The Good Father

The Good Father

As ever, comments appreciated and anyone who would like the opportunity to work with me honing their editing skills, please do reach out. I would value that enormously and I think my readers would benefit as well.

No sex, no willing cuckolds, a bit of playful fun around a Loving Wives Trope.

Please enjoy.

Chapter One

'Your move, Mr Pond.'

Toby looked up at the scorchingly attractive brunette who'd just spoken, with a half-smile playing across his lips. She'd nailed the voice and intonation down pat. He didn't have a witty rejoinder. She was the kind of good looking that tied men's tongues.

He squinted at the board in front of him. They'd been playing for just over a quarter of an hour and he was enjoying the game immensely. He'd played chess most his life, his grandfather had taught him when he was just a kid. They played as a way to take some time out from life. He'd kept up his game and he could play. He was quite confident that he was going to beat her, but she'd just made a rather clever move he hadn't anticipated and he was trying to see if it was meaningful or just a distraction.

'Nice play, Beatrice but I think it's a distraction rather than a match winner. I'm going to call mate in three, Check.'

He moved his piece and looked up at her. He could see she was concentrating on the board, looking for options. Her last move was a clever play but as he studied her face, he could see she wasn't seeing a way out. A stray lock of hair dropped over her face and she moved her hand to tuck it back behind her ear. A simple gesture, but in that moment all he could see was her beauty.

There was a splash from the other end of the pool and loud peals of laughter. That broke her concentration and she turned around to see what had caused the noise. It was his wife that had ended up floundering in the cool water of the pool. It was an outdoor pool heated by the summer sun. He'd dunked himself into it earlier, but he was someone who liked to swim. Arseing around in the water, play fighting, dunking each other wasn't his jam.

He glanced back at Beatrice; she was looking at him.

'I concede. You're right. I hadn't seen it last go, but once you said, I was able to spot what you'd done. That pawn is going to sink me.'

Toby reached a hand over the board and she shook it. It was a firm handshake and Toby enjoyed feeling the warmth of her skin.

'Best of three?' She suggested.

He smiled and started setting up the other colour.

'You sure you don't want to swim or hang out with those guys?' He asked as he set up the pieces.

'What and leave you in peace and quiet?'

'I bought a book.'

She laughed. 'You came for a weekend in a place like this and you bought a book with you.'

He nodded. 'Truth be told, I didn't really want to come. This kind of shindig isn't really me.'

She gave a low chuckle at his words. She finished setting up her pieces and made the first move. The first few moves came quick and fast and she sat back looking at the board.

'Ummm, strongly defensive opening that one.'

'It's called the Caro-Kann Defence.'

'I don't know their names, but I've seen it before. Not one I use.'

'I noticed, you're not so defensive.'

She laughed. 'It's a weakness in my game. I tend to play better with white where I can attack from the start.'

'Good luck. I play black better as I'm a lot more defensive.'

She made her move and he quickly countered shutting down the main thrust of her attack. He knew where she'd go next, it was quite obvious. He had it covered.

'Is that you're style? To defend.'

He thought for a moment before taking a sip of the cool soda on the table next to him.

'I'm a cautious guy, yes. People are generally more motivated by fear of loss than hope of gain and I know that, about myself and others. I like to keep myself to myself, touch the earth lightly.'

'A good guy?' She asked, a hint of a tease in her question.

He looked her in the eye. 'We're all the heroes in our own stories, aren't we?'

He shook his head. 'I'm not a good guy. I know that and accept it. I try to be the best person I can be in the circumstances I find myself in, but I'm no hero. How about you, are you a good girl?'

He wanted to shift the focus off him and onto her and he saw from the smile on her lips that his question elicited.

'I'd like to be a good girl, I really would. It's just life doesn't seem to have that plan for me.'

'Now that sounds like a story I should hear.'

Again, that soft laugh that touched him.

'You never know. My story isn't the kind of one that just gets rolled out.'

'A bit lumpy in places?'

She nodded, her head down. She made her move to disguise the response to his question.

They played in silence for a few minutes. There was shrieking again from the other end of the pool. He could see a game in progress. He could see his wife sat on their hosts shoulders as he waded through the water. It looked like there was a ball involved. The other couples were also set up similarly, the wives on their husbands' shoulders. It was just the host and his wife who were different. Made sense, he was down here with his host's lady companion, playing chess.

