Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Five

When Push Comes to Shove, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Five Update

 

 After his sister left, Erik went out back to feed his two horses, check the chicken coop, and then went back inside. Delightedly, he had two newly hatched chicks. For the first time in a couple of days, he felt hungry. Having an earnest talk with one of the people he trusted the most, had done him a world of good. She made sense of the senseless. She always could.

 

Whipping up a simple dinner, well, he took the wrapping off and slipped the dinner into the new microwave oven. Then he sat, alone, at his very long set of dining tables, placed end-to-end. Until he could find a longer table, or a craftsman willing to make one to order, with the many people in their family and the ones he hoped to add to their fold, this would have to do. Looking around the room, he found it a lovely, peaceful room. He said grace over his meal, and dug in. He couldn’t remember when he ate last, which is the only reason he found it tasted good. I really need to learn how to cook.

 

After he enjoyed a glass of fine wine, he made his way upstairs. Deciding, again, to keep the main bedroom pristine, so Kayleigh could enjoy it with him, he turned right at the top of the stairs and used the bathroom in the corner. He filled the jet-tub and took a relaxing soak. He always thought better this way. He needed to come up with a game plan. While he was all about procuring a bride from the man, the last thing he wanted was for this silent feud to become protracted into a life-long misery for all involved, and he also hoped to avoid any collateral damage, as well.

 

Actions over words . . . he pondered.  After he finished his bath, he walked down the perpendicular hallway to the south bedroom. This is where he’d been sleeping any time he was home. Crawling into bed, Erik drifted off to a better sleep, for the first time since he left Europe.

*~~*~~~*~

 

The new morning blossomed, bright and sunny, a relief from all of the rain. He got up, showered, dressed and headed over to Del Sol Valley. Glancing at a clock he was glad it was still early enough to catch the captain at home. Despite today being a small holiday, Drake Golden was in the military. No guarantee he would have the time off.  Federation holiday, or no.

 

He pulled his Hovercraft up to the curb, releasing the gear for it to sit on the road. Drake walked over to him, indicating for Erik to open the window.  “Sir?”

“I’m surprised to see you here,” Drake Golden said. “You might as well get out of your craft, I suspect you wish to talk.” Erik did so, coming to stand just opposite the man.

 

“Sir, I understand you still have serious reservations regarding my relationship with Kayleigh. It also occurs to me that you haven’t been able to give me the answer I want, because I haven’t told you enough about myself, this is, essentially an interview,” Erik began. Gesturing to the Atlantis Blue Metallic Hovercraft. “If you would kindly accompany me, I would very much like to show you something . . ..” To his surprise and delight, Drake agreed, sliding into the front passenger seat after Erik released the lock.

“This is one fine, luxury, vehicle,” Drake said. Erik was hoping for a conversation along the way, sadly, this was all the captain said. The silence didn’t quell Erik’s stomach. He just prayed he wouldn’t burst into an involuntary burp-fest, as a result.

 

The trip was a short one, thankfully, since Erik popped it into Hyperdrive.  Pulling up outside of his front gate, the two got out and stood looking at the brand-new house.

“This is nice,” Drake said, nodding his head as he took in the two-story, rock front house. “You thinking of buying it?’

 

“No, sir. I already own it — mortgage free. You see I bought the property outright. I've always wanted to design my own home. Kayleigh and I got to talking about it, when I showed her my rough sketches. She added some fantastic ideas. Basically, once we had down what we wanted in a floorplan, I hired a reputable Contractor, and here we are. I’d like to show you around the inside.”

 

“How did a kid like you managed all of this?” he marveled as the two did a walk-through of the place. Traces of the scent of fresh paint still lingered in the air, it was that new.

 

“I am so very glad you asked.” They stood in a hallway upstairs between the main bedroom/bath and the hall that stretch to the right. “I am currently worth six-hundred-fifty-seven thousand, six hundred-twenty-four Simoleons. I earn ten thousand per concert, as well as ten thousand per photoshoot. Add in album royalties at seven hundred-fifty each, currently I have seven released with an eighth album in the works. Song royalties also bring in a tidy sum.

 

“So, you see, I am well-prepared to care for your daughter. She will never know hunger or hardship I can promise you.”

Drake’s expression was difficult to read. He stood there, eyes wide, gazing at Erik with almost a modicum of respect. Erik dared to hope. “I must say you have a most impressive resume, young man. Had you brought this with you when you dared ask before . . .”

 

"I would like to ask again, if I may, hoping, now that I have made a better case.”

“You would, would you.” Finally, the boy sounds like a man. 

 

“Let me also mention, I have even created a will,” which he took out to show the man, “making her at this time my soul beneficiary. She’ll get the house, my bank account, my royalties — everything, should something happen to me.”

“Everything?”

 

“Yes, I love her that much, sir. I do warrant she’d rather have me alive . . .”

“Yes, and I’m not threatening by any means, I was just incredibly surprised you would make her your soul beneficiary.”

 

“Captain Drake, I come before you hat in hand, as they say, to ask you, sir, if I may please have your permission to marry your daughter, Kayleigh. I love her more than life itself. She is my everything. I would be honored to make her my Bride.”

Drake stood there, all but staring at the young man. Again, he was very hard to read. Erik wondered for a moment just what was going through the man’s mind. He tried to put himself into the captain’s place. How would I feel . . . At last, the man cleared his throat. “And you promise to be true to her in all things. No back door, shady rendezvouses with a fan or some other woman. When Kayleigh isn’t with you, be it a tour or otherwise, you keep it under wraps and inactive.”

 

“Absolutely. As it has been all of this time. We made a promise to each other.”

“Okay, you’ve got it. My permission and my blessing! Took you long enough.”

Erik’s features conveyed his sheer joy, as he gazed upward. Thank you, Lord.

“Now, take me home, almost son-in-law,” Drake snapped gruffly. Clearly, he was back in captain mode, putting on his best officer's voice. Erik smiled, escorted the man back to the Hovercraft. Within moments they were back in Del Sol Valley. “Sir, do you mind keeping things under wrap. I would like my asking to be a surprise.”

 

“Oh, you’re good. Alright, I won’t spoil the surprise, which means I can’t even tell my wife. She’s a huge security threat.” Then Drake Golden really surprised Erik by laughing, his smile huge.

 

“Thank you, sir.”

“And you can stop calling me that. You’re not one of my soldiers, after all. Call me Drake. And welcome aboard, son.”