Trust In Love

Dinner commenced on the dining table.

It stood between the living room and the kitchen. A display cabinet plus mini bar had become the divider for the latter, closing it into its own space with a small doorway. Lauren helped set up the table while her father fixed them a meal.

He unloaded the food given by their neighbors and chose the ones that spoil quickly first.

"Let me help you with that," Colin offered, walking to Lauren's side. He reached for the plates in the upper cabinets. "I'm surprised you don't have a stool around here. These could have fallen on your head easily."

Will stiffened inside the kitchen. His ears picked up on every word perfectly. He could reach those cabinets without a problem. It didn't occur to him that Lauren might be having a hard time.

Lauren rolled her black-brown eyes. She pulled open a drawer for the silverware. "I can get them just fine if I stand on my toes."

"But that makes you more susceptible to losing your balance."

Walking into the dining room, Will raised a bowl of tuna casserole. He wore a big smile on his face. "I'll get one tomorrow on my way back from work. It's still better not to risk it."

"It's not necessary, Will."

Will hid his flinch. He placed the bowl in the center. The aroma began to change. The smell of spices floated in smoke. The coat of cheese still bubbled even after being taken out of the microwave. It could trigger anyone's appetite just by sight.

"I mean, dad." Lauren closed her eyes, her back facing the table.

Colin put the plates around the casserole. He figured that was where they would be sitting. Will headed back into the kitchen and Lauren finally turned around. She divided the silverware into three pairs. They clattered against the ceramic plates.

Will sat on the head of the table while Lauren positioned to his right. Colin took the seat across from him which happened to be adjacent to her father's left side. In addition to the casserole, they had a plate of garlic buŧŧer buns and a small bowl of mashed potatoes.

No one could leave the table without getting a full stomach.

Colin ate his fist bite of the casserole. He mȯȧnėd as he chewed. "This tastes really good."

"Yep," Will agreed, lifting a spoon to his mouth. "Aunt Cassy makes the best casserole in this part of town. She'd say she makes the best one in all of Woodlands but I haven't really tried another besides hers."

"Stitz Diner also has a good one. They only sell it during Sundays though."

He nodded and scooped a heaping amount of mashed potatoes. "So, Colin. I know you're friends with Max and the Parker twins but I don't think I've seen you around before."

Lauren placed her spoon down. "Dad…"

Will glanced in her direction. "What?"

"Don't go cop mode right now," she said. "I've told you many times that Colin is a good guy. He's the responsible one of the group."

He raised his hands in surrender. "I'm not suspecting him of anything. His record is squeaky clean. That's how far I'll go."

"You spied on him?!"

"Let's not start this," Will dismissed. He turned his head back on Colin. "I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. We've lived with the Peytons for a long time. Either you come over when I'm not around or you've never done it before."

Colin ȧssured him that it wasn't a big of a deal. He also sent Lauren a warning look. She scoffed in silence before stabbing into her food. He proceeded to answer Will's curiosity. "It's not that I don't come over, Mr. Williams. My family and I spend our summers abroad. We leave on the last day of school. Other times, they have basketball practice so we rarely hang out at each other's houses."

He drank a glass of water, washing down the noodles in his throat. "Over the weekends, Max likes to go out. He has so much energy that he feels it's wasted inside his house."

"I can imagine." Lauren snorted.

"So can I." Will sighed. "He's a certified troublemaker. There came a point that whenever I heard an incident, he became my first guess as the suspect."

Colin scowled. "But he hasn't done anything illegal, right?"

"Not anything that would result in being locked up," Will stated. He still remembered the first time he saw the kid inside the precinct. "He had been caught underage drinking once. Since it was his first offense, he only received a fine. I'd like to believe he has been more responsible after that."

"Me too," Colin replied. It wasn't entirely a lie. He did want to believe that. But, at least, Max hadn't done it without him or Jae around. He was also relieved that Jae hadn't been caught yet.

Lauren poked her tongue against her cheek. It seemed only yesterday since she attended a party at Colin's house. She remembered there was alcohol involved during that time. Was it alright if there were ȧduŀts present? What if they weren't related to one another?

She kept her thoughts to herself but it would be a lie to say she wasn't relieved that another party hadn't broken out. Then, her gaze flickered towards her father. He was a Woodlands Academy almuni.

Did he experience that sort of party?

"Has Lauren met your parents, Colin?" Will asked. A cough rushed out of his ċhėst. He twisted his neck to the side and released it on his shoulder. "I know the two of you started dating a while back but it would be better if both families are aware from the beginning."

Lauren found herself a little out of place. She had promised Colin that she'd contribute but it was hard to cut in. The conversation revolved around him for goodness' sake.

"Ah, not yet…" Colin responded, gulping down his mashed potatoes. "They're in the big city most of the time. We have a housekeeper that stays with me while they're away."

"Hale, Hale, Hale…" Will muttered. "Your father is a lawyer, isn't he?"

"Yep."

"Are you going to follow in his footsteps?"

At this, Lauren found her opening. She seized just before anyone else could open their mouths. Pride laced in every word as she spoke them. "Colin is considering a degree in veterinary medicine."

Will's eyebrows shot up at her. It was a rare enthusiastic response from her, catching him off guard. Then, he confronted the person of topic. "Is that true? Do you have a pet perhaps?"

"That I do," Colin confirmed. His face lit up at the mention of his dog. "Her name is Jiyen. She's a little golden retriever at the moment and I've been reading a lot about her needs. I've told some of it with Lauren and she had joked if I opened my own animal clinic someday."

"Since then, the idea has been stuck in my mind," he concluded. He had learned so much about his dog and the information retained. It was a lot more

"Passion. That's good," Will commented with a grunt. "I don't know what it is but that's rare as generations go by. It might not be that truthful but it is what I have seen so far."

"No, I totally get where you're coming from."

"Well, some of us don't always have it figured out," Lauren shared. It wasn't in their intentions but she felt the pressure. "It's not like life gives everyone answers at the same time. It's also not easy if your talents don't stand out in an area. I have cheerleading but it's not my career."

"Lauren…"

"I know, I know. I can take my time. Better to do something you like than regret it, right?" She quoted, a half-smile on her lips. She ate a spoonful of casserole and added, "I remember it, dad. I also remember that you said I can switch courses if I don't think the first one is right after trying it out."

"I did." Will nodded. His eyebrows twitched into a scrunch. He had mentioned that to let her know it was okay to take her time. It was okay to make mistakes. It was okay to follow what she wanted even if it came late.

They didn't have a lot of money but he didn't want it to limit her choices.

"Don't worry. I'll do my best to figure it out by the time I need to apply for college," Lauren ȧssured him. A cheeky smile flashed on her lips. It disappeared as soon as it came. "Although, I did make Colin promise that I could work at his clinic if I ended up unemployed."

"I would like to protest, Mr. Williams," Colin intervened. "I wouldn't make your daughter work that hard. I can always provide for her if she lets me. But knowing her, she wouldn't have it any other way."

"Of course, I wouldn't take your money like that!" Lauren snorted. She pointed her spoon at him. "I am perfectly capable of earning my own keep."

"Then, why would you be working at my clinic?"

"Where else can I skip the interviews?"

Will darted his attention between the two. He stayed away from the conversation and enjoyed his meal. The house hadn't been this lively for a while. Whenever people came over, his daughter hardly spoke a word.

But now…

He sneaked a glance.

… she glowed.