Color Me

The Family

"Kim honey hurry up!"
"Dad, I'm almost done. Five minutes."
"Who's driving who?"
"Kim is carpooling with me."
"Okay. Kai has tulip, I get the twins."
Richard looked at his kids with a half smile. Aly wore a flared lace lavender dress that gradually turned purple as it got closer to the hem with black heeled pumps. Austin had a black slimfit slack with blue blazer,  black T-shirt and black sneakers. Kai wore a slimfit black slack with a purple blazer, black tshirt and black brogues. Kim finally came down wearing a navy blue dress with black lace embroidery and black pumps. They had co-ordinating outfits. Richard himself wore a black suit with a purple shirt and black brogues.
"Alright single file please. Lets go."
"Really dad we are not five anymore."
"Now now Austin didn't I have to pull you out the road the other day."
"Really Kai, Did you have to bring that up?"
Laughing and hackling each other they walked to the garage and got in their respective cars. Kai was driving her truck today, couldn't put little tulip on a bike with her dress on now could we?.
Richard Jnr drove out after Kai, a thought in the back of his mind to get her a BMW or Audi car at least but knowing her she'd turn it down so waiting for the birthday it was.

Richard Snr would deny it if you said it outloud but he was excited for the dinner. Its not every day he gets to see his son and grandkids all together now with a new addition to the family. He waited in the foyer of his home as he saw the lights come up in the  drive way.
His housekeeper had already set the table and everything was ready to be served. He watched them as they walked into the house a little extra scrutinizing for Kai. Her eyebrows went up a little as her eyes swept over the elegance and masonry of the foyer and beyond it.
Kim rushed to her grandfather first. 
"Pops!"
"Hey my little tulip. Hows my girl doing hmm? Behaving well?"
"I'm an angel."
"Of cause you are. Richard." He inclined his head to his son in greeting.
"Dude make room for the rest of us. Sup Pops."
"Sup my foot. Proper English Austin."
"How do you do this grand evening sire?"
"Ack this boy. Give us a hug. I'm very well and you my boy?"
"Hungry and ready to eat."
Kai snickered behind him.
"Hie Gramps. How are you?"
"Perfectly well my dear." Ally moved out of his hug and continued on into the house with the others leaving him with his son and Kai in the foyer.
"No hug for your grandfather?"
"Depends on whether or not you'd welcome it."
"Dont be so stoic. I would."
She hugged him, but it lacked the familiarity he had built with his other grandkids.
Richard Jnr watched the interaction with a guarded expression. Inside he was slightly worried. His father had a tendency to be abrasive and blunt among other things.

In the dinning room the twins were ribbing each other as usual and Kim was on her phone when they walked in.
"Grab a seat so we can eat before Austin starts raiding the kitchen."
"I was beginning to consider it."
"I would have followed you." Austin just chuckled at his sister. Freaking foodie. 
They were seated with Richard Snr at the head, the twins and Richard Snr on his right, Kai and Kim on his left side.
The table was loaded with food, everyone filled their plates as they pleased.
Small talk was passed around. Generic questions of how school amd work was. Simple things families talk about. (Dont take it for granted it matters.)

Richard Snr dabbed his mouth with his napkin and Kai had to hide her snicker as a certain thought arrested her mind.
"Something funny child?"
"Not really but you just reminded me of an English gentleman in the 1950s"
"But i am an English gentleman dont you think so."
"Hmm perhaps."
"Would you survive being a lady in the 1950s?"
"I would. But you wouldn't survive having me as your granddaughter then."
"How come?"
"I'd be the black sheep of the family and you are very set in your beliefs. Rigid."
"Thats a wide assumption. You dont see me throwing a fit having a granddaughter who could as well be a grandson do you?"
Richard Jnr knew without a doubt the conversation just took a turn. His daughter's eyes flashed like cold steel, clashed with the bleak clear sky that his fathers eyes were.
"Guys food please."
"You dont have to like it for it to be. Evidence of that arent I?"
"Meaning what?"
"Rissa couldn't make the cut. I think thats throwing a fit dont you."
"Ohhh okay who wants dessert?"
Richard Jnr was ignored in his attempt at peace keeping.
"Shouldn't we all make sacrifices? It wasnt meant to last. Your mother understood that."
"Depends on who gains from the sacrifice doesn't it?"
"Choices were made Kai. You'll understand when you are older."
"I understand that you pride logic over emotions in certain situations. I get the need for it really i do but you are not right all the time. Admit where you flunder. Doesnt make you a lesser man."
"If acceptance is so important to you, you will spend your life tailoring yourself to be other peoples expectations."
"If that was the intention we wouldnt be having this conversation. I'd be a lamb to be on your good side."
"True. A William to the marrow i see."
"Oh forgoing the DNA test?"
Richard Snr cocked an eyebrow at this. Not recalling ever mentioning it to her or anyone.
"Told you i understand your logic."
"Indeed."
They both went back to eating as if nothing had transpired between them.
Richard Jnr was floored and disgruntled among things. "You wanted to take a DNA test? Of my daughter.!?"
"One can't  be too sure."
"You can be so-"
"Its alright. He just wants to be sure so things don't go south."
"You agree with him?"
"Yeah. Its not hurting anyone."
"Okay. Only if she consents to it."
"She has."

The twins and Kim just watched them like a soap opera. Kai had just gotten the stamp from granpa.
The rest of the night was uneventful and actually quite enjoyable.

They were talking quietly and laughing as they got back into the house.
Kai was carrying a knocked out Kim.
"Kai,"
"Leave kim in her room and pass by my office okay."
"Yeah sure."
Aly crossed her fingers discretely.

She knocked on Richards office door.
"Come in. Close the door hun."
"What's up?"
He sighed, showing how weary he suddenly felt. "You cant blame everything on him you know. I went along with it."
"I dont blame anyone. I am a result of what you and my mother had. Its ending was a decision with more than one hand in it. My existence was not taken into account through no ones fault. Your father must deal with it as i have. I'm sorry about tonight but it was gonna happen somehow."
"He's not homophobic just so you know."
"Oh i know. He's tough love and i get him. Wont always agree with him but i get him."
"Really?" "Yeah."
"Oh okay. Goodnight then."
"You as well. Sleep well."