Chương 3: Chapter 3
It was already dark outside when Richard finished and decided to head home. He loads a couple of files into the passenger seat and speeds away, not a single expression on his face. He dreaded talking to his father about work, because the man always would end up lecturing him for hours on how he was consuming himself more than he should. But Richard didn’t have anything else besides work. It was what kept him grounded, with a clear mind and sated his hunger for engaging in other activities. He had to burn himself working.
Parking in front of the Snyder mansion, Richard takes the files and rings the doorbell. Donna opens it smiling. Her cherry red hair is braided accentuating her elegant features.
“I was gonna call ‘Honey I’m home’, but you beat me to it.” Richard smiles giving his mother a kiss.
“Well, come in baby, don’t just stand there like a stranger.” She smiles back warmly. “How is my handsome boy? I haven’t seen you in over a week.”
“I’m fine mom. Nothing new. Just the usual, you know.” he follows her to the living room.
“Your father is waiting for you in the studio. Claudia told him you were coming over to discuss work and I already cooked your favorite.”
“Thank you mom! You’re absolutely the best.” He squeezes her hand and heads off to his father’s studio.
Alexander was sitting in a chair, Whiskey in hand, his back facing the door. He was looking at some pictures on the wall from Richard’s graduation. Richard instantly travels back to that day, when he graduated with honors in Criminal Justice. He shakes the memories away and places a hand on his father’s shoulder.
“You know why I was so proud and profoundly happy that day?” Alex speaks calmly, his eyes remaining fixed in the picture. “I was happy because our dream, YOUR dream, was finalized that day. You had a great achievement to be proud of. But I’m afraid all the passion I poured into you may have driven you slightly off the road.”
Richard remained silent, knowing there was more where that came from. At least, this is exactly what happened every other time. As on cue, Alexander went on:
“I’m not saying you did something wrong. On the contrary. I’m very proud of what you have achieved in these past five or six years and how you have surpassed my limits. Your drive helped build this empire you’re running, starting from a mere legal office I had. However, despite what you have gained, you’ve also lost a fair share too. Exactly what I didn’t want to happen; consume yourself in the process of building something greater.”
“Alex,” Richard finally spoke, choosing deliberately to call his father on his name, to let him know how it was neither the time, not the place for such melancholy. Alex didn’t look up at him.
“Please look me in the eyes and listen carefully.” His tone came out more commanding than he wanted to and his father did exactly what he was asked to.
“If you think I’m biting off more than I can chew, I want you to remember how you found me. Remember the fifteen year old boy you found alone in the hospital, so far away from my so called home, dealing with the situation that I was and still standing on my own two feet. I know that you worry about me, but I want you to never forget the little thug you picked up from the street, brought home to you family and called your son.” Alex nods with a faint smile.
“Why did you do that, father? You told me you saw something in me; that you saw such potential going to waste; you saw a good heart beyond that blank, emotionless expression; you saw a fifteen year old boy who could handle situations that made even a grown man tremble.” Richard kept going, letting out the pant up frustration. Every time he buried the past, his father decided to dig it out again.
“I did. I wanted to make a good man out of you.” Alex raises to his feet, facing his son.
“Well, I indeed am the good mannered, kind hearted, good man you wanted me to become. But, that blank, emotionless person still lives beneath my skin, waiting for the slightest falter to crawl back out. That’s why I keep burning myself daily. To not allow my past breathe enough to come back and bite me in the ass.” Richard squeezes Alex’s shoulder in reassurance. Alex walks to the bottle of Whiskey and pours himself another glass. He also pours Richard one and hands it to me.
“You know I can’t drink. It’s not a rational call.” Richard laughs bitterly, only smelling the fine liquid.
“You need to let yourself go sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with it. You’re allowed to have a nervous breakdown like everyone else, go out and get wasted, then go home and talk yourself to sleep complaining about life. I used to do it all the time.” Alex raises his glass to prove a point. “Hell, I still do!”
Richard laughs bitterly again, wanting so badly to try what his father means, but knowing he shouldn’t.
“Let’s just go enjoy the pasta. I see you have no desire to work with me tonight.”
“I’m retired. Why do you keep dragging my ass back to work?” Alex jokes, winking at Richard.
“I see. Let’s at least have dinner then. I’m leaving tomorrow.” The older man nods and they both walk out of the office, leaving their memories behind the closed door.
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