Chapter 182

Lawrence took a step back and swallowed. Well hell they'd raised her better than to bring up uncomfortable subjects like that. "What difference does it make Elena?? We are here. We can start with that."


Richie rubbed her back. "They could be here to make amends," he said though he didn't believe it. He'd learned to read people early on in the club scene. Who would screw him, who'd pay him and who wanted to pay, but could realistically only pay in beer. Larry had screw all over his polished face. 


But he'd play nice to keep things cool with Elena and her parents. Even if it killed him. 


Milicent lifted her chin and Richie was reasonably sure there was a little piece of wire tied to her snooty little chin. "You simply surprised us, the last time you visited."


Elena straightened and felt her shoulders tense. "Of course I did mother. Visits should always be pre-planned. You should always call ahead a few days in advance when going to visit your family." She winced as the tone dripped from her voice, but she couldn't stop herself. "And the only reason you did the same today...." 

Her voice trailed off as she pulled in a deep breath. "So you investigated, found out he wasn't a nobody, at least in YOUR standards, so deigned to allow for him, or rather allow for his money. Right Father? What if I tell you, you won’t get your hand on a penny of it?? Will you still stay for dinner?"

Lawrence shifted in his spot, his eyes trained on his daughter. It was a test, the little minx was testing him. Family always went to family on matters of money, she could do no different. Could she? His gaze shifted to Millicent, let her answer, Elena wouldn't believe him as it was.


Millicent frowned. Her daughter didn't have an ounce of manners. How could she be of her blood? "I'm not sure where you got that idea, but it's poor manners to speak of such things, Elena. Your father and I were simply trying to mend fences."


Elena's brow arched, "It took you nine months to finally decide to mend a fence? Why do i think it’s more than that?" her eyes widened as the amount of time hit her. "You wanted to see if there was a baby!"

She started to laugh, "Add that to Father's love of money and there’s the reason for the surprise visit. You had to know if I had sullied the family name with a too soon baby."


Millicent stiffened, wrapping her fingers around her clutch purse. "Elena, do you need to be so crude? As distant as we've been, I would assume you would tell your own mother about an impending baby." She glanced down at her daughter's too flat stomach. "I'm glad to see Richard's married you for more than just a child."


Lawrence stepped over to his wife, his arm going around her, "Well of course we care about our name Elena, you should as well, its all we have. But its not the main reason we came. Of course, you're newly wed, and with my experience, well you are both young, you need help in keeping things straight. You ARE our daughter after all."


She closed her eyes. "You came about the money and the name. You could care less if he were a raving lunatic," she paused a moment and grinned, "Okay so he may be a raving lunatic on stage, and he's got the oddest sense of humor, but he loves me. And I'd pit our marriage against yours any damn day of the week. If we lose it all tomorrow it won’t change a thing. Can you both say that?"


She turned to her mother a moment, and for the briefest instant felt the hurt well up that they didn't care, it was all for show, all for their name, all for the status they were driven to have. "You know, come to think of it, I don't feel like dinner out. Maybe if you two ever decide to accept us in full for who we are, maybe then I'll feel up to it."


Pressing a kiss to Elena's forehead, he gathered her in closer. His wife, ever the heart and soul of him, just felt everything so much. "Look, Larry--I wish I could appreciate the gesture you and Mills have tried to show here, but only a fool would believe it. Elena and I have a good life. We don't need your pitiful attempts at niceties. I've only got a few days before we get back on the road." At Millicent's double step back, he couldn't help the urge for a parting shot. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have some work to do on the house."

Millicent huffed. "Renovations?" She looked around. The place needed an entire overhaul. 

"No, a Christening."

Millicent blushed dark red. "Uncouth and classless," she retorted.

"If it makes me classless to love my wife to distraction, then I'm sitting with the apes, darlin'."


She stood straighter, her gaze turning onto her mother as her anger finally began to simmer. "you wanna know what's uncouth and classless mother?? Coming into a person's home with your nose so high in the air you'd drown if it rained. Richie has more class in his little pinkie than you two ever will have because he's genuine. HE's the real deal, you two, for all your generations of breeding don't have a classy bone...." she slammed her lips shut and turned, her arms wrapping around the man she married. "I’d like to get to the christening. Much more fun than entertaining. You can see the door from where you stand Mother and Father, please dont let the knob hit you in the backside on the way out."



"I don't know where I went wrong with you. I brought you up to show the importance of family and our name, but you brought this..." she looked at Elena's husband with a sneer. "Commoner into our family. You can stay with him. Come, Lawrence, obviously our daughter doesn't know the meaning of family loyalty."

Richie took a step forward, his hand wrapped around Elena's. "Loyalty is a definition you'll never understand. Get out of our house--Me and mine are all the family that Elena needs."

Lawrence shook his head, all pretenses of friendliness dropping. "Here today, gone tomorrow. You'll come crawling back when he's lost it all little girl, and we won't be there for you. You've made that bed of yours enjoy sleeping in it."

Elena turned, her eyes going wide as she softened her voice, "You wouldn't know loyalty if it bit you in the ass. Loyal means you stick with a person, not throw them out when you don't approve." She glanced at her father, and coudln't help but laugh, "Who say's I'll be sleeping?"



"Obviously you've been spending far too much time with the lower class, Elena. Honor thy mother and father mean so little to you?"



Her head tilted slightly as one finger lifted to tap at her lips. "You bring up the bible?? You don't even go to church!" She shook her head and turned to move upstairs. Classic line to throw at any adult child who won't live inside the boxes painted for them.  "Good bye Mother, Father. Maybe you can adopt a more pliable daughter from your more status driven crowd."


Millicent walked to the door in a short clip, her low heels fading as Lawrence's low murmur followed. Richie shuffled her up the stairs. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry that they came and upset you." 


She shook her head and laughed as he hip bumped her up the stairs. "Not upset. I hate that they are so close minded, that they won't even try to know you. For that alone I don't care if we ever see them again. I personally think I picked myself a damn fine husband. He's rather talented did you hear?"


"I've heard he has magic fingers even." He said, trying to mimic her lighter mood. He really did just need Elena. He and his folks would always be enough.


She stopped as they hit the top of the stairs, turning to kiss his chin "Besides, in marrying you I ended up with enough in-laws to fill a stadium, and a few rather odd brothers to boot. I have enough family here, I'm quite lucky."


"No shortage of people to intrude on our life, that's for sure. Besides, my mom's got enough love and intrusive questions to cover yours mine and all of the rest of the guys mom's combined." He wrapped his hands around her waist, edging down to the curve of her butt. "Then there's me. I've got enough love to put 'em all to shame."


"And that you do, regularly. Like I said, I'm a lucky gal. Now, I distinctly remember you saying something about a christening?" 


His fingers wandered lower. "I don't think we've made it to the guest bathroom yet. I think I can balance you on the little pedestal sink if I try extra hard."


she shivered as his voice dropped an octave and his fingers delved a bit lower. "Sounds like a plan husband."


"Yes it does," he grinned down at her, lifting her until she wrapped her legs around his waist. "Now then, the bathroom awaits!"


The ring of the telephone, had her stiffening against him, but he eased her back into the mood with a kiss, holding her tight against him. "Ignore it."


she relaxed into him and grinned, the ringing of the phone receding into haze. "Phone what phone?"


Neither heard the heavy breath in the phone as the answering machine clicked over.