A Beautiful Wish Ch. 08

Hayley turned on her heel and wore an alarmed look. "Why?"

"She's... she's my girlfriend. And she needs a place to stay."

Hayley looked shocked. "I don't have to share my room with her, do I?"

"No," he breathed in frustration. "She's sleeping in the spare bedroom."

She became even more agitated, "She can't stay there!"

"Why not?"

"I have stuff in there!"

"It's not your closet. It's a bedroom. And now it's Dawn's."

"I don't want her going through my stuff!"

"Then get your shit out of there! Do I have to think of everything?"

She pointed at him like he was a spoiled child, "I'm telling mom you swore!"

"Holy... crud. I didn't come up here to start a fight with you. I just came to tell you that dinner was ready."

She ran for the spare bedroom and flung open the door. She called back, "If she touched anything I'm telling mom!"

George gave up. "If she didn't, you'll tell mom she did anyway. Just come down to dinner before she yells at both of us."

She didn't listen. Instead, she tore into Dawn's room and made noises like she was moving heavy boxes. As he was quite finished matching wits with his annoying prepubescent sister, George went to relieve himself of all the alcohol he had drank earlier. He wasn't feeling its effects anymore, but a mild headache was adequately filling its place.

Dinner started surprisingly quiet. There was an awkwardness in the air that was almost palpable. They rarely all ate dinner together as Richard usually dropped off the girls and then left quickly. He was a partner at a corporate law firm in the city and his job demanded a great deal of his time. That was, at least, his excuse. But to his credit, he never missed a weekend with his daughters and doted on them excessively.

But this was nothing George hadn't expected. The silence was what struck him. Dinner with Dick usually meant listening to him lecture about political issues, all of which he had an answer for. But tonight, all that could be heard was the sound of cutlery dinging on plates. All of Richard's attention seemed to be on Dawn. Everyone else at the table sat waiting for him to begin the conversation.

All except Dawn. She was much too busy scarfing down a plate of lasagna to notice the dark cloud looming over dinner. "My goodness! This is unbelievable, Mrs. Everhart! You are truly gifted!"

George jumped on the bandwagon, thankful for an end to the awkward lack of chatter, "Yeah, mom. This is some good slop." He stuffed a humongous bite into his mouth, as if to illustrate the point.

"Hah!" laughed Richard. "Good slop. I remember Henry use to tell that to my mother whenever he was over the house. She hated it when he called it slop. I swear he used to do it just to ruffle the old bird's feathers."

Hayley scoffed, "Gosh, it's always 'Henry this' and 'Henry that'. Do we have to talk about Henry all the time?"

Jessica said sternly, "Hails, be nice."

"But I've never even met him. Can't we talk about something else?"

For once, George was in complete agreement with her. He hadn't meant to remind anyone of his father, but many of his sayings were ingrained in George's mind to the point where he didn't even need to think about it.

Richard said, "Hayley's right. Oh, but honey, please be nice," he amended after Jessica glared at him. "Let's not talk about the past. We have a guest. So... Dawn, tell us about yourself."

Dawn was in the middle of savoring a large mouthful and her eyes widened when she realized she was being addressed. She swallowed and wiped her mouth with a napkin before beginning. "There is not much to tell. I grew up in Phoenix, but I never cared much for the heat. So when the opportunity arose to break away, I took it."

"George tells me you're an orphan. A commonality between you, I imagine."

Corina didn't seem to be listening that intently, but quickly asked, "Mommy, what's a orphan?"

Jessica shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "Um, well, an orphan is someone who doesn't have a mommy or a daddy."

To George's surprise, Dawn added, "It means that my parents died, a long, long time ago."

"Oh," said Corina sadly. "My fish died."

Jessica reached over to rub Corina's back, "Oh, honey I'm sorry. Slippy was a good fish."

George had never met Slippy. It was Corina's pet goldfish. But it was kept at Richard's house.

Richard continued, "Sorry, Dawn. I'm just curious, but I would have thought a nice girl like you would have been adopted. Or at least taken into foster care."

"The system is something of a mess, unfortunately. There just were not enough willing adopters around, and I did my best to stay away from foster homes. I had heard stories. Actually, I spent a great deal of time at the local YMCA, and at the library. It was safer then wandering the streets."

