Chapter Text
"Tony: We are pregnant!"
I am shocked. My eyes widen. Pregnant. They are pregnant. I look over to Pete to see his reaction. He smiles and looks at me expectantly. I can't think straight. I look back at my father and Pepper. They also look at me expectantly. I feel my heart racing. I say the first thing that comes to my mind.
Mark: Why?
My father looks taken aback at that. Pete's smiles falters.
Tony: Why?
Mark: I mean don't you know how to use protection?
My father's answer is fast with a high pitched voice.
Tony: What?
I see Pepper putting her left hand towards the one that is currently intertwined with my father's hand which results in my father's hand being sandwiched between hers. I also see Pete's head going red.
Tony: We want this child Mark!
Mark: You don't have time for another child! You already spend most of your days in meetings? And in case you forgot, you made your secretary, who is sitting right next to you by the way on our couch, the CEO of your company.
Tony: Now hold up a darn second!
Mark: Then there's your commitment to the world. Or is this the point where you finally let go of Iron Man?
Well is it?
I see my father opening his mouth but I just fire through and don't give him a chance to say something because it's obvious not thought through at all.
Mark: And if you do in fact let go of your alter ego then what about Pete? Are you really gonna stand by and let someone else handle Spider-Man?
Or what about Pete himself? With everything that happened last year you can't seem to leave him out of your sight for even a second. That would change then as well wouldn't it? This decision of yours is so far away from being thought through. And what about Stark Industries, huh? Your girlfriend will have to take a step back and you will have to take a step back as well. Who's gonna take care of the only income this family has?
I can't seem to stop now. For the next part my voice chances to being quieter. Almost wounded.
Mark: And what about me? I guess with the amount of time we spend together these days it safes to assume that I won't see you or here at all from you if you go through with it.
I feel my eyes watering. I concentrate hard not to show more weakness than I already have. By the time I finish I realise my father and I both stood up. I hear nothing more than my intense breathing.
Pete is not in the room anymore. It must have happened sometime while I was talking. I can't remember seeing him leave. My father's face looks shocked and furious but he doesn't raise his voice when he answers me.
Tony: Wow. 10 Points. Astonishing, Mark. Really. Did you tip them on your phone on your way back home?
What's that supposed to mean? Doesn't he take my point serious?
Pepper: Tony!
Pepper sounds upset. At least she seems to grasp the seriousness of the situation. But my father doesn't seem to notice. Instead he gets closer again a few steps and raises his voice slightly.
Tony: I'm gonna start at the top! The biology-class you can rest. I'm an engineer. I know how machine works. And how not. He half turns to Pepper and points at her. That here....wasn't an error.
I frown at that. I looke down for a moment and put my weight from one foot to the other.
Tony: Eyes up here, Mark!
I do as he says and raise my eyes towards him, again. His voice is still stern as he continous.
Tony: And about Stark Industries. I made Pepper CEO because she is the only one who is more capable and efficient than anyone else. Even more than an AI.
Ironman is not a hobby Mark. Ironman is essential. I won't give him up. The world isn't ready for me to stop being Ironman.
My father takes a little break and suddenly gets emotional as well, his eyes getting red.
Tony: Pete you let out of this, seriously. I make time for him. Just because the family gets bigger doesn't mean that I will toss him to the side.
I have to laugh at that bit which seems to irritate my father even more.
Mark: Oh yeah? You won't shove him to the side? That's funny. Because that's exactly what you did to me after you put your armour on for the first time. Back then I somehow went so far down on your priority list that the security guard at the building entrance seems to be more important than me.
That shuts his father up for a second. He looks first confused until he starts talking again. Then he loos sure. His voice is back to calm, but there is the underlyning tone of approach.
Tony: You know this isn't fair. I gave you plenty of chances Mark! I ask you every day about school and how your day was. We all eat dinner together, every night. But you don't get more than one word out.
He points his finger at me and I feel my emotions betray me. My tears are falling now.
Tony: I can't read minds. Even Jarvis doesn't have an update for this yet. I hold the door open for you for years now but you won't go through. You want me to beg. Is that it? I won't do that. The world needs me. If you don't say anything I have to assume that everything is fine.
I don't know what to say to that. I feel my heart stop. I can't believe he just said that. Everything that I ever feared. Everything is more important than me. Everything. I look up to the ceiling then. My tears are getting more I feel them falling. I want to punch him and defend myself but it feels like I forgot every word of the English language at once. I try to get my eyes dry so I can see something again but it's no use. I looke down at the floor instead.
