Love You Too: PART SIXTY NINE (Teehee)

-NATE-

"Nate?" Tiffany's father said, walking out of his office and almost running into me.
"Can I have a word please?" I said, backing him back into his office.
His office was a momentous display of his success: one wall was dedicated entirely to certificates and pictures of him and various wealthy men, shaking hands, a display of his own power.
The wall that his desk backed onto was made entirely from glass, boasting an excellent view of the city. But the height of this window and it's vantage point felt almost threatening: like a man watching over his empire.
"What's wrong?" he said, taking a seat behind his desk.
"Why aren't you coming to the wedding?"
"I don't approve of what you're doing. Simple as that. I want her to have a proper education, to survive in the business world but with a ring on her finger from the age of 17, I can't see any of that happening"
"Sir, she's 18" I corrected, now realising how little he really knew about his daughter.
"I knew that. I'm sorry, I can't give her away to a cause I don't believe in"
"So it's me that's the problem?" I said, growing increasingly angry with this pathetic little man.
"Partly, yes"
"What is it then?"
"I've never warmed to you. Sure, you've got the old money family, the heritage, the good looks, but I want my daughter to marry someone who's already established a name for himself. Someone who's shown true intellect. What have you achieved? Captain of the swim team? You're not right for her. Now if you'd please--"
"Do you not want her to be loved?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't you want her to be with someone who loves her? Sure, I might not be you, but I love that girl. I'm ready to dedicate the rest of my life to trying to make it work with her, and if you can't see that then you must be blind. I think that's what gives me the edge on other males in her life"
"Are you saying I don't love her?"
"I'm not making such a snap judgement, but I know if my daughter was getting married, and I didn't attend the wedding, then something would be seriously wrong with our relationship"
"Because you had a 4 month shot at parenting, you think you're suddenly an ideal parent? Let me tell you something, providing for my family was never a walk in the park"
"I'd say it was. A wise woman once said 'if you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money'. Did you misinterpret that phrase when she was born?"
"Now you think she didn't turn out well?"
"I think she turned out the best she could with the care offered to her. Come to the wedding, for her sake. Then if you still don't want to support us, then we'll have to deal with that"
"Goodbye Nathaniel"

-TIFFANY-
"Hello?" my father barked down the phone.
"It's me" I said, feeling the tension already.
"Your boyfriend came to see me today. Told me I had to come to the wedding. Did you tell him to do that? I thought I'd raised you as a brave and strong hearted girl who could fend for herself, not hiding behind some poster boy"
"Nate's not a poster boy. And no I didn't, this is the first I've heard about it, but trust me, if I felt strong enough at the moment, I'd be down there like a flash"
"Whatever. You're just using the miscarriage as a petty excuse"
"I'm not. I don't think you understand do you?" I said, my voice cracking as tears began to flow.
"Oh stop crying!" he instructed, like I was a dog.
"Daddy, please. I need you" I whispered into my phone which was on speaker for my mother and Mollie to hear. Mollie crawled over and put an arm around me, holding me in tighter as I continued crying.
"You listen here" my mother began, taking the phone from me and speaking in a ferocious tone to her husband "Don't you ever talk to our daughter like that again, do you hear me? Neither of us understand truly the pain she's gone through over the past few weeks, so we can't judge her situations and set expectations. She's marrying Nate, there's nothing we can do about that; the only thing we can do is support her. Didn't you just hear her? She needs her father right now, and she wants you to give her away. So please, do as she wishes?"
"Lillian, there are some moments when I wonder why I'm married to you. Don't try and undermine my authority, or you'll live to regret it" he said, hissing as he spoke his cutting and sharp words.
"I'll ask you one last time, are you coming to this wedding or not?"
"No"
"Then move your things out of the apartment. You don't deserve to be in our lives anymore" my mother said, putting her foot down in a way I'd never seen before. She disconnected the call, and came to sit with us on the floor.
"That was amazing" Mollie said, placing a hand on top of my mother's.
"Thank you. Will should walk you down the aisle. I'm sorry about him"
"It's not your fault" I said, hugging my mother properly for the first time in a long while.
"It was. I should never have brought him into our lives and for that I am deeply sorry" she said, squeezing me tighter.
"Don't be. I should probably call Nate" I said, not wanting to part from my mother's arms.
"I will" Mollie said, taking my phone and going into our study and closing the door.
"Mother?"
"Yes darling?"
"Thank you"
"What for?"
"For the last couple of months. You've been so supportive, it's so amazing having you here for me"
"I had to fill in some lost time. I know I'll never make up for it, but I hope in the future I can try to?" she said, leaning back and admiring me.
"Yes you can" I said, laughing through my tears.
"I love you Tiffany. And I'm so proud of you"
Those words struck the centre of my heart, turning it to liquid. "You're proud of me?" I said, trying to confirm. I was worried it was just my imagination painting vivid pictures and dreams in my head again; whimsical and naive images of motherly love that probably never existed.
"I always have been" she said, hugging me again. "I'd best go, and leave you girls to your partying. I hope I'll see you at the apartment by midnight?"
"Yeah, thanks" I said, looking her in the eye and truly meaning it.
"Why don't you call me mom now? Is it too late for that?"
"It's never too late," I said, smiling "mom"