MARKUS

 

 

I can’t believe she treated us like recalcitrant children. We are grown men and have a right to disagree…with our fists, if necessary. Besides, that’s the best way I’ve found to iron out disagreements.

Leading Grace by her elbow to my Jag, Paul tagged behind, grumbling to himself. However, it didn’t take long to reach my rental before Paul exploded. The problem ensued when he grabbed Grace’s other arm, trying to pull her toward him.

That pissed me off something fierce.  I ripped her away from him, the two of us treating her like a bone. But I had no choice in the matter––I had to get her away from him, even though he was her father.

Of it’s own volition my fist found Paul’s jaw. I don’t know what happened, it had a mind of it’s own. This time Paul didn’t go down.  Rather than letting go, Grace was pulled further away from me by her father.  So, doing the only thing I could think of, I let go of her elbow, afraid she would get hurt.

Paul’s stumbling backwards made my heart feel good––especially when he finally let her go.

Grace stood, with her hands on her hips, a deep scowl painted on her face. Her breaths came fast and hard in her anger. Uh oh. To my shock, I was in luck, rather than turning her anger on me, she was turning her anger on her father.

“Dad––what were you thinking? I’m not a bone between the two of you.” She tried to keep her voice low since there were people around, but I could hear the anger quavering her voice.

“Princess,” Paul started. That was as far as he got before she gave him the look. The look women have given men through time immemorial. A cant of the head, with lips pressed firmly together. I imagined I could see her blond hair rising about her head, floating.

“Dad, you were going to say?” Grace raised both of her eyebrows and widened her eyes in question.

“Nothing, Gracie.  Nothing.”

Smart man. Finally. Though I couldn’t help but smirk at him in satisfaction. However, that got me the look. I stepped back in defense, but quickly glanced around to see if anyone had noticed.  Of course Paul did, a slight, satisfied smile playing on his face. It was only a slight smile, due to the blood oozing from his split lip. Huh––maybe Grace was right.  We are schoolboys.

“Come on, bella––let me take you home. We have work tomorrow.” I said, trying to save the situation with my Grace. I had hoped maybe herding her to my car might work, but I could see her mouth opening to give me a stinging retort.

“Hey, Grace,” a female voice called out. As the three of us turned to look we saw Nicole fast walking toward us, a bright smile on her face.

“Nicole. Hi.” Grace gave her a relieved smile in return.

“Whatcha up to? Going home? Why don’t you come over to my place, I’m off work now?” Nicole then stretched her arms over her head and weaved her body back and forth. Grace gave a short huff of laughter at her antics.

“Sure,” Grace agreed, nodding violently. I couldn’t help but think, If her head were a bobble doll, it would be a cute one.

“Boys, you’re on your own. Please don’t kill each other. And if you do, make sure there’s plastic on the floor to protect it.” Grace bounced over to Nicole waving to us as they walked off, heads together, arm in arm. Fast friends.

That left Paul and I, standing like idiots, staring at each other. “Come on, Paul. Let’s get a drink. Maybe we can hash this out.” I decided to try being reasonable. Standing with my hands in my back pockets, I waited for Paul’s answer.

I could see his wheels turning as he thought about the idea before finally nodding. Still not having said a word, I didn’t quite trust the way he was acting––especially with the devious glint in his eye. But I had to try. This was Grace’s father after all.

I opened the passenger door for him and he slid into the butter soft leather seats of the Jag. After sliding the seat back to accommodate his long legs, he leaned his head back on the headrest and sighed in relief.

Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at Paul resting against the seat as it soothed him. I leaned forward, fiddling with the controls that controlled the seat and backrest, heating and massaging his butt and back.

After watching him for a few minutes I knew he was asleep, so I pulled over to check out upper scale restaurants that served a good meal and alcohol. For me it was still too early for strong liquor, but a beer certainly couldn’t hurt. I stretched my neck, the stress of the morning making the muscles tight.

Ah––there we go!  The Smokehouse Brewery––breakfast, lunch, dinner and a collection of beers. That sounds perfect! 

Making sure about the directions, I checked all my mirrors for cars or cops and did my illegal U-turn.

