Edited by HJF
The next few weeks back east for the new couple went surprising well in Brandon's opinion. He thought that there would be frustration on both their parts at not being able to be together around Katy's family, but it seemed neither minded it too much. The knowledge that they had wed behind her dad's back seemed to be enough until they could make their engagement official, whether Mr. Hemmings approved or not.
Still, despite the fact that he did not need Mr. Hemmings approval a situation came up near the end of October where he could not resist acting somewhat defiant towards his new father-in-law. He and Katy were attending some fancy party that her dad had insisted they come to and while Mr. Hemmings spoke surprisingly high of Brandon, it seemed the older man could not help taking jabs at Brandon for not fulfilling his contract with Mr. Hemmings' company yet. Tim jokingly citing that the cruise ship reward must have made Brandon rich enough he did not need to keep clients happy.
Brandon was livid hearing this, but before he could say something Katy pulled him away from the table saying she wanted to dance.
"You looked about ready to lose it hon. Don't listen to him. He's just playing to his friends. I learned long ago not to let it bother me."
"Thank you, and I'm sorry. It's just your dad aggravates me so much sometimes. He acts like he knows everything and he's so important. Just once I'd love to pull something big on him."
"What marrying his daughter behind his back isn't enough for you?" Katy said quietly.
"I'm sorry Katy I didn't..."
"I'm kidding, calm down, and I know what you mean, something big and in front of his friends. Especially the way he's been bad mouthing you all night. No one talks about my husband that way. You work extremely hard baby, and anyone who has met you knows that and that check was not something you asked for. I get why you're upset but you gotta be smart and pick your fights babe," she said seriously.
Brandon thought about what she said and smiled, 'You're right hon, I'm sorry I just..."
"I know."
"And the way he talks about you and your brothers like they're so great and you're well...it's not very nice."
"It's okay. I know what my dad says about me; he's said it to my face."
"See! That's what I'm talking about. He talks about your brothers like they're the greatest thing ever and neither of them deserves it in my opinion. I apologize in advance for this Katy but your younger brother is so lazy he makes some of the laziest guys I knew at college look downright industrious, and your older brother? He's so busy kissing your dad's ass I'm surprised your dad's pants don't have a flap installed to make it easier for him. The smartest, most independent and most talented child he has is not at that table he's at but out here with me. He just won't let himself acknowledge it because she doesn't have a Y chromosome."
They dance in silence for a bit before Katy said, "I don't know if I should be mad at you for making fun of my brothers, though admittedly they deserve it, or kiss you for that extremely flattering compliment."
"I'd prefer the latter, but understand if you chose the anger."
The dance ended right after he said that and Katy led him off the floor toward the bar and gave him a big kiss. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me honey, but I'm not smarter or more talented than my brothers."
"Yes, you are Katy. I'm not with you because you're a just another pretty girl, and I didn't marry you because I want a trophy wife to stay home and raise my kids. The fact that you are very attractive and want to have lots of kids and stay home are perks. I married you for what's up here, and in here," he said, pointing to her head and heart respectively. "Those are by far your best features in my opinion. I've been trying to tell you for months now you're extremely smart and talented," he chuckled and said, "Heck you have an Ivy League degree, Katy. If you really tried I have no doubt you could be far more successful than your brother. In fact sometimes I think it's a waste that you just want to be my wife and a mother."
Katy went to speak, but Brandon stopped her and said, "But I know you too well, Katy Metcalf, and I know that that is what you truly want and will make you happy and as long as you are happy so am I. Just know that if you ever want to try something else, I'm 100% behind you."
"I love you so much Brandon, thank you," she said, tears in her eyes as he hugged her to him .
"I love you too, and you're quite welcome." Katy composed herself before they headed back to the table.
When they got there they found one a man addressing the table and brochures at every seat. Brandon barely listened to the man as he sat and looked at the leaflet in front of his chair. The man was from a charity it seemed and had come to the party in search of funds. A quick read of the material and Brandon understood why the man had chosen this particular party to raise funds. It was a fund for teachers, but specifically designed to help those whose family might be considered too rich for financial aid. One example in the leaflet was of a girl from Georgia whose grandparents were extremely wealthy thus barring her from aid, but her relatives were unwilling to help her out. The man's pitch was very good and thought out; after all these men and their wives all had children who would never apply for aid, but he could see the relevance of a scholarship like this to their children.
Brandon felt that that would be wasting the scholarship, but it had to get off the ground somehow and he knew that. Brandon saw the man was clearly not making headway as he began trying to raise funds. Just then inspiration hit Brandon. He thought of several of his classmates he had known in high school that had this problem, but not because their parents were overly rich like these people were, but because their parents just happened to eek into a higher tax bracket and were struggling to stay there. Those parents were truly stuck. With families like that in mind, as well as an opportunity to publicly stick it to his father-in-law, Brandon got a brilliant idea
When the man asked Brandon rather hesitantly for a donation, Brandon smiled and pledged the entire sizable amount of the check from the cruise line he had long referred to as a bribe. He had signed some document about talking about the glitch to the press and weeks later he had gotten a large check in the mail. He hated the thought of it being a bribe so he had not yet cashed it, but for something like this he would. It was a good way to spend that money, plus it thoroughly shut up Tim Hemmings and started mutterings throughout the table.
It seemed the others did not want to be shown up by the 'guy Tim Hemmings' daughter brought' and soon the wallets opened and they each gave quite impressive sums to the cause. The man collecting began to smile. It seemed he knew he was in for a good evening.
"That was gutsy," Katy said smiling, "I loved it, but it was gutsy."
"Well you know I've hated that cruise money since I got it and it's a good cause, plus I got to show up your dad. I just picked my battle like a very smart person I know told me to do."
Later as Brandon went to leave he was waiting for Katy to get out of the bathroom when the man from the charity approached him.
"Look, I know you're on your way out, but I just wanted to say thank you. You made my night kid." He then realized something and asked, "Just realized I never got your name. You saved my night and I don't know your name."
Brandon smiled and said, "That's okay sir. I wrote you a rather large check tonight and I don't know yours. I'm Brandon Metcalf by the way."
"John Pierson." They shook hands and discussed the charity a bit more.
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you give so much?"
"Well to be honest I got that money for something I'm not proud of." Off of John's slight concern he said, "Oh nothing illegal I assure you, don't worry. I think some of your other donors might be of far more concern in that department if you know what I mean." John chuckled and nodded before Brandon continued, "I figure a future teacher could use it better, that and my mom's a teacher. It a very worthwhile cause to give to even if just one person helps just one kid realize their dream."
