Chapter 7: Bad Examples

The atmosphere became a bit tense and Daniel simply looked to the side. He wanted her to leave already. During their date, he had strongly disliked her attitude and was annoyed by her conversation topics - she kept asking about his children. It was a vulgar way of showing her interest in Daniel, using his children to get to him.

"I was telling Mary it was you and she wouldn't believe it. What would Daniel Crusher be doing with a young girl in a place like this?" And she turned to look at Deanna.

"Hello," Deanna said, but she didn't respond. She was waiting for Daniel to explain.

"Is this your style now?" That was very rude of her.

"Excuse me, but I can hear you too." Lynda looked at her.

"And who are you?"

"I'm Deanna, nice to meet you."

"Hi, and you are...?"

"Daniel's fiancée." Lynda laughed.

The situation was escalating. She was trying to belittle her with absolute brazenness and being rude, she didn't even know her. What kind of person was this woman?

"That's right," Daniel said.

"Is this a joke?"

"No," Deanna replied.

"Come on, Daniel. You don't 'do' this kind of thing."

"I'm still here and I can hear you." Daniel hid a small smile.

"I'm not talking to you."

"No, you're ignoring me to talk to my future husband. Don't you think that's a bit out of place? He's an engaged man..."

People at nearby tables started turning to see what was happening. Although they were speaking in a normal tone, the conversation topic was still embarrassing, and Deanna was adding her own touch. She had noticed Daniel's dislike for this woman, and his face openly expressed his desire for her to leave. She could help him a little.

Lynda realized she was being watched and judged by other people. She was imposing herself between a couple having a quiet dinner with inappropriate questions.

"I see... I didn't know," she tried to apologize.

"Don't worry about it," Deanna dismissed her with a wave of her hand.

"Well, then I'd better leave... Congratulations, Daniel."

He just nodded, and Lynda finally left. They continued having dessert in silence; for Deanna, nothing more needed to be said. Obviously, this woman had had something with him at some point, or she was just rude. She was sure she'd have to face more of these kinds of confrontations in the future.

They were driving back to Deanna's place, but Daniel still hadn't said a word. He felt, for some reason, that he should explain, but he didn't understand why and that bothered him. It annoyed him not understanding what was happening to him: nerves, anxiety, that knot in his stomach, and now the need to justify himself. It was as if Deanna really was his fiancée.

"That woman from earlier..."

"Yes?"

"We just had one date and it didn't work out."

"I see."

"As you probably noticed, she's a bit unpleasant."

"She is."

"Well..." That explanation was enough.

Deanna found it a bit amusing watching him try to explain something she never asked about. But it seemed like a good thing, considerate. Maybe Harry was right when he said he was cold but a good person.

"You handled the situation well."

"Well, thanks. It's not the first time I've run into people like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Some people tend to look down on others. It used to happen to me in my first year of university."

"I understand."

"Harry was a great help in those times."

"I'm glad to hear he behaves."

"He's a great friend and a great person."

The affection was genuine and Daniel noticed. Apparently, Harry was more than just an irresponsible person with ridiculous ideas who put others in difficult situations.

When they reached her building, Deanna started to say goodbye, but Daniel stopped her.

"Things went well tonight. But at the family gathering, we'll have eyes scrutinizing us the whole time."

"I'll do my best."

"I assume Harry has already told you about our mother. I suspect she's the one you'll need to be most careful with - she thinks we're getting married because you're interested in my money."

"It's going to be hard to convince her."

"Yes, but don't worry about that. Regardless of what she says, the wedding will happen anyway. But she'll likely make strange or annoying comments, just ignore her as much as you can."

"Good to know, I'll be prepared."

"Good... And please, no more fr... dresses like that!" What? He almost said it.

"Okay... no dresses like that." He was being weird again.

Deanna said goodbye, thanked him for dinner, and went into her apartment. What had he wanted to say? She felt satisfied with having survived his examination, but apparently he was very conservative since he'd complained about the dress. Nothing above the knee and nothing showing back. Fortunately, the outfit Laura had recommended for the gathering was more modest.

Daniel had one more task left, the hardest of all: telling his children. He had never talked to them about anything like this, had never brought a woman home, or introduced them to anyone, and suddenly he had to announce he was getting married. The other problem would be explaining who he was marrying.

Ethan and Naomi might question it a bit - everything was happening so suddenly. But his children seemed to each have their own lives, though he wasn't very aware of them. In recent years, he had retreated somewhat into his shell, trying not to show his sadness so it wouldn't affect his children. Their mother was gone, and the last thing they needed was a father who wavered. But in trying to protect them, he had ended up distancing them a bit.

They were a family that functioned based on rules and schedules, but they also shared relaxed moments like during vacations. But Daniel didn't know any other way to make things work. The children were more relaxed with their grandmother or aunt, who were always hovering around them. He represented the authority figure and they rarely contradicted him. That's just how the gears turned.

The one who worried him most was Jonathan. After his mother died, he withdrew into his own shell. He was so young that they didn't know what had happened to him. Suddenly one day he stopped talking, not because he couldn't, he simply decided not to anymore. Daniel had gone to every doctor and therapist he could find, but there was no medical reason for his condition, no pathology. The therapy didn't help either, it only stressed the child more. The only thing that seemed to really please him was music - he would dance around the house carrying a small toy player that played media files.

That's why it was so important that Deanna stay within the rules and routines they already had in the family. The less these customs were disturbed, the less harm his children would receive. The best thing was to maintain a cordial distance, although Deanna had proven to be a pleasant person, she had also brought out her combative and rebellious side. He didn't want his children learning from those examples. But that was something he couldn't avoid.