and say something to my dad.
Everyone else orders and as we wait for our food, Dean says to Rachel, "Reed said you and Pearce attended a fundraiser earlier today?"
She smiles. "Yes. It was to raise money for children's cancer research. My sister died of cancer when she was just a little girl so I've been involved with these types of fundraisers for years."
"So you helped plan it?"
"Not this particular event but others like it. This event was organized by a friend of ours, Kelly Douglas."
Dean sits back, folding his arms over his chest. "The wife of Kiefer Douglas?"
"They're no longer married," Rachel says. "They divorced years ago."
"Yes, I remember. It was quite the divorce. In the papers for at least a year. So you're friends with her?"
"Our son, Garret, and his wife are close friends with Kelly's daughter and son-in-law so we've become friends through them. And Pearce has known Kiefer for years."
Dean rubs his chin. "So what is Kiefer up to these days? Still doing small Indie projects in New York?"
"The last I heard, yes," my dad says. "I haven't spoken with him for quite some time."
"The record label I work for would love to have Kiefer direct some of our music videos. Do you think he'd be interested?"
"As I said, I haven't stayed in contact with him much since he moved to New York, but I doubt he'd be interested. Since the scandal, he's been trying to keep his distance from Hollywood."
"We could film in New York. Many of our videos are filmed there."
My dad's getting that annoyed look again. "I really can't speak on his behalf."
"Could you maybe make a call for me? Maybe bring up the idea and drop my name?"
"I'm sorry, but no." My dad's jaw tightens. He hates it when people ask for favors like this, especially when he's not in a business setting. This is supposed to be a casual dinner, a way for our families to get to know each other because everyone knows Reed and I have a future together. We've already talked about it and it's what we both want. We love each other, and someday, way off in the future, we plan to get married, which means my dad and Dean need to get along. They don't need to be friends but it'd be nice if they liked each other.
But I'm getting the feeling my dad doesn't like Dean. He hasn't said anything about it but I can tell he's irritated by him. He gets this way every time they're together. There's something about Dean he doesn't like, and it's not just the fact that Dean asked him for a favor. It's something else. I just don't know what.
Chapter Two
Pearce
Rachel follows me in the bedroom and shuts the door. "Pearce, don't be upset about this."
"Of course I'm upset about it." I take my suit jacket off and toss it on the bed. "That man could be Lilly's father-in-law someday, which means we'll all have to deal with him. He'll be part of the family and then he'll never stop asking for favors."
She sighs as she walks up to me. "It's just what people do. He's not unlike anyone else. He knows you have connections and he asked you to make a call. It's not like he was asking for money. He's just trying to get ahead in his career."
"Then he needs to do so on his own. I'm not going down that road. It may start with a call but where does it end?" I yank my tie loose.
"Pearce, that's not fair." She unbuttons my shirt. "We've known him for months now and this is the first time he's asked you to do something for him."
"Because he was waiting for the right time. He wanted to gain our trust first. Make us think he's not out to get anything, but tonight he showed his true intentions." I take off my shirt and go toss it in the hamper in the closet.
Rachel meets me in there. "I really don't think he has ill intentions. I think he's just a man facing middle age who's panicking because he's not at the place he wants to be. He's not unlike you, Pearce. He's ambitious and wants to be a success."
"Yes, but I achieved that success on my own. I didn't ask for any favors."
She rests her hands on my chest and looks up at me. "While I agree that you worked hard to be where you're at, you have to admit you had more advantages than most people. Your family name. The organization."
"Yes. Fine. I had advantages, but I never asked for those.
I would still be where I'm at even without them. My father did nothing but put me down and challenge my decisions. If anything, he held me back, making it even harder to achieve success. And as for the organization, I was helped by just a few select members. The rest of them were against me when I first started out."
"I'm just saying that maybe you shouldn't be so quick to judge him. It was one request. If he asks again next time we see him, just be honest and tell him you don't feel comfortable calling up people on his behalf. Tell him it's not something you do."
"I already made that clear tonight by telling him no."
