The Fourth Catch

Chapter 17: Seeing Past the Past

"Are you sure you're going to be okay here?" Victoria asked as she finished getting ready to go out with Mel. Levi was sitting on the couch with Jonathan in his arms. He glanced up at Vic as he heard her question. "Of course I will be fine. I have taken care of Jonathan on my own before." Levi reminded her. Vic nodded as she glanced at the two of them. "Go have fun with Mel for a girl's day. You two could use a day out." Victoria raised her eye at his words. "Alright. I suppose we do need to. It's been awhile again since we have gotten together. I'm just not used to leaving Jonathan as much anymore."

Levi smiled a little. "I know. But he will be fine. I have some good plans for the two of us." He grinned. Then turned his attention back to his son. "Don't I?" He asked. Jonathan smiled as Levi spoke to him. Taking a deep breath before he started to babble. As if he was trying to explain to Victoria, he'd be fine. Victoria laughed. "Do I even want to know?" She asked in a slightly teasing tone. Levi smirked in an attempt not to laugh at her reaction. A bit hesitant at first to explain. He wasn't sure if Vic would like the idea. And he was well aware Mel didn't know of the plan either. "Levi?" Victoria asked with a curious tone to her voice. He sighed. "Alright alright. Don't worry. It's nothing bad. I just thought I might phone Anthony. Have a guy's evening while you two girls are out. We rarely get to see each other anymore either. Unless at work. So it's mostly business when we get to see one or the other. I already messaged him. He is going to bring Beth over so Jon and Beth can hang out while us two do as well."

Victoria looked at bit skeptical. "Oh come on Vic!" Levi exclaimed. "We are just going to chill here at the house. Nothing bad will happen." Levi stated. "But it is you and Anthony with Beth and Jon!" She exclaimed. Levi sighed. "Exactly.. The four of us only. We don't plan to go anywhere. The two kids can play right here in the living room. Anthony and I will be sitting nearby to watch." Victoria bit her lip before she spoke. "I suppose you're right. I should be home later this evening. After the spa day we plan to go out for dinner as well." She said. Levi nodded. "The two of us will be fine." He repeated. Victoria glanced at her two boys before she smiled. "I am sure you will." She walked over to give Jon a quick kiss on the cheek. "Make sure you behave." She said to tease a little. Vic gave Jon a hug as he turned just enough to give her a hug before she left.

"He will be a perfect gentleman." Levi grinned as he watched Victoria make her way to the door. "Hey, where's my kiss?" He asked. Victoria turned her head a little to glance at Levi. Giving a small wink. "Hey, that's not fair." He stated. As Victoria was trying to joke with him. She laughed before she made her way back over. Leaning in to give Levi a quick kiss as well. "I'll see you later." She said. A smile formed on her face. Levi glanced at her once they pulled away from the kiss. Looking at her with a smile on his face as well. "See you later." Levi responded.

He chuckled as he noticed Jon scrunched up his nose once they kissed. "Oh it's not that bad! You'll change your mind one day." He commented. Victoria laughed, shaking her head. "I have a feeling I know what part of your plans include for you and Jonathan." She joked. "You two boys have fun." Victoria stated before she took her exit.

Once Levi saw Victoria was gone, he looked back over at Jon with a small grin on his face. "Now our fun can begin." He winked. Jon grinned back at him and clapped his hands excitedly. "Ya ya ya!" He yelled. Levi chuckled at his reaction. "But first thing's first.." He said. He reached for the phone to dial a number. Jon watched to see what his father was up to.

As the Young's were getting ready to sit down for lunch, the sound of the telephone went off. Brian let out a small sigh. "We can get that after our lunch can't we?" He asked. Jennifer looked at him raising her eye. "What if it is Melanie? We can't really ignore her can we?" She mentioned. Brian sat in silence at her question as the phone continues to ring a few more times. Jennifer glared at him a second before she got up. "Jen.." Brian said. Jen thought she detected a bit of a warning in his voice. "We can't ignore Melanie Brian.." "Why not? She's ignored us the past few years.." He reminded her.