Tony: I had a feeling this would shut you up. What a schock!
He says this in a taunting way which brings my fury and the English vocabulary back to me at once. I raise my voice and say...
Mark: Fine! You have the world, your meetings, Pete, your CEO and soon you will have your new family addition. But don't expect me to help in the next nine months or the time after because I don't want to have anything to do with this.
I storm out the room. On my way out I see Pepper. Her tears are also falling down without any end in side. She's hugging herself and looks devastated. It seems like she wants to reach out to me but I won't let her. My father seems to need to have the last word in this argument and yells after me, when I reach the corridor.
Tony: Yes, walk off! I didn't plan with you anyway. If you don't get a word out if something is wrong, how much help would you be anyway? And it's not like it will be much of different than it is now, will it?
With that I swing my door shut. BAMM!
I lock it. I let my head fall at the door and keep crying. I mean nothing to my father. Nothing. I turn my back to the door then and let myself slide down. I can't hear anything beside my crying. My lung feels like it's going to explode.
There isn't enough space for the air to come through anymore. It just burns. I don't know how long I sit here. At some point there are no tears left. My face feels damp and crusty. I just stare ahead. There are no more thoughts left in me. At some point I feel a vibration in my trousers. It's my phone, I realise. I get it out. It says 11 PM. Owen has messaged me. He asks what the talk was about. I stare at the cursor of the message box far too long. Then I try typing.
I use my thumb and hover over the keyboard. But there's no strength left in me to describe what happened and what I feel right now. So I turn off my phone and put it away again. I get back to staring ahead. It's silent. I breathe slowly. I realise that it is dark in the room. Luckily my eyes adjusted enough to give me a little bit of sight. I stand up and try to get to my bedside to get the lamp on. As I turn it on the light is almost blinding. I have to close my eyes.
I let myself fall onto the bed. Carefully I open one and wait until it adjusted to the brightness. Then I open the other aswell. I take a look around in my room and see my English homework which I finished just before....before....
Well, I rather not go there. I put it away and realize that I still need to do math. I sit myself on the floor and lean back against my bed. I'm opening my book and start. After I finished it I risk a glance on my nightstand watch. It's 1 AM now. I should probably sleep. I still need energy for school tomor...today. I don't think sleep will find me tonight, but I try it anyway. I set my alarm on 4 AM. I stay in the clothes I'm in and let myself fall onto my bed and hope that sleep will find me soon.
It feels like I just closed my eyes when I hear my alarm go off. I shut it down immidiatly and make sure it stays off. I take deep breath. I stand up, pack my bag for school, then I go to the bathroom. I take a shower and make myself presentable again. I then grab my clothes from yesterday except the shirt. There's too much evidence from yesterday on it. Just seeing it brings memories from yesterday evening back. I feel my eyes sting again. I put it on the pile of other clothings that are supposed to be washed. I try to get a grip. I grab my bag and some new shirt and silently leave my room. I put my phones flashlight on. But dim it immediatly. It must be around 4:30 AM now. It's really early but I don't want to risk to see or walk right into someone right now. Especially "TONY STARK". As I walk towards the main area I stop abruptly. My father and Peppa are both sitting on the couch. I can only see their heads from where I stand. I go quietly a little closer and see that they are holding hands. They are asleep. Seeing them like that makes me emotional, again. So I turn around, grab the water bottle as usual and try as quietly as possible to make myself a sandwich. When I am finished, I grab my jacket, get into my shoes and push the elevator button. I hope when the elevator arrives that the sound of it won't wake anyone up. My heart is pacing. come on. faster. The elevator comes, makes it typically sound and waits for him to enter. I look back at the couch and see no movement. Thank God. I feel safe when I enter the elevator and push the button for the first floor. The doors are closing and the elevator starts moving. I lean back and exhale. I did it. I am out. I see myself in the reflection of the elevator doors. I close my eyes to avoid looking at it. I startle, when suddenly Jarvis voice speaks to me.
JARVIS: Good morning, Mark.
I totally forgot JARVIS. I'm in no mood to talk to him right now. I keep my eyes closed and listen to what he has to say.
JARVIS: It is currently 04:40 AM. May I ask what the purpose of this early trip is?
I give myself three floors time until I answer. I try to sound calm.
Mark: I'm going to school.
JARVIS: School won't be open for another two hours.
Mark: I'm aware of that. I'm gonna go to it anyway.
