Chapter 146

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause once again as the mayor stepped up to the microphone.
"So, eat, drink, and be merry," Mayor Townsend said from the stage behind me as I rushed down the side stairs, fighting through the crowd, trying to get to Alyssa as quickly as I could. "But make sure to dig deep in your pockets to help Logan Ambrose and the children!"
As I looked through the crowd, Frank, Alyssa, and Roxanne were standing, talking to my parents as a concerned look spread across Frank's face. Even Craig looked concerned. I seemed to move in slow motion as I hurried to her. But the faster I moved, the slower I felt I was moving. What seemed like an eternity later, I stepped up beside Alyssa and wrapped a protective arm around her. "Mom, Dad! What are you doing here?" I asked directly, not caring how it sounded.
"Why, son!" my mother began in a sickening sweet tone. "I'm here to celebrate the candidacy of my son for Senator!"
"I appreciate you coming, but I think you should go," I said as everyone looked on in disbelief. I knew my mother wouldn't want to make a scene in front of her peers and so many important people, so I thought the best thing to do was to get her out.
"May we speak with you alone?" Mother asked.
Alyssa gently touched my arm. "I'll leave you two alone."
Alanna stepped up quietly behind her and narrowed her eyes at my mother, who seemed to ignore her. Where my mother was concerned, if it didn't concern her, it didn't exist. Apparently, Alanna fell into that category.
I gently kissed Alyssa's cheek. "I'll be right there."
"No. Actually, we'd like you to stay," Mother said in a kind voice as she gently touched her arm.
Roxanne stood off to the side, looking concerned, but Frank intervened. "Honey, let's get our money's worth from that babysitter, shouldn't we? We'll have to get back to the kids soon. Santa is coming tomorrow, after all."
"Let us know what hotel you're in," Alyssa said in a kind voice. "We'd like to bring something over tomorrow."
Frank reached over and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Just bring yourself, darlin'." Then, he turned to his wife and smiled, edging her onto the dance floor. One could tell that he cared a lot about Alyssa, but he was completely in love with his wife. One look at them together on the dance floor revealed all.
"May I have this dance?" Curt asked Alanna as he slid his arm around her waist.
She looked at me and raised an eyebrow. After giving her a slight nod, she turned to Curt. "Let's go while the night's still young."
When we were alone, I turned to my parents. "Let's go into the lobby so we can talk."
Mother nodded once. "If you insist."
"I do," I said as I placed my hand on the small of Alyssa's back and escorted her out. Once we were outside, I turned to my parents. "Okay. What's this all about?"
Mother looked into my father's eyes, and he nodded. "Son, I am so sorry for my behavior over the past well over the years." She opened her purse and pulled a slip of folded paper from it. "And we'd like to contribute to your campaign." As she held out the slip of paper, I saw that it was a check.
I frowned and didn't reach out for it. "I appreciate it, but "
Mother held up her hand as a kind smile curled the corners of her mouth. "Please, son. I'm not finished yet." Then, she turned to Alyssa. "I am very sorry for the trouble that I have caused between you." As she let out a deep breath, I knew this was hard for her. "I can't expect you to forgive me right away, but someday I hope you will."
Obviously moved, Alyssa held out her hand to my mother. "Thank you."
Mother smiled, and then turned to me. "I see that you love Alyssa, and if she is who you want to spend the rest of your life with, then I will no longer stand in your way. I promise. And I hope that you'll let me be a part of your life one day." Then, she took both of my hands and looked into my eyes. "I don't want to lose you, son. Please, forgive me."
I nodded as I pulled her into my arms and patted her back as she cried on my shoulder. A few moments later, I pulled back.
"Here," she said as she shoved the check into my hand and wrapped my hand around it. "This is from your father and me. We believe in you."
I held up the check. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I'll try to make you proud."
My father pulled me into his arms and gave me a manly hug as he patted me on the back. "You already have, son."
Mom gave me a quick hug with air kisses over my cheeks. "Just take care of yourselves." She looked over at Alyssa, too. "Both of you." They started to walk away and Mother turned back. "Oh, and we're not cutting you off. Your inheritance is yours if you want it."
I raised an eyebrow. "No strings attached?"
Dad smiled. "No strings attached." Dad gave me a manly handshake, and then pulled Alyssa in for a quick hug. "Take care of him," he said to her.
She nodded. "I will."
Then, they walked out the door, both smiling.
I stood there in shock as I watched them walk away. "That was a first."
Alyssa wrapped her arm around my waist. "I think it was very nice of them. Coming here and apologizing was a big step for them."
I nodded, and then thought of the campaign check in my hand that they had given me and looked at Alyssa. "Shall we?"
She shrugged. "Go ahead."
I slowly opened the check, and was stunned. There were so many zeros on it that it was hard to count. I staggered back a bit, and then showed it to Alyssa. Her eyes opened wide in shock, and then I picked her up and swung her around as she laughed.
"Remember: part of that is for the children's hospital," Alyssa reminded me.
I nodded as a huge grin spread across my face. "Of course," I said as I tucked the check in my jacket pocket.
I wrapped my arm around Alyssa's waist, and then escorted her back into the ballroom. A familiar voice was now singing on stage, her voice filling the room as we walked in.
"Tasha!" Alyssa said, almost jumping up and down. "I can't believe she came! It's been so long since I've seen her!"
I looked up onto the stage and, to my amazement and delight, Tasha Granger was playing, accompanied by the band from earlier, who appeared to be happy sharing the stage with a superstar. I looked down at Alyssa and smiled. "Shall we?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
I laughed. "I thought I already asked you earlier."
She shook her head as she smiled. "No, that was my evil twin you asked."
I laughed aloud. "Evil twin, huh? If she's evil and you're nice, then I'd really like to meet her especially in the bedroom."
She giggled. "I think you've seen enough of me in the bedroom."
I leaned close and nuzzled her neck. "Never."