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“Yes, Mom. Maddy will understand. She told me you already made plans to take her shopping in a couple of months.” David rolled his eyes and motioned for Patrick to sit down next to him on the bed. “Of course I'll tell her. Tell Dad we love him. Okay. Buh-bye.” David placed his phone on the end table and rested his head on his husband's shoulder.
“I gather your folks aren't coming?”
“Nope. Apparently there is a Sunrise Bay retrospective being filmed the weekend of the graduation. I really hoped they were going to make it. I mean, it's not every day your granddaughter graduates from college!”
“I know you're upset. But weren't you just telling me last week about the special arrangements your mom was going to need? Maybe this is for the best. Besides, my folks wouldn't miss Maddy's big day for anything.”
“You're right. She hates the extra attention, and she knows how important Sunrise Bay is to Mom. One more thing- you're sure you-” Patrick held up his hand to silence his husband.
“I know what you're going to say, and for the tenth time, I am more than fine with you and Maddy going to Toronto together. Who knows how many more chances you guys will have to do something just the two of you. Especially once her career takes off.”
“Please don't remind me. I'm already having a hard enough time accepting the fact we have a daughter old enough to graduate college.”
“I know, David. Me too…”
Six weeks later, David, Patrick, and Stevie drove to New York to watch Maddy graduate with honors. Clint and Marcy met them there, and after the ceremony they all went out to celebrate. If Alexis wasn’t in London with one of her clients promoting a movie, she would have been there as well.
On Sunday, Maddy and David were flying to Toronto. Alexis arranged for Maddy to interview with a graphic designer at Interflix’s Toronto location. She made it clear that she only opened the door; Maddy was going to have to do the rest herself if she wanted that job.
The graduation was held Saturday evening on the Pratt campus in an outdoor pavilion. David and Patrick were able to procure front row seats, and Patrick held David’s hand when Maddy’s name was announced. She looked out into the audience, immediately spotted her fathers, smiled wide, and waved to them. David swore later he heard Stevie screaming her name, which she vehemently denied, although her eyes told another story.
“No use denying it, Aunt Stevie. I heard you say "way to go, kid!” from the stage!” Everyone at the table laughed.
“Fine! You're right, it was me! I’m proud of you, okay?” Stevie mumbled as she rolled her eyes.
Marcy patted Stevie’s leg under the table and whispered, “It’s okay, Stevie. We are too!”
David cleared his throat, stood up, and tapped his wine glass to get everyone's attention.
“It seems like only yesterday Patrick and I traveled to New York and brought home a little girl with long dark hair who instantly made us into a family. And today, that little girl graduated from college with honors. Madeline Elizabeth Brewer Rose, we are so unbelievably proud of you, and I think I can speak for everyone here that we cannot wait to see what incredible opportunities lie ahead for you,” David’s voice broke. “Cheers to you, Missy!” Maddy jumped up and hugged her father.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered into his ear. “I love you so fucking much.” David rubbed her back and kissed her on the top of her head. He pulled back, eyes glistening with tears.
“Who's ready for some cake?”
Everyone clapped and Maddy took her time to hug and talk with Clint, Marcy, and Stevie before sitting back down. They all stayed at the restaurant for over two hours talking, laughing, and sharing their favorite memories of Maddy growing up. Later that night, David confessed to Patrick that there were still some days he could not believe they were lucky enough to raise such an amazing young woman.
After breakfast the next morning, Patrick and Stevie drove David and Maddy to the airport before heading back home.
“Thank you for everything, Papa. I promise I'll call you after the interview,” Maddy told him while David and Stevie said their goodbyes.
“You're going to do great. Are you still planning to talk to your dad?”
“Yeah. I just feel it's time, you know?”
“I do know. Just be patient with him. Don’t force him. It needs to be when he’s ready, too.” Patrick kissed her on her cheek, and gave her one more hug.
“Knock 'em dead, Kid! You've got this!” Stevie winked.
“Thanks, Aunt Stevie! I'll do my best!”
David kissed Patrick goodbye and told him he'd text him after they landed.
Ten minutes after they took off, Maddy rubbed David's shoulder to get his attention. He had his earbuds in, neck pillow in place, and was close to dozing off.
“Hmm? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything is fine. You know I could have made this trip on my own, right?” Maddy asked, looking down. “I may have had an ulterior motive for asking you to come with me…” she said, her voice trailing off.
“Okay?”
“I talked to Papa, and he suggested that this may be a good time to talk to you about… Um…”
David felt his chest tighten. He and Patrick had many discussions about being open and honest with their daughter when it came to her asking questions about anything she wanted to talk about. It didn't make it any easier, especially when it came to subjects David was uncomfortable discussing.
