My Sweet Canadian Girl Ch. 10

"Oh dad," she said starting to cry and stepping closer to hug her father. "I'm sorry too. I know I should have told you about Rick before he came to live with me but I'd been without him for months and I couldn't do it any more," she said quickly as a flood of words came out at once. "I was afraid to tell you I'd found someone else when I know how close you were with..."

"You got it all wrong," her father said cutting her off. "I let my anger over him leaving you affect how I treated Rick. All I could think about when I saw you with a new boyfriend was what happened with the last one."

"Rick's nothing like that asshole," Cassie said.

"Is that how your mother and I taught you to talk?' her father asked. It made Cassie laugh and her father smiled at her. "I know you're with a much better man now. I'm sorry it took me so long to admit it to myself."

"This is the best Christmas gift you could have given me," Cassie said smiling with no sign of more tears. "I'm so happy right now," she said giggling as she spoke.

"I am too," her father said. "I was too stubborn to admit how wrong I was. I was afraid of seeing my sweet little girl get hurt again and too full of anger to see that I was the one hurting you."

"I know you were doing what you thought was right but you'll see how wrong you were now. I love you dad," she said.

"I love you too Cassandra," he said letting her go and wiping his eyes. She smiled at him and turned towards me.

"And you," she said with a smile that filled me with warmth. She stepped closer and I knew it was my turn to get a tight Cassie hug. "You never said anything bad about my father and you never tried to take me away to California like I wished you would sometimes. All you did was love me until he finally saw how wonderful you are." I couldn't help but glance at her father and I saw he was stood close to his wife, both of them smiling at us.

"I just wanted you to be happy," I said.

"I am happy and it's all because of you. I love you so much," she said giving me what I thought was a brazen kiss with her parents watching. They kept on smiling but I knew it would take a while to get comfortable showing my affection for their daughter around them. Cassie smiled at my shyness and gave me a much more reserved kiss then slipped her hand into mine as she turned around.

"How long until dinner is ready?" Mr. Dumont asked his wife.

"Another thirty minutes at least," she said.

"Come with me then Rick. I can get you the first of many drinks that I owe you while we wait," he said heading to the kitchen.

The four of us gathered in the kitchen. Mr. Dumont and I sat at the table drinking a beer while Cassie helped her mom finish preparing dinner. I tried to lend a hand but Mr. Dumont shook his head, telling me there was no way they'd let me. Cassie said we had a lot of lost time to make up for and drove the conversation between her father and I. If she felt I was being too modest or not telling something correctly she'd jump right in. I told him about my new job and he seemed pleased that I was in a position to provide for his daughter. That led to Cassie telling him all about my investment portfolio so he knew that I'd never relied on her. He didn't say it but I could tell he was impressed to hear that a man who was less than a year out of college was debt free with considerable savings.

Mr. Dumont asked questions about my family, looking sad when I mentioned my parent's divorce and smiling when I told him my sister was having a baby soon. Immediately it struck me that he was just like the rest of his family but I'd never seen this side of him until now. Cassie couldn't resist telling her parents how wonderful my family was, my sister and mother in particular. That led to us talking about my mother's visit during American Thanksgiving and our plans to make a trip to California in April to see Susan's baby. Cassie's mom made us promise to introduce her to my mother the next time she visited. For a moment I found myself wracking my brain trying to figure out a way to make that happen before I remembered we could invite her parents to visit anytime now. It was going to take a while to get used to Mr. Dumont's acceptance of me but that was much better than the alternative. I went ahead and asked them to come to dinner some night this week, then made them all smile when I quickly backtracked and sought Cassie's approval first.

Cassie felt it was time for her to take over for a bit and started with what it was like to meet me. They learned for the first time that I'd been to their house back in March. Thankfully she didn't mention me sharing her bed for that whole week. It would have made me feel very uncomfortable even though it was obvious we started a sexual relationship before returning to our respective schools. With tears in her eyes she explained what it was like watching me drive away that morning and how much she craved just a glimpse of my smile during the months apart. Her father looked sad and said he understood why she couldn't say no to bringing me home to Vancouver with her now. We all knew without him having to say it, that he'd never fully forgive himself for trying to drive away someone who meant so much to her.