JARVIS: I understand. Nevertheless, according to the security protocols, I am required to inform your father about you leaving the building outside of regular hours.
I take a deep brath. I should have thought of that. But at this point I really don't care.
Mark: You do what you have to do Jarvis....And I will do the same.
JARVIS: Understood. Please be careful out there. The city isn't very welmoming coming at this hour.
I think about that for a moment. I get emotional again. An AI showed concern for me. Maybe my father was wrong. Maybe JARVIS can read my mind. Five minutes later I am on the street. It's empty out here and quite dark. It's creepy. I notice my walking pace increasing. Not long after my phone starts to vibrate. Someone tries to call me. I unlock my phone. It's 05:05 AM. I see my father's face on the display. My heart starts racing. I'm not ready to talk to him. Above him I suddendly notice the amount of power on my battery. My phone has only 15% left. Damn, I forgot to charge it. The phone is still ringing when I shut it off completely. I know about my father's abilities so I turn the phone over and extract the battery. This way he shouldn't be able to reach me. I know this is wrong and quite scary given the fact that it is still this early. But I'm really heading to school and I know that there will be cameras on the school grounds. I get there five minutes later. I sit myself on the entry stairs and do what I've been doing since yesterday evening. Thinking. The cold breath of the wind actually helps not to start crying immediatly. But I have to admit it is pretty cold. I start rubbing my hands together to generate some warmth in them. There is this loop in my head that keeps repeating what my father said. Over and over.
"Tony: I didn't plan with you anyway."
I take a deep breath but it's no use. I start crying nonetheless. I get the tissues from my bag and try not look too look to much like a mess. I even put my hand over my mouth and try to be quieter while I cry. While my lung feels again like there is no more space left for my breath. I start to appreciate the cold in the early hours here. After all it is honest. It asks nothing of me but to sit and wait for the schooldoors to open. I wish I could listen to "ERA" now. I am quiet angry with myself, that I forgot to charge my phone. A little while later I get myself to stop thinking about yesterday evening and start thinking about Owen's Bithday gift. Maybe something medieval related. Somethink to do with "The Joker". I want to gift him something that he will always have. Like an anker of sorts. But what could that be? I wait until the janitor opens the door. He gives me a strange look. He looks like he wants to say something but he doesn't. I take a beeline to the boys restroom to check out my appeareance. The mirror shows me my bloodshot eyes. I look like a zombie. Really. I let water pool into my hands and put it on my face. I redo the process until my face looks less red and wet from tears. I go to my first class which is math and wait until it starts.
I take a half hour nap on my desk. When I wake up a few more desks are filled with people. I feel like I could easily sleep through the whole day today. I notice one boy entering the room with a sports bag in hand. I put my head down on my desk again and realise my sports bag is still at home. I forgot that I have sport in the last class today. I guess I have to use what I wear.
Like yesterday I wait at the canteen for Owen. We always do that before sport class. This gives us time to catch up.
As soon as he spots me he runs over.
Owen: Hey, why didn't you text me back last night?
Mark: Hey. I didn't feel like it.
Owen: Ok. So what was the talk about?
Mark: Well it was something similar of what you allready guessed. Just totally different.
I try to find the right words to explain but my eyes start burning again and I really don't want to talk about it this soon. My emotions are still to raw over this.
Mark: Hey? Do you mind if we don't talk about it? I feel really drained about it all...It's just...I will tell you another day, okay?
Owen: Okay? Yeah sure.
Owen looks at me with worried Eyes.
Owen: You okay?
I just nod at that, because I don't trust my voice right now.
He doesn't press after this and he tells me about the launch trailer of this new mediaeval base building game he's been waiting for months now. Owen just knows how to get my mind off of things.
After sport is finished I take my time to get out of the gym. I feel panic rise inside me. I don't want to go home. I don't want to go home. Damn it. I walk to the school parking area and see the car Happy usually drives every morning to bring us to school. Shit. My heart's pace picks up again. Please be Happy. Please! I think about bolting to the opposit direction but then the door opens and out steps...
Thank God it is Happy. Jesus. My heart is still racing. I can hear it loudly. I wonder why know one else can, since it tries to practically jump out of my body. I walk over and stop before him.
Happy: Heard you've been up early. What is that about?
Shit. Does he know what happened? Maybe Pete told him something. I wonder if Pete is mad at me too.
Mark: I...I met with a friend at school...f.for a project. We...didn't get to finish yesterday. It's due today. Yeah, today.
Happy looks unimpressed at me. He probably see's right throug my lie.
