Gabe had decided to leave work early because he didn’t want to leave Michael with Dick that long with minimal supervision. He was packing up to leave when someone came over to visit him. His ex-wife Alicia had left work when she found out what was going on downtown and put two and two together. Tom had been trying to ring Gabe a heads up, but she was at the door before Gabe had a chance to check his cell phone.
“Alicia,” Gage started, trying to sound pleasantly surprised, “What brings you here?”
“You know exactly why I’m down here!” Alicia said, as she was obviously upset. “I’m hearing reports that you and Michael were hanging out with a rock star for lunch. Is that your idea of punishing him for getting suspended?”
“Well first of all, Dick paid for lunch.” Gabe corrected. “I was invited to meet him for lunch before Michael was suspended.”
“And you took Michael with you?” Alicia asked.
“No, I didn’t.” Gabe corrected her. “Michael was at lunch because you sent Dick to go get him at school. I didn’t even know Michael was suspended until you called, and I was already on my way to meet everyone for lunch.”
“But I sent Jenny’s Dad to get him.” Alicia explained.
“That is Jenny’s Dad!” Gabe replied.
“I’m confused.” Alicia said as she waved her hands up.
“His name’s not Kershaw.” Gabe countered. “It’s Mitchell, as in Richard Mitchell of the Horsemen. That’s who you sent to go get Michael.”
Alicia took a seat as everything started to make sense. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I didn’t even know about this until yesterday.” Gabe answered. “Jenny has been working under her mother’s maiden name. She never wanted to talk about her Dad, and now we all know why. She came to this small town to get away from that kind of life, and after what she’s been through I don’t blame for wanting to escape.”
“So, I sent Dick Mitchell to pick up Michael from school?” Alicia repeated as she finally realized what was going on.
“Yes,” Gabe confirmed, “Dick told me that he offered to help so I don’t blame you for that.”
Alicia stood up to leave. “Are you still okay to handle Michael for the weekend and the remainder of his suspension?”
“Are you okay with us hanging out with Dick during this time?” Gabe countered. He had to make sure she was cool with this to cover his ass.
She paused for a moment. “Well, he still got the school to cut down the suspension. I have no idea how he did that.”
“Lawyers,” Gabe answered, “Dick has an entire firm on retainer.”
“Oh., Alicia said as she really hadn’t thought of that. “That would certainly do the trick. Yes, I don’t mind Michael being around Jenny’s father. He seemed very sincere and genuine when I talked to him on the phone, and he was more than helpful today.”
“I’m getting ready to go now.” Gabe said as he gestured to the half-filled satchel. “I’ll be taking a few days off to make sure someone is there to supervise for the rest of Dick’s visit.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Alicia said as she then stormed out of his office and went back to her own.
Gabe took a deep breathe and then started to clean up and leave the office himself. As he was going, he looked at Tom who was eager for an update before he left. “I’ll get in touch with you tomorrow.”
“Alright, thanks.” Tom said as he waved.
Gabe got back into his truck and drove home to the house. There was no sign of the car, but there was a good chance Dick probably sent the driver home for the day if he did that was asked of him. Turns out Gabe’s assumptions were correct as he could tell someone was at the house when he arrived. He stepped out of the truck and walked up to the door, and he could hear music coming from the house. He unlocked he door and opened it to hear the loud squealing of an electric guitar, which was clearly coming from the living room. There was a record playing on the stereo but at the same time, Dick had an electric guitar hooked up to a small amp and was playing along with the song. Gabe came in and turned down the volume.
“Hey guys,” He called out.
“Oh, come on!” Dick called out, as he was just as disappointed as Michael. “Don’t be that guy.”
“Just for a moment,” Gabe said, sounding like he was talking to two children. “I’m cool with this, but we have to put it away before Jenny gets back.”
“Why don’t you pick up an axe and join us?” Dick asked. “I got you a guitar at the store today.”
“I don’t play guitar.” Gabe answered. He always wanted to learn but never had the time to follow through.
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“Oh, I’m sorry.” Dick said as he put the other guitar down. “I naturally assumed that blue baby in the corner of there was yours.” Dick pointed to the blue acoustic guitar that he found earlier that morning before Alicia had called.
Gabe was about to ask another question before hearing the door slam. Everyone turned to see Jenny come through the door. She looked at Michael and Dick in the living room. Both of them had guitars on their shoulders.
“What’s going on here?” Jenny demanded.
Dick was now suddenly grateful that Gabe had turned the volume down. “Just showing the kid a few moves. I really think he’s got potential.”
“Maybe as a boxer,” Gabe countered as he walked into the kitchen.
“It’s always good to have options, mate!” Dick called back as Gabe left the room. He took the guitar off his shoulder and set it down next to the couch and smiled at Jenny. “How was your day, dear?”
“Rather hectic.” Jenny answered. “Turns out a rock star came into town today. He was hanging out at one of the local restaurants and then spent a few hours signing autographs at our record shop on Fennell Avenue.”
“He was at my school today too.” Michael added.
“Dude, you’re in enough trouble already.” Dick replied, “Don’t drag me into the dog-house with you.”
