Fortune

Visit

Next day at breakfast wasn't any better, Anderson's father sat at the end of the table drinking again, glancing disdainfully at the bottle, Anderson proceeded to try at least stomach some of the egg put in front of him.

"Morning Anderson." Michael started, breaking the awkward silence.

"Morning Father."

"You slept well last night?"

"Well."

"That's good. Well, Daphne is coming over this afternoon, you may meet her but be sure to dress better" Michael glanced at the loose shirt and pants that Anderson was wearing, "than this" Michael finished.

"Yes, father" Anderson grumbled back. To annoy his father even more, he shoveled the eggs messily into his mouth, before wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt.

Michael grimaced at the way his son was eating, he knew Anderson wasn't happy with the arrangement of him and Daphne getting married, but he could at least try and seem happy about it. Was he being too selfish about it? Perhaps he was, but that could wait till later.

"I'll be back in my room father." Michael looked up and his son was giving him a smug look.

"I'll call one of the maids up to tell you when Daphne arrives," Michael replied, flicking his wrist indicating that Anderson could leave.

Anderson slumped onto his bed, he rolled over staring at the ceiling, how had time passed so quickly? He could still remember when his mother would yell at him to clean up and become more of a "man" instead of just laying around, he still remembered for his 17th birthday his mom had bought him a gym set and asked him to work out, but it ended up unused in the basement. His mother had not been pleased, calling him lanky and weak.

"Mr. Liford, Miss Daphne has arrived." Anderson jolted out from his thoughts, he hadn't realized how long he had been laying there.

"Tell father I'll be right there." He yelled back to the maid.

"Of course Mr. Liford" The maid replied before he heard her footsteps retreat back.

He quickly brushed his hair to flatten the mess on top of his head, grabbing a pair of dress pants and shirt he quickly tossed it on while fixing on his tie.

He tripped on the way out the door whilst slipping on the recently polished shoes and rushed down the stairs, where he was greeted by a not so pleased looking father.


"You are late Anderson."

"I apologize."

"I have told you to get ready earlier, not at the last minute."

"Sorry father."

"Make sure this doesn't happen again, especially when there are important guests."

Anderson scowled as his father emphasized on the word important. Who was she to him? What if she was his father's new fiance. What does that have to do with him? He doesn't know the woman, never seen her face, he really didn't give a damn.

"I won't."

"Good, now Daphne is in the west dining room, I told her I'll be getting a bottle of wine, so hurry up and keep her company."

Anderson watched his father run up the stairs, sighing he turned to the next corridor and opened the brass door.

A woman sat with her back facing him on one of the couches, she hadn't noticed his presence so he knocked softly on the door to alert her of his arrival.

The woman turned around and eyed him up and down, Anderson shuffled uncomfortably and gave her a foolish smirk, she smiled back and ushered him forward.

Anderson complied and sat on a couch in front of her, "I'm Anderson, I persume you are Ms. Daphne?" he asked politely.

"Daphne would do Anderson. Let met take a guess, your Michael's son?"

"Yes."

"Well, I have been notified about your mother's death, it was terribly tragic, and I'm so sorry for your loss." Daphne said quietly.

"My mother and I weren't close, her death isn't particularly worrisome," Anderson answered curtly.

"I see. I think your father has told you about our upcoming marriage?"

"Yes, but may I so boldly ask, how long had you been seeing my father?"

Anderson saw Daphne shift uncomfortably on the couch, she fiddled with her fingers before saying "um well, I have known your father since we were young, though it was only last month that your father proposed to me." she spoke quickly.

"So my father proposed to you, even when my mother was still alive?" Anderson raised an eyebrow.

"Well your father told me he would give her the divorce papers a week after he proposed to me, but now that your mother is dead, he said it was no longer necessary, and that our marriage can go on," Daphne mumbled.

"I see." Anderson pursed his lips at her confession.

"Well, I hope you and my father will have a blessed relationship. I look forward to the wedding Daphne. You actually look quite young, perhaps 29?"

"Oh Anderson you flatter me, I'm already 37!" Daphne laughed.

Anderson laughed along before hearing the door shut, they both stopped laughing and saw Michael standing there holding a wine bottle with three glasses, he smiled at the interaction.

Anderson cleared his throat, "Sorry father, I'll best be going now." He stood up before getting pushed back down gently.

"You seem to be getting along, sit Anderson you won't be going anywhere." His father gave him the famous Liford smirk which Anderson returned.

Daphne smiled at the interaction, in the back of her mind she hoped that one day if she and Michael had children he would be just as fatherly to them.

"Well Daphne, how do you find my son?" Michael asked.

"He's great to talk to, a lot of flattery coming from him," Daphne grinned.

Michael laughed at her words, before giving his son a silent thumbs up.

Anderson nodded his head towards his father smiling.

When Daphne finally left, Anderson felt a slap on the back from his father.

"Good job son. I really mean it." Michael looked at his only son, had time really passed that quick?

"Thanks father, I might not be that fond of her, but I'll tolerate her for your sake."

They looked across the front porch for a while before Michael announced he had work to do and left.

Anderson followed suit. Daphne wasn't that bad he thought, but you never know what people are actually like inside, he still didn't trust her or like her, but he would be civil to her. For his father, it's all for father, he kept reminding himself.

Anderson was about to take a quick nap only to be startled by his phone ringing. "Who the hell is calling me" he grumbled, "hello, this is Anderson Liford."

"Anderson, this is Lucas, I'll be coming over tomorrow with my Fiance, shall we have lunch together? Great we'll be over at 1:00"

"Wait luc... hello?" Anderson growled angrily, had his uncle just interrupted his nap because of lunch tomorrow, Lucas hadn't even heard his answer yet, not that Lucas would take no for an answer. Anderson sighed, turning over he close his eyes.

It hadn't even been a week since the funeral only, tomorrow would only be the second day. "What an impatient bastard." Anderson mumbled half asleep.

In the midst of his dreams, he could make out the gentle smile of his mother, ah how he wished he could see that more often.

She's gone, she's not coming back now.