When Michael explained her eating problems, Albert made sure the cook was made aware of it and the result was a huge salad that she was able to eat and keep down even with a light dressing of lemon and lime juice with some spices and a touch of olive oil in it.
It was after dinner that they got word the family was in town, her mom called as soon as they were settled in their suite and Brie listened as her dad demanded she tell him what the hell was going on. “Who are these guys Fleur told us about and how can they afford a place like this. WE take up the whole top floor Brie, the whole damn top floor beneath all the penthouses. And how did you and Fleur meet them?”
“Well, Fleur met the twins first, at a club she goes to on the weekends, and she introduced me to Michael. He’s a researcher dad, for some kind of big think tank, you know the kind where all the guys with all the big brains get together and discuss theories.”
“I know what a think tank is Brie, I’ve been a professor over thirty years, so who is this boy genius. Have I heard of him?”
“Michael James Livingstone. I don’t know if you’ve heard of him or not, you know I always tuned out when you were talking about work.” She heard a cough and her dad make a weird sound. “Dad are you okay?”
“Put him on the phone Brie…” She knew that voice, her dad would not stand any argument.
She looked at Michael as he was stroking her face and playing with her hair. “My dad wants to talk to you.”
“Alright, what do I call him?”
“What everyone, including his kids, call him when he’s acting like he did when I said your name, Professor Mantell…” She noticed Michael go pale and saw the twins were doing the same.
“Brie, tell me, is your father Professor Alexander Mantell?” At her nod he went ever paler as he took the phone and cleared his throat. “Professor Mantell, how nice to speak you again…yes sir it’s me, no sir, I had no idea you were Brie’s father. Well professor the last time I saw a picture of her was on your desk over ten years ago, she’s grown up a bit since then. The Twins sir, yes sir they’re here too, well sir I wouldn’t know about that, I don’t follow them checking up on their sexual habits. Yes sir, that is the hotel you and my father discussed when we last saw you sir, I know he’ll be glad to see you too sir, and I know my mother will be glad to see Mrs. Mantell as well. No, I don’t think they’re aware you’re Brie and Fleur’s parents…To be honest; my parents haven’t met them either. Why are we at their apartment as late as it is? We were just sitting here talking, no I had no idea how late it was and that Fleur and Brie had to work in the morning. Yes sir, yes sir, I will sir, goodnight sir…” He hung up the phone and handed it to her. “Only that man could make me feel like an eighteen year old back at Cambridge again even if I was a hundred years old. Eleven years later he still turns me into a babbling idiot.”
Fleur was looking at the twins who were trying to explain that it had been when they were young and foolish and please don’t hold their pasts against them. Brie saw her sister tapping her foot and knew they would be doing a lot groveling to get back into Fleur’s good graces and her bed. Looking at Michael she saw he was getting some color back. “Are you okay?”
He looked at her with a tender smile. “Brie, there are few things in this world that I can say honestly frighten me, your father is number two on my list, my father is number one. To make it worse those two men together are a damn formidable team. It was your father who suggested the family invest in a hotel in Chicago, he convinced my dad within an hour of suggesting it to see the perfect locality and the convenience of it. My experience with him was not a good one. More than once I found myself in front of his desk explaining myself for a theory or a suggestion I had presented. He made me account for every step of how I had come to such conclusions and then did all he could to twist my words to another theory instead. Who would have thought I would be sitting here cuddling up with you? He used to point to your picture every time he brought me in and tell me his youngest daughter had better ideas then I did. The twins had it worse five years later when he was back for a year of teaching. They were twice the trouble in his opinion. He especially warned them about setting their deviant eyes on any of his daughters.”