'We can play that if you prefer.' She said in a quiet voice.

'If you want to concede already, you ain't going to use me as an excuse. I'm happy if you want to join them rather than sit here with me. But even if I wasn't playing chess with you, I wouldn't be playing that.'

'What's the book you bought?'

He looked at her and smiled. 'I can see what you're trying to do and I appreciate the tactical play.'

He was rewarded with a broad smile. 'Am I that transparent?'

'No, but that rather weak fork you're trying to set up certainly is.'

He moved his knight. 'There, just put it out of its' misery.'

She shook her head; his move just thwarted her attack.

'Next time I'm going to get my tits out and see if they work better.' She muttered loud enough for him to hear.

Toby laughed. 'Beatrice, never let anyone know what you are thinking. That strategy would work with surprise, but I don't think your friend would appreciate the lengths you go for a win.'

She shook her head at is words, not looking up, still concentrating on the board. 'He's my date, not my friend.'

'Sorry.' Toby said. 'I wasn't sure what the relationship was.'

'No worries. He seems a nice enough guy, but I don't get that kind of vibe from him that he's interested.'

'In what way?' Toby asked. He went to move a piece but stopped just before touching it. He wanted to distract her from the question he just asked.

'I get the vibe off him that he's a player. You know, looking for notches on the bedpost. Maybe thought, it's because he's French. He doesn't seem exactly interested in me.'

Toby looked up from the board at her.

'He's not French. I believe his family comes from the south of France, but he's American through and through. The accent is affected.'

'Really?' Beatrice seemed surprised by his comment. 'I'd never have guessed.'

'I'm sorry, I got the impression that the two of you were a couple. Are you not?'

It was like she'd realised she's said too much, Toby reflected as he watched her face react to his question.

He held up a hand.

'Beatrice, I'm being nosy. Let's focus on the game. I'm sorry for prying, I hope I haven't made you feel uncomfortable.'

She gave him a grateful smile and the two of them sat in silence and played for a few minutes. She had the piece advantage, but he was comfortable with the way that the game was being played. She was making him think.

'Tell me about you, Toby. What do you do for a living?' She asked whilst he was concentrating on the board.

He looked up. He replied in a heavy, fake Italian accent. 'Don't ask me about my business, okay?'

'Why? Is it a secret?' There was an impish look on her face that made him grin in response.

He gave her a broad smile before continuing. 'I'm a consultant. I work with small businesses.'

'Oh, that must be interesting.'

He gave her a searching look and held her gaze. After a few seconds she cracked into a laugh.

'OK, I was being polite. That sounds as dry as camel shit.'

He laughed at her words. 'It can be dry. However, I enjoy the variety, I like the people that I get to interact with and sometimes, some rare times I can make a positive change to people's lives. That feels good.'

'What kind of businesses do you work with and what kind of consulting do you do?'

'My clients, crikey.' He paused for a moment thinking. 'I've got a couple of Turkish barbers, two taxi companies and a few small shops, there are some laundrettes and some vending machine companies.'

'Very cash economy.' Came her quick response. He smiled at her words and shrugged as he focussed his attention back onto the board. He made his move and sat back; the game was coming to a conclusion. He'd just set up a swap-off of pieces for her. It looked tempting, but there was a sting in the tail if she looked carefully.

'Small businesses have challenges, they need help. What can I say? I try to be a help. I take on part of their business, become a part owner -- get some skin in the game. That's how I get paid, I then help them with their challenges.'

He saw that look cross her face again as she looked at him. Careful, thoughtful appraising look.

'What about your wife? What does she do?'

Toby gave a humourless smile as he answered. 'She's sat on her bosses' shoulders. He's our host for the weekend.'

'What does he do? He never actually said.'

'He's the owner of a family business. A lawyer. You know what they say about lawyers? Lawyers can steal more money with a briefcase than a thousand men with guns and masks. He's a wealthy man.'

She gave him a strong look. 'Not a fan of lawyers, I'm guessing?'

He shrugged, a smile playing across his lips. 'Behind every successful fortune there is a crime. He's a senior lawyer. A rich senior, lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, it's what the company do. She's a paralegal in the firm. Quite junior.'

