Michael Gardiner (the ultimate romantic)

"Bernard Wilson?" Not recognizing the voice Bernard was reticent at answering the question. "Seems to me, since you called my number you would obviously know who I am." The voice on the other end chuckled softly, cleared his throat, and responded in deeper tones. "Son, I have to agree with you, there. This is Michael Gardiner, Ivy's father." "Oh my God, Sir I'm so sorry." Bernard apologized profusely and immediately sat up straighter then slumped right back down, admonishing himself for his guilty reaction as if the man could see him. "If I'd known it was you, I wouldn't have been such a smart ass…I mean, forgive me for being so rude." Michael Gardiner chuckled again. "Not a problem. I called Ivy for your number." "Really?" Watching the traffic, Bernard followed the line of cars through the light. He was now totally nervous and on alert. Pulling over and parking on the nearest store parking lot, Bernard gave the caller his full attention. Searching his brain for a reason that would give his girlfriend's father the thought to call, he waited quietly for illumination. When no further words were said within a few minutes, he questioned him again. "Is there a problem, Sir?" "You can say that. I've been hearing a lot about you, waiting to meet the man my little girl is infatuated with, and yet I haven't had the opportunity to run into you in person. I'm inviting you to my ranch, tonight, eight o'clock. See you there." Stunned at the abrupt silence from the other line, Bernard sat quiet for a few minutes staring at the blank screen before dialing Ivy's number. Just as he was about to press the last digit, he changed his mind. Obviously this was going to be a conversation held between men, he'd keep her out of it. The clock on the dash said 5:45, just enough time to get home, take a shower and swallow a few aspirin. At exactly 8:00, Bernard tapped on the door frame of the Gardiner home. He was way beyond nervous; this would be the first time he was called to the parent's home of a girlfriend and there was no doubt in his mind he was about to get a lecture. For days he'd had a foreboding, and it had gotten heavier after Ivy mentioned how her dad didn't trust him because of the earlier subterfuge between him, Franklin and Carmella. He shook his head in regret. The words to comfort a father were beyond his thinking capabilities at the moment, so much so he'd sat in the car outside of the Gardiner hom for ten minutes until he'd calmed his nerves. A man should never mess with the affections of another man's daughter, especially not when that father was devoted to his child. "Bernard?" "Yes Sir," Bernard offered his hand to the older man as he crossed the threshold. "Glad to meet you." "Uhm hmm, follow me." Michael turned and walked down a small hallway, stopping outside the doorway to what Bernard believed to be an office, and signaled for the younger man to pass through ahead of him. The chorus of John Mayer's song, Daughters filled the air. Yes, its lecture time. Bernard silently agreed with his earlier assessment of the summons. He rubbed his hand around his bald head, the moisture on his scalp the shinning sign of his anxiety. Standing beside the first chair situated in front of the desk, he wiped his damp hands on the side of his jeans and waited for his host to take a seat. Mr. Gardiner, accepting the reverence as his due, acknowledged the gesture with a nod of his head before sitting at the desk and tapping a pencil on its surface to the rhythm of the song. "So Bernard Wilson, I guess you know why I called you here." "Yes, Sir I have an idea." He cleared his throat. "Uhm, I like that song." "So do I. My daughter…my daughters mean a lot to me. I live by that motto and I have no intention of letting anything or anyone hurt them if I can help it." "I understand. I don't plan to do anything to upset Ivy." "I'm not so sure that's true, Son. You know I have six daughters, they share everything with each other, then with their mom and of course it all comes back to me." Mr. Gardiner snapped the pencil between his fingers, his lips moving into a tight smile at Bernard's nervous startle. "I heard about the obsession you had with my niece Carmella and then I hear about the huge break up with Ivy, last week. I wanted to talk to you in the beginning, but Ivy assured me she had everything under control so I let it go. Last week was a totally different story. She cried and I was on my way to your door. You should thank her mother for stopping me." The scrapping noise of the chair's legs against the floor boards shocked Bernard into looking straight into Mr. Gardiner's eyes. The man leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest, the act, a perfect form of intimidation. I would've welcomed the company, Sir. Breaking up with Ivy was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and I hope to never have to do it again, but it was necessary." "Believe me; I wouldn't have been trying to be your friend. Are you trying to bully or entice my daughter into having sex with you?" Bernard's head shot up and he stared intently into Michael Gardiner's eyes. Hoping his elder could see his sincerity." "Oh no Sir, I would never do that. I'm not saying the thought hasn't arisen or we haven't found ourselves in pretty tight situations, but I have a belief and intend to stick to it. I totally respect your daughter and her goal to save herself and be pure for marriage. If she decides I am not her prefect mate, then I will walk away. Me, destroying that goal for her is not something I would ever do. I would never be able to live knowing that would be the biggest regret in her life." "You talk a good game, but I'm getting pretty anxious about this relationship. Ivy is my youngest daughter and the only one not married. For years her, Carmella and Leelee ran from relationships; afraid to believe good things could happen to them, to believe in the 'happy eer after'. I can't tell you how happy I was to find out she had met the man of her dreams. Let me tell you this," He stood and walked to the door. "if you break her heart, I promise you'll be living a nightmare. That's all I wanted to tell you." Now, follow me to the kitchen, Ivy's mother wants to talk to you." His laughter rang out, booming and out of the blue, obviously born from the wit of a private joke. Bernard passed through the doorway slowly; the slaps he received on his back felt more like the thuds of a warning than a gesture of friendship from Mr. Gardiner. "Just so you know," Mr.Gardiner's chuckle had a maniacal undertone. "everyone around here thinks she's the mean crazy one."