WORK IN PROGRESS The Parent Contract

Some things stay the same

Drake

Seeing as Steve and Toni were both key speakers tonight,  we were all seated at the same table.  Steve and Kate sitting between Toni and I.  I watched my ex-wife chat.  She was subdued,  tense.  This confused me.  All the reports I’d seen had been showing that her lobbying actions had been successful. The articles, and media appearances where she’d appeared in the background showed a successful young woman.  She was still beautiful,  still laughing,  but there was something not right about her.

Physically she was fine.  She looked to be fully recovered. But… I don’t know. Something was missing.  She seemed… flat.  Not just tired,  not fatigued.  I’d seen her like that when Covid knocked her around and after the late-night parliamentary sessions.  This was more than that.

A tap on my arm alerted me to Steve’s concerned face.
You OK?? He signed. I frowned at him in confusion.
You’re staring at her and looking confused. He explained
Something was not right with her.  I signed back
What are you talking about? Kate joined in.
Toni, something is wrong with her. 
Kate pulled a snorting face. 
You’re just upset that she’s still hot, while you’re not. Kate dismissed us; By the way, can one of you translate for me? I want to talk to her.

I rolled my eyes. 
“Toni” I called to her. I watched her blink and turn her face to me. I almost lost my breath. She was stunning.  I swallowed,
“Kate wants to have a chat with you. " I finally forced the words out as nonchalantly as I could. Toni smiled and looked in her little clutch bag.  She pulled out a phone and switched it on, typed a few words then slid it to Kate.  Kate’s eyes lit up as she took in the notes app. She typed out her question and slid it back.  Toni read the question,  and her eyes lit up.  She typed a response and slid it back. 

I tapped Steve’s arm.
“I think we’re redundant here now,” I told him dramatically signing.  Toni glanced up at me from under her eyelashes.   She quickly tapped on her phone and opened another app.
“Quiet you,  or I get to tell embarrassing stories about you.” She drawled,  the words appearing on the screen just as she spoke. Kate burst into laughter as soon as she read them. Even Steve snickered. I just grinned at Toni. 

Then she smiled at me, and the missing piece fell into place.  I don’t know what it was,  but suddenly she looked whole and relaxed, with a proper smile crinkling the edges of her eyes. It took her from stunning into unattainable goddess territory, and I couldn’t help but adore her.

I was saved from drooling by the arrival of the entrees.  Toni and Kate kept up their written conversation until Kate pulled out her phone and started using text the text-to-talk app. Toni swapped her talk-to-text. Steve just grinned watching his girl relax, and then he looked at me and signed
I understand now, why everyone is so pissed at you. She’s amazing.
I nodded and smiled wryly. Yes, yes she is.

After the entree, the speeches started. First, Toni went up and welcomed everyone on behalf of the organisations that she was representing.  She spoke about the funding that the various organizations had been able to secure for programs that they were running.  I knew that this funding was all her. She knew who to speak to,  and what language to use.
“Why isn’t she speaking about her programs?” The man next to me muttered.  I turned my head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
“She’s training young people how to do what she does. Once a month.” He explained, stressed. “An advocacy club.”
I smiled and leaned back.
“She knows what she’s doing,”  I assured him. He huffed,  still agitated. I turned my attention back to Toni.

She was doing what she did best.  Leading and inspiring through her words,  and actions.  She was honest with herself. I watched her carefully manage the crowd,  building up their hope and self-belief.  All I could see were the traits I admired about her, and missed from my life.  She was everything my mother wasn’t. And I was still deeply in love with her. 
Toni

I finished my speech and stepped down from the podium.  Drake had stood and offered his hand to help me down the steps like he’d done so many times before,  it was almost a habit.  I thanked him and sat down as the main meal started being served.  I looked down at the chicken and internally sighed.  It looked overcooked. 

I glanced up at Drake. It was involuntary,  but he immediately took his plate and held it out to me, just like he used to do when we were married.  My heart gave a jolt as the plate travelled down to me, and mine was passed to him.  He gave me a wink as the plate arrived in front of him,  before taking his knife and fork and sawing into the meal.  He used to tell me that he couldn’t stand the beef being so raw until I pointed out the lie when he actually ordered steak,  and it was medium rare, just like the event dishes.  He glanced up at me and smiled. Mine now,  he mouthed.  I sighed and attacked the steak. Part of me missed this. His ability to read my needs and adjust before I can admit them.  It made me feel secure.