"Very wise," he nodded. "So... you ever been to any of the football games at Arizona Stadium?"

Dawn looked at him funny. "No. I've never been to Tucson."

He gave an exaggerated snap of his fingers as he said, "Oh that's right. It's Sun Devil Stadium in Phoenix. Sorry. So how did you afford the trip out here? Bus tickets cost money."

She answered, "Lucky for me, I did very well in school and earned several grants. It is amazing what kind of funding there is out there for promising youths in difficult situations."

He nodded, "Where are you off to next? What's your plan?"

"Well... I am not so sure anymore. I had not planned on staying here for so long. But I find myself drawn to this place." Under the table, her hand crept into George's lap. George took it. "To be honest, I would be happy if I never left."

Jessica noted, "She's renting the room upstairs. She already found a job over at the college with George."

Dawn nodded. "That is correct. Rina, you and I are going to be in the same group."

"Really?" she squealed.

"Uh-huh. And we will have lots of fun. Does that sound good?"

The little one nodded happily.

"Pardon me," continued Richard, "but you have an odd way of speaking. Is that how all the kids talk back in Arizona?"

"You are referring to the way in which I avoid contractions?"

He nodded.

"Honestly, I do not know. I guess I find it fun to revel in the language. Cumbersome, I admit, but oh so delicious in the right situations. Does it bother you?"

"No, not at all. It's quite nice actually, shows you have a brain. It's just… odd, that's all."

"I'm done," Hayley announced. "Mom, I'm gonna listen to my Ipod."

"Oh, don't you want some cake? Dawn made it."

Hayley shot a mean look at Dawn. "I'm fine," she said through her teeth.

Jessica frowned, "Alright, your loss, but clear your plate and put it in the dishwasher."

Hayley rolled her eyes, "I know, I know."

"Sweetheart, give me a hug goodbye before you go away. I'm gonna get going soon." Richard sounded uncharacteristically loving.

Hayley hugged him and said with much sweetness, "Bye, Daddy, I love you."

He kissed her forehead, "I love you too, sweetheart."

As Hayley ran upstairs Corina asked, "Mommy? Can I have some cake?"

"I don't know. Can you?" was Jessica's snarky reply.

The little girl looked confused before she remembered, "May I have some cake?"

"Yes, you may." Jessica rose and began clearing the table.

Dawn jumped up to help.

While the women were busy in the kitchen, Richard refilled his wine and took a large sip. He glanced quickly towards George before lowering his eyes. Quietly, he said, "You must have done something right in a past life."

"What do you mean?" George asked.

Richard motioned towards Dawn with his glass, "She's one of a kind. I had my sights set on one just like her when I was younger."

For once, George was interested, "What happened?"

Richard smirked. "What I always do," he said more to himself then to George. "I told myself that I would pay any price to have her. I guess I never really thought about what that meant. Then… then it was too late."

George watched him closely. He had a glassy look, like he was somewhere else entirely.

Richard shook off his melancholy and shrugged. "Oh well. Nothing to do about it now," he said nonchalantly. He finished his glass of wine in one gulp.

Dawn returned with cake and ice cream. She served George first and then Richard. "Here you are," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, Dawn," replied Richard with a wide grin. "So, Jess, how's the real estate business treating you?"

Jessica took a bite of her cake before answering, "Slow. I closed a few deals last week but with the economy like it is, buyers are drying up. I imagine that's good for you though. I mean, with all the corporate belt-tightening, clients must be banging your door down."

"You would be surprised. There have always been companies in trouble. And our firm has always been good at getting them out of it. Our business never really changes," he chuckled. "Just remember that if you need some help..."

"It's not that slow," she interrupted.

George detected a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"Alright, alright. George? How's things going at Stafford? Aside from all the babes you get to ogle, obviously."

"Uh... fine," he said.

"Oh come on, that's all I get? Fine?"

"Well... uh, there's going to be a big swim meet at the end of the week and all the parents are going to be there. We're all trying to get the kids to look good in the water."

Richard nodded in agreement, "Got to impress the investors. It's the same everywhere. When Henry and I were investing in businesses around town, people would roll out the red carpet for us, even if they had to rip up carpet from their own house and bleed on it."