“So, what is it you would like to talk about, then?”
“I, uh, was hoping that, uh… if you could share with me about what your life was like before you lost the money. Before you came to Schitt's Creek. What life was like with Mimi, Zayda, and Aunt Alexis, and you growing up.”
“Oh. I thought after you did that interview your first year at school, a lot of that was explained.”
“Not all of it. It's just that I want to know more about where I came from. I'm never going to know about my mother's family, and I've come to accept that. But, with you, Daddy, I can learn a little more about what your life was like. If you'd be willing to talk about it with me, that is.”
“You talked to your father about this?” David asked, looking down.
“No! I asked for his advice- that’s all. I know everything there is to know about the Brewer side of the family. But, well…” Maddy looked out the window. David patted her leg.
“But they’re not your blood, right?” Maddy turned to David.
“Is that awful of me? I know that legally I am a Brewer. And, I love that. I really do. It's just there is so much about where I came from that is just blank, and I can't help but feel a little lost sometimes.”
“Oh, honey! You are so not lost! If you're questioning how much your family loves you-”
“No! It's not that at all. I mean, out of all my friends, I probably have more family than anyone. I'm sure you don't understand how I feel…”
“I do,” David said quietly. “And you're right. You do deserve to know more about where you came from. It's not all going to be pretty. In fact, a lot of it is going to be messy. But if this is what you want, I'll try and answer any questions you have.” David lifted his arm, and Maddy leaned over the armrest and snuggled into David’s sweater.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
That night at the hotel, after Maddy turned in, David stared up at the dark ceiling. He wondered just how much he was going to tell his daughter about his upbringing, his drug use and promiscuity, and how he really was not prepared for the real world after losing the money. He knows he is not the same person he was over twenty years ago. But the memories of the things he did still linger, and not in a good way. The fear that his daughter will see him and her grandparents differently was a real possibility.
It would break him if she did.
After an hour, he finally drifted off to sleep, hoping he would be able to find the courage to tell his daughter everything she wanted to know.
Maddy found a café within walking distance from their hotel. It was such a beautiful, cool morning that they decided to have their brunch outside. David filled her in on all the latest town gossip and what he and Patrick were planning for this year's Singles Week. Maddy picked at her fruit cup, half-listening to what he was saying.
“Madeline? Did you even hear one word I just said?”
“Hmm? Yes, something about Singles Week.”
“Good save. I know something's up. Now, please, talk to me.” Maddy looked up and played with her napkin.
“Daddy, I'm sorry if I threw you a curveball yesterday. I never meant to put you on the spot, so we don't have to talk about anything you don't-” David held up his hand.
“It's fine, Maddy. Really. I promise I will tell you anything you want to know. We have an entire day before your interview tomorrow, so I’m sure we will have plenty of time to talk. Now. Are there any museums you'd like to go to, or maybe do some shopping?” Maddy stifled a laugh.
“You know I hate shopping.”
“Oh, I know, and I totally blame Stevie for that!”
“But I did see something I thought we might do later today, if you’re up to it, that is.”
“Enlighten me.”
“The Toronto Botanical Garden has a Chinese Lantern Festival going on right now. Apparently there are over a hundred lanterns featured, including the largest dragon lantern on display. I thought we could go this afternoon, enjoy the flowers, see the butterfly garden, and then after the sun sets, attend the festival.”
“That sounds great, honey.”
They decided to relax at the hotel before heading out to the Gardens at four. While Maddy ironed her interview outfit, David sat down at the desk and jotted out an outline of what he wanted to tell Maddy. When he finished, he joined her in her room, where she was organizing her art portfolio. He peered over her shoulder.
“These are absolutely beautiful, honey. They would be crazy not to hire you!” Maddy held up a piece she was particularly proud of.
“I hope so. But I guess we'll see.”
“If now is a good time, we could maybe have that talk, if you want.” David sat down on the couch and motioned for her to sit next to him, and took a deep breath. Maddy nodded, sat down and hugged a pillow to her chest.
“I really don’t know how much or how far back you want me to go, so I thought I would just tell you some things I remember. Feel free to stop me at any time, but, once I begin, I may need to just power through, okay?”
“If it gets to be too much, and you want to stop, I’ll understand, alright?” David pulled out his notes and began to tell his story.
“Your grandfather was born not far from here. He was an only child and dreamed of moving to the states. When he was twenty-eight, with his parents' blessing, he moved to California in 1978. He had some success here, doing what I couldn't tell you. All I know is that he was anxious to put whatever business knowledge he had to use outside of Canada.
