Meeting Mr Firth

16

In the morning I woke up to an empty bed so I got up and went downstairs. Colin was sitting on the sofa, reading the newspaper. As he heard my footsteps he closed the newspaper and threw it away, pretending he was doing nothing..

-Good morning, darling!
-Good morning! What were you reading there?
-What? Nothing..
-You're a terrible liar babe. I saw you reading that newspaper. So what is it?
-You sure you wanna see?
-Yes.
-Don't say I didn't warn you..

He handed me the newspaper and I turned to the first page and there was..us. At the wedding..

-"Colin Firth's new wife could well pass for his daughter"? "Shameless girl is actually younger than Firth's eldest son"? What the hell is their problem?! "New Firth family intends to or have already adopted a child, rumors say".
-I told you it was not worth seeing. Let me throw that away.
-No, it's fine. I'm fine. If they want news let's give them some..
-Judging by that look you have something in mind. What is it?
-Well, how about a family dinner. Out, at some nice restaurant.
-With Cathy, I presume..
-How else? I said family dinner..that means whole family. And I could make the reservation. Let's show those bastards they are mistaken.
-Alright. I like the idea. They would see were truly are a happy family. And you're far from whatever they said there. You're my lovely wife whom I love so much.
-How much? I smirked.
-Let me show you.

He kissed me slowly but passionately. Then I buried my head to his chest as he was embracing me. I loved him and Cathy so much that I couldn't allow anyone to say we are not a real family.. That I'm some sort of a fraud. And he wouldn't allow that either. What hurted the most was that they had the balls to imply our girl in the scandal and that we couldn't stand. Our princess was to grow up in a happy, united and supportive family. And her first lesson about values was to be taught that evening.
***
Meanwhile I had to go to work. Colin drove me as usual.. The only unusual thing to happen was seeing the concerned expressions on Jen and Jack's faces when I got there. They read the article in the newspaper and were truly concerned for us.

-Thanks, guys! But there is nothing to worry about. We'll solve that issue this evening. Hoping that tomorrow's newspaper will have a new article in an optimistic tone.
-You mean you'll talk to the press?
-Not exactly. We'll go out on a family dinner. All 3of us. Those paparazzi must be truly brainless if they would go on writing negative things.
-I doubt they would've written that if they would've been at the wedding. It's impossible not to notice your sincere happiness.
-That was exactly what I thought reading the article this morning.
-So let's hope for a nice article for tomorrow.
-Thanks for the support. I mean it.

The rest of the day passed slowly but once Viv came with Cathy things changed. She came running toward me and I raised her, hugging and kissing her forehead.

-Mommy, when can I stay with Auntie Viv again?
-You had fun, didn't you?
-Yes. We played and watched Cinderella and I made this drawing after. See, here is daddy and me and you. There next to you is Auntie Viv. And we are all going to see Cinderella at her castle. Wouldn't that be nice?
-It sure would. Cathy, do you want to have dinner out tonight?
-Daddy and Auntie Viv too?
-Just you, me and daddy. Auntie Viv can't come.
-Okay.
-Go play with Uncle Jack for a second while I talk to Auntie Viv darling, would you?
-Sure, mommy.
***
-Did you see it?
-That hateful article? I did.. That's what the dinner is about?
-Yes, basically. They could say what they please about me but they should let my girl out of it. So we shall straighten things, right?
-True. Might turn into a good lesson for Cathy. Moral values and everything..
-I thought so too. So does Colin.
-Speaking of the devil..
-Hello! Are you ready to go honey?
-Yeah, almost. Viv, can you go look for Cathy?
-Sure.
***
-Everything okay?
-Not really babe. I'm nervous. What if they write something bad again?
-I believe they won't.
-Oh please, they're paid for that. But what are we supposed to tell Cathy? I want our daughter to see the good in the world and in people. How would she see any good in this if we can't do that?
-But we did. That is what tonight is all about. The good in this situation is that we could support each other and get over it together.
-You're right.

I hugged him, holding him tight. As we parted he smiled brightly and gave me a light kiss. When Viv came back with Cathy he took her hand and put the other arm around my waist. We then drove to the restaurant.
Once we arrived we saw the place was pretty crowded. But that was maybe for the better.

-Good evening! We have a reservation for 3.
-Good evening! Name?
-Andrea Firth.
-Yes..there you are, Mrs. Firth. Welcome! Your table is nr. 5, over there by the window.
-Thank you!
***
-A little crowded here, isn't it?
-Normal evening at a restaurant, honey. You mind any of this?
-Of course not. As long as I have my girls with me it doesn't matter.
-Mommy, why is that man staring at us?
-What man?
-From that table there, she pointed.
-Don't point, dear. That's not polite.
-Sorry, daddy. But..why does he look at us like that?
-Well..you know what celebrities are darling?
-Auntie Sara used to watch a lot of TV. She said she was watching to see what famous people were doing.
-Exactly. So, you see my dear, daddy is one of those famous people your Auntie Sara was watching.
-But he looks at you mommy. Are you famous too?
-Me? Oh, no. Maybe he looks only because I'm daddy's wife.
-If he's not a paparazzi then he's got a problem..
-Colin, please! He most likely is..
-Or you're simply stunningly beautiful and people can't take their eyes off you.
Because I sure can't.
-You're such a dork!
-But you love me for that, right?
-Let me answer you..

I got closer and kissed him slowly. For a moment there I almost forgot that Cathy (and a large amount of other people) was still watching us.

-Mommy, daddy! Why are you doing that? Cathy asked a little confused.
-Sorry, dear. You're too young to know, I laughed. Maybe when you grow up.
-Auntie Viv said something about an article..
-Did you read it?
-No. She didn't let me read it. Why didn't she?
-Well, that article was saying bad things about mommy. And me, partly.
-Why would people say bad things about you?
-Because, darling, they misunderstood us. I mean..
-They didn't yet understand that we are a family. And we love each other.
-Yes. And support each other. Like we do now..and maybe they will understand.
-I love you, mommy and daddy!

She got up from her chair and came to give us a hug. Colin placed her on his knee and kissed her forehead. We finished dinner quietly, and eventually stopped worrying about the whole article matter.
Colin was right, the article truly didn't matter. What mattered most was the support we could give each other and just by being ourselves. What the people thought was meaningless to us..as long as it didn't affect Cathy. She was yet too young to understand everything but one day she would think the same as we did. So far she loved us for who we were, and was sincerely attached to us. No need to say we were feeling the same way.
Whatever the following morning newspaper was to write about us, we were over it. Our happiness was not to die because a couple of mean comments. On the contrary, we became stronger fighting against it, loving each other even more. And caring for our daughter..