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

"I heard some oaf named Rocko was giving you trouble. Whatever happened with that?" Under his breath he added, "Honestly, who names their kid Rocko?"

"Oh, you know, everything is cool now."

Richard's evil smile returned, "I bet it is. If I had a woman like Dawn, there'd be no one to stop me. I could take over the world with a woman like that."

Without thinking George turned to his mother, who seemed to be forcing herself to keep her attention on her cake, hiding the pain from years of being unfulfilled by Richard. But George saw. And he became angry.

"You had a woman like that," muttered George.

Richard was in the middle of finishing a large glass of wine. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said, you had a woman like that," he repeated, "but it wasn't enough for you. It's never enough."

"George," whispered Jessica.

Corina sat in silence, uncomfortable with the impending adult conversation.

"No, no," Richard interrupted. "Let him speak. It's always important to communicate. Go on, son. Let's hear it."

"Jerk," thought George. He was certain that Richard called him 'son' just to twist the dagger a little bit. He straitened himself and asked, "What was wrong with my mother? Why wasn't she enough for you?"

Dawn gently squeezed his hand under the table and he realized he was losing control of his tone.

But while George was losing his calm, Richard seemed to be quite pleased with the events unfolding before him. "There was nothing wrong with Jessica. I love her still, as much as I loved her the day I married her. But we were going in different directions. You know all this. I wanted to move away from here, start a new life in the city with all of you. But she wanted to stay here. She wanted the small town life, and I was headed for the top. That was her choice, and yours if I remember correctly." He gave a melodramatic sigh, and said, "I wish things could have been different."

"It was enough for my father!" George shouted. "He would have lived in a lean-to in the woods if my mom wanted him to!"

"Which proves my point that Henry was a fool. Now, now, don't get excited," added Richard hastily. "He just liked second place. He was always like that. In high school, he took the ugly girl to prom even though the prom queen asked him to the dance. In college, he opted to live in the worst dorm on campus even though he could have afforded to live in the frat house. In law school, he tutored undergrads for free when he could've made some money off it. He had the skills and the influence to run the most prestigious practice in the world, but he was happy with being the small town family lawyer. I wasn't. And that doesn't make me a bad person."

"He was happy at least," shot George.

"And now he's dead," said Richard calmly. He leaned in close George, "And do I look like I'm unhappy."

George jumped up so fast that his chair slid out and tipped onto the floor. "Get out!" he shouted.

Richard shrugged. "That's why I left four years ago. People always telling me to get out. Alright, you're the man of the house."

Corina rushed over to his side, "No, Daddy, don't go!"

Richard hugged her tightly, "Sorry, Rina, I've worn out my welcome."

She began to sob uncontrollably, "No! No! No! I love you, Daddy, don't go away!"

Richard picked her up and handed the inconsolable five year old to Jessica. "It's been very nice meeting you Miss," he said to Dawn. He then turned back to a furious George, "Don't lose this one. She's definitely a keeper."

George stood silent with his fists clenched.

Richard left as Corina cried her eyes out. After a few honks of the car horn the noisy vehicle sped off into the night.

Corina wriggled free of her mother and started attacking George, punching him in the leg as hard as her little arms would allow. "Why do you hate Daddy? Why did you make him go away again? I hate you! I hate you!"

Behind the mess of bangs and tears, George could see anguish and loneliness in her eyes. She felt abandoned, and George couldn't help but feel responsible for making her feel that way. He didn't know what to do besides let the little girl pummel him.

"C'mon, Rina," comforted Jessica as he picked her back up. "It's bed time for Bozo."

Corina buried her face in Jessica's neck and whimpered, "I don't wanna go. I want Daddy."

"Daddy will be back next week. Say goodnight." Jessica began carrying her upstairs to her room.

"I want my Ipood. I want Daddy," she repeated as Jessica put her to bed.

Finally, it was just George and Dawn. She hugged him gently. "Will she be okay?" Dawn asked.

George sighed, "She always cries when he leaves but... she's never..."

"She does not hate you. Not truly. But she does not understand how you can hold someone she thinks of so highly in such contempt."