He found a job at a store that sold movies on videotape. That first year they promoted him to manager, and they sent him to all these big release parties that the movie studios would sponsor. Now, you have to remember, bringing movies outside the theater and into people's homes was all very new at the time. Studios did everything they could think of to get their movies out there. And Johnny Rose was a natural salesman. He was very driven and had all these ideas that he was sure were going to be a hit.”
“Is that how he met Mimi?”
“I thought I was telling this story!”
“Sorry,” Maddy giggled.
“Sort of. He was actually dating another woman when they first met. It was at a nightclub, and to hear Mimi tell it, she was instantly smitten with him, as was he with her. But, it would take another year before they ran into each other again at some random fundraiser they both were attending. He was newly single, the sparks flew, and well, apparently they were inseparable after that.
It was during that same year, Dad heard about a plan to rent movies in addition to selling them. He thought renting would allow more people access to watch their favorite movies. After meeting and talking with some investors, he opened the first Rose Video.
He then started thinking about opening other stores throughout California. He thought if McDonald’s could be in every city, why not Rose Video? He found locations where the building rent was cheap, or he made deals with landlords, or something like that. I really don't know. Fast-forward to 1981, and his business model exploded. He and Mom eloped, and two years later, I was born. Mom was doing bit parts here and there, nothing big mind you, until Sunrise Bay called. Three years after she got the part, Alexis was born. They even wrote the pregnancy into the storyline.
Mom never really told us much about her upbringing. It wasn’t until we moved to Schitt’s Creek that I found out she grew up poor in a small town. She had two sisters, and she was not close with her family. Apparently, after her family found out she had money and achieved some celebrity status, they would occasionally try and contact her, from what I was told.
After Alexis was born, Dad was away most weeks opening stores in different states and in Canada, attending conferences, meeting with studio heads. Mom’s storyline picked up, and she was filming five, sometimes six days a week. Looking back, Alexis and I spent most of our time with the nannies, housekeepers, and cooks that Dad hired.”
“And Adelina was one of them?” David closed his eyes and nodded.
“Yes. Yep. She always had fresh cookies waiting for us when we got home from school. I really missed her after she left. That was when things really started to change. I was fifteen, and Alexis started going off and doing things on her own with no supervision.
Because of our status, I was invited to parties almost every weekend. And, yes, those parties were with the kids of celebrities. We all tended to hang out together since our parents were busy with work. I stupidly believed I was popular because of the number of friends who wanted to hang out with me. The more parties I invited them to, the more friends I thought I had. Turns out, most of them only wanted to meet famous people.” David paused to get something to drink, leaving Maddy to digest all she’d heard so far.
“Well, that really sucks.” David shrugged and sat back down.
“To be honest, I was the same way. Anyways, even though Mom and Dad were very busy, we were all together at least one weekend a month.” Maddy’s eyes widened.
“That doesn’t seem like a lot of time to spend with your kids.”
“I guess, saying it out loud, it wasn’t. But that’s all Alexis and I knew.”
“I don't think I could imagine growing up without seeing you and Papa every day. I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“For what? To us, that was normal. It wasn’t until many years later did I learn that other people didn’t live like we did. We kind of lived in a bubble, not knowing how the rest of the world lived. I cannot tell you what an eye-opening both me and Alexis got after we moved to Schitt's Creek.
Now, we would go on vacation together for two weeks every summer. We would travel every fall and winter to our vacation homes. Mom and Dad would host a very large, very extravagant Christmas party every year. Those are the times I like to remember. Or, choose to remember, that is.
I need you to understand that Mimi and Zayda are not those people anymore. In their minds, they were providing a life where Alexis and I did not have to want for anything. But in doing that, they kind of dropped the ball when it came to teaching us actual life skills. I know now, they thought they were doing their best, and after we moved to Schitt’s Creek, they came to realize what it meant to be parents. We all came to realize what being a family really is. Madeline, I want you to know they love you very much, and I know they love spending every minute they can with you. In a way, it’s kind of like you gave them a second chance to be part of something they didn't have while Alexis and I were growing up. Do you know what I’m trying to say here?”
“I do, Daddy. It’s just so weird to think about how different they are with me than how they were with you and Aunt Alexis. But it makes sense because they seem so excited every time they come for a visit.”
“So you do get it.” Maddy smiled.
“Now, tell me about your time in New York!” David sighed, closed his eyes, and took a drink of water.
“I told you I moved there to get my degree in art. Art was always the one class I excelled in and felt the most comfortable. I fell in love with the city the moment I moved there. I also did a lot of things I am not proud of while I was there. I drank, did a lot of drugs, and spent a lot of time with people I wish I had never met. I confused sex for love more times than I can count. I’m not proud of that fact. When I think about that time, I don’t even recognize the person I was…”
“Daddy, I know you’re not that person. And you don’t have to tell me anything about that time you don’t want to tell me. All I know is the wonderful man who is my father.” Maddy moved closer and laid her head on David’s shoulder as he hugged her tight.