Happy: Project work at five in the morning. Impressive work ethic.
I try to suppress a laugh, which makes it sound like a caugh.
Happy continues in a more serious voice.
Happy: Your dad tried to reach you several times. He said your phone died.
I realise that I hadn't turned my phone back on like I wanted to do. Shit. I'm in trouble. For the next part I don't even have to lie about.
Mark: Sorry. I..I forgot to turn my phone back on after the first class started. It only had 15% left so that's why I turned it off to save the remaining power.
Happy frowns and stares at me.
Happy: Get in the car kid!
I start to open the back door where where I stand but Happy shuts the door immediately.
Happy: Nope. You're gonna sit up front with me Mark.
Mark: Okay...
I walk around the car and get inside. As we sit inside, Happy turns to me.
Happy: You should turn your phone back on. There should be charger in front of you.
I get the battery out of my jacket pocket and put it back in the phone. I am grateful that Happy doesn't comment on this action. I start my phone. I have six missing calls from my father. There are also a few messages from Pete, Owen and even Happy. I connect the charger to my phone and lay it on the car fitting. Only then Happy finally starts driving.
Happy: I'm starving. We gonna stop to get some food. After that I still have some errands to run. You can come with me if you want. Or I bring you home afterwards. What you say?
I look out the window on the right side. Food sounds pretty good. I'm starving.
Mark: Food sounds actually good.
That seems to make Happy happy.
Mark: And afterwards yo...
Suddenly my phone starts to vibrate. The sound is loud. I already knwo who is calling. It's his father. I can feel Happy's gaze on me. I grab my phone slowly and look at my dad's picture. It keeps vibrating. I keep staring. My eyes start tu build up the burning again. I keep thinking about yesterday evening and what my father said.
"Tony: The world needs me. If you don't say anything, I have to assume that everything is fine."
It keeps repeating with every vibration. A few tears start falling down my face. I press the red button and lay the phone back. I turn to the side again, I start hugging myself and look out the window. I try to stop crying. I get anouther tissue from may bag. With it I clean the tears away. I need to get a grip. There's no sound coming from me. There's no sound left.
Happy doesn't say anything right away. Instead he turns the radio on and gives me some privacy. Privacy is the last thing I want right now.
Mark: Hey, how about McDonald's? I could use some ice cream. And they have burgers too.
Happy: Sounds good to me.
Their drive towards it is filled with me asking about Happy's errands. Afterwards I accompany him to them. We are doing just that. My father doesn't call me again. I'm sure Happy gave him some input about me. He always leaves the car with his phone. I don't mind though. I do know that the clock is ticking and that I do have to get home at some point. That is where we are heading right now.
As we are in the parking slot, I sit longer in the car as I should. The car stopped 5 minutes ago. I look at my hands and I really don't wanna go up (home). To the 80 floor. I am still not ready to face...HIM.
Happy: I could come with you, upstairs, if you want?
I appreciate his offer, but I have to do this on my own. I look up and over to him.
Mark: It's okay. I just needed a second. I get out of the car then and wait in front of the elevator. I push the button for the elevator to come down.
I hear Happy getting out of the car and coming over. He holds my right upper arm with his left hand.
Happy: If you need anything, anything at all, just call, okay?
I nod before I answer.
Mark: Thanks. But I'm going to be fine....Really.
Happy looks at me unconvinced, but doesn't say anything else.He waits with me until the elevator arrives. With a final squeeze to my upper arm, he lets go.
Happy: Good luck.
Mark: Yeah.
When I step into the elevator and turn around, I see Happy looking at me. He stands there until the elevator doors are closing. Then he is no longer in my view. I push the button for the 80 floor. The elevator starts moving.
I feel my heart quickening. I'm scared of what will happen upstairs. I'm still not ready to face anyone. I'm gonna try to make a beeline for my room. Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Good. On my way up I hear my father's voice again. What he had said. I feel the panic still rising. I startle yet again, when JARVIS voice suddenly comes up.
JARVIS: Welcome back, Mark! I see your phone is online and charging again. That is reassuring.
Mark: Yeah.
It's quite after that and I'm left with the endless memories of yesterday's evening argument, again. My heart pace gets faster and faster. I need to calm down. I grab with my right hand to my heart and try to breathe more normal.
JARVIS: Your heart rate is currently at 124 beats per minute. In addition, I am detecting shallow breathing.
Mark: I know. I just need a minute.
I feel myself starting to sweat.
