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16. Party

My birthday was close.

Mr. James and Stephen knew about it of course. They had all my files.

The father was rather silent on the matter while Stephen was planning a big lavish party for my twentieth birthday.

"I have to celebrate the mother of my child!" he exclaimed joyfully. "In case anyone else asks because they are questioning my manhood, I will tell them I do it for the party."

"How many people have you invited, Stephen?" I asked him as I looked through his movie collection.

"Around 150 and they are all bringing companions. Some are bringing more than one," he revealed. The number made me drown mentally.

"I am scared. I can't be around so many people," I said to him.

He thought about it for a second. "Then I can offer you 100."

"Don't you say you do not have any real friends? Those 200 hundred people will only come here to drink away your liquor. You could do that yourself, thank you very much!" I hoped he got my sense of humour.

"I like your way of thinking, mother of my child. Less people, more alcohol for daddy," he uttered playfully. "I say 50 invitations, 100 guests in total. Are you okay with that?"

"I would prefer no party at all, but I want to stay on your good side," I told him.

"Very good thought!"

Stephen begged Mr. James to stay outside of the house for the party, but he would not listen. Okay, Stephen did not 'beg' for it. Here is how it really went down.

"I am having a party for Stella's twentieth birthday," Stephen told his father at the dinner table.

"Very nice of you," Mr. James said, hesitating. He did not really mean the compliment, I could feel it.

"When is your next business trip?" Stephen asked Mr. James. I had dropped my fork and knife and was watching patiently.

Mr. James quickly said, "In two months, but I am thinking of rescheduling it."

Stephen looked at me. "Two months is too long, isn't it? You will be around five months by then."

"Say what you want to say directly, Stephen," his father demanded.

"I want you to f.ucking leave the house for the party," Stephen blurted out.

"Well, you can forget it. I will not miss Stella's birthday, nor her party," Mr. James responded confidently. I had a feeling that things would not go Stephen's way.

"It is my birthday part for her. You will f.ucking ruin it with your sober serious bullsh.it," Stephen complained.

"You can do whatever you want, Stephen, but I will not leave the house on her birthday," Mr. James insisted.

"F.uck you, father," Stephen uttered and left the table. I gave Mr. James a look and then went looking for Stephen.

Of course he was at the alcohol storage room. Stephen said he needed alcohol to deal with his father. I had not gotten around what had occured between them, but if he needed to get drunk every time there was a little argument, it was something serious.

"Stephen?" I tried to capture his attention.

"Go back to the table and finish your dinner, Stella. I do not want you to see me like this anymore," he said, desperately looking for the most effective liquor he could find.

"It is your party, Stephen. He will not change anything by being there. I will talk to him about it," I told him, trying to calm him down. "Please, do not let him do this to you."

"He is the center of everything, you know," Stephen confessed. "Every time he is around, everybody talks to him, kisses his a.ss, and makes sure the great Mr. James likes them."

I said the following things and truly meant them, "This time you have me on your side, Stephen. I will help you through it. Although, I doubt that anybody will be able to resist your charm around the baby."

- A/N -
Who are you rooting for? Mr. James or his son? Do you even think they have a chance?
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