As you can imagine, I have been busy with Morgan and Brooke over the past few days. Yesterday, however, I was called away to tend to another of my assignments. This can be the difficult as a Cupid takes on several concurrent assignments—sometimes they will need one’s attention at the same time. Thankfully, we have the assistance of our juniors. I myself when I was in training worked with several of my seniors, helping to watch and assess when their assigned pairs needed their intervention. Thanks now to Shahidi, one of the most sensitive of those who have helped me in the past. I believe he will be elevated to serve in his own right when the new season begins.
Shahidi was responsible for looking after Don and Charlotte in this time, and he observed the approach of a new milestone in their relationship: the moment when Charlotte was to meet Don’s children. It was not by arrangement. In fact, Don has asked Charlotte in the past to stay away on the weekends when Jayden and Priscilla were staying with him. Charlotte, however, has a mind of her own, and she believes that Don is too cautious. Yesterday she made up her mind to surprise Don, and Shahidi very rightly sent for me to witness the encounter.
It was good that I was present. Don had no warning that Charlotte was going to come; he and the children were just sitting down to supper when she came in. His heart flooded with panic when she pushed open the door, smiling at the three of them. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, setting her briefcase on the counter beside the kitchen door.
Jayden and Priscilla stared at her, and then turned to look at their father, who was turning pale. He is a man who makes words his business, however, and has had more difficult moments than this which he has turned to his favor. Clearing his throat, he got to his feet with a smile. “Charlotte,” he said lightly. “Sorry we started without you.” He went to her, kissed her cheek with only the slightest hesitation, and murmured in her ear, “Nice of you to spring this on me.”
“Oh, grow a pair,”[1] she murmured back with her sweetest smile. She took off the glasses she wears to drive and slipped them into their leather case. “Work went longer than I expected. But I’m here now! Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“Of course,” he said, thinking that he had little choice at this point. He hung up her purse for her, then led her over to the table, where Jayden stood up to shake her hand. Priscilla remained where she was, studying Charlotte closely. Priscilla is close to her sixteenth birthday, with a sweet face and a sweet voice that hide a very sharp mind.
“Well, I have been so looking forward to meeting you both,” Charlotte said, settling into Don’s chair while he fetched a new plate and chair for himself. “Don has told me so much.”
“Really?” Priscilla asked, raising her eyebrows innocently. “He hasn’t said very much about you.”
“Pris,” Don began, but Charlotte waved him silent. I encouraged him to let her handle this—Charlotte is a very capable women in nearly any situation.
“Your father is a very careful man,” Charlotte told Priscilla with a smile. “He doesn’t like to talk about something unless he’s sure of it.” She laid a hand over Don’s and gave him a smile. “But he doesn’t need to worry; I’m going to be around for a while.”
There was something of a challenge in those words, which worried me, but Priscilla responded well; she respects strong women. “How long have the two of you been dating?” she asked, her tone less cutting than before.
“Oh, about six weeks now, right, Don?”
“How did you meet?” Priscilla asked.
Don turned beet red, and I was ready to stop Charlotte if she said something inappropriate—she does have a tendency to wickedness sometimes—but she was quite circumspect. “He was having a very bad day,” she said, looking with amusement at Don. “But I could still tell that he was a good guy. And he improves on better acquaintance.”
The conversation continued into easier topics—they spoke of Charlotte’s hotel, Priscilla’s college plans, Jayden’s schoolwork, and Don’s latest cases. Through it all, I was doing my best to track the thoughts of all four. Jayden, who in the past few weeks has begun to appreciate the changes in his father, liked Charlotte almost right away, and he could see how much Don enjoys her company. Priscilla liked her, too, but she maintained her distance. She felt a small seed of resentment that Don could be this attentive and kind with a woman other than her mother. I did what I could to diminish this feeling—it serves no one, now, and in any case both women are happy where they are in their lives.
Don, watching Charlotte interact with his children, was relieved to see that they got along well enough. He realized over the course of the meal that if he wants Charlotte to be a permanent fixture in his life, she will have to know his family, and though he hesitated to make it happen, he is glad to see it working out. Charlotte herself was more nervous than she had expected, having planned this encounter herself. It was not until later in the evening that she realized how important it is to her that Priscilla and Jayden accept her. She has seen how much Don loves his children, how much joy they give him. It has given her a longing that she has never felt before: the desire to be part of a family.
There was only one potentially dangerous moment, which came as the meal was ending and Jayden rose to help his father clear the table without being asked.
“What a gentleman, thank you,” Charlotte said as she handed her plate to Jayden. “Someone’s taught you well.”
Priscilla stiffened, just slightly, but enough that Charlotte and Don both noticed. “Yes,” she said, and gave Charlotte a smile with teeth. “My mother. She’s quite a woman. Hasn’t Dad told you that?”
Don looked down at the table. He did not expect such animosity, given that he and Maria separated many years ago. But this is the first woman who has remained in his life long enough to meet his son and daughter, and thus it was bound to bring up old feelings. Jayden stood motionless, wishing his sister hadn’t spoken.
Charlotte did not know how to respond, but I urged her to see that Priscilla’s challenge came out of the love and respect she bears for her mother. This calmed Charlotte; it is something she can understand. She met Priscilla’s eyes. “Even if he hadn’t,” she said to the young woman, “I would know it from having met you. Maybe next time you can tell me about her.”
This surprised Priscilla, and she lowered her eyes. “Maybe I will,” she said, and she picked up her own plate and fled from the table. Some of her resentment was beginning to fade.
Pleased and proud, Don took Charlotte’s hand, and she smiled at him. There is work yet to be done between them and the children, but they have made a good start, and the incident has strengthened their bond. They will do very well, I think.
[1] I am uncertain as to what, exactly, Don is supposed to grow a pair of, but it is a phrase I have heard used to imply one is being weak and should be stronger.