His Fresh Start ✔ (Book Three)

Chapter 16

My dad was a patient man. He hardly ever lost his cool and stayed calm in situations where many people would let the emotions get the better of them.

But the tiny gestures — the glances he threw at the clock on the living room wall and him readjusting the collar of his shirt — told me this time was different. Lou's uncle and his comments over breakfast didn't sit well with Victor Fauber.

Now that lunch was ready, Ellie went to look for Steve while my dad, Lou, Aiden, and I settled at the table, ready to eat.

Lou's uncle entered the room, followed by his niece, and took a seat next to Louise.

"At last," Dad said. "Work is work, but your family is here waiting, Steve."

Steve's lips pressed together. "Some things can't wait."

Silence reigned in the room. I waited for everyone to serve their food and looked at my dad. "So, what's the plan? I mean, today and tomorrow."

Christmas had always been a huge deal in my house. Dad made sure we had a family celebration filled with laughter and good food, but as special as Christmas Eve was, Christmas Day was even better — we watched movies and played board games and stayed up late, talking, even when my mother left. Especially after she'd left. Dad tried hard to keep our family traditions alive, even though it had been only the two of us since I turned sixteen.

"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We'll cook, have a nice family dinner, play games unless somebody wants to do a different thing," Dad said, sending a look full of meaning my way.

"It'd be a family dinner if it were family only."

The words thundered, ruining any hopes for normalcy I'd harbored. Of course, Mr. Donovan would make sure Aiden felt unwelcome.

My dad raised his eyebrows, and I gripped the stem of my glass, clenching my teeth. Victor Fauber was a patient man, but I didn't take after him in that regard. Anger simmered in my veins at the sight of Aiden biting his lip as he sipped water from his glass.

"You know what," Dad dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin after a moment of uncomfortable silence, "it's true that I don't know you, and we've just met—"

"Exactly," Steve said, "we've just met, and you know nothing."

"Enlighten me, then, because all I see is a man almost my age acting childish and being deliberately rude to Ellie's fiancé since the moment I've met him."

"Fiancé?" Lou's uncle smirked. "That's ridiculous. He isn't and will never be."

"Excuse me." Aiden rose to his feet. "I apologize, but I don't feel very well."

I focused on the boy as he said something to Ellie and went upstairs. Seeing Lou reassure her daughter didn't make me happy, either.

"If you imply Ellie's boy is not family to you, I figured mine isn't as well," my dad spoke again, giving Steve a hard stare he reserved for the people he disliked.

Steve took a swig of his wine. "It's not the same."

Not the same?

Dad gave Steve a flat look. "It is very much the same. Unless my son lied to me, Louise and Thierry haven't got married yet, not even got engaged. So, technically, he's family to you just like Aiden is. You can't respect one and disrespect the other. And as I know my son, I can assure you that if you are here today, that's because he considers you his family."

"Well, Victor, you will have to excuse me, but I cannot see this relationship with good eyes."

"Why?" Ellie asked. "Why do you dislike him so much? Why do you make comments just to hurt him? Of course, he's not my fiancé; we are too young, but what you said was mean. I want you to tell me why you seem to hate the person I love. Since you came here—"

Steve's jaw worked. "Do you want to do this in front of everyone?"

"You didn't care about anyone when you offended Aiden at the table," said Ellie.

"You might think it's love what you feel, but it's not. It's an infatuation, a teenage crush; this thing will go away before school ends. You can do better than him, and you will." Irritation filled Steve's tone.

Ellie's shoulders slumped, and her voice shook as she said, "So can he. He can have a girl whose family will accept him for a wonderful person he is, and whose uncle won't belittle him, mock him or insult him every time they are in the same place."

"His rich daddy—"

"Is not him! He doesn't define him, and you know nothing about his family and their relationship anyway. I don't even know who my biological parents are, and here you are, thinking just because I was lucky for my mom to adopt me, I am superior to him. I am not! Our grades are almost the same; there isn't any reason for you to hate him, is there?" Ellie glared at Steve. "Is there?"

"Once he gets what he wants from you..."

"He's already got what he wanted. He is still here, isn't he? And let me tell you, giving it to him felt so damn good!"

Ellie threw the napkin on the table and dashed out of the room.

Lou buried her head in her hands, exhaling deeply. "Happy now?" she asked. She wasn't looking at anyone, but the question was meant for Steve.

"I'm not going to apologize," Steve said, his face emotionless. "Ellie had a typical teenage outburst. She'll see how right I was in due time. Now, If you'll excuse me, I have to take care of something."

"Of what?" Lou asked wearily. "You're on vacation. What's so important? What's more important than your family?"

"I'm helping a colleague with a case of his, Lou. You know how it is."

"I guess I see how it is now," Lou mumbled. "Go, then."

With a brief nod in my dad's direction, Steve rose from his chair and exited the room. He left the house barely ten minutes later. Someone must have picked him up since Steve didn't have a car.

"I'm sorry," Lou said to my dad. "He...He can be complicated sometimes. I just didn't think he would do something like that today of all days, you know?"

Dad shrugged and gave her a reassuring smile. "You aren't responsible for other people's actions, even when those people are family. Don't worry about it."

Lou cleared her throat. "Thank you. I'm going to take a nap if you don't mind."

I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Go. I'll talk to Dad."

I knew Louise well enough to see her unease. She had high hopes about her uncle's visit and our vacation, and it pained me to see her joy vanish with every insensitive comment Steve made.

"It's all weird," Dad said as we were having coffee after Louise had left.

"Steve?"

"The whole situation. The kid is smart and well-mannered. What uncle wouldn't want someone like him for his niece? They might be young, but the youth is meant to be enjoyed. He acts as if he was born with gray temples."

"He doesn't like Aiden, and I have no idea why."

Dad twirled the coffee cup in his hands and frowned, studying its contents. "You can't let the boy feel unwelcome in the house you invited him to. He did nothing to deserve Steve's wrath."

I ran a palm across my face. "I know. I wanted to give him some space, but I'll talk to him now."

"Good." Dad nodded. "He needs someone in his corner."

So did I, but unlike Aiden, I was lucky to have a father who cared.