JARVIS: Should I delay the arrival by another 30 seconds to allow your system to stabilise?
Mark: Yes please.
I feel the pace of the elevator slowing down. The number shows 63...64 floor. About 20 more to go.
Mark: Jarvis please stop at floor 75 and let me out.
JARVIS: The penthouse is five floors above us. May I acquire where you intend to go?
Mark: The stairwell.
The elevator stops at floor 75.
Jarvis: Floor 75. The stairwell is immediately to your left. I've set the sensors in this area to discretion mode. I will notify you if anyone approaches this sector.
Mark: Thank you Jarvis.
I go straight to the stairwell and take the first set of steps up so that no one sees me right away, if someone uses sthe stairwell instead of the elevator.
I put my headphones in and start listening to "ERA - Ameno". I lean with my head against the cold wall and just listen to my music. It helps a lot. I feel my heart rate slowing down already. I keep breathing in and out and again and again. I close my eyes from the exhaustion. The stairwell is a little cold but it is perfect for me right now. I feel like my body is burning up. I am definitely shaking. I open my bag and get my water bottle. I take a few sips from what it's left. I close my eyes again and fall asleep for a few minutes. I wake up with one of the restart of the music track.
I look at the clock on my phone. I slept for 15 minutes. I turn my music off. I try to stand up and walk a little bit around. When I am sattisfied, that I won't break down upstairs, I pack my bag together and get back to the elevator on the 75 floor. I ask Jarvis to take me to the 80 floor so that I can face a diffrent kind of music.
As I get out on the 80 floor I notice how quiet it is. I put my jacket and shoes away. There is not much sound except for the sound of clinking dishes. I follow that sound into the main area where the kitchen lays as well.
It's Pepper. She must have started making dinner. I walk in slow and look at her. She seems to be a little pale but otherwise perfectly styled like always. She's still wearing yesterday's clothes. I don't know her enough to know if it means something or not. She turns around as she hears my approach. I see on her face relieve and also a hint nervous. She takes a step towards me. As she begins to speak, she sounds quiet and cautious, as if she was afraid I would flip out. It makes me feel guilty.
Pepper: Hey. It's good to see you. How are you?
I realise that I said some pretty awful things about her yesterday. I should apologize to her atleast. I try to find the right words to say. I start fiddling with my hands. While I keep starring at her.
Mark: Hey...about yesterday...I.
But then I hear voices in the background. They're getting louder. I look past Pepper and see my father and Peter walking around the corner into the main area. They seem deep into some kind of a conversation.
I can't hear what they talk about. I feel my breath shorten. I stand still like a statue. My fiddling stopped, too. I see how Pepper turns around as well to see what I am looking at.
They get closer and closer. Then Pete sees me and stops talking. My father lifts his gaze up to see why Pete stopped talking. Our eyes almost lock but before that happens I look away and start murmuring quietly but hastily.
Mark: Homework. I..homework.
I bolt past my father and go to my room. Going is the wrong word for it. It feels more like I am speed walking. I let myself fall onto my bed. On my stomach to be exact. My arms are under the pillow. My head lies on the pillow.
I wait. What is going to happen next? The first few minutes nothing happens. No one is coming. A part of me is disappointed at that. I get my phone out and look at all the messages that were left behind. I see that three of the seven calls from my father have left a message on my voicemail. I put my headphones on and start listening to them.
Message 1:
Tony: Mark, where the hell are you? Jarvis said you walked out of the tower at 5 AM with no message. This isn't a joke, okay? We are not in boarding school where you can come and go as you please. Call me immediately and turn on your damn phone. I can't locate you.
Message 2:
Tony: It's me again. Jarvis located you on the school grounds. Say's you're hanging out on the stairs somewhere....
I stopp the voicemail there. I repeat message 2 over and over to that sentence that Jarvis located me at school. Jarvis located me at school. JARVIS. An Idea starts to form in my head.
Jarvis. If my father wouldn't get information through him, he would have to talk to me. But how would I even do that? Jarvis is literally everywhere. I take a look around my room. He's in my phone. The room...everywhere in the building.
I would have to mute him. Not react to anything he has to say. This is crazy. I can't do that, can I? It's gonna be tough. I jump out of my bed. I go to my schoolbag. I get a paper out, set myself at my desk and write down what points I would have to consider. I would need to get rid of my phone. It seems to be impossible. I mean how? How am I going to get rid of my phone? It's kinda my lifeline. And what about music? I mark that part with a yellow highlighter. I could get myself a Bono phone. I grab my cash bag from my school bag and search it. I have 10$ allowance left from the 20$ I get in a month. I would have to save up some money. What else? I need something to hear music on and only music so no one can disturb me. Jarvis breaks through my concentration.
