CONVICTION (INTERFERENCE) (4 page)

“Nineteen.”

“Don’t you think you’re a little too old for my daughter?”

“Daddy!  Stop it. You’re always pushing Parker on me and he’s twenty!”

“Young lady, you’re being rude.”

“I’m being rude? Do you have any idea how rude you’ve been to Shane all night?”

“It’s fine, Rebecca. Really. He just wants what’s best for his daughter.”

“That’s right. And, no offense, but what’s best for her is Parker.”

I rolled my eyes and said, “Mom, would you mind if we skipped dinner? I’m not really hungry anymore.”

My mother sighed. “Bradley, why don’t you go and get the car?”

He threw his hands up in the air, but did what his wife of 22 years asked him to do.

“Rebecca, your father means well, you know that. He loves you and he just has it in his mind that it’s always going to be you and Pa
rker. You’re going to have to give him some time to adjust to your dating other boys. I’m very sorry Shane. Please forgive him.  He’s very stubborn where his family’s concerned. Please, join us for dinner? I’ll do my best to keep him under control.”

He smiled and she glanced at me. I always wondered if she saw it too…his smile. He had a smile that could stop any woman dead in her tracks. “If you’re sure that you don’t mind me intruding on your family meal?”

“No matter what my husband said tonight…or, heaven help us, what he’s yet to say, you
are
welcome. Please, join us.”             

“Thank you. I’d love to,” he said. I assumed he was lying for my sake, but he smiled and seemed to let things roll off his back without a second thought. “I need to run across the street for something really quick, if that’s okay?” he asked my mother.

“Of course, we’ll wait.”

“Would you come with me for a minute?” he asked me.

I smiled and nodded, knowing without a doubt that I would follow him anywhere.

He led me across the street to the tire shop. “I just have to grab this for your sister,” he grinned, reaching inside the door on the counter and then quickly locking the door again.

“Oh, she’s going to love them!” I said when I saw the small bouquet of red roses.

“I really wanted to get them for you, but I know it’s your sister’s big night, so, I hope you don’t mind?”

I looked up into his hypnotic slate eyes and said, “Are you really this wonderful, or do you have a dark side?”

“I’ll be honest
; I’ve been in my share of trouble. But, not for a long time…and I plan on keeping it that way.”

“I think I’m in trouble,” I said, meaning I was already falling for him.

“You will be if we keep your dad waiting,” he grinned.

My father pulled up just as Shane handed Sam the bouquet of roses.

“Thank you!” my sister gushed and actually hugged him.

He was obviously shocked, but put his arm around her and gave her a small hug in return.

“A-hem! THAT one is DEFINITELY too young for you!” my father scolded.

“Bradley!”

“I’m just kidding. The um, the flowers are nice. I meant to get her some…” my father said. I wasn’t sure if he was grateful or angry that Shane bought her flowers and he hadn’t, but he did seem to be a little nicer…for a few minutes.

I felt so much better now that Parker was gone. Now I just hoped my father would behave himself, and we might get through this evening without ruining the rest of my life.

My father asked everyone to get into the car, and true to form, my sister climbed into the back seat and planted herself right in the middle. I wanted to kill her, but I assumed my father put her up to it, so I didn’t say anything.

“So, where do you go to school?” she asked Shane.

“I’m not in high school anymore. I um, I had to get a job when my dad lost his. But, I’m taking online college courses.”

“Oh, so where do you work?” she asked.

“At Blake’s Tires, across the street from your school.”

“Where you picked up my flowers?”

Shane nodded. 

“So, you like, change tires and stuff?” Sam continued.

“And stuff. Mostly I do sales now.”

“Tire sales…great,” my father mumbled, and I noticed my mother elbowed him in the arm as a warning.

We slowly made our way to the restaurant without another confrontation, but I noticed my sister kept staring at Shane, waiting for him to do or say something exciting.

After a few minutes, she got tired of waiting, and decided to make the topic of conversation a little more interesting. “So, where did you meet my sister? And, have you kissed her yet? I’d ask her, but she never tells me anything.”

For the first time in my life, I wanted to hit my sister. We pulled into the parking lot at that precise moment and suddenly my father turned in his seat, also awaiting an answer to my sister’s probing questions.

“SAM!” I yelled, mortified.

“Samantha, it’s really none of your business. Now, let’s go…” my mother started.

“No, let him answer.  I’m rather curious myself,” my father said.

I looked over at him and knew I had no hope of
ever
seeing him again, but he didn’t even flinch. “I met her when she was shopping for a dress last Friday, and no, I haven’t kissed her.”

Sam must have wanted something much more exciting because she only rolled her eyes and said, “Booorrring! Don’t you want to kiss her? Parker wants…”

“SAMANTHA ANN BRIGHAM, that’s enough! One more word and you’re grounded for a week! I’m so sorry, Shane. As you can tell, my daughters are like night and day!” my mother said apologetically, still sporting an evil eye at her youngest offspring.

He only smiled and said, “It’s okay.
There’s nothing wrong with speaking your mind.”

My father parked the car and we all started to get out. I noticed Samantha hadn’t said another word, but just as Shane was getting out of the car, I saw her whisper something in his ear.
He smiled and said, “Okay, thanks, I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”

He walked around t
he car to meet me and I looked up at him, wondering exactly when he was going to run for the hills, but he simply smiled and offered me his arm. I looked up at him and said, “I’m afraid to ask, but I have to know. What did she whisper in your ear?”

I didn’t realize it, but I was squeezing his arm tightly as I waited for what I
was certain to be another of the continuously embarrassing moments of the evening.

“I’ll tell you later. Don’t worry, it was nice.”

