Chapter 29
Father Knows Best
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” Randi exclaimed, walking in the back door of the kitchen. “In a twenty-four hour timeframe I have seen two men washing dishes.” Randi closed the kitchen door quickly before the pups could come scurrying in after her. She went over and leaned on the sink, looking at her dad. “What did you do?”
He laughed as he washed a bowl and a glass, rinsed them and put them in the drainer. “I didn’t do anything. It’s just our new agreement. If I eat anything in the middle of the day, I do my own dishes. I had some cookies and milk and I’m cleaning up. What other man did you see doing dishes?”
Randi waited until her dad glanced up and she smiled. “Martin, last night. Though I did help. He had washed about half of them before I talked him into letting me finish.”
Miles shook his head as he rinsed out the sink. “That boy has got it bad if you’ve got him washing dishes. What did you threaten him with?”
“Nothing. I was just teasing. I told him that since I had cooked it would be fair for him to do the dishes. I had no idea that he would.”
“I told you, he’s got it bad. I remember what it’s like to be that crazy in love with someone. You’ll do just about anything to keep them happy.”
“In love?” Randi asked, sitting down and looking up at her dad. “You really think so, or is that just a metaphor or something?” Her dad wiped up a few crumbs and dumped them in the garbage, dried his hands then sat down.
“I can’t really speak for the man, but, yes, I think he’s fallen in love. The sixty-four-thousand dollar question . . . will it last?” Randi’s dad rested his hands on the table in front of him. “What about you?”
“What are you asking? Do I love him? Yes. Will it last? I don’t know. I hope it does. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love with a rich, handsome movie star? Not that I’m lazy or looking for some kind of free ride. But in this day and age, sure it would be nice to not have to worry about working like a dog to make a living.”
“Good points. I hope it does work, but as they say, don’t quit your day job.”
“I’m not planning to. I like what I do, but I think we all dream of a better job. Our dream job.”
“I know what you’re saying. One of those jobs that people say, ‘I can’t believe someone’s paying me to do what I love’. We all would like one of those.”
“What would yours be?” Randi asked, wondering if he’d ever given it any thought. After all he would need to be looking for some kind of work over the next few weeks. Unemployment wouldn’t last forever.
“I’ve known this was coming for a while and I’ve been giving it some serious thought. I think I’m a little past my ‘dream job’ and ready to settle for something I can handle. I’m looking into working in security in some fashion. I’ve gotten applications from several studios in the area. I’ve filled two of them out and I mailed them yesterday.”
“That’s good, but just for the fun of it, what would be your ‘dream job’?”
Miles shrugged. “I like to golf, and fish. I suppose a job where I was around either would suit me. I like working with my hands, and being outside. Maybe working on golf carts or collecting golf balls. I don’t know. As I said, I’m thinking reality here. I’m going to say something and I want you to know, it has nothing to do with Martin.”
“Okay. What do you mean?”
“I know I’ve been kind of pro-Martin, shall we say? It’s not because I want something from him, it’s because I see how much you care for him. It has nothing to do with what I’m going to say.”
“Okay. I believe you. Now what is it?” Randi was more than a little curious and she had no idea what he was about to say to her. He was hesitant, and it made her wonder if she wanted him to go on.
“I want to become an extra in films. I hear it pays well. Let’s be honest, I’m not going to make a lot of money doing anything at my age and I don’t want to lower our standard of living. Matter of fact, I’d like to do more. I want to travel. I want to take your mother on those vacations that I was always too busy to go on. I can’t do that on a minimum wage job.”
“An extra? Where did you get that idea?”
“I’ve been talking to a friend of mine. He has two part time jobs but he makes the most of his money being an extra. He says it’s good pay, he gets to eat free, and now and then, they fly him to crazy places to film for a few days. I’m not a bad looking guy for my age. I think I could get some good parts.”
Randi grinned mischievously. “You are a cutie. You kind of got this older Robert Conrad thing going on. I can see your point. I also understand what you’re saying about Martin. I don’t think he would have much pull for something like that anyway. I’m sure it’s more of a studio call to find the extra’s.”
“Well, I don’t care if he does. I don’t want you to mention it to him in any way. That’s not why I told you. I don’t want him to think anything about us but that we are a normal run-of-the-mill family. I don’t want to even come close to messing this up for you.”
“Thanks. I think I can do that on my own.” Randi responded, half joking and half serious. “But, I know what you mean. I won’t mention it, at least, not until we’re married.” She said this in jest, but of course, it was at that very moment her mother decided to enter the room.
“Not until you’re what? I hope that you are not even thinking about marrying that man. Have you lost your mind? Miles, I told you to talk some sense into her, not talk her into marrying him. What did you say to her?”
“Mom, don’t overreact. Dad and I were just talking,” Randi said.
“I didn’t do anything. I think she was joking, but even if she wasn’t, it’s her decision. We need to stay out of it. You know what happens when you try to direct the lives of your children. It never works.”
“Don’t dredge up the past. My parents did what they thought was best. We don’t know if anyone would have been better off or not. Besides, we’re talking about our daughter. Do you want her to marry someone who sleeps with other people for a living? I surely don’t!”