***
Thursday night Dylan sat in his mother’s favorite New York City restaurant waiting for her and Warren. Normally, he found dinner with them enjoyable, a nice break from his usual daily grind. Tonight though, he wanted to be at the office. Several pressing matters demanded his attention. Matters he wanted resolved before Friday night. He didn’t want work keeping him in the city this weekend.
The volume of noise in the restaurant dropped slightly and heads turned as his mother and Warren walked toward his table. Both stopped several times to speak with people they knew. Eventually though, they reached him.
“Mum, you look fabulous tonight.” Dylan gave her a hug before shaking Warren’s hand. And she did. Tonight she wore a cream colored Chanel dress. For a moment, Dylan wondered if his mother and sister owned anything without a famous designer’s name attached to it. Like a pair of Levi jeans and a t-shirt.
Once everyone was seated and drinks were served, Warren spoke. “I talked to Callie yesterday. She said you’re picking her up at the train station the night before the fundraiser.”
Dylan nodded, wondering if she told him she planned on staying with him too. He had every intention of telling Warren tonight, but if she already had, all the better. He wasn’t sure how his stepfather would interpret the news.
“Good. I’m guessing you couldn’t convince her to come on the plane.”
Shaking his head, Dylan replied, “Tried. She refused.”
Warren smiled. “She seems a little stubborn, kind of like me, but at least she is coming.” He paused for a drink. “She mentioned you are letting her stay with you so she doesn’t need to get a hotel room.”
Before Warren could continue, a waiter appeared to ask if they required anything else while they looked over their menus. “I wish Sara would welcome Callie to the family the same way you have,” Warren said once the waiter left.
Dylan nearly choked on the water he’d just swallowed. Obviously, his stepfather had no idea his relationship with Callie had turned intimate. His mother gave him a strange look.
“Just went down the wrong way,” he said once he stopped coughing. “Give Sara a chance. She might still come around. It hasn’t been that long, and it has been quite a shock for everyone.”
He thought Sara was being immature about the situation. In many ways, he felt she hadn’t fully grown up yet. Not that it was entirely her fault. Warren and his mother tended to still treat her like a princess rather than an adult woman.
“I hope you’re right. They are sisters,” Warren said before changing the topic.
For the rest of the meal, they discussed Warren’s campaign, an upcoming debate, and the upcoming fundraiser. With the election only five months away, there was a lot of work to do, and Warren liked to get input from those closest to him.
Right before dessert arrived, Warren’s cell phone rang. Excusing himself, he retreated to a more private area to take the call. Dylan didn’t envy his stepfather. These days, the man ate, slept, and drank politics. This was actually the fourth call he’d gotten during dinner. He didn’t want to know how many Warren had already received that day.
Once Warren left, Dylan’s mother focused her attention on him. “Thank you for keeping an eye on Callie.”
“It’s not necessary,” he said, unable to keep the anger out of his voice.
Wrapping her manicured hands around her teacup, Elizabeth studied him before answering. “You’re probably right. Callie seems like a nice woman.” She paused as if trying to choose just the right words. “But Warren has worked too hard for this. I don’t want everything ruined because of one indiscretion from his youth.”
Dylan knew Mum only had Warren’s best interest in mind. Still, it didn’t sit well that she viewed Callie as any kind of threat. True, he once shared her sentiments, but that was before he’d gotten to know her.
“Once you get to know her, you’ll see she isn’t like that.” Dylan tried to keep his voice devoid of emotion.
By the way his mum’s perfectly shaped eyebrow went up, Dylan suspected he hadn’t succeeded. “Just how well have you gotten to know her?”
“We’ve become friends.” The last person he wanted to discuss his relationship with was his mum.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Elizabeth looked as if she wanted to add more, but didn’t say another word as Warren approached the table.