I doubted that, and I couldn’t help but glare at my sister as we walked into the restaurant.

She stuck her tongue out at me and I wondered when she was ever going to grow up. She was a freshman in high school, for heaven’s sake.

We sat in a booth in the back of the room. I sat with Shane, my parents sat across from us and my sister sat at the tables’ edge, making herself available to sign autographs for all of her adoring fans that she imagined might walk in at any given moment. The fact that she was still wearing her costume and working very diligently at trying to draw attention to herself, failed to go unnoticed by all passers-by. I was grateful for the distraction because at least it took some of the focus off of Shane.

We ordered dinner.

“I’ll have the French onion soup and the grilled cheese quesadilla, please,” Shane said.

“Would you like chicken or beef?”

“Just cheese, thank you.”

After everyone ordered, my sister was at it again. Not quite as bad, but I was terrified as each word worked its’ way out of her mouth.

“Don’t you eat meat?” she asked.

“No, I’m a vegetarian.”

“Really? I thought all guys ate meat,” Sam added.

“I used to, but I gave it up a while back and decided to become a vegetarian.”

I could see my dad out of the corner of my eye. “So, how long’s it been since you haven’t eaten any meat…a month, a week, a day, what?” my dad snapped, certain that if he couldn’t finish school, then he probably couldn’t stick to anything else for more than a short time.

“Seven years. I eat dairy, but no meat of any kind. I’m not against it, I just…well, my dad used to take me hunting…I hated it.”

I looked up at him and thought I saw a brief flash of pain, or something. I knew there was more to the story, but I wasn’t sure what.  I reached under the table and put my hand on top of his. I felt the need to comfort him for some reason, although at the time, I didn’t know why.

He glanced at me when he felt my hand on his and he smiled, but pulled his hand away and put both of his hands conspicuously on the table. I assumed it was only because he didn’t want my dad to see my display of affection, but I realized I didn’t care anymore. I liked him…a lot, and I wasn’t afraid to show it. I reached up and took his hand in mine, keeping it in plain sight on the table, not caring about the glares I got from my father. I knew I’d hear about it later…among other things, but I wanted Shane to know that I was happy that he stayed and I wanted my parents to know that he was more than just a short-lived crush…at least I hoped he was.

After a few minutes went by, and my father’s face had gone from pink to fuchsia, Shane removed his hand from mine and excused himself to the bathroom.

“Rebecca, you’re pushing it!” my father snapped the second Shane was out of ear shot.

“Dad, I’m not going to apologize for liking Shane. Nor am I going to apologize for NOT liking Parker! I’m sorry that you’re disappointed in me, but…”

“You’re way too young to know what you do and don’t like, yet. This is a phase, I might add, and it’s one I’m not at all happy with.”

“A phase? Dad, Parker was a phase. And only because, for a short time, I really wanted to please you and mom, but you can’t expect me to continue seeing someone that turns my stomach. I like Shane, and whether this is a phase in my life or not, it’s my decision. So please, I’m asking you, begging you, please be nice to him.”

“I know what’s best for you, young lady and this guy is definitely not it! You’re only 16 years old. You’re way too young to know what you want!”

Shane came back to the table just then and I realized he’d heard that I was only 16. He knew I lied to him and I felt terrible. This night was definitely not going like I’d hoped. I didn’t even know why I’d lied to him or why I thought he’d care. I was almost 17, or I would be in a few months. But I saw his eyes flash in my direction as he heard my father announce that I was only 16.

Shane didn’t say a word about my age or my deception. He refused to sit down however and said, “I’m sorry for causing all this trouble in your family. I didn’t mean to.  I certainly didn’t want to spoil such an important night for you, Sam.” 

“Hey, you only made the night more exciting,” she beamed at him.

“Thank you,” he smiled.

“You didn’t cause any trouble, Shane. Honestly. This feud has nothing to do with you. It’s been raging on for years now.” She turned to her husband and said, “Bradley, don’t you have something to say?” she asked.

“NO!”

Charlotte kicked her husband under the table and he finally relented and said, “Yeah, she’s right. This feud has nothing to do with you. If Rebecca wants you to stay, then of course, please stay.”

“I want him to stay, even though he probably wants to run for the hills,” I said, looking up at him.

“Not a chance,” he smiled and sat back down.

The rest of dinner was actually nice and before we left, Shane handed the program that he’d kept from the play over to Sam and asked for her autograph. I knew she loved him and he’d definitely won her over. He also seemed to have a way with my mom.  Now, if only that smile would work on my dad…
FAT CHANCE!

“We’ll give you a ride home,” I said, standing outside the tire store after dinner.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll probably just stay here tonight. Thank you. It was…fun,” he lied and laughed.

“It was Hell! I’m so sorry. I can’t believe how wonderful you were through all of it. Thank you.”

“I told you, you’re worth it. Well, goodnight. Oh, and I’ll see you tomorrow…for the movie?” he grinned.

“Oh, you don’t have to…I mean, unless you want…UGH! Can you go to a movie with me after school?” I finally asked.

“I have to work until 4:30, but I’m free after that.”

“Okay. I’ll um, I’ll stay late at school and do some homework and meet you here at 4:30?”

“Sounds great. Goodnight.”

I started to walk back to the car where my parents were waiting when I realized there were a couple of things left unsaid.

“Shane?”

“Yes?”

“What did my sister whisper in your ear? Please tell me, or it’ll drive me crazy all night. She won’t tell me.”

He smiled again and said, “She said you’d much rather kiss me than Parker. And she ‘advised’ me to hurry up, so that maybe you’d stop being so crabby,” he smiled as the red once again colored my face. “You really are beautiful, and even more so when you blush like that.”