Daddy Issues

Chapter 12

"Are you ready?" Vlad opened Sue's door without knocking.

"What if I were busy in here?" Sue queried, her eyes never leaving her computer screen.

"Jackie told me you were alone and what would you be doing alone that I am not allowed to see?" Hearing the smirk in his voice Sue looked up and shot the mischievous man a playfully disapproving look.

"Ha-ha. Very funny." She deadpanned.

"Didn't know I said something funny." He chuckled walking further into the office.

"I'm almost done." Sue glanced back down and continued typing furiously on her laptop. A few minutes later she was standing in front of Vlad as he helped her shrug on her coat; another act that had become part of their routine.

Sue waved to a relaxed Jackie on her way out and wished her a good night. If anyone were most happy about Vlad's appearance in Sue's life, it would be Jackie. She stopped having near panic attacks every time her boss approached her.

They travelled down the elevator to the garage and headed towards Sue's car. They decided to carpool today. On their way to the house they picked up Joe along with his pecan pie. When they finally made it, Lilith flung open the door and greeted them with warm smiles. This was Joe's first dinner with them, and everyone was hoping for a memorable one.

"Joe you absolutely have to give me this recipe!" Lilith gushed as she shovelled another piece of pecan pie into her mouth. They sat round the dinner table filled with laughter and smiles. Despite Sue's initial disapproval, she was glad that she allowed Vlad into her life. She felt lighter, she laughed more, her smiles were real, and she forgot she had problems. Vlad was one of her very few valued friends.

"How 'bout I show you how to make it tomorrow." Joe responded smiling softly.

"No, you can't. Have you forgotten our trip?" Vlad spoke up. Mark passed him the casserole of seafood lasagna. Sue intercepted and passed the casserole to her mother.

"He's allergic to shrimp." She spoke to Mark, but her eyes were trained on Vlad. She hadn't seen the slight surprise on Mark and her mother's faces nor realize the barely-there satisfied smirk on Vlad's. "Where are you going this weekend?" Sue inquired rather puzzled, a frown setting between her brows. She wasn't sure if it was because up until now Vlad always told her of his daily and weekend plans or because she almost sounded like, God forbid, a hurt girlfriend.

He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "I was meaning to tell you, but it slipped my mind." That wasn't entirely true. Vlad hadn't forgotten, he just wasn't to certain that her response would be the one he craved. "Gramps, Mark and I are going fishing up by our cabin this weekend. We were wondering if you and Lilith would perhaps like to join us?"

"That's a bit late notice, don't you think? " she regarded him suspiciously. "It's almost as if you didn't want to ask."

"No no, it's not that. " Vlad hastily replied. "I was just worried I would be overstepping my boundary. We have been getting along so well recently. I didn't want to undo any of that." He stared into her eyes sincerely. He waited patiently for her response much like the rest of the table who paused mid feeding. It was one thing to spend time outside of work with employees, but it was another to go on trips with them as if they were more.

Sue thought about the idea for a moment. Vlad and I are friends now, she reasoned. What harm could it do? Especially as both our families would be present. It's basically extended Friday dinners.

"Okay."

"Excuse me?" Mark asked incredulously.

"I said okay."