You've Got Dad ~ Part ...

a continuation from Part 1 and Part 2

Uncle Tan decided to take matters into his own hands. Maybe if he could actually get those two to start talking, something might actually happen. His son was either too slow or too obtuse for words. Pah.

And so, Nicole and Jake found themselves in the Hartz All-You-Can-Eat Chicken buffet one Sunday afternoon. The minute they saw each other, they exchanged a wry grin.

"What's the old man's excuse?" was Jake's first sentence.

"He wanted to return my Neil Sedaka cd collection and at the same time have lunch with him. I should have guessed something was afoot."

"Nah, I don't blame ya. He can be real sneaky. An all-you-can-eat buffet. Who would have thought it was a setup? The man's a genius!"

"So, are we gonna eat or are we gonna leave?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Since we're here, we might as well eat and 'talk things over'. Make the old man happy."

Nicole agreed. She had a great week at work and seeing Jake again so unexpectedly really made her day. "It's my treat, ok? Don't say no. I got promoted."

"Wow, congratulations!" he smiled with pride in his eyes. "You deserve it. And you've got your new car yet?"

"Yep! Am painting the town red these days," she said with a cheeky wink. "C'mon, let's get our food. I'm starving!"

And so they ate and chatted like nothing was wrong. Both talking about their lives. Their jobs. His studies. Her neurotic friends.

At the end of the meal, she looked at him thoughtfully, "You know, I never thought we could just hang out like this after... after things ended. But I'm glad to say that I actually had a great time. And, maybe we should do this more often."

"Yeah, and save my dad the hassle of concocting weird schemes to make us talk!" Jake grinned and they ended the very nice afternoon in laughter.

---

When Jake reached StarShots, his father was all ears.

"What happened? Did you confess? Or did she confess?"

Jake roared in laughter. "Pa, you are unbelieveable. You know that? Setting us up like that. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Well, a dad's gotta do what a dad's gotta do. Especially when he has a thickwood for a son."

"Hey, you shouldn't call your only son that, Pa."

"Enough of you. How did your date go?"

Jake held up a hand. "Pa, it wasn't a date. But yeah, it was nice hanging out with her after a while. I'm happy that things are looking up for her. I think we can be friends, after all."

"Friends??!! Friends????" Uncle Tan's face flushed bright red. "I didn't plan all this just so you two can be friends! How could you do this, Jake? After all I did to help you!"

"Pa, thanks for your concern and your help. But really, Nicole and I are happy with our lives now. And I'm grateful that we are still friends."

Jake patted his dad's dejected shoulders and don on his StarShots' apron. "I better get back to work, Pa. Customers are waiting."

---

Jake and Nicole eventually did have 'the talk'. What went wrong, who assumed what and the whole hoo-haa. And they discovered that they made one too many assumptions about each other, were quick to rush into half-brained conclusions. In short, they were immature morons who were not ready for any serious relationships. What do you expect from a couple of 22 year olds? *22 year old readers, no offense meant!*

And with all the baggages they have to settle, and the growing up they had to do, they thought they'd make better friends for now. In future, who knows what may transpire?

"Ever worried if you will end up an old geezer with no one to love?" Nicole smiled teasingly at him while hanging out at StarShots one day.

"Nope, Pa will make sure I reproduce all right," Jake smiled in return. "Honestly, I still think he's got the most serious crush on ya, Nic."

"Eh, I heard that!" Uncle Tan frowned from behind the counter.

"Yep," Nicole said as the old man continued muttering behind the counter. "You've absolutely nothing to worry about. Not when you've got dad!"

"I suppose you know that that means you're in trouble."

She rolled her eyes, "You know, I absolutely have no idea of what you are talking about!"

"You heard me, Pa is not letting you off the hook that easily. We may have to have another one of those 'talks' one day."

To his joy, she giggled like a schoolgirl at that. "All in good time, Jake Tan. All in good time."

Uncle Tan who was eavesdropping nearby felt genuinely puzzled. They talked like friends, but they are looking at each other now like lovers. He never could understand how Jake took so long to see what he could spot in Nicole from Day 1 itself. Ah well, love shall have its way in the end. And Uncle Tan would have his grandson. Now that's something to look forward to.

~ The End ~