Free Clarity of Lines by N.R. Walker Page B

one , and you liked it.”
    “You went to one of his concerts?” Paula asked, surprised.
    Cooper answered for me. “Of course he did. He takes me to those boring art exhibition openings, so it’s only fair.”
    “You went to one ,” I countered, trying not to smile. “And you liked it.”
    Paula and Andrew looked on, not very sure what to make of our banter. Cooper smiled as he sipped his coffee. “You guys should come to New York,” he said to his parents. “We could spend the weekend, I could show you where I work, we could go to Broadway or something equally as boring.”
    They agreed, but didn’t commit to anything, and conversation turned to Cooper’s work, a subject he could talk about for hours. I just loved his enthusiasm for what he did, for what we did. He asked me a question or two, trying to drag me into the discussion, but I was happy for him to have this time with his parents. It didn’t have to involve me at every turn.
    I wanted them to see he was still the same person.
    I answered him, of course, but let him take centre stage. Not that I minded. I could listen to him talk about architecture all day long.
    Cooper’s parents might have caught me smiling at him a few times, but I didn’t care. Let them see how much I admired him. I wasn’t about to deny it.
    Breakfast arrived and as we ate, Paula directed her questions at me. She asked about my work, how I found New York and she even made small talk about the Yankees.
    But Andrew barely said a word.
    When it was time to go, I told Cooper I’d give him a few minutes with his parents while I checked us out of the hotel and organised the car. When I couldn’t put it off any longer, I met them in the lobby.
    Cooper gave me a tight smile and quickly took my hand. After we’d said goodbye and were in the car on our way to the airport, I asked him what was said in my absence.
    “Well, they’re still not exactly happy about us,” he said quietly.
    “I’m sorry,” I told him.
    “Don’t you apologise,” he said quickly. “For anything.”
    “Still, I’m sorry it didn’t go how you’d hoped.”
    “Well,” he said with a shrug, “they’re prepared to put up with it, so I guess that’s all I could hope for.” He looked at me as I drove, and gave me a sad smile. “Last night, I really thought they weren’t going to accept it all, so I guess tolerance is good.”
    “Coop, sweetheart, they’re still a part of your life,” I said. “They’re talking of coming to New York to visit you. They might not ‘accept’ us being together, but they’re trying. Give them time.”
    “I just wish they could see us, ya know?” he said, slowly shaking his head. “If they could see us, the way we are together, the way we talk and laugh…”
    “I think they saw how happy you were, how serious we were,” I told him, “and I think that’s what scared them.”
    “Why would it scare them?” he asked. “Shouldn’t they be happy for me?”
    “Give them time,” I said again. “I know it’s a Gen Y thing to want everything yesterday, but some things take time.”
    He sighed and was quiet for a little while. Then he looked at me curiously. “What generation are you anyway?” he asked.
    “Generation X,” I answered.
    “You had to Google that, didn’t you?”
    “Yes,” I admitted with a laugh.
    “So if I’m Gen Y and you’re X, then together we are the chromosome code for male,” he mused.
    “Yes, I am X marks the spot, and you are the dear God, why, why, why.”
    “Fucking hell, Tom,” he deadpanned. “We need to work on your jokes.”
    * * * *
    Cooper and I got back to New York and slipped easily into our routine. He was busy with work, and it was something I understood well. I actually condoned it. If he wanted to be the best—and he could be with his talent—he needed to put in the hours.
    It was what I’d done. It was what had got me where I was today.
    So if he had to work late, I didn’t mind. If he brought work over