1.52 Family Breakfast

When Jake and Kay arrived for breakfast, Laura was pleased to see them, “Your Dad won’t be long, he is on a conference call.”

“I thought Dad was retiring?”

“He is but he wants you and Kirsten to help out so he can show you what to do and then he can retire.”

“Mum I’ll talk to Dad I promise, you remember Kay?” Laura looked at Kay and smiled, “We got off to a bad start, I hope you will see us in a better light from now on.” Kay smiled and replied, “I’d like that too.” 

Once they sat down for breakfast Dan joined them, “Morning, Kay it’s nice to see you again. Jake tells me that you are at medical school. Have you given up on your singing career?”

Kay wanted to get on with Dan and could see it would mean a lot to Jake if they did. “I love singing but I want to be a doctor more, if that makes sense.” Dan smiled and replied, “Well at least I know Jake will have the best doctor in town looking after him if he gets ill.” Kay laughed, “Well I don’t know about that.”

Jake looked at her and replied, “Oh thanks a lot, you’d let me suffer first.”

“Kay smiled at Jake, “It depends.” Dan added, “Jake always admit she is right and you are wrong and you will have a good relationship.” Jake rolled his eyes as Kay laughed while trying to eat her breakfast.

Laura asked after a few minutes, “Are you going to be a specialist?”

“I’m still thinking about it or I could be a GP at a local surgery.” 

Dan took Jake outside after breakfast and asked, “Have you thought about the business?”

“Dad I told you I like being a firefighter…”

“Yes I know but the business is important too. Look I am proud of you becoming the firefighter you always wanted but listen to what I have to say.”

“Ok.”

“What if I got the board to look after things but you and Kirsten made the final decisions. It is so Kirsten can have her marriage and children she wants so much and you your career.”

“And we get paid?”

“You will be the new owners. I would take drawings of $1.5 million from the company.” Jake was in shock, “How much and what are drawings?”

“When you own a company your salary is known as your drawings. It wasn’t your business to know how much I earned it was only your mother’s. I am only telling you now because I think you are sensible enough to understand plus I see the way you react to Kay.”

“I almost messed things up.”

“What did you do?”

“I hate her being at university, at first she was going to travel back and forth but now she is staying there. I hate her being away.”

“Jake, you are going to hate this advice but I’m giving it anyway. You have been dating Kay a short time but you are trying to rush this. I mean you were living together and that is too much pressure for a new couple. I think her staying at university is a good thing because absence makes the heart grow fonder. If you weren’t missing her then I’d question whether you cared for her at all.”

“Dad it’s hard.” Dan shook his head, “It’s meant to be at first. Your grandfather used to supervise my visits with your Mum.”

“You are kidding…”

“No I’m not and we weren’t allowed to live together until we were married plus no sex till the wedding night either.” Jake was shocked, “How did you cope?”

“It was difficult; I even tried to sneak in your mother’s bedroom window once and got caught. Try dating without the sex.” Jake laughed, “I don’t think so.”

“It would mean you get to know each other as people and for you especially get to understand Kay and stop the jealousy. I mean what do you know about Kay?”

“I know her mother died and Spencer is like the father she never had, Matt is like a brother to her and she has a great voice and wants to be a doctor.”

“Anything else?”

“Like what?”

“Her favourite colour, her favourite music and the list goes on. So what do you know?” Jake looked at the floor and replied, “I can’t answer that.”

“I believe you honestly love her but my point is try getting to know her so you can really trust her.” 

“Kay, are you ok?”

“I wish Jake would understand I hate being away at university as much as he does.” Laura looked concerned and said, “I think if you love each other enough you can work things out. I know Jake can be a pain but I know he misses you but when your home he is more relaxed. I think he is scared of losing you.”

“I’m not interested in other guys and I’ve told him.”

“He will get better over time plus you are the first girl he has ever brought home to meet us.” Kay was in shock that she was the first to be brought to the parents’ home, “He has had girlfriends before.”

“We know about most of them and he would say things like Mum I’ve met someone and then a few weeks later say it didn’t work out but for Jake to last this long and bring you to meet us is a big step. Kay, I really think you are good for Jake, just give him time to understand that there is nothing to worry about.” Kay felt comfortable knowing that she could talk to Laura and that she could be that open about her son.

Before Jake and Kay left, they asked if she would come again when she was next home. Kay agreed getting a warm hug of both Daniel and Laura. Jake enjoyed that his parents liked Kay and that they were getting on and he hoped it would continue.