Can't Let You Go

***TALLY/HONEY***

Shaking like a leaf, I hug my father for the first time in years, whispering in his ear, "I hope you're not too angry with me for doing this. I tried to make it seem like the surprise was only on your guests, but you're the one I wanted to surprise most. I missed you so much."

"I appreciate that." Standing, he breaks my embrace.

Walking off stage together, I follow him to the ready room. When the door is closed he turns abruptly to me.

"What do you think you're doing? Bethany and I had something very important planned and you ruined it." An even tone and low volume can't mask his anger from his child.

Letting tears well up in my eyes, I plead with him. "I'm sorry Daddy. There's no way I could have known you had something special going on. I was going to wait until just before you announced the theme for the slideshow like you do every year and then walk out." I sniffle. "When the lights went dark, I realized it gave me an opportunity to make a really big surprise. I wasn't thinking. I just walked out there." I sit and blow my nose.

"Fine. Alright. You're forgiven." He pats my shoulder. "So, when did you get back in town?"

"Not too long ago."

"Which of the Savis Domus locations are you staying in?" Savis Domus is the name of the high end boutique style hotel chain that got the whole Savis empire started.

"I'm not staying in a hotel. I'm staying with Zayan Patel. Do you remember him? We went to Hightower together."

"The Indian lad?"

I nod. "His mother, Malavika, or you might know her as Vika, and Bethany are friends." I want to establish that I'm not alienating people close to Bethany.

"I suppose that's acceptable for now, but I'm moving you into an apartment. It won't look good to outsiders if I don't."

"That's not necessary. I'm perfectly fine where I am. Besides, I don't like any of the apartments we own and they're probably occupied."

"Maintaining a certain image in the eyes of all those business associates here tonight is important. You can pick a different place and I'll buy it for you. I can't abide by the thought of people assuming I don't provide properly for you." His words are clipped in annoyance.

"I understand Dad. Thank you." I have no intention of moving away from Zayan any time soon.

"It's time to go out and greet our guests."

"I just need a moment to freshen up."

Still reeling from the stunt I've just pulled off, I take a moment to steady myself while I fix my makeup and straighten my dress. The simple and demure blush pink dress I'd picked out had been nixed by Zayan with the reasoning that it wasn't nearly formal enough. He put me in a vintage Caroline Herrera textured gold and black gown he had in his store. Frankly, the slightly too long dress helped keep me from chickening out as I walked across the dark stage. I was more focused on holding up the hem than I was on my emotions at that moment. Thankfully, I didn't trip over either the dress or my words.

Now that I've seen the guests, I have to appreciate Zayan's insight even more. The dress that was my original choice would have stood out for the wrong reasons. Bethany had been unable to break away from the precedents my mother had set, both in the genre of the beneficiary and in the color and decor scheme. The event had always been titled a "Holiday Gala," but my mother made it subtly Christmas by giving invitees a dress code restricted to a black, white, gold, silver, red, and green color palette.

I long suspected she did that just to annoy her Jewish mother-in-law. Though to be fair, she was Jewish more in lineage than in practice. The unobserved religion was just one of the excuses my grandmother had for not approving of my mom. I think most girlfriends and wives would work to change their in-law's opinions, but over the years it seemed like Mother purposely did the opposite. I can't say that I blame her though. There really was no pleasing Bubbe.