There were happier topics for her to discuss too. She told them all about our first trip to LA and how she'd found the confidence to wear shorts out in public for the first time since her accident thanks to me. We talked about our volunteer work at the hospital and how good it felt to do it together. In preparation for bigger things, she stressed how good I was with children citing the hospital, our camping trip, and her nephew Matthew as examples of young kids I'd charmed almost instantly. Her mother Kathleen cut in and said she didn't need to convince them I was good with children because they knew she wouldn't be with me if I wasn't. Cassie blushed a little at that making her father laugh but she wasn't finished telling them how great I was yet. She started to tell them about the wonderful gifts I'd given her, leaving out her Christmas gifts until their visit of course, and all the special things I did for her which led to her talking about the surprise birthday party I threw for her.

Dinner was almost ready now and her mother needed her so it was my turn to talk again. I was anxious to learn about the man who was already my father in law and had plenty of questions for Mr. Dumont. Her father had been a painful subject for Cassie to discuss up until now and as a result I knew relatively little about him. She'd told me that after his heart attack he'd retired from field duty a few years early but still worked part time at a desk job with the police department. Other than that he spent as much time fishing as possible. His face lit up when I asked him about fishing and he asked his own questions about what I had learned during my trips with Marc. With Cassie looking at him expectantly he asked me to join him for a day of fishing sometime soon prompting his daughter to come over and kiss the top of his head.

Cassie and her mother were busy putting the finishing touches on our meal and sent us out of the kitchen were we wouldn't be a distraction. He took me downstairs for another beer and shocked me by saying he saw a lot of himself in me. Without me having to ask, he told me what he meant. Back in the early 70s he was a month from high school graduation and counting the days anxiously. His family had moved to British Columbia from a small town a few hours outside of Montreal and he dreamed of moving back his whole life. He hated living so far from what he called home that he couldn't wait to become a man and return to where he fit in.

At home in Quebec he'd been a model student but forced to attend an English school when what little English he spoke was with a thick accent left him far behind the other kids. They all thought he was stupid and before he knew it he'd been held back a year. He was much bigger than the other kids too and that it made things look even worse. People thought he was three or four years behind instead of just one. Working twice as hard to get grades well below what he'd attained with ease back home was a source of constant frustration.

By the time he was in high school, he'd found solace in sports and finally started to make some friends. Back then fighting in hockey was common, even expected, and high school games were no exception. After their first few games there wasn't a player in their league willing to take him on. His skating wasn't the best and the most goals he ever scored in a season was twelve but he'd found a place where he felt comfortable. He played football too as an offensive lineman and because of that he became friends with the quarterback. Some of the same people who for years had made fun of him calling him a "stupid frog" wanted to be his friend all of sudden. As if reading my mind, he explained that's how he developed his suspicious nature.

With only a few weeks left to school there were constant parties to attend and he got invited to them all. His parents seemed to think that meant he'd stay out on the west coast now but he assured them he still longed to go home, that there was no reason to stay. It was at one of those parties that he met his reason to stay, Kathleen Abbott. When he met her she was a beautiful young girl with long blonde hair who thought his accent was cute. The faded picture he showed me from his wallet would have reminded me of Cassie even if I didn't know it was her mother. Kathleen went to an all girls high school and he'd never seen her before but the moment they met he fell for her and somehow she fell for him too. Eventually he did make it back to Quebec, they went there for their honeymoon so he could introduce his beautiful bride to the friends and family who couldn't make it to their wedding.

