Chapter 17
There next morning I woke up and immediately went to get Courtney and all her luggage. Sign out time was early and I didn't want her to miss it. On our drive back, Courtney was curious about my anxiety to make sure she checked out on time.
"Well, I don't want your father thinking we're abusing his hospitality." I told her, "I really do want to make a good impression on him."
"This again? I'm sure he'll love you." Courtney assured me.
We arrived at my parents house and chatted with my father while killing time before Martin and Shawn would be ready for us.
"So what time is your flight?" My dad asked.
"One o'clock." I simplified.
"What are you thinking? That's only two hours from now! We need to get you to the airport now!" He exclaimed.
"Um, dad, Courtney's father has us flying private..." I explained.
"... what?" He gave a blank look.
"Well, her father is kinda the head of a major investment firm.. and he decided we could use one of their jets to fly here and home... so, one is when the plane will be here ready, but we're their only passengers, so they won't leave without us, and since we're flying private TSA isn't a thing we have to worry about..." I told him.
"One of... their jets...?" He repeated, emphasizing the plurality of the word 'jets'.
"The small one." Courtney informed him, "We mostly only use the big ones for flying large groups or cross ocean flights."
"Holy... just how rich IS your family?" My father asked.
"They are firmly in the billionaire class." Courtney informed him. "And I'm his only child. My aunt and uncle aren't on speaking terms with us, so... there kinda isn't anyone else to spend the money on, since all my grandparents have passed away."
My father visually processed that inheritance situation. "And there isn't an engagement ring on that finger because...?" He teased, over the top sarcasm in his voice.
Courtney giggled, and I rolled my eyes, "I'm not dating her for her money. And we've talked about it. Once we graduate, then we'll look at tying the knot. But that gives us enough time to make sure we're truly compatible, and it isn't just hormones running wild and we're going to end up divorcing miserably in a few years."
That had been a tough conversation to have. I had to face down some serious fears and insecurities and so had Courtney. Her mother's situation had made her hyper aware of the realities of divorce potential, since her father had wisely protected all his wealth with a bulletproof prenup, and should her mother step a toe out of line, she'd be out and penniless with no family and no financial security. My family was fully aware that my mother had had to make my father choose between an AA pamphlet or the prepped and ready divorce papers. It had been the kick in the gut that had given him the commitment to become sober.
"Glad you are thinking about the future. That's important." He laughed, "Maybe your mother and I can retire and become full time cruise residents for real!"
It was a thing he talked about fairly often. How he'd seen that it was cheaper to live full time on cruise ships than to live in a retirement home.
"Well, if this relationship countries to work out, maybe you can just have your own resort with personal staff instead." I told him.
That was how Courtney's grandparents had lived out the ends of their lives. Courtney's father still had the mansion with elevators, and everything else an elderly individual needed to navigate their old age in grace. They still had private nurses on staff at all their residences, so it wasn't far-fetched at all.
"Well now, there's an idea." He laughed again.
Cindy butted in at that point asking if we had plans for after college.
Courtney and I exchanged looks, "Not 100% yet, but since we're spending Christmas with Courtney's father, we suspect he'll have some input on that."
Courtney's father had made a comment to Courtney that if she really liked this boy of hers, he'd have to start preparing me to take his place as president of the investment firm. Courtney said that comments like that from him were rarely, if ever, a joke.
We continued to discuss plans, turns out Cindy had a short list of colleges she was interested in. She had a total of ten colleges, including the university that Courtney and I were attending, as schools she was interested in. She'd even started applying now.
"Some colleges now expect you to start applying before you even start your senior year." Cindy informed us.
That wasn't how I'd done it, applying right after I graduated, but I wished her luck. I learned she was actually doing really well in school, but competition for the valedictorian position was tight.
"There are five of us that could be selected. We all have 4.0s, we all have perfect or near perfect attendance... my lack of extracurricular activities the school recognizes may see me lose out though." Cindy admitted.
"Well, we are rooting for you." I told her. Courtney seemed amazed through the entire discussion.
Cindy had offered to drive us to the airport, and soon enough, it was time to go.
We waited by the packed car for Cindy to run to the bathroom before we headed out.
"Your family is amazing." Courtney started, "In my family, as soon as competition was discussed for a thing like your sister's chance to be valedictorian... my father would start talking about how much he would have to donate to the school or some program to make it happen... but you guys just trust I'm her abilities and merit... I'm honestly jealous, you know you've earned everything you have and it's not just because of who your parents are that you have what you've earned..."
"Courtney, you are an incredibly intelligent and talented woman." I told her, "And many things money can't buy. You will graduate knowing you've earned it and learned everything you needed to to earn that degree. If anything, the speed at which you've caught up should tell you something. And you know I'm not faking that." I informed my discouraged girlfriend.
She hugged me and Cindy arrived to drive us to the airport. When we arrived, Cindy hugged us both.
"I'm gonna miss you two." Then she slugged my shoulder, "Don't do anything stupid, I like this one. So don't mess up the relationship. I want my new sister, ya hear?"