Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 745 : The Olive Branch

*Elio*

As soon as I had gotten back to work with Leo, I had completely forgotten about Cat’s dinner party. It wasn’t until we were signing our last contracts for the night, the time approaching four o’clock, that I realized I still hadn’t called my parents.

I eventually decided to bite the bullet, calling Dad, who would probably be quicker to respond than Mom, though I wasn’t sure he would even pick up for me anymore. I was no longer his golden son, I thought bitterly. Now I was the family’s disappointment.

Much to my surprise, however, the call did go through but there was no hello on the other end. I could hear my dad’s breath though, and I heaved a sigh before I said calmly, “Hey, Dad.”

“Elio.”

I couldn’t say I wasn’t expecting that cold response. I shook it off, plowing straight on.

“I know it’s last-minute, but would you and Mom be able to come to dinner tonight at our place? I’ve... I’ve got some exciting news to share.”

There was a long pause and I waited, tapping my fingers on my legs impatiently.

“If this has anything to do with your career choice—”

“It doesn’t.” I cut him off, irritated. “Me and Cat just have something important to tell you.”

“Important, huh?” I could hear the slight amusement in his voice like he knew something that I hadn’t said.

I cursed inwardly. Cat was going to kill me. Of course, Dad would’ve figured something was up by the way I worded it.

“Can you come or not?” I asked impatiently.

“Of course. What time?”

“Five-ish.” I made a mental note to send a text to the cook to make sure she knew when to have food ready.

“Done.”

And like everything else in his life, once Dad was done with something, he cut it off. The phone went dead.

“Jee, that sounds wonderful, beloved son of mine,” I mocked pitifully. “I’d love to attend a wonderful dinner with you and your wi—” I paused, my face heating up a dozen degrees.

Nope, I shook that thought straight out of my head. That was something to deal with later.

I already had a headache brewing, and our conversation hadn’t lasted even two minutes. But despite how much I was dreading meeting my father again, I was also a little happy to finally see my mom.

Dad was a hit or miss—a lecture or congratulations, I didn’t have a clue, but Mom... I knew Mom would be overjoyed for us. She’d always been the easiest to talk to, to confide in. And I was sure she wasn’t going to be happy that we’d be raising our kid in the business they left, but she’ll support us anyway. That was just the kind of loving person she was.

But I wasn’t as excited to see Dad.

Lamenting the long night in store for me, I put the car into drive, pulled out onto the road, and finally headed home. The afternoon was just turning to evening, and I was thirty minutes late when I pulled in.

I had made sure to double-check for Dad or Mom’s cars, but they still weren’t here yet, so I figured Cat wouldn’t be too angry with me, hopefully. I rubbed the back of my sore neck as I input the fingerprint.

As soon as I stepped inside, I heard the music playing, an old rock song that sounded vaguely familiar to me and a loud, familiar voice singing along. I grinned, my drowsiness fading as I followed the voice down the hall.

I leaned against the wall as I spotted Cat in the dining room setting the table.

I chuckled, too low for her to notice over the blaring music as I watched her for a bit. Completely unashamed, unaware of her audience she grooved to the beat, pretending to use the forks as drums on the table as she sang along.

At that moment, I could see forever shining in her eyes. She was the only woman I would ever love in any life. And suddenly, the thought of calling her my wife was only a matter of time.

I kicked off the wall, stealthily sneaking up on her until I was right behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her from behind and she jolted in surprise as I laid my head on her shoulder, grinning like the fool in love I was.

“I didn’t hear you come in,” she said loudly over the music, reaching over the counter to grab her phone and pause it. She turned in my arms until she was facing me, a silly smile on her face, her cheeks flushed from her dancing.

Completely out of breath, her face seemed to glow with happiness.

“Thank you for setting up,” I whispered to her, brushing a lock of her hair from her beautiful face. “Are you feeling okay?”

I had researched morning sickness, and the horror stories had me being more cautious with Cat than I usually was. I didn’t know how bad she was going to have it or if it was just certain smells that would trigger her, but I wanted to be prepared.

I was her support. I had to do everything I could to make sure she and the baby were safe and comfortable.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Cat mused, playing with my fingers as she held both of my hands. “I’m actually really hungry, believe it or not.”

“That’s to be expected,” I grinned, “You’re eating for two now.”

“Is that a roundabout way of calling me fat?” she huffed, raising an eyebrow.

“Absolutely not,” I said quickly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re perfect, and so is our baby.”

“Nice one,” she smirked in response, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I grinned, lifting her easily and plopping her straight onto the table. I took advantage of her sudden surprise, taking her lips for my own. Her eyes gradually fell shut, easily accepting me as I held her loosely in my arms.

I doubted there was anything in this world that could ruin my happiness right now.

We both flinched as the doorbell suddenly rang throughout the house.

Except for that, I grumbled to myself.

“Come on,” Cat giggled, jumping down. She grabbed my hand and led me reluctantly toward the front door.

I stayed a bit behind her as she happily opened it, greeting the faces of my parents I hadn’t seen in a matter of months.

“Caterina!” my mom shouted, weepy but beaming as she pulled Cat from my arms into hers.

I grumbled, crossing my arms but not doing much else. These two women were my only weakness.

“Olivia.” Cat smiled, then glanced at the man standing hunched over.

It had begun to rain a bit, and my father held a bright yellow umbrella, covering them both. He gave Cat a polite nod as she stepped aside to let them in.

