The French Connection

Toni had been fussing for hours over her house and the meal she was preparing for her father and the half brother she’d never met. They were coming for dinner at 7:00. Richie having been rousted from his den was setting up a drinks tray in the living room.

"You need to slow down Toni my god you’d think the prime minister was coming to visit."

"Use these glasses love, I just want everything to be nice," she said adjusting a vase of flowers as she passed on her way back to the kitchen. "Richie you are going to change clothes?"

Richie looked down at his sweat pants and sighed it wasn’t a question really was it.

Michael and Gerry as he was called arrived at 6:30 and were met at the front door. After introductions were made they came into the living room for drinks. Toni couldn’t help but stare although she knew he was twenty five she had somehow expected a younger man, being a little brother.

"Gerry…it’s good to meet you at last," she said somewhat tongue tied.

"Yes and you as well…I have seen your picture many years ago."

"Did you…so you knew about us…Jude and I?"

"Oh yes…always I knew…I hoped someday to meet with you and my brother."

Toni was fascinated by his accent he spoke good English with a slight French accent, "have you met Jude?"

"Yes in Atlanta I was there two weeks ago and spent a few days. He has lovely children and a beautiful wife."

"I’m sorry it’s still hard for me to get my head around all this…you grew up knowing who your father was and that he had children. Your um mother did she marry?"

Gerry smiled, "she did when I was eight I believe, I have two brothers they are both still in school. "

"Gerry is a translator, Toni and may get a post here with the French Embassy." Michael said refilling his glass.

"Here in Australia…oh how wonderful…I hope you do Gerry."

"I have to wait and see. Coffs Harbour is a beautiful place and my father says I may stay whenever I want."

"What do you call him Gerry," Toni asked, "I call him Dad."

"Well you see it was different for me we come together as adults I call him Michael but refer to him as my father."

"You have a place to stay here too at The Glen if you’d like," Toni smiled, "I’m going to put dinner on the table.

Richie discovered Gerry was a sports fan so he carried the conversation around the dinner table which gave Toni an opportunity to study Gerry. His manners were impeccable and he had a very engaging smile. She noticed his hands very like her fathers and expressive, he talked with his hands. She longed to know more about him and was determined to spend some time with him herself while he was here.

"What’s that?" she asked catching the tail end of a conversation.

"The Rabbitoh’s are playing and we’re going to the game," Richie said spooning some mashed potatoes into his mouth, "remember I bought a membership."

"Yes I remember…does this include me?"

"Of course it does," he smiled knowing.

"Okay then I’ll go to my first soccer game." She said smiling.

"Ah Toni…they play rugby," Michael said winking.

"I know that…that’s what I meant…rugby." Toni wondered why that was funny.

"You’re not a sports enthusiast?" Gerry asked Toni

"I guess that’s obvious," she smiled

"What do you do if I may ask?"

"I’m a physical therapist I have a clinic here in The Glen," Toni answered.

"Ah I know about that I broke my leg when I was seventeen skiing in the Alps."

Toni thought how different their lives were growing up and wondered if they had anything in common other than their father. "I’ve never been to the Alps we lived in England until I was about fifteen and then we moved to Virginia."

"Yes I know you lived near our grandmother."

"Did you know her?" Toni looked up quickly

"Yes I did I met her just a few years before she died."

Toni put down her fork, "She knew about you?"

"Yes…she did."

Toni looked at her father, "you led two lives didn’t you?"

"No Toni not really…I didn’t my life was with you and Jude and your mother. I could not however deny Gerry’s existence."

"But you denied him a father," she said.

Richie had been sitting back just listening but thought Toni was taking this too far tonight, "Toni…didn’t you make dessert?" He caught her eye.

Toni stood up, "yes I did something totally American…Apple Pie." She went into the kitchen and sliced the pie, each wedge coming out perfectly as the sharp knife cut home. She was beginning to think she never really knew her father. How could he have taken so much away from Gerry when he was growing up. Sending him pictures of his family, introducing him to his Grandmother, everything but himself. She was angry and threw the knife in the sink…better to get it out of her hands she thought.

"Do you need some help?" Richie asked picking up a couple desert plates.

"Hiding the body?"

"Toni…don’t start something tonight it’s Gerry’s first visit be nice."

""I will Richie…I will but after Gerry leaves he’s getting a piece of my mind. It’s deplorable what he’s done."

"Calm down…come on now…pie."

"Right…serve the damn pie." Toni picked up two plates and went into the dining room smiling.