'Quite junior, she looks like she's comfortable with him, doesn't she?'

'For someone quite so junior, someone who doesn't have a lot to do with him, yes she does look surprisingly comfortable with her legs wrapped around the most senior person in the company.'

'I didn't mean...' Beatrice's words trailed off; Toby could see her face flush with embarrassment as she realised what she'd said.

Toby held her gaze, keeping a small smile on his lips. She looked down and quickly assessed the board. She went for the swap; Toby groaned and completed the exchange. He could see she was flustered and she didn't take the time to stop and think before she continued swapping pieces.

'Schoolgirl error.' He said quietly as he made his next move, a move she hadn't seen. Immediately she groaned. She squinted at the board and knocked her king on its side.

'That was unfair.'

'Yep, unfair as hell. That's two nil to me. A lesson to you if you care to take it.'

He picked up his drink and slowly drank down the glass.

'What's the lesson?' Beatrice asked. She handed a piece to him, offering another game. He shook his head.

'Know what game is being played. Sometimes you think you're playing one game, when in reality you're playing another.'

A splash came from the other end of the pool accompanied by a loud peal of giggles. They both turned to see his wife surface having either fallen or been knocked off her boss's shoulders. The atmosphere seemed very different from their end of the pool.

Chapter Two

Dinner that evening was two tables of four. Toby found himself sat opposite his wife, with Beatrice and Jean-Claude, their host on either side.

'I didn't know you played Chess, Toby.' Jean-Claude observed as they sat down at the table. Toby didn't look over at Beatrice, he could image the grin on her face as the older man spoke.

Toby nodded with a smile on his face. 'My grandfather taught me when I was young. He was a keen player. Do you play?'

Jean-Claude laughed 'Mais non, I know how the pieces move, but I'm not a fan of playing games.'

'It's an interesting game.'

'I saw you reading after you finished playing, anything good?'

'I'm re-reading the Game of Thrones series, have you read them?'

'Non, I'm not a big reader, I'm afraid. I'm a bit too busy. When I get some time off, I want to relax. I caught the series on Television, the scenes with the dragons really kicked ass.'

Toby nodded. 'The books tell quite a different story. I think the guys who wrote the television scripts did well, but I prefer the more thought through world that the books present.'

Jean-Claude looked at him for a moment. 'I tried reading one, but I struggled. They were quite dry. Like I said, I'm not a big reader. A battle for power and influence between great houses, isn't it?'

'Yes, based loosely on the English War of the Roses. They're slow books; you need to pay attention reading them or you'll miss the detail and the richness and I like that the effort of paying attention is rewarded.'

'You're a consultant, aren't you? Running a one-man band working with small businesses.'

Toby nodded. 'I'm lucky. I've got a little company that does well. We've got a good reputation in the marketplace, good income stream and steady work.'

'Caroline tells me that you have a little place out in the suburbs. That you're planning on having children soon.'

Toby looked over at his wife who was listening to their conversation.

'We're lucky, very lucky. I make good money doing what I do. We've a good standard of living; a good life and it's getting better. I've got no complaints. I've always thought we had a strong marriage, a happy life together.'

'Oui, oui, family important to you, Toby?'

Toby paused for a moment, thinking before he responded. 'My parents are dead; I didn't have any brothers or sisters. I was raised by my grandparents, grandfather mostly because my grandmother wasn't that fit and capable.'

He opened the bottle of red wine on their table without looking at the label and proffered it around. He poured glasses for the three of them. He then filled his glass with water and took a sip. He kept talking whilst he did that and was kind of surprised that no-one noticed.

'Family is important to me. When my grandfather died, I was left alone. I had to grow up fast. The world didn't make a lot of sense, I was barely sixteen and had all these decisions I had to make. It was a tough time.'

'You seem to have got through it with few scars.' Jean-Claude observed, looking over his glass.

'I did what I had to do. I learnt fast, adapted, became what I needed to be to survive.' Toby shrugged before he continued. 'I survived, thrived and stayed alive. I'm appreciative of just how lucky I am.'

'You don't have anyone? No family.' The question came from Beatrice.