Mom passed through, tucking Cat by her side as she chatted a hundred miles per hour about the weather, how much she liked our house, and asking how we’d been doing, while Dad was silent as always.

He gave me a nod as he passed and I returned it, both of our faces blank.

And that was it.

Awkwardly, I was left to shut the door. I sighed, tucking away the jackets that they’d handed me. By the time I was done, they’d all left me to head to the dining room.

I trailed behind, unsure of how this was going to go as I entered. Cat and Mom were already chatting at the table, and Dad sat nearby, smiling politely.

The dinner was all very mundane. Dad and I were mostly silent, only answering when Cat or Mom asked us questions, but the two of them were chatterboxes, talking about anything and everything.

Mom asked about Cat’s school, which led to the drama her best friend Anna had suffered from her previous boyfriend, then the conversation switched to her current boyfriend, Elijah, and somehow shifted again to how Cat’s mom was dating again.

I couldn’t follow, so I just silently ate my dinner, only speaking up when Cat looked to me for backup or asked a question I hadn’t quite managed to catch. By the time Mom and Cat were done talking, we were already eating dessert—Cat’s favorite, chocolate-strawberry cheesecake. She’d been craving it lately, and I was half-starting to think it might be the baby’s addiction and not Cat’s, though she certainly wasn’t complaining either.

“So, you said you had important news to tell us,” Dad finally spoke up once the girls had stopped chatting about the cheesecake. He looked straight at me, not Cat, and I pursed my lips, nodding in agreement.

I looked at Cat and she beamed, grabbing my hand. I smiled, raising her hand to my lips and pressing a delicate kiss there.

Then I faced my parents, my heart leaping into my throat with every hurried beat. However they were going to react was up to them, but for Cat and me, we were bursting with joy. I could only hope they would be happy for us.

“Cat’s pregnant,” I declared proudly.

Dad leaned back in his chair, not the least bit surprised as he crossed his arms. He was completely unreadable as usual, but Mom’s jaw dropped as she glanced from Cat to me and then back to Cat and finally landed on the table as if she could see Cat’s stomach through it.

“Oh my god!” Mom cried, her smile going from ear to ear as she rushed up from her chair to pull Cat into a hug. “That is so amazing! I’m so happy for you two. Our grandchild... oh, I can’t believe it. Gio, you’re going to be a grandfather!”

She glanced at Dad, and I could see the sorrow, happiness, and longing in her eyes. Dad noticed too. His face softened, something that only happened when he was with Mom.

“I heard too,” Dad chuckled, then he looked me in the eye, smiling like the kind father I remembered from childhood. “Congrats, Elio. A child is a gift, like you were for me and your mother. Cherish them.”

I swallowed, the heaviness of his words settling over me like a weighted blanket, but my heart was bursting like a balloon. All of the drama and stress and tenseness between us faded like it had never happened, and I could feel my father’s approval—all the pride and joy he had in me.

Oh, I realized, I had been so wrong.

Cat pulled out the champagne, pouring a glass for everyone but herself. She settled for some sparkling water, much to her chagrin, and the rest of the night went smoothly. Mom chatted with us about what to expect and offered to come and help as much as we needed.

And when it was finally time to leave, I felt lighter than I had before. Cat had been right. This had been exactly what we needed. I went to get the coats and umbrella, happy to see that the rain had stopped.

Dad followed me silently, letting Mom and Cat chat about motherhood a bit longer.

“Your umbrella is getting worn out, old man,” I joked as he approached. “You’ll need a new one soon.”

He cracked a smile, nodding in agreement as he leaned against the wall.

“Maybe,” he admitted, “though I’m quite fond of this one.”

“Why?” I raised an eyebrow at the eyesore. “Is red your favorite color?”

Dad just smiled. “No, it was yours.”

“Huh?” I looked up, confused.

“You probably don’t remember. You were only six or seven at the time,” Dad explained, “Your mother bought this for me for our anniversary one year, so she brought you along. She asked you what would be good. You picked the color—your favorite color red.”

“Huh,” I said. “I don’t remember that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t remember,” Dad said, his smile falling into a serious look. “Like why I quit being the Don.”

I stiffened, glancing up at him. Dad stared me straight in the eye, unblinking. I knew this had been coming, and my defenses raised as I straightened to my full size, unwilling to back down now.

“And why did you?” I challenged him firmly.

“Because of you.”

I faltered, the unexpected answer shaking me to the core, but Dad didn’t give me time to recover, simply plowing on with the story I had vaguely heard but never knew the details of before—how my mother’s father, my own grandfather, had snuck his way into their lives, exploiting the connection to get close to them, and how he had stolen me from my room, brought me to a man who had sworn vengeance against Dad, and held me hostage.

Dad told me how utterly distraught Mom had been and how she couldn’t forgive herself for it, even after getting me back safe and sound. It had been Dad who had to stay up every night, comforting his wife and son who were riddled with nightmares.

The hall was silent as we stood there on opposite sides of the wall.

“It was my fault,” Dad said quietly, “because of what I had done as the Don, what I had to do. You make enemies, Elio, even if you don’t mean to. And when something like that happens and you can’t fix the damage, the blame can destroy you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked heavily, but truthfully, I already knew why.

And so did Dad.

“Because it could happen to you.”

Mom and Dad left, and I stood solemnly in the doorway, watching them head to the car in a blank trance. It wasn’t until the front door shut and Cat turned to me with a raised eyebrow that I broke out of it.

“What was that about?”