***

Trying to wake up Paul was for the birds. He slept like the dead. “Paul!” I shouted in his ear, shoving him hard. He snorted and shook his head as he blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to come to his senses. His slack face rapidly became hard again as his sharp eyes settled on me.

“Come on, Paul. Are you awake yet? Man, you’re a hard guy to wake up. You sleep like the dead. Does the Smokehouse Brewery sound good for breakfast? I pulled it up on my phone. It has five stars and raving reviews. Sound good to you?” It certainly sounded good to me. I was looking forward to a fine steak with eggs as well as a crafted beer.

He wrinkled his fine nose in disgust at the thought of a brewery. The twenty-five years of upper-scale living had turned him into a snob. I guess living with my grandparents and their modest requirements kept me balanced in the real world.

Paul shook his head at first, but shrugged his shoulders in acquiescence. We both exited the car at the same time and entered the restaurant. I liked it, with its presence of understated elegance.

At the hostess station I gave my name, but when Paul gave his we were immediately seated. Well––I guess that could give a guy a big head.

After we ordered our specialty beers we sat in an uneasy silence and studied the menus. I was awfully hungry and decided on the huge porterhouse steak breakfast with three eggs, over easy. And coffee––black.

Paul heard what I had ordered and decided on the same thing. Still silence reigned. I didn’t know how to discuss things with Paul. We had been friends when we were kids, but after ten years apart and being in different countries, it was safe to say things were strained.

Well, here goes nothing. “Paul, we need to talk this out. Grace and I need each other. There is a connection we don’t understand. We both feel it.”

Paul had been staring at my face, so I knew he heard the sincerity in both my voice and the sincerity plastered on my face as I leaned forward.

He sat back in his chair, sipping his dark beer. Our coffees were delivered and I took a sip of that. Hmmm––smooth, yet strong. I need to find out what company makes this, I thought to myself as I closed my eyes and savored the taste.

Paul harrumphed as he leaned forward in his seat. “Markus, my daughter is so young.  She doesn’t know what she wants yet.”

Good, he’s being reasonable. I can deal with that. “Paul, I can understand your reservations, but she is an adult.” He opened his mouth to respond, but I held up my hand, “I know now that she’s only twenty. She lied and told me she was twenty-one…as of yesterday. Twenty is an adult––she’s old enough to make her own decisions.” With that our breakfasts were delivered.

An uncomfortable silence ensued as we attacked the food until all that remained was yellow, smeared across the plates from the eggs, and bones from the steaks.

We sat back, replete, sipping on our second frosty mug of superior beer, which Paul even had complements for, saying he would be ordering some for his house.

Finally, Paul pushed back the plates and silverware with a scowl and leaned on his crossed arms. “Markus, there is no way I can condone what is happening between the two of you. You must realize this can’t last. If you must continue with this reckless behavior I will call a meeting of the Board of Directors and have you ousted.  And I really feel like it, I can foreclose on Grace’s townhouse.” He had a satisfied smile on his face, as if he had me over a barrel.

He obviously didn’t know me very well, and it made me laugh. I shook my head as great guffaws of laughter escaped me. The sound had people in the restaurant looking to see what was so funny. If only they knew.

Paul’s scowl returned, after having his threat being laughed at. “Paul, I don’t need your company. Or our company. I have made millions on what I have thought of and worked for. Do you think I was stupid enough to place all of my work in the company? I have done even more than you can possibly imagine.”  Mimicking his previous motion, I moved the plates and silverware.  Placing my hands on the edge of the table, I leaned in his direction, lowering my voice.  “I have made millions more in Europe with my apps and software that you haven’t even seen. So go ahead and oust me. I can take care of Grace. She’ll never have to work again if she doesn’t want to. Or she can continue whatever studies she wants––it’s up to her now. It’s you who will regret it, not me.” I lowered my voice to a whisper at the last two words, but I knew Paul heard me.

He stood up so fast and violently his chair fell over backwards. “You haven’t heard the last of this,” he shouted, shaking his clenched fist at me. All I did was lean back in my chair until it creaked, laughing the whole time.

Paul stomped off, muttering curses at me as he walked out the door.

I handed my black credit card to the waiter as he righted the chair, staring at me nervously.  I ignored him as I mentally began putting my plans in motion.