Chapter 29: Heart-to-Heart
After the gambling incident and winning some money, 'Frank' reverted to his old ways as a drunk and irresponsible father, neglecting the kids again. This had a significant impact on them. Debbie and Carl were too young to understand, but Fiona, Lip, and Ian remembered it vividly.
So, when Fiona heard that Frank had quit drinking, her first thought was that he must have made another bet.
"I'm not gambling; I'm just trying to control it," Frank shook his head.
"No wonder you've changed so much lately," Fiona said, looking at Frank as if the sun had risen in the west.
"Dad, do you remember Tony?" Fiona asked as she sat next to Frank.
"Tony? The cop?" Frank replied.
"Yeah," Fiona nodded.
"What about him?" Frank asked.
"You know, his... you know, he's a virgin. His mom heard about us and invited me over for dinner," Fiona said, sipping a beer.
Hearing this, Frank's expression changed.
In both Eastern and Western cultures, being invited to someone's home for dinner is a significant sign. It shows that the relationship is serious, not just casual dating, but potentially leading to marriage.
In the West, while people may be open about sexual relationships, they take emotional commitments seriously. A woman agreeing to have dinner at a man's family home is a bigger deal than even moving in together.
Was Tony implying he wanted to marry Fiona?
"What do you think?" Frank asked.
"I'm not sure, but since he's already told his mom, I might go," Fiona said.
"What did you tell him? Do you want to go?" Frank asked.
"I told Tony I'd think about it," Fiona replied, taking another sip of her beer.
"Having dinner won't change anything. What's important is whether you like Tony," Frank said.
"He's a good friend," Fiona said, subtly answering Frank's question.
For Fiona, Tony was a great friend, but not her type romantically.
"From a parent's perspective, Tony is an ideal son-in-law. He's young, handsome, a police officer, and a civil servant with a stable job. Plus, being a virgin means fewer emotional entanglements, which is reassuring for marriage."
"What's more impressive is that Tony knows about our family's situation, yet he's still willing to be with you. That sincerity is touching," Frank said.
Fiona's situation wasn't just a simple case of being a 'single mother.' She was genuinely responsible for her family, and it took a lot of courage for someone like Tony to want to be with her, let alone marry her.
The fact that Tony, as a cop, knew their family situation well was remarkable. He had even carried 'Frank' home drunk many times.
"Are you saying I should go?" Fiona was slightly swayed by Frank's words.
"If you don't want to go, don't. No matter how great he is, if you don't like him, he's not worth it," Frank said bluntly.
"My precious daughter is priceless. It's normal for people to like you, but what matters is whether you like them," Frank said, putting an arm around Fiona's shoulders.
"Thanks, Dad," Fiona said, smiling as if she'd figured something out.
"You still like Steve, don't you?" Frank suddenly asked, noticing her demeanor.
"Ah! No," Fiona said, instinctively turning her head away.
"Listen to me, he's not right for you. I can't explain it, but something feels off about him. He's not as straightforward as Tony," Frank said.
"Off?" Fiona turned back to him.
"Do you know where he works?" Frank asked.
"Something about an internet company," Fiona recalled.
"What's the company's full name? Where is it located? If he works there, why does he have so much free time to see you during work hours?" Frank pressed.
"Well," Fiona hesitated, avoiding eye contact.
"Let's not talk about work. Do you know about his family? Any siblings or parents?" Frank continued.
"..." Fiona remained silent, not knowing the answers.
It's not entirely Fiona's fault. She spent most of her energy managing family issues and didn't have much time for dating, let alone learning about Steve's background.
"One basic question: Have you met Steve's friends? Has he introduced you to any?" Frank asked.
Introducing a partner to friends is an important step, indicating acceptance into one's social circle. Many people date without making it public, maintaining a single status on social media.
"..." Fiona stayed silent, realizing she had never met any of Steve's friends.
Reflecting on it, Fiona suddenly realized she knew very little about Steve.
Frank didn't press further, but Steve had many suspicious aspects.
Steve always portrayed himself as wealthy, at least more so than Frank's family.
Frank could tell Steve's family was well-off and he'd likely had a good education, but he wasn't a trust fund kid—probably just middle class, not a millionaire.
Yet, every time Steve visited Fiona, he drove a sports car.
Frank had even mentally noted that Steve had driven four different sports cars recently, ranging from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand dollars.
This raised questions: Where did Steve get these cars? Did he buy them or rent them?
Fiona hadn't paid much attention to these details, but as a father, Frank felt it was crucial to scrutinize anyone involved with his daughter's love life.
Steve, with all his mysteries, was someone Frank was wary of. Until the truth was uncovered, Frank couldn't allow him near Fiona.
That said, Fiona was only in her early twenties. Had she followed a traditional path, she'd just be starting college, experiencing passionate, tearful romances—normal for her age.
But Fiona had entered the workforce early, taking on family responsibilities, and had more experience with men than most. She should have been wise and rational in dealing with them.