“What were you doing at his school?” Jenny asked. She was aware of what happened at lunch and the record shop, but this was new to her.
“Hey, it wasn’t my fault.” Dick answered. “He broke someone’s nose.”
“Hey!” Michael whined as didn’t appreciate his turn under the bus.
“What!?” Jenny responded. “You broke Bobby Jackson’s nose!”
“How did you know it was Bobby Jackson?” Dick asked.
“Who do you think repaired his nose?” Jenny answered with a rhetorical question. “That took me the better part of an hour to put back into place. He still might need surgery after the swelling goes down.”
“I’m sorry.” Michael said.
“Well, I would like you to go to your room until dinner’s ready.” Jenny said as she pointed to the stairs. Dick looked like he was going jump in, but wisely chose not to as Michael nodded and walked up the stairs to his room. Jenny turned to her father who looked like he wanted to say something.
“Really?” Jenny started, “You went to his school?”
“It was either that or one of you had to leave work to get him.” Dick said in his defence. “I was only trying to be helpful.”
“Alright,” Jenny said as she only believed him a little. “Please tell me you didn’t bring the lawyers into this.”
“I only needed one.” Dick answered. “I used the threat of them to get Michael’s suspension bumped down from seven to three days. I made sure Bobby was also suspended for three days too.”
“For what, getting punched in the face?” Jenny asked.
“No, for being rude.” Dick replied. “That kid called a girl Michael likes very much a very, very bad word.”
“Oh please, what on earth did he call her?” Jenny asked, trying to understand this whole male macho thing.
“He called her a cunt.” Dick honestly spat out.
Jenny stood there, speechless to what he had just said before her. She paused for a moment to think of an appropriate response. “And how do you know this?”
“Well, that’s what Michael said,” Dick replied, “But this was confirmed by Bobby himself later at the record store after he saw you. Great work on the nose by the way.”
“You saw Bobby?” Jenny repeated.
“He came by the record shop to get an autograph, unaware that I knew what had happened to him. He not only confessed to saying the very bad word but apologized to Michael and will be making a full apology to his teacher and all the girls in his class for saying such a disrespectful slur.”
“And did Michael apologize for breaking his nose?” Jenny asked.
Dick paused for a moment and thought about it. “Not yet.”
“Is that the kind of lesson we want to teach him?” Jenny said as she jumped upon her soapbox.
“Look, he’s still suspended for three days.” Dick reminded her, “My lawyers could have gotten him outta this entire racket, but I didn’t let them. He needed to be sent home to learn that what he did was wrong. I told him that, his father told him that. Chances are after Bobby apologizes to the lady friend whose honor he was protecting, I’m sure he will do the same.”
“What are you talking about?” Jenny asked.
“Do you really think men get into fights about just words?” Dick rambled on, “Michael doesn’t care about vulgar language but if you say something vulgar to the girl he’s taken a shining too, well that’s when you get smacked. If someone said that about a girl I liked, I’d drop the gloves and defend her honor without hesitation and that is exactly what Michael did. It was all over a girl.”
“And you know this how?” Jenny asked just to stall for time. She really hated it when her father was right.
“I used to be a boy in love, Dick recalled, “We do a lot of stupid things to get their attention. We write songs, recite poetry, and yes get into fights when someone says something about her that’s untrue. I also raised four boys…”
“You had five boys,” Jenny corrected him, “And you were not successful at raising one of them the last time I checked.”
Dick’s face flushed and she could tell he was upset by what she said. By the look on Dick’s face, you could have sworn she had just spit in his face. Yet the reason why it hurt so much was evident: she had told him the truth and he had nothing to counter it with.
“That’s my burden to carry,” Dick said as he tried to compose himself. “What happened to Alex was no one’s fault by my own and I will live with that for the rest of my life.”
“I’m sorry.” Jenny said as she suddenly realized she had gone too far.
“No, you’re right.” Dick said, sighing deeply. “I shouldn’t leave Alex out of the equation. I think Gabe has something made for dinner. I’m going to go upstairs to the bathroom and freshen up before chow time. Is it okay if I invite Michael to come down and join us when I’m done?”
“Sure,” Jenny replied. She watched as her father took a slow walk up the stairs. She turned around and then noticed that Gabe was standing in the hallway at the opening into the kitchen. He had likely heard everything that was said between them. Suddenly she felt worse about what she had said to Dick.
Gabe walked over and gave her a big hug. He knew that’s what she needed right now and was eager to be the supportive partner, even if it meant staying mum about something you know is wrong. He wiped a tear away from her cheek.
“Dinner is ready,” Gabe told her, “Clean up in the powder room and we’ll keep the conversation light and off topic, alright?”
Jenny nodded and walked off to the bathroom on the first floor. Gabe knew she was out of line a few moments ago, but now wasn’t the time to say so. He would have to talk to her about it later when the time was right and there was no one else around to hear it. Gabe was required to agree with Jenny on just about everything, but to him being supportive meant not questioning your partner in front of others. You wait until you’re both alone and then voice your opinion and have a meaningful discussion about it. Now wasn’t certainly not the time, everyone was so emotional, and the last thing Gabe wanted to do was pour gasoline over an already raging fire.