"You said you wouldn't call Kiefer but you didn't explain why. Next time, just tell him."
"I'd rather there not be a next time. I don't care to spend time with that man."
She smiles. "Well, we don't really have a choice, now do we? He's the father of the boy our daughter loves, and therefore we need to get along with him. It means a lot to Lilly." She turns her back to me. "Could you unzip me?"
I tug the zipper down on her dress, then softly kiss her neck. "I'm feeling rather tense."
Her lips turn up. "Meaning you need me to help you relax?"
I turn her toward me and press my lips to hers. "I've wanted to be with you all day. You looked beautiful in that dress." I kiss her again and pull her body against mine.
There's a knock on the door. "Mom?" Lilly knocks again. "Mom, are you in there?"
I sigh. "I'm not used to her living here again. I keep thinking it's just you and me."
Rachel laughs. "Go get the door. I have to put something on."
I walk over and open the door and see Lilly in her pajamas. "Is Mom in here?"
"Yes, she's coming."
Lilly notices my shirt is off. "Oh. Sorry, I um—"
"It's fine. I was just changing out of my suit."
She nods, but the uncomfortable look on her face tells me she knows what Rachel and I were about to do. She doesn't want to think of us that way. In fact, I think she'd rather assume her parents don't do those things, just like I choose to assume she doesn't do those things with Reed. That thought entered my head when Reed said he and Lilly stayed at his father's apartment all day instead of going out. My anger immediately flared and I might've punched him if Rachel wasn't there to calm me down.
Lilly has been dating this boy for almost a year so I'm fairly certain she's been intimate with him but I don't approve of it. I'd rather she wait until she's married. With Garret it was a different story. I knew he was having sex as far back as high school but I was more accepting of it, perhaps because he's a boy. That may be unfair but it's how I feel.
"Honey, what do you need?" Rachel asks, as she appears in her silky beige robe, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She seems to get more beautiful every day, maybe because I love her so much. Even when she's old and gray, I'll still think she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
"I just wondered what time we're going to the movies tomorrow," Lilly says to Rachel. "Jade called and said she might go with us. Garret's staying home with the kids."
"I was thinking we'd go in the afternoon. Why don't you check the times? Pick whenever you'd like to go, then tell Jade. Maybe we'll go to dinner afterwards." She smiles at me. "Leave the boys at home."
"Okay." Lilly glances at me. "Good night." She quickly shuts the door and I lock it behind her.
Then I reach for Rachel, bringing her close to me. "Now that the interruptions are over...." I untie her robe.
"She might come back," Rachel says as I kiss her.
"Then we'll pretend we didn't hear her."
"Pearce," she says, smiling.
"Anything she has to say can wait until tomorrow. Right now is about you and me." I slide her robe off and kiss her and we continue our evening in bed.
The next morning I get up and find Rachel and Lilly making waffles in the kitchen and dancing around to some kind of music teenagers listen to. It's playing from the portable speakers Rachel has set up around the kitchen. She likes to sing and dance as she cooks.
I stand there a moment and take in the scene; my beautiful wife moving about the kitchen, already dressed for the day in shorts and a t-shirt. And my daughter, still in her pajamas, smiling and dancing as she takes items from the fridge. It brings joy to my heart to see the two of them as mother and daughter, enjoying each other's company.
Throughout Lilly's sometimes tumultuous teen years, she's always gotten along well with Rachel. She hasn't always gotten along with me because I tend to be rather strict, but that's because I'm her parent, not her friend. But Rachel is both, which works out well. If Lilly is mad at me, she goes to Rachel, and the two of them talk it out. Rachel is surprisingly good at dealing with teenagers. She never had a chance to raise Garret through those years and I've often wondered how different his life would've turned out if Rachel had been there. Instead, he had Katherine trying to play the role of his mother.
Katherine's idea of motherhood is to manipulate and force children into doing what she wants. That technique never worked on Garret, and for the most part, it hasn't worked on Lilly either. I've spent years trying to help Lilly be her own person rather than the person Katherine wants her to be, but Katherine hasn't given up. She continues to try to guilt Lilly into attending the various society events Katherine goes to. She's furious Lilly isn't part of that world and she blames Rachel and me for why she isn't. And she despises the fact that Rachel has been raising Lilly since the age of 13, even though Katherine has no interest in being a mother.
