Page 8 of Goodbye To Tomorrow

"Where is father, mother?" I asked.

"He said he would be down in a moment," she responded without looking at me, her gaze still transfixed on Gracen. “You did not tell me she was this gorgeous Son."

Another round of footsteps could be heard walking down the stairs.

"Good morning, father," I greeted with my hand outstretched, heading towards the stairs.

My father had a slight smile on his face as he slowly walked his way down the stairs. I glanced back at Gracen. I could tell she was nervous. I gave her a comforting smile before turning back to my father.

"Morning Son," he replied shaking my hand before he pulled me into a back patting short embrace.

We walked back to the sitting room, so I could introduce my father to the woman I hoped to make my wife.

"There is someone I would love you to meet, father," I said, as I went to Gracen’s side and clutched her hand in mine. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze to calm her apprehension.

"Father...meet Gracen...my fiancée. She is the one I've been talking to you about over the phone," I said, as he stood before us.

"Hello Mr. Sampson. It’s so nice to finally meet you and your wife," Gracen said shyly, gesturing her arm in my mother's direction.

My father nodded his head in greeting. He had a tight smile on his lips as he made his way over to sit in his favorite chair.

"Jiraiya has said quite a lot about you over the phone,” he told her as he sat. “No wonder the boy can’t find his way home more often,” he added.

Gracen and I went to sit in the chairs directly opposite him and adjacent to my mother. “I’ve been busy in the office,” I replied in way of apology. “You taught me to be at the top of my game and that’s what I’m doing.”

"Is Rose done in the kitchen? I'm hungry." Father responded, ignoring me, almost immediately facing mother.

"Rose is almost done with the meal," my mother replied.

“Good," he stated.

"So, my son told us you are a model?" He turned his attention towards Gracen once again; eyes hard and piercing. I flash him a look, telling him to behave, but he pretends not to see.

"Yes, Sir. I am a fashion model for a global magazine and several local magazines.”

"Oh, wow," my mother exclaimed in admiration.

"And how has prancing around in front of a camera worked out for you so far?" My father probed; paying no mind to his wife's surprised gasp.

"Well... It has been good so far; quite challenging having to be on the move at a moment’s notice. But all in all, it's been a wonderful experience,” she responded, as though she had prepared for the question. Only I knew she was anything but calm.

The look on my father's face however did not suggest that he was impressed with her answer—not one bit. He stared at Gracen intently, as if trying to study her and see into her character.

"As a fashion model, what exactly do you do?" He asked with a smirk to his lips.

Gracen seemed as if she could sense the distaste in his tone; I certainly could. In direct contrast, my mother was so overwhelmed with excitement that she barely noticed anything out of the ordinary. I saw through Father’s calm demeanor; I knew he was asking routine questions to assess my soon-to-be bride. It was beginning to get out of hand.

Gracen tried to take it all in stride as she answered my father’s questions. "Well...basically, I get paid to appear in front of the camera," she blurted out, trying to sound funny.

No surprise that mother got the joke; she burst into loud laughter. My father maintained his tight-lipped smile, earning him a frown of disapproval from me. Father continued his quizzing as if he were the family lawyer.

"So, I am guessing there are times you might have to-- how do they say it these days; bare it all?"

The look on everyone's face, with the exception of my father’s, was one of instant shock, confusion, and blankness. My mom had her mouth ajar, her palms placed on her cheeks in embarrassment.

Just as he was about to speak further, Rose the cook swept into the room.

"Good morning, Jiraiya. It’s good to have you home. Good morning to everyone, breakfast is served!"

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