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That makes more sense.
This is actuallyCalvin’shouse, and he’s making that proud old man live in it.
Yikes. That’s brutal.
That explains a lot, though. No wonder Calvin’s father has the look of a bitter, conquered man—hewasbeaten, by his own son.
I remember what Calvin said about how his father was a proud man intent on creating a legacy to leave behind for his son.
Does Calvin realize the actions he took have stripped every bit of dignity and achievement away from the old man?
What am I saying? Of course he does.
He has deliberately dismantled his father’s legacy brick by brick and left the man no choice but to live inhis.
He really is a ruthless son of a bitch. I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of his wrath, but watching from behind the safety of his walls, it’s almost impressive.
Calvin stops fighting with his father for his mother’s sake, but it’s easy to see there is no love lost between the Cutler men. The salad course is tense, but by the time the meal is brought out, Rose has steered us all back into much friendlier waters.
Watching the dynamic between Calvin and his father, though, I start to think about his insistence that we have a daughter. I can understand why he would feel that way if this is his model of a father-son relationship. I’ve never seen a healthy one myself, but I know it’s not this.
If we have a son, it won’t be like this.
I’ll have to remember to tell him that later.
When dessert is served, Rose thanks the maid who brought it out, then shifts her pleasant attention on me. “You never told us how you two met. I was ecstatic to hear about the engagement, of course, but a bit surprised too since Calvin hadn’t really mentioned you before.”
“Well, I’m not surprised he hadn’t mentioned me,” I say, glancing at Calvin. Of course we discussed how we would approach the story of how we met in polite company, but now that the moment is upon us, my palms feel a little sweaty. “We actually haven’t been together for very long.”
I expect his father to jump on the opportunity to criticize his son, but the older man is silent, using his fork to slice into the cherry cheesecake on his plate.
“She was dating an employee of mine and I snatched her right up,” Calvin says simply.
“After we broke up,” I add, so she doesn’t think I leapt off a smooth-sailing ship when I caught sight of a better offer.
“Mm-hmm.” Calvin unwittingly mirrors his father, using his fork to slice off a bit of cheesecake, too. “The man was a moron who didn’t appreciate what he had. He’s lucky I waited that long and didn’t pluck you right out of his arms.” Glancing at his father, he adds, “Unappreciative men don’t deserve to have extraordinary women.”
His father smiles a mad sort of grin like he’s close to losing it and shakes his head.
Wanting to spare poor Rose from another battle, I speak up again. “My cat loves him.”
Peter halts and stares at me across the table.
“The furry one,” Calvin says drolly. “Though I suppose the other one is fond of me, too.”
It takes a moment for what he said to land, then I stare at him in open horror. “Calvin! Oh my god.”
He looks at me as if innocent. “What?” He holds my gaze, his eyes flashing with mischief. “Marie loves me.”
Ignoring her son’s highly inappropriate comment, Rose says, “I’ve always loved cats. We used to have a Chartreux named Misty. She just loved Calvin, she would follow him around everywhere he went looking for a snuggle.”
“Damn thing always chased my feet,” Peter says.
“Do you have a picture?” Rose asks me.
“Oh, yes,” I say, eagerly pulling out my phone so I can show off my kitty.
“When’s the wedding?” his father asks.