"What are you two up to?" I ask.
Rachel answers. "We were in the mood for waffles. Lilly's getting the toppings."
Lilly goes around me and sets a bowl of strawberries on the table next to the syrup and butter. On her way back to the kitchen, she stops and gives me a hug. "Hey, Dad."
"Hello, honey." I kiss her head. "Did you decide what time you girls are going to the movie?"
"Two-fifteen," she says, going to the fridge and taking out the juice.
"What are you doing today?" Rachel asks.
"I think I'll head to the golf course, then maybe do some work."
"Pearce, don't work on a Sunday." She brings me a glass of juice. "Take some time to relax."
"I suppose I could sit by the pool and read."
"That's a much better idea." She gives me a kiss, then returns to the waffle maker.
It's hard for me not to work when I have free time. You'd think after selling my company all those years ago, I'd be used to not working so much, but sometimes it's hard to let go and just relax. If it weren't for Rachel, I'd probably be back working long hours like I used to, especially this past year with Lilly away at school. But Rachel's kept me from doing so. She keeps me busy with other things so I don't consume myself with work.
There's no need for me to work long hours. It's just a tendency of mine after years of working nonstop. I run WaveField Sports with Garret, but that only takes up some of my time. And as for my speeches, I can do as few or as many as I'd like, and since money isn't a concern, I wouldn't have to do it all. I only do because I find it fulfilling.
"So, Dad," Lilly says as we're eating breakfast, "I was thinking of mentioning Dean to Harper next time I see her. Maybe she could say something to her dad."
I set my fork down. "Lilly, we've talked about this, and not just in regards to Reed's father. We don't use people for personal gain."
"But we're not using him. We're just telling Kiefer about a possible job. He wouldn't have to take it."
"If Dean wants Kiefer to work for him, he needs to contact him directly. Having us do it is an implied endorsement of Dean, which I do not feel comfortable making, given that I barely know the man."
"But you DO know him. You've had dinner with him several times. And he's Reed's dad, which makes him almost family."
My temper rises at the thought of that, but I quell it, not wanting this to turn into a fight. "Dean is not a member of this family, and having dinner
with him a few times does not mean that I know him. I can't stop you from sharing Dean's request with Harper, but I would strongly advise against it. I don't want you to get in the habit of coercing your friends into doing things they're not comfortable doing. That's something your mother would do."
That's all I need to say. If I even hint that Lilly is acting the slightest bit like her mother, she stops the behavior and never does it again. Her greatest fear is to turn out like Katherine, and given that, I try not to use the comparison often, but in this case it had to be said. Katherine uses people for her own personal gain, even her friends and family, and I don't want Lilly doing the same.
"How are the waffles?" Rachel asks, changing topics before an argument erupts.
"Very good," I tell her.
"Next time we should add chocolate chips to the batter," Lilly says as she pours chocolate syrup over her waffle. I don't know how she manages to stay so thin the way she eats. She's always snacking on licorice or chocolate or other candy. She loves sweets, whereas Garret has no interest in them. Like me, he doesn't have a sweet tooth.
My phone rings. I normally wouldn't answer it during breakfast but I see it's Grace calling, which is unusual for a Sunday morning.
"Hello, Grace," I say, getting up from my chair.
"Hello, Pearce. I'm sorry to interrupt your Sunday but I wanted to tell you about William. Or has Garret already called you?"
"No. What about William?"
"He's been hospitalized. He was brought in about an hour ago."
"What happened?"
"He passed out. Meredith said he went into the office early this morning and soon after he arrived, he passed out."
William works constantly, even on the weekends, just like I used to do. Add in his duties as an upper level member of the organization and I'm not surprised he's ill. It's too much for one person.
"Do they know what's wrong?" I ask.
Lilly and Reed: A Kensington Family Novel Page 2