Before he could tell me more Cassie appeared at the doorway to call us for dinner. I was famished after eating only a small breakfast before we left that morning. She giggled at me as I raced past her and up the stairs but I wasn't just hungry, I was anxious to taste Mrs. Dumont's cooking. My wife was a great cook and she'd told me countless times it was her mother who taught her everything she knew. Mrs. Dumont asked her husband and me to pull the sturdy wooden table in the kitchen out from the wall so it could sit four and told us to take our seats. Cassie brought me a plate at the same time her mother delivered one to her father but neither of us dared to lift a fork until they came back to join us.

"I want to make a toast before we eat," her mother said when Mr. Dumont had finished pouring wine for us. "To the man my daughter has chosen to be hers. We've waited far too long to accept you Rick but I want you to know how much it means to see her with someone who makes her happy. To my husband and daughter. I love you both so much and..." her voice cracked as she started to cry.

"It's okay mom," Cassie said reaching over to touch her arm.

"It's just... I've been caught in the middle for so long and... and... all I wanted was to see you smiling together again," she stammered.

"You've been with me long enough to know what a stubborn fool I can be," Mr. Dumont said. "You promised no more crying if I made things right."

"This is different," she said sniffling.

"Cassie calls them the good kind of tears," I said before I could catch myself.

"Are you saying you make her cry?" Mr. Dumont said in voice that revealed his lack of true anger.

"He makes me cry all the time and I love it," she said beaming a beautiful smile at me.

"I've waited so long to have a nice dinner with the four of us together," her mother said. "To the first of many meals with our daughter and her boyfriend," she added finishing her disjointed toast. "Now let's eat before everything gets cold and dinner is ruined."

Mrs. Dumont had cooked a delicious pot roast dinner that made my mouth water at the sight and smell of it and my stomach scream for more when the first morsel hit it. As we ate the women continued a conversation that had started while I was downstairs with Mr. Dumont. Cassie was still trying to convince her mother that she'd gone through too much trouble after cooking a big turkey the day before that was still sitting in the fridge not even half eaten yet. Her mother was adamant that she wouldn't dream of serving me leftovers for my first meal at her home and that it was far too late now so there was no point in arguing over it. My wife brought up the turkey we had for Thanksgiving but I was hesitant to get in the middle, even if it was just playful banter between them. She relayed the story herself, emphasizing how much I enjoyed leftover turkey which her mom countered by saying I could help myself to as much as I wanted then. Mr. Dumont shook his head with an expression that said he'd seen this sort of scene many times before so I put an end to it by asking my wife if she'd serve her parents leftovers the first time they visited us. Her scowl was absurdly cute and her father's boisterous laughter was music to my ears.

I'd desperately wanted Cassie's father to accept me for her sake but I never imagined how good it would make me feel to earn his respect at last. As we ate I caught my wife stealing glances between her father and I with the most beautiful Christmas smile in the world. It warmed my heart to know that together, her father and I had given her what she wanted more than anything. In truth, she wanted us to have children of our own more than my friendship with her father but one just wouldn't be the same without the other. The only obstacle that remained to living our lives as we wanted now was our secret marriage. My eyes caught hers and I could sense she was thinking about it too. It bonded us together in deceit but the guilt paled in comparison to knowing we'd pledged a lifetime of love to each other.

Cassie's parents still needed some time to warm up to me but everyone else in our lives was already counting the days until we announced a wedding date. I couldn't wait until the day I asked my wife to marry me again. This time she'd get a diamond engagement ring that was going to make her cry in the good way she liked and a wedding shower to celebrate with her friends. We could have our ceremony in a church full of her friends and family, with a few rows set aside for my guests. I'd take her wherever she wanted to go for our honeymoon and then when we came home to our house, we could start trying to conceive our first child.

Having let my mind wander, I didn't hear Mrs. Dumont ask me if I wanted dessert and coffee until Cassie shook my leg with her foot. She grinned at my embarrassed smile and for a moment I was worried she took my red face to mean I'd been thinking lewd thoughts about her daughter. An image of Cassie's naked body was never far from the forefront of my mind and soon as I thought about it there it was filling my mind's eye and starting to do the same to my pants. I chanced a look at Mr. Dumont and if he was onto me he hid it well. He might have accepted me as his daughter's boyfriend but there was no way he wanted me thinking about her like I did.