JARVIS: Pardon me Mark for disturbing your concentration. Miss Potts asked me to inform you that dinner is now served.
Should I start already with my plan? Right now? No, I'm still too much dependent on my father's technology. Besides it woul only end up in another fight tonight...and I don't know if i can withstand enouther of those any time soon.
I grab my scribbling book and pen and walke towards the dinner. My father says no phones are allowed, he didn't say anything about anything else. As I get into the room, I don't say anything. I sit myself down and grab a slize of pizza.
Which seems to be selfmade. Delicious. I think about what else to think about. From time to time I write another point into my list. Maybe I should think about getting a job aswell. To cover my new expenses. Somethink for a 16 year old like me. With working hours after school. I am deep in thought, when I hear my father clearing his throat. I look up because I already know he is doing that to get my attention. My father speaks calm when he starts to talk.
Tony: Hey. Are you planning on saying anything about your morning trip at some point?
I turn my gaze away and look straight ahead. No one is sitting opposite me. Peter is sitting to my right. Pepper is sitting across from him. Tony is sitting at the right edge of the table, waiting for me to answer him.
I take a quick look towards Pepper. She still has this cautious look. But I also see a frown on her face, while she looks at me. I take a little look to my right. Pete looks like he would like to be anywhere else but here. I feel the same way. I feel my heart racing since my father started to talk to me. I don't think anyone makes me as nervous as he does. But there’s also no one whose validation I crave more. Despite everything, I still love my father. I love him so much. Clearly, something is wrong with me. I think about what to say. Apparently, not enough. My father continues, his voice more assertive.
Tony: And this is a family dinner. So put your notebook away. We are eating as a family now.
I put my pen down and shut my notes. I feel my eyes burn. I know I have to say something. The first tears fall as I answer quietly.
Mark: I don’t want to start a fight. I thought you made it clear yesterday what you wanted. If I say nothing, then everything is fine.
I give a quick shrug, staring only at the tabletop in front of me where no one is sitting.
Mark: So, I say nothing.
I pause and continue softly.
Mark: And as for this morning... I..I wasn't able to face either of you. That’s why I left so early.
I wipe the tears from my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pepper. She looks shocked, her hand now covering her mouth. I doesn't dare to look at my father directly, right now. But from the corner of my eye, I see that his mouth is opening and closing as if he wants to say something. Peter fidgets from side to side, continuing to eat while staring only at his food.
Pepper reaches out her arm. Perhaps she is looking for my hand, but I pull it back. Her hand stops halfway across the table, and she says in a gentle voice.
Pepper: Mark... that’s not how it was meant.
I see her glance over at my father. I still don't dare to look into his eyes. I trie very hard to suppress my tears, but they keep falling. Finally, my father says something as well. His voice still sounds calm. I glance at him briefly and immediately look away again.
Tony: Mark... I didn’t... I didn’t mean yesterday that you aren't allowed to say anything. You should always say something. How you feel... always.
It goes quiet again. I continue to eat. I feel my father’s gaze on me. I even see a slight glisten in his eyes. I look over at Pepper. She, too, casts glances my way every now and then. I keep eating and think: This pizza is extremely delicious. I look over at Pepper again and think about what I said to her yesterday. She looks exhausted. Surely because of yesterday and whatever happened today after I left the house so early this morning.
I get nervous again. My leg starts shaking under the table. I think to myself: Say something... for heaven's sake...
I gathers all my courage and say, a bit louder than I intended.
Mark: This pizza is extremely delicious.
Pepper gives a faint smile and practically beams at me, though I doesn't look directly at her. I hear Peter chimes in.
Peter: Yeah, the sauce is a real treat.
Mark: For me, it’s the whole combination. And this crusty edge... just tasty
The talk about the food brightens the somber mood. Pepper is visibly moved.
Pepper: Thank you so much. That really means a lot, Mark.
She gives me a smile. Which I return.
Pepper: But Tony helped, too. We made the pizza together. He was in charge of the cheese ratio.
Pepper looks over at Tony and places her left hand on his arm. I also dare to look at my father.
Tony: Well, the mixing ratio is very important for a pizza.
I look at my father with a cautious smile.
Mark: It taste great, so... well done.
A small smile plays on my father's lip. I look away and Peter continues talking about the pizza.