Toby smiled at her. 'I have my wife.' He gestured at her with his glass before taking his sip. 'I have my wife and we can build a family together. Our family. I'm looking forward to having a family. I think I'd make a good father.'

'Mon Ami, you need money to give you a good foundation for a family. Financial security is the bedrock on which a family is based, especially if there are children planned.'

'I think you're right, Jean-Claude.' Caroline said. 'It's important to have enough money tucked away before children come along. I don't want to be scrimping and saving to give our children the future they deserve.'

'No, that's no way to live. You want a healthy amount tucked away. They say that two topics cause arguments in a relationship, sex, and money. If you can take one of those off the table, it's a more harmonious future. If you can take both off the table, you're lucky indeed.'

He sat back, contented with the wisdom he'd shared with the table.

'I think you're right Jean-Claude. I think that before you have a family, having financial security is important. If something were to happen to me, I want to know that the people I've left behind will have all they need. Will have a positive future.'

'Tres Bien, Toby. Do you have that financial security?'

'Not quite yet, no. But it's coming. All the pieces are in place, the game in play. I just have to bide my time; be careful and patient.'

'Later Toby we can talk. I've a few ideas about how we can help improve your financial position.'

Toby looked at him. He saw the quick look that flicked between Jean-Claude and Caroline. He also saw how she was nodding at whatever he said. The wisdom of his words.

'I'd be a fool not to hear your thoughts. What's it you do Jean-Claude?'

A faint smile played across the older man's face at the question. 'I'm the senior partner. I represent my family on the board. I work some cases but more I look after the stewardship of the company. Make sure it's set for the future.'

'Family business, isn't it?' Toby asked, taking a sip of wine.

There was a humourless snort from Jean-Claude. 'Oui, I am the fifth generation to be senior partner, all have come from within the family. The company is the bedrock of my family's financial security.'

'Do you have any children, Jean Claude?'

'Not yet, Toby, not yet. I have hopes.'

Toby turned his head to look at Beatrice, there was a look of shock on her face. She covered it quickly; Toby gave her a wink. She was the only one able to see the wink.

'Nieces and nephews?'

This question earned a terse shake of the head.

'Oh wow. So, what's going to happen to the company, you know?' Toby asked.

He felt his wife's frustration at his question in the sharp kick that she landed on his shin.

'Ow.' Toby said, it wasn't a gentle kick.

He could see the looks on the faces of Jean-Claude and Beatrice. 'My wife felt that my question was inappropriate.' He told them with a straight face. He could see the scowl flit across his wife's features.

'It was perhaps, a touch indelicate, that question.'

Toby shrugged. He didn't feel it was indelicate. He turned to Beatrice.

'You've been very quiet so far, tell us a bit about yourself.'

Beatrice didn't look comfortable being put on the spot.

'I guess I'm a student. I study business at State University, third year student.'

'What do you enjoy in the course?' Toby asked, smiling encouragingly at her.

'I like the topics. The study of money and what lengths people will go to trying to get it and protect it.'

Toby looked at her, her answer caught him by surprise.

'How do you mean?'

'I mean for the sake of a bank balance, because lets be honest, people with money have it, they don't spend it. People will sell themselves, their principles. Will use it to corrupt other people, unethically manipulating them, even break the law to get it.'

Toby laughed out loud at her observation and quickly tried changing it into a cough. He spluttered and was handed a glass of water by an amused looking Beatrice.

'Thank you.' He said, taking a sip. 'That was refreshing.'

He could see a look of irritation pass across his wife's face. She didn't look happy with the way that he was vibing with Beatrice.

'Do you know what you'd like to do when you finish studying?'

She shook her head. 'I don't know. I guess you could say that's the story of my life. I've tried a few things but not really found my groove yet.'

'Uh huh. Take your time. Think about what you really want, about what's important for you. Then act with that aim in mind. Don't let some fool turn your head, don't fall into something, don't get distracted. Know what you want, what you value and go for it.'

Silence fell across the table after Toby's little speech.

'What about you? What's next for you?' Beatrice turned the table on Toby with her question.

He paused for a moment, using the thinking time to take a sip of water. 'I want a family. It doesn't have to be a conventional family, I'm not a conventional person. But I want love, respect and kindness at the heart of what we do.'