The image of Corina's tear-streaked face was still fresh in his mind. Just a short while before she had been hugging him with all her might, and he had hugged her back. Now, she thought he was the greatest enemy in the universe. It was the same as always. The moment he affirmed his affection for someone, they turned away from him. He knew it wasn't rational, but he couldn't help but feel it.

"C'mon," he said as he disengaged unceremoniously from Dawn's loving embrace, "let's clean this place up."

Dawn stared at him for a moment, sighed quietly to herself, and joined him.

Jessica returned a short while later and the three of them made quick work of the mess.

George could see the disappointment in his mother's expression. The silence was deafening, and George felt compelled to apologize, if only to break the tension.

"Mom. I'm, ah, really sorry for ruining dinner," he said.

Jessica stopped scrubbing dishes momentarily before answering. "You didn't do anything wrong, George." She sighed and began cleaning more vigorously. "Everything you said was true. I just wish you didn't need to say it."

After a cup of tea for each of them, Jessica said her goodnights and headed off to bed herself.

It was late, and George and Dawn were exhausted. They headed upstairs to George's room, or so he thought.

But Dawn turned right at the top of stairs and headed towards her own room.

"Oh. Uh, right," said George uncomfortably.

"I would prefer to stay with you," she said hopefully.

"Uh, no. No, it's mom's rule," he said sadly.

"Alright then. Goodnight, George. Shall I wake you again?"

He nodded, "Yeah. Uh, same time. I like getting in a little early."

"Very well. Is there any particular way you would like me to wake you?"

"No. Any way you like is fine."

She bowed, and said, "As you wish. Sleep well."

She began to step into her room when George said, almost instinctively, "I..." but stopped.

She held her breath as she waited for him to continue.

"I'll… um, see you tomorrow."

Disappointed, she nodded, and the door closed with a quiet click.

George entered his room and crashed hard, face first on his bed. It was an hour before he finally got around to putting on his sweatpants and t-shirt. Another hour followed in agonizing half-sleep, with the minutes ticking away slowly.

His mind raced. He thought about Corina, and how good it felt to feel close to her, if only for a brief moment. He thought about Hayley, and why she had to be contrary to him in any way, no matter what. But he thought of Dawn most of all. Something was bothering her. She had been quiet ever since Richard left.

Finally, he could take no more, and in his mind called out, "Dawn, are you still awake?"

"Yes. Why is sleep so hard?" she replied.

"It never was for me before I met you. I used to sleep like ten hours a day."

She laughed, "I bet that is when you came up with all of your perverted dreams."

"You don't even know the half of it."

"Maybe not, but I am looking forward to finding out."

They both laughed, and then they laid there in silence for a while.

"So..." she began, "I think we may have to talk about something."

"Yeah," he said.

"I… I do not know where to begin. I suppose I shall just talk for a bit. Perhaps I will figure this out as I go. Please forgive me if I am leaving my place."

"Go ahead."

"I know… I know that you care for me. And you know that I care for you but… that doesn't seem to be enough. Am I doing something to upset you?"

"No. No, of course not."

"Then, why do you pull away from me?"

"I'm not… I mean… I don't know," he admitted with frustration.

"Are you afraid?" she asked delicately.

He thought hard before he answered. "Yeah."

She was quiet for a moment before replying. "Me too," she said.

"Of what?" he wondered.

"Many things. I am afraid that I will say something dumb because I do not understand everything. I am afraid that I will interpret a wish incorrectly. But what keeps me up at night… what fills me with dread, is losing you."

"But I thought that I couldn't lose you. Isn't that a rule or something?"

"You can't lose me. Nothing can take me away from you. But I could lose you, if you decided you didn't want me anymore."

"You mean, you're worried that I'll reject you."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Dawn I…"

"You do not need to say anything. I know you are not doing it because of anything I am doing. But that is part of what worries me. It seems as though there is nothing I can do to help you. I cannot make everything all better. I wish… I wish I could. All I can do is show you how amazing you are."

George listened. He knew she was right, about everything.

"George? Do you remember what you promised me, that first day together?"

"I promised that I wouldn't take you for granted or shut you out…" He cringed as he realized what a jerk he was. "Oh man," he said with great disappointment.

"So, why did you pull away from me after dinner?"

"I… I remembered why I kept my feelings to myself. But I took it out on you. That wasn't fair. I'm just so used to people not caring. It's hard."