“I was hoping you’d say that. But, I want to be transparent with you. I spent a lot of time alone, even though I always had an entourage of people around me. I spent time with people who did not do nice things and treated me poorly. I did some not so nice things and treated people poorly. I just assumed that was my normal and that somehow I deserved every bad thing that happened to me.
That all changed the moment I met Aunt Stevie and your father. But it wasn’t all bad in New York. I did have a few successful gallery openings, or at least at the time, I thought they were successful. And meeting your mother is a memory I will always treasure.” Maddy pulled away, sat up, and wiped her eyes.
“Really?” David cleared his throat and closed his eyes.
“What I think happened was by the time your mother discovered she was expecting you, I had already relocated to Schitt's Creek. And if I had to guess, she did not want to bother me knowing there was no way I could help support a baby. And she would have been right. I was in no way capable of raising a child when my life was falling apart.” Maddy nodded.
“When Papa and I came to New York to get you, I was given a box of papers your mother kept. I never told you about it because I didn't know how or when to tell you about what was in there.”
“What was in there?”
“Some photos, which I gave you. Your birth certificate. Clippings from a newspaper from when we lost the money. Printouts of the opening of the store. And passports.”
“What? Why would she have passports?”
“Because, honey, Papa and I think she may have been planning a trip to Canada. I think once she found out I was in a better place, she wanted to tell me about you. But she never got the chance,” he said quietly.
“Oh, my God. I don't know what to say. Oh, my God. To think we were so close to all being together, and then… Oh, Daddy!” Maddy sank into David’s comforting arms as she cried. “Everything would have been so different,” she whispered. David wiped the tears from his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, honey. It’s not fair. None of what happened to you and your mother was fair. But we need to be thankful she did put my name on your birth certificate, and one way or another, we would have found each other.” Maddy sniffled, and David handed her a tissue.
“Thank you for telling me all that, Daddy,” she said, dabbing her eyes. “I know it wasn’t easy for you, but it helps fill in some of the blanks I’ve thought about for so many years. Thank you for telling me your story. And in a sense, the beginning of mine.”
David took a deep breath and exhaled. “You know? It’s weird. I feel lighter now. I guess I never realized how much of my past I was still holding on to. So, thank you for asking, Madeline. I'm really-” David stopped talking when Maddy’s phone rang.
“It's Mimi.”
“Answer it-”
“But we’re still talking!”
“It’s fine- you know she hates waiting! Go on.” Maddy stood up.
“Hi Mimi! It was great! Daddy and I are in Toronto. I have that interview tomorrow. You don't have to make anything up to me!”
David stepped out to give Maddy some time to talk to Moira alone. Before he left, he noticed her eyes tearing up. He sent Patrick a short text telling him he talked to Maddy and would fill him in after he came home. He tried waiting as patiently as he could, but ended up pacing about the room until she finally opened the door.
She immediately ran to her father and hugged him tight. “Hey? You okay?”
“Yeah. She said they felt terrible about missing the ceremony, but wants to fly me out to see them next month to make it up to me. I told her I couldn’t wait to see them.”
Once the sun set, David and Maddy took their time walking around and admiring all the different lanterns at the festival. There were lotus flower lanterns that floated on mini ponds, balloons tethered to bamboo archways, and a variety of animal-shaped lanterns stationed throughout the gardens.
At the center of the festival was a dragon that stood over fifty feet high. Vibrant shades of red, yellow, green, and blue made up the lighted dragon, and it was truly a magnificent sight to be seen. Maddy was just about to ask David if he wanted to grab some ice cream when she noticed him wiping a tear from his cheek.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” David turned around and leaned against the railing.
“Yep. Yeah, I, uh, seeing the dragon reminded me of a trip to Beijing we took when I was a kid. I was maybe nine or ten? Alexis wasn’t feeling well, so Dad took her back to the hotel. Mom never did well with that kind of thing. She told me we were going to take a walk, and we stumbled on some street festival. It was so crowded, she grabbed my hand so I wouldn’t get lost. That was something else she never did, you know. Anyway, we ended up in this arena watching five or six dragons dancing all around. One handed out candy to all the kids.” David smiled. “She made sure I got some. Wow. I had completely forgotten about that trip until this very moment.”
“That sounds like a good memory.”
“It was. Thank you, Madeline.”
“For what? I didn’t do-”
“You did. You helped me remember something special I had long since forgotten. And, for that, I will be eternally grateful.”
“Oh, Daddy! Come on. We still have over half the festival we need to see!”