Jennifer kept her glare before she answered the call. She wasn't sure what was going on with Brian. When Mel first showed up he was the one trying to reconcile her and Mel. Now it appeared he was doing a complete three sixty. He and Melanie used to be super close. He was usually the one to be the peacemaker, solve problems. She couldn't quite figure out what was happening with him. However, perhaps this problem between him and his daughter can't be fixed. Which Jen hoped wasn't true. Brian began to eat his meal in silent as Jennifer began to talk to Melanie or whoever was on the phone. He ignored the conversation for now until he heard Jennifer mention Levi's name. Brian looked up raising his eye. He knew Levi was a good friend of Melanie's. This meant something must've happened. Melanie's friends never called them before. Their daughter called a couple weeks ago. A few days after Jennifer got back from Memphis. Other than that, she hadn't contacted them. Their daughter told the two she would promise to keep in contact more. But she still didn't seem to be putting in that great of an effort.

After Jennifer hung up the phone then sat down, Brian finally spoke. 'What did Levi want?" He asked. Jennifer could still hear in his tone he wasn't very thrilled about the call. Though she could hear a hint of concern in his voice, he wouldn't admit it. She shook her head. Both Melanie and him were stubborn. "He wanted to invite you over this upcoming weekend for a visit. To get to know you. Before the wedding..." Jen said slowly. She was aware Brian wasn't too keen on the upcoming events. She wasn't exactly a fan of Anthony either. At least she tried. She did get to know him over the week she was there to see her daughter.

There were times she saw it was possible for the three to reconcile. Jennifer could see Anthony meant well. He seemed to care deeply for their daughter. And he appeared to do very good with Beth. However, the problem with Jen was.. Since she only knew who Anthony was when he worked with Brian, it all seemed fake to her. Like he tried too hard to impress her while she was visiting. Jen had no idea what Anthony and Mel were like when she wasn't there.

"I don't think that is the best idea." Brian commented. Jen sighed. "Brian.. Levi is making an attempt to be nice to include you. Besides, he didn't mention Anthony was going to be there. It'll just be you and Levi." Brian rolled his eyes. "I smell a rat." He grumbled. Jen looked at her husband. "I am not a fan of Anthony either. But Mel is worried. She wants us all to get along. It is hard to get past what happened between you and him, yes. However, our daughter is trying to get back into our lives, involve us. Melanie wants us to be there. She wants you to walk her down that aisle. She is trying. The least we can do is support her.. You don't have to like Anthony. At least do this for your daughter. Be there for her.. We both were upset she wouldn't allow us to be there for her after what happened. You want to be there? This is your chance.. I know I will be.."

Brian let out a sigh in return at her words. He knew Jennifer was right. He would've been happy any other time for his daughter. If she would've been able to find someone again down the road. Brian only wished it wasn't Anthony. He knew his daughter had to move on at some point. He just didn't want it to be with that man. "Did it have to be with Anthony?" He asked, voicing his thoughts out loud.

Jennifer took a deep breath. "At least pretend to get along. Melanie said she was concerned you wouldn't come to the wedding because you hate Anthony. She wants us to be there." She said again. "She said she's afraid it will be strange between the four of us.. Mel was afraid you were mad at her because you haven't really spoken with her much. I told her you weren't mad or trying to avoid.." Brian remained quiet a moment before he spoke. "Of course I am going to be there. Mel is our only daughter after all. I'm not really mad. Just disappointed.." He admitted quietly. Jen nodded. Surprised Brian actually spoke what he thought. Most the time, Jen had to figure out what he was thinking. One thing him and Mel were good at as well. Not showing emotions. The situation with Anthony was the first time in awhile, Jennifer was able to see how Brian was thinking.

Jen nodded at his words. "As am I. I don't like the situation either as I mentioned. If we don't look like we are at least making an attempt on our side as well. Us two may lose our daughter for good. I don't want that. I missed Mel the whole year we lost contact with her.." Brian sighed again. He knew once again Jen was right. Though Brian wasn't sure if he could be a good pretender. "I will call Levi back after we are finished with lunch." He answered. Jen gave a small smile. "Thank you.. Who knows. Maybe the two of you will manage to work things out. Crazier things have happened. You didn't ever think you'd learn to like Paul, yet you did." Jen reminded him. Brian couldn't hide the grin this time at his wife's words. "Perhaps.." Was all he managed to say.