From Different Walks of Life

Parting Ways

           I was thankful for how quiet the Little America restaurant was that late Sunday afternoon as Tom and I walked in, Jake not far behind.  I could see my mother and father seated at a large table toward the back, my sister, twin brother and uncle already seated with them.  I took a deep breath, at the sight, and felt Tom squeeze my hand.  I looked over at the him, and couldn't help but smile.  His dark blue polo fit him just right, and his dark hair was swept back, his blue eyes shining at me from behind his glasses.  He brought my knuckles to his lips, then pulled my arm up under his as we walked to the table where my daunting family waited.

           "Katarina." My father rose, and Tom let go of my hand momentarily while my dad hugged me awkwardly.   "So nice of you and your . . . Friend to join us."

           "Dad, this is Tom." I made the introduction quickly, and Tom put his hand gently at the small of y back after shaking my father's. 

           "A pleasure." Tom said, smiling quickly, and my father only nodded. I could tell he was sizing him up, but I was happy to see that Tom didn't let it bother him.  Instead, he guided me to an empty seat toward the opposite end of the table, where he pulled the chair out for me to sit, and pushed in after I sat down.

           "Thank you," I said quietly smiling up at him before he sat down next to me.  His arm immediately went around my shoulders, his hand gently rubbing my arm.

           "Hi Tom." Colette had the nerve to wiggle her fingers at him in a wave from across the table.  He smiled and tipped his head toward her, then looked at my mom.

           "Mrs. Cox, nice to see you again."

           "And you.   Sweetheart, I'm so glad you made it." She looked at me and smiled, her previous icy demeanor seemingly forgotten. 

           "Thanks.  Hi Daniel." I looked at my brother across the table.  He glanced at me, but said nothing. 

           "Daniel." My mom's voice sounded desperate.  I shook my head.

           "It's fine, Mom." I forced a smile, and felt Tom squeeze my shoulders.  Maybe I was glad that he was there after all - it was good to have someone in my corner for once.

           "So, Tom, what is it you do for work?" I heard my father ask.  Leave it to him, getting right down to the important stuff.

           "Really, Dad?" I heard Daniel speak up for the first time.  "He's an actor.  Hollywood type." Daniel turned to look at me for the first time and glared. 

           "Hmm," My father nodded slowly, taking Tom in.  "Successful at playing pretend, are you?"  He asked Tom.  I wanted to melt into the floor.

           "Not an accurate representation of what we do." Tom said tersely as he ordered a Jameson from the waitress, and a water for me, his arm moving away from my chair so he could rest his elbows on the table.  He put his fingers together in front of his face, trying to measure his next words.  "But I would like to think so, sir," Tom said.  "Though I'm not one to brag on my own successes.  Or talk shop at the dinner table." I wanted to kiss him, right then and there. 

           "I am just the opposite, Tom.  I find it the perfect place to talk shop." My father said, taking a drink from the scotch he had ordered.  "Out here we tend to do that though, when we talk cattle."

           "Ah, yes, Kat mentioned you are in the cattle business.  I must admit that is quite foreign to me." Tom answered casually, leaning back in his chair.