Dessert arrived in the form of a homemade black forest cake. Cassie had told me about her mother's special occasion dessert plenty of times. She stared at the large hunk of cake on her plate with a guilty expression until I told her I'd eat hers too if all she was going to do is stare at it. Her mom returned with drinks and there was a glass of milk for Cassie. Before I could open my mouth to ask for one, she rushed back to the kitchen to get me one too because I gave her daughter's a brief but longing glance. The cool milk washed down the decadent dessert perfectly. If anything, the cake was better than anticipated just like everything else Mrs. Dumont served and I'd come with high expectations of the woman who taught my sweet Canadian girl to cook.

"I can show you kids to your rooms..." Mrs. Dumont started to say.

"Rooms?" Cassie said. "I think we'll be fine sharing one."

"You know the rules," her father said.

"Your rules aren't fair," she said with more annoyance than anger in her voice. "You let Jay bring home..."

"...three different girls for ski trips the same winter and they all stayed in his room," her father finished for her in a bored voice. It was obvious he'd heard that argument before and was ready to dismiss it again.

"Can you talk to your husband?" Cassie asked her mother.

"It's only for two nights," her mom said.

"It's okay sweetie," I said trying to calm her down.

"Fine. But just so you know dad, when we get home I'm taking Rick straight to bed with me," she said daring him to say something to her. My eyes bulged out of my head and nothing could have made me turn my head to look at him. I was expecting his big, meaty fist to club me in the side of the head any moment now. Every second of silence made me feel more uncomfortable until Cassie realized the position her words had put me in and came to my rescue. "Let's go to our rooms Rick. We'll want to put on cooler clothes before dad gets the fireplace going."

"I wanted to crawl under my chair," I whispered to her as I followed her to our suitcase that was still near the front entrance.

"He knows we've been sleeping in the same bed for months now and he still has his stupid rules," she said in a clearly frustrated voice.

"Let me carry that," I said taking the suitcase from her. I noticed her mother following us out of the corner of my eye. She wore an apologetic frown. In all honesty, if this was the worst I faced during our visit I'd consider myself lucky.

"You can take Marc's old room it's the biggest," Cassie said as we got to the top of the stairs.

"I'll bring the suitcase to your room first and get my things from it," I said. Her door was closed and with a sigh she opened it before turning on the lights. "What happened to my bed?" Cassie asked. Her single bed was gone and in it's place there was a new queen-sized one.

"Santa must have left this new one for you," her mom said smiling at her. "There's plenty of room for two now."

"Oh mom," Cassie said looking at her guilty frown. "Why didn't you stop me before I said what I did? He's going to be mad at me now."

"I thought it was funny," Mrs. Dumont said.

"I didn't," I said.

"Neither of you should worry about him. It's time for him to realize his daughter isn't a little girl anymore. There's no reason for separate rooms when you've been living together for over half a year," Cassie's mom said. She smiled at me and I took it to mean she'd accepted the fact her daughter was intimate with the man she'd chosen to be hers.

"But you know what he's like," Cassie said.

"A lot better than you do," her mother said. "Your father and I had this argument a few weeks ago when I told him we needed to replace your bed. He tried to talk me out of it but I got my way in the end. I finally convinced him that it was insulting to give your brothers bigger beds for them and their partners but not you. Besides, when all three of our children come to visit at the same time there's no way I'm making Rick sleep on the couch."

"Still... he hates knowing I'm with a man," Cassie said. The way she said the word with made it obvious she meant sex.

"You're right about that but he wants you to have children of your own someday and he certainly knows where they come from," Mrs. Dumont said.

"We're not even engaged," Cassie said as she looked at me with apologetic eyes, telling me how sorry she was for denying our love for the sake of secrecy before she continued, "Much less married." I was strangely devoid of pain when I heard her say those words. We hid our marriage everyday of our lives. It didn't feel real even to us sometimes until we were alone and one of us said something to remind the other.