Part Twelve

Spending the afternoon much to her own annoyance, sorting out paperwork and doing filing while Asa was with clients, Phoebe was glad to finally take her lunch break however was surprised when Asa told her she was going out for lunch with Sara and so it was as Phoebe got ready to leave for lunch she noticed Asa's calender on the computer screen and an item on it that was new and rather quickly the blonde fished out her phone and messaged Cindy.

Phoebe: Did you know your Mom has a date tonight?

Cindy: No.

Cindy: With who?

Phoebe: The guy we met when we got coffee yesterday. I didn't bother to learn his name.

Phoebe: So, what are we going to do about him?

Cindy: What do you mean?

Phoebe: We can't exactly get our parents together if they're seeing other people.

Cindy: You saw how that ended yesterday.

Phoebe: The first attempt always fails. We can't just give up and that means we have to stop your Mom from going out with some random guy she met at a coffee shop.

Cindy: Do we have to? Maybe they're happier with other people?

Cindy: I mean, even your Dad's got plans tonight.

Phoebe: He's got, plans?

Phoebe: With who?

Cindy: Wendy Sears. He was on the phone with her earlier. I didn't hear much since Bella had me ringing a few offices.

Phoebe: What's he playing at?

Phoebe: Of all the women to date he has to choose the woman with the biggest body count.

Phoebe watched as Cindy appeared to be typing a message to respond back to hers with but noticed as it disappeared and after a message didn't appear a few seconds later, she realised her best friend had most likely finished lunch or had gotten called away, leaving the blonde feeling annoyed at the thoughts of her father going out on a date with another blonde that would be no good for him while the blonde that would be, was also going on a date while also trying to think hard about a solution to her problems.

Leaving Phoebe and her office at lunch, Asa drove her car to RC Coffee Lounge where she met up with Sara who was glad to see her best friend and got up from her seat to give her a hug before they both sat down at the table opposite each other.

"I got your usual," Sara told Asa as the waitress brought over their food.

"And did you manage to get?" Asa wondered.

"The dress is in my car. You can take it once we're done with lunch," Sara answered. "So, you wanna tell me why you need a dress? You got a hot date or something?"

"Actually, yeah." Asa agreed.

"Really, who?" Sara wondered before hopefully asking. "It isn't..."

"No, after last night, I doubt that's ever gonna happen," Asa admitted.

"Why? What happened last night?" Sara curiously asked.

"The girls tried to set us up on a date," Asa briefly explained before adding on. "Long story short, it didn't work out and we both agreed to see other people," Asa finished, carefully leaving out the part where she had sex with Phoebe since she wasn't sure how her best friend would react.

"Ok. I feel like there's more there but clearly, you don't feel like telling me right now," Sara deduced. "So, how about you tell me who tonight's date's with?"

"Martin Harris," Asa informed her best friend. "He and I were in the same classes back in college. I could tell he had a bit of a thing for me back then but I was with Hollie. He moved out of the city after graduation but I guess he's here visiting his parents and he asked me out..."

"So, you're finally gonna give him a chance?" Sara asked.

"With Cindy and Phoebe going off to college. I think it's time," Asa paused as she briefly thought of Hollie and then Peter. "Time I move on with my life with someone who wants me."

Working hard and attending meetings all morning with Cindy right alongside him, Peter suggested to Asa's daughter that they have lunch together in his office, an offer that Cindy took him up on and it was midway through their lunch while Cindy was texting Phoebe that Peter and Cindy heard Bella trying hard to tell someone that Peter was on his lunch from the other side of the door and it was when Peter decided to go outside to investigate that his office door burst open and in stepped the last person Peter was expecting, followed by Bella.

"Naomi?" Peter said in surprise upon seeing Phoebe's mother. Naomi Witter had long blonde hair, blue eyes with medium-sized breasts and a curvy ass and she was dressed in a blouse with a short denim skirt.

"We need to talk," Naomi simply responded before noticing Cindy, sitting on the couch. "But apparently you're too busy entertaining women as usual to talk," Naomi continued before commenting. "Isn't this one a little bit young for you?"

"This is Cindy. Asa's daughter, remember?" Peter responded, although Naomi seemed unbothered by the information.

"I'm so sorry, Mr Grayson, I tried to tell her you and Cindy were..." Bella tried to apologise.

"It's okay, Bella," Peter said before adding on. "I guess Naomi and I can talk," Peter said before glancing at Cindy. "Sorry Cindy but can Naomi and I have the room?"

"Of course." Cindy said as she got up, picked up her lunch and followed Bella out of the office, closing the door behind them.

Now that they were alone, Peter turned to Naomi and spoke. "How can I help you, Naomi?"

"I want to speak to Phoebe." Naomi demanded.

"Go ahead, I'm not stopping you." Peter responded.

"She's not answering my texts or my phone calls!" Naomi said loudly.

"That's her choice. What do you want me to do about it?" Peter replied.

"Tell her to talk to me!" Naomi demanded.

"I can't tell her to do anything anymore. She's eighteen. A young adult. She's going to college in a few months," Peter found himself saying in a raised voice. "I can't tell her who to speak to!"

"But you're her father!" Naomi shouted.

"And you're her mother!" Peter shouted back at her before calmly saying. "It's not my fault our daughter doesn't want to talk to you. She and I have given you plenty of chances to be a part of her life."

"Have you? I remember what you said all those years ago," Naomi fired back. "How could I have possibly stayed after that!"

"If you really wanted to, then you would have!" Peter shouted. "Not left me with our daughter for nearly eighteen years!" Peter added before realising it was much louder than he intended and not wanting to start their usual argument again, Peter took a deep breath and said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted. Look, I can't tell Phoebe what to do or who to speak to anymore, if you want to talk to our daughter, you’re gonna have to speak to her, not me."