SECRET LIFE SECRETS REVEALED

Parenting Tips

December 7, 2024
Thursday 11:15 AM
Boykewich Estates.

Leo sits in his study contemplating what is to be done about his current situation in less than eight weeks the board would reconvene and decide his fate in the company.  But, worst than that he realized that in eight weeks he may see his son walk out of his life forever.  He was ashamed and proud at the same time.  Proud that Ben had grown so much, and had found friends or family that truly cared about him, and loved him.  But, he was also ashamed that these people all seemed to show Ben the attention and affection that he didn't.  He always tried to be tough on Ben about the decisions that he made, and thought he was teaching Ben to think of other's before himself.  But, Leo now realized that Ben had always done that.  It's why he married Amy, and Adrian.  It's why he worked with Ricky in the butcher shop, and why he forgave Henry, and Adrian for sleeping together.  Why he forgave Alice for sleeping with him.  

He was so tough on Ben about the mistakes he had made, but he never thought to ask him why he made those mistakes.  Now he saw, he made those mistakes to help the people he cared about.  But, what Leo never did, something he knew he should have done a long time ago was ask all of them why did they hurt Ben.  He didn't know what to do, Ben had returned and he now knew of the many sordid, dangerous, sad details of his son's life, and he knew that he had barely scratched the surface of Ben's life since he had been gone.  As he sat feeling sorry for himself he heard a knock at his door.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

Nathan:  Hey, deep in thought big brother.

Leo: (looks up happy to see his younger brother)  Nate, hi.  I was just thinking about some things you know.

Nate:  Let me guess one of those things is your position as C.E.O., and the other thing is the acting C.E.O.

Leo:  Yeah.  It's funny I always wanted Ben to take my place on the board, but I always thought it would be after he had a family, and I was ready to retire and spend time with my grand kids.  Now it doesn't look like that will happen.

Nate:  I don't know, Ben is still young enough to start a family if he hasn't already.  If you start taking care of yourself like Camille is going to force you.  I think you might have a chance at that.  As for Ben being C.E.O. permanently, I doubt it.

Leo:  As for Ben letting me know if he has a family, is what I doubt.  He's been back for two months, and I don't think he's said two words to me without getting upset with me.  The worst part I can't blame him.  After everything that happened I realized I was the problem, not Ben.

Nate:  So you realized that, but have you realized why?

Leo:  I interfered to much, and I chose wrong.

Nate: I think you interfered to little for the wrong one.

Leo:  What do you mean?

Nate:  Leo, you are Ben's father.  That is what you seemed to have forgotten.  I have three kids, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for either them.  But you seem to think all of those kids were yours.  

Leo:  Nate, I know that I just wanted to help them.

Nate:  Leo, it wasn't your place to help any of them accept for your own son.  Ricky Underwood has a father, and I'm not talking about his birth father.  Sanjay Shakur was a brain surgeon, his wife ironically enough is a social worker and if they couldn't teach their son about the mistakes he made, and life it wasn't your place.  Amy was George and Anne's problem her pregnancy was their's to deal with not your's or Ben's.  So why did you allow it to become the problem of our family.