On that same dreary, rainy Saturday afternoon, Paul and Maggie Fenton found themselves confined to the oversized lounge of their large family home. The plans that Maggie had eagerly anticipated, the Sommerfield Garden Club luncheon at Tennyson Park had been abruptly canceled due to the inclement weather. The uneaten platters of sandwiches, lovingly prepared by Maggie, sat neglected on the dining table—a tangible reminder of dashed hopes and unfulfilled expectations.
Paul, being not the greatest fan of such social obligations, was grateful for this unexpected respite. Their youngest, Mary, had ventured out with friends to the bowling alley in the neighboring town, leaving Paul and Maggie with a rare moment of solitude to reflect upon the recent events that had unfolded in their lives.
Their conversation naturally gravitated towards the dinner held just a few nights ago, where Dan and Becky had paid them a visit. It had been over a year and a half since Dan had last joined them for dinner, following the bitter argument between Dan and Paul.
Maggie, breaking the silence with a gentle tone, remarked, "I must say Paul, it was truly heartening to see Dan looking so well. I've been quietly worried about him ever since I heard that he and Lisa broke up about six months ago."
A flicker of concern crossed Paul's eyes, although he quickly masked it with his stoic demeanor. He remembered well his anger and disappointment with Dan at the time, which had led him to discourage Maggie from reaching out to their son. Instead of acknowledging his own worry, Paul deflected the conversation towards Becky, who had been present as a guest during that dinner.
"Becky has always been an impressive young woman. I've always liked Dan being friends with her. In so many ways, she's better than Lisa. I can't understand why Dan had so much interest in Lisa in the first place." Paul spoke with a sense of pride at his own prescience.
The mention of Lisa stirred a passionate animosity within Paul. Although normally laconic and spare with words, on the topic of Lisa he would seemingly come alive with opinions, frequently uttering disparaging remarks about her.
"Dan's breakup with Lisa is the best thing for him, it may finally enable him to return home after a such a prolonged absence." Paul declared.
Maggie's anger simmered beneath the surface, ready to ignite. She retorted, her voice tinged with frustration, "Paul, it was just you who treated Dan poorly. I confess, for the first time, that Mary and I visited Dan several times over the past year. We wanted to ensure he was settling in well in his new place in Millerton."
Paul, feeling the weight of his own stubbornness, lashed out at Maggie.
"You shouldn't have encouraged Dan in his self-destructive relationships and behaviors. Lisa barely earned enough to pay her own way, she's still living with her mother and she was probably leeching off Dan. That certainly doesn't inspire any confidence for a financially secure future together. I'm just glad that it's now over and that Dan can move on."
Maggie rolled her eyes, "They're young adults just starting out in life for crying out loud."
Infuriated, Paul turned the tables on Maggie, "Lisa may be young but so is Becky. Look at what Becky is like, she's intelligent, ambitious, eloquent, experienced and thoughtful. And Lisa? She's loud and animated for sure, but she has no subtlety and just wants to have fun everywhere she goes. If you had to pick Becky or Lisa for Dan, who would you choose?"
Refusing to be drawn into such a comparison, Maggie took a deep breath, her voice filled with conviction. "Paul, both Lisa and Becky are wonderful women in their own right. But ultimately, it's Dan who chose Lisa and that's what matters to me. He should follow his heart and make decisions for himself."
"That is not acceptable. I will not have a family that disobeys me, lying to me even. You should know better Maggie. You are a mother to two children who look to you for guidance."
Paul felt a familiar surge of frustration and stubbornness that had once led to his falling out with Dan. Back then, Dan had insisted that Lisa was the one he loved with all his heart, and Paul found himself reliving that same contentious argument in the present.
Unable to sway Paul's rigid perspective, Maggie, her disappointment visible, decided she needed time alone to clear her head. She rose from her seat and announced her departure, grabbing a rain jacket and car keys before driving off into town for some shopping, leaving Paul behind.
As the sound of Maggie's departure faded, Paul sat in the silent lounge, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for his unyielding nature, realizing that his refusal to relent had driven his wife away. Pouring himself a small glass of whiskey from his cabinet, he sought solace in its warmth, hoping to ease the weight of the unresolved tension that hung in the air.
The rain continued its relentless descent outside, mirroring the storm brewing within Paul's mind. He contemplated his own attitude, questioning whether he had been too tough on Dan. However, despite the nagging doubts, Paul clung fiercely to his dislike for Lisa, steadfastly refusing to entertain the possibility of being wrong.
Sitting alone in the dimly lit room, Paul acknowledged a glimmer of self-awareness. He knew he needed to confront his own shortcomings, to find a way to mend the frayed bonds within his family. Yet, for now, in the solitude of the rainy afternoon, he nursed his drink, entwined in the web of his own convictions, unwilling to let go of his steadfast disapproval.