Part 2- This is Your Pilot Speaking

Chapter12

Bruce sat in the living room of his house watching an old WWII documentary. It was more on for background noise, he was too busy thinking about how he was going to break the news to Paddy about Griffin and Alice. He thought he was OK with it, but now that he had time to dwell, he wasn't sure if he truly was. He wanted the best for Griffin, he was happy that he had found someone, but of all the girls in London, why Alice? Griffin had told him that he had planned on telling her off, but once he saw her he was attracted to her and that only became more apparent once they got to know each other. If Bruce was being honest with himself, he really wasn't sure how he felt. Jealous? Backstabbed? Why? He and Alice were no longer together. She was free to see whomever she chose, even if that person was his own Son. Bruce didn't want to admit it to himself, but he was still attracted to Alice, and that scared him. Once he saw something (or someone) he wanted, he wouldn't stop until it was his. He didn't want that to happen. He was finally in good standings with Paddy, and his Son was happy. What kind of man would he be if he tried to take his Son's girlfriend from him? Maybe he could talk Griffin out of seeing her.

Bruce sighed, "Fucking hell" he said to himself. He knew he could never do that. Griffin had suffered from anxiety and depression in the past. He had been pretty open about his struggles through his song lyrics. Now that his band was becoming successful, and he had found someone he enjoyed being with, he couldn't take that from him. The sound of the front door opening up brought him out of his thoughts. He got up and smiled as he saw Paddy coming in. She had gone out with some friends for tea and shopping. It was a rare sunny day in London, so she had decided to make the most of it.

"Paddy, darling." he wrapped his arms around her, giving her a soft kiss in the process, "Did you enjoy your time out?"

Paddy kissed him back, enjoying the warmth in his arms, "I did. It's been far too long since I had seen the girls, so we had loads of catching up to do. They wanted to hear all the stories from the road." 

Paddy's friends were married to locals from Chiswick. They hadn't seen much of the United Kingdom, much less the world, so they always enjoyed when Paddy was in town so she could fill them in with her travel stories. "What have you been up to?"

Bruce took her by the hand and led her into the living room, sitting on the couch and pulling her down on his lap. "Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. Watching history documentaries, writing, fighting with Sufi over the recliner...the usual." he gave her a goofy grin, dimples on full display.

Paddy let out a laugh, "I bet he won. He's an old grumpy git."

"So am I, but yes, he won."

Bruce found himself getting lost in Paddy's eyes. She had the brightest blue eyes, and they had a sparkle to them that would outshine any diamond he had ever seen. Paddy blushed under Bruce's intense stare, he still had a way of making her blush like a shy schoolgirl. "Why must you look at me like I am the only thing in the room."

"Because, you're the only thing that matters." he pulled her into a kiss. "I love you Pad. I really do. With every fibre of my being." he brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, "I have to tell you something. Well...two things. Let me tell you the easy one first, and then we'll move onto the most difficult of the two."

Paddy gave Bruce a confused look. She had not an inkling of what he could be talking about. "OK...I'm not sure what could be so difficult to talk about, but..."

Bruce put a finger to her lips, shushing her. "Please, let me talk. First, I'm taking you to Paris. Just you and I, for two weeks. I have a date for my speaking tour but for two weeks after that it'll be just you and I. We can do whatever you want, however you want to do it, whenever you want..." he gave her a wicked smile, knowing exactly what he was implying.

Paddy knew Bruce and knew how his mind was constantly in the gutter. She joked around all the time that she had married a horny 12 year old kid, and in a way, she wasn't wrong. Bruce had the stamina of a man half his age. If it were up to him, they would make love all day, every day. She laughed, smacking him in the arm "I'm sure there will be plenty of that. But are you saying you're willing to go shopping with me, and hold my bag while I try on clothes? Will you go to the opera with me as well?"

Bruce groaned, he loathed shopping, and as much as he admired opera singers, he found operas themselves dull. He gave Paddy a forced grin, "Of course darling...whatever you want."

Paddy could see through his bullshit. She laughed at how hard he was trying to sound sincere, "I'm teasing. I'm sure we'll find things to do. Thank you love. I can't wait to have some alone time after everything that has happened."

Bruce sighed, now it was time to tell her about Griffin and Alice. "Now, for the difficult part. Griffin has met someone..."

Paddy's face lit up. She had a grin on her face that split her face in two, "What? How is that difficult? My Griffin...my sweet boy has finally found someone! Do you know her?"

Bruce nodded, trying to find his voice, "Yes. So do you....it's Alice...."

It took a minute to register, but as soon as it did, Paddy's smile disappeared from her face. "Alice? Are you telling me our precious boy is seeing that harlot that almost broke us up? Why Bruce? Why is she doing it? You know it's just to get back with you...I won't let him....I won't let her hurt my..."

"Paddy, stop." Bruce gave Paddy a stern look, letting her know she was going too far, "Stop. OK. Griffin is 27 years old. He's a grown man. He doesn't need his Mum to meddle in his relationship."

Paddy couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you fucking serious? You're OK with it? Are you daft? You know she's with him to get to you."

Bruce stood up and began to pace the room, he was trying to remain calm. He knew Paddy wasn't going to take it well. "Yes, I'm OK with it. Do you think I didn't think of that as well? I brought up my concern with Griffin and he told me that he trusts her. They had a few dates together and they really enjoyed each others company. He also told me that if you weren't OK with it, he would still date her, he just wouldn't bring her around the house. Do you really want that? Do you want to push our Son away?"

Paddy knew Bruce was right. But she still had a hard time believing that Alice was with Griffin because she liked him, not because she wanted to be back with Bruce. She sighed, "You're right. I don't want to do that. I only want the best for Griff, and if that means him going out with Alice, so be it." she looked up at Bruce, "But I promise you, things will not go well for her if she hurts my Son or if she goes near you."

Bruce swallowed hard and nodded, he would have to behave himself, For Griffins' sake, for Paddy's sake....he knew Paddy would not give him another chance, and he knew his Son would never forgive him. "I understand. Now, let's call Griffin and have him come over....alone." he quickly added when he saw the look on Paddy's face, "Let him talk to you."