I picked up the wine bottle and poured the two of us a large glass. It was going to be that kind of night. With my parents, it usually was when it came to me. Perfunctory like the rest of our relationship. How I longed for more – to have a relationship like many of my friends did with their parents was something that would never happen. It wasn’t the Petersen way. We were a business and ran like one.
“Classes are fine. I’m… I think I’m sailing through. Practices have been hit-and-miss, though. There’s been a lot going on, but the team’s pulled together really well. We should have a great season once it starts. I just hope that it doesn’t snow out our first game like it did last year.” I swirled the wine in my glass to aerate it as Thomas took a small sip of his.
“Good. We’ll be down for the first home game, like always, but that might be it this season. I have quite a bit of traveling all throughout spring.” Dad nodded as if that settled the matter.
“Are you still enjoying being captain?” Mom added and sounded sincere.
“Yeah. I am, even if it is a lot of work this year. We lost a lot of seniors, so there are quite a few new people on the team.” Small talk. If we talked on the phone more, we wouldn’t have to go through this every time.
“Thomas. What is it you teach again?” Dad glanced over at him quickly and set his glass down on the table.
“I am a voice teacher in the music department with a strong background in opera and vocal performance,” he answered proudly.
“How long have you been a professor here?”
“This is my second year. It’s a great school, and the music department is on top of its game.” Thomas smiled happily.
“Is it all performance? I sit on the board of the symphony, and it’s become a great passion of mine.” Mom leaned into Thomas, which made my heart skip a beat. Maybe they were really going to try. What choice did they have?
“Not all students are on a performance track. Besides performance, we have students in music education and music production tracks. But all students have to take four semesters of voice and piano to graduate.”
Mom leaned in as if she were really interested. “What if they’re a cellist? It’s such a haunting instrument.”
“Agreed. That and the oboe are two of my favorites. If they are on the performance track for an instrument, they don’t have to take voice. That would be the only exception.”
“Two years? That means you’re not tenured yet?” Dad raised his eyebrows and bore a hole into Thomas. The judgment began.
“No, I am not tenured. But if I choose to stay here, I will be. I guess, right now, that is all up in the air with what’s happened, isn’t it? If I stay or go is no longer my choice alone.” Thomas smiled at me wanly. “Now that we know what we know… When Darren graduates and decides where he goes, it will depend on the choices I make.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. I have to say I wasn’t particularly thrilled with Darren finding his mate while he was in college. I want him to have a future and…”
“Him is sitting right here, and that’s between Thomas and me now, don’t you think, Dad? My decisions will not be mine alone, either.” I reached over and took Thomas’ hand tightly.
“You didn’t let me finish, Darren. I wasn’t thrilled at first. That’s true. But when fate sets its hand on you, there’s nothing for it. It’s a bond that can’t be broken. We all understand that. My only concern, really, is that he doesn’t give up the future he’s wanted, and we’ve planned for him.” Dad placed his palms on the table as if he were trying to control himself. “He’s a bright young man, and we’re very proud of all he’s done in his life. I want to make sure that he doesn’t give everything up to settle down and raise a child before he’s ready.”
“Well, we’re not getting married right away.” Thomas grinned widely. “It’s important for me too. But when it comes to his education, that is Darren’s decision. I want him to graduate and wouldn’t want to jeopardize that.”
“So, you’re being careful? Of course, you are.” Mom was laying it on thicker than usual, or perhaps she had succumbed to Thomas’ charm. “Thomas, you are quite handsome. The two of you do look like you belong together.”
“When the time comes, and Darren gets his law degree, I hope that he comes to work with me at the firm.”
Thomas glanced over at me and frowned.
“I mean, I know that’s always been the plan that you’ve wanted,” I answered slowly, trying to muster up my courage.
“My plan? You were as much a part of that as I was.” Dad scoffed.
“When I was twelve.”
“If you had other ideas, you never mentioned them, and we’ve been discussing this…”
“I know!” I shouted way too loudly for the Lakeview Mansion. Mom glanced around. “I know.” I lowered my voice. “But maybe I’ve decided that I might want to do something else.”
“Might?” Dad replied lowly as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “You’re twenty-one years old, and you’ve been in college for four years, Darren. Might? That doesn’t cut it anymore.”
“No. I know I want to do something else. Being a lawyer… I don’t think… I mean, I know that’s not what I want to do.”
“Darren? Are you serious right now? When did this change?” Mom piped in – her voice a little steely.
