Love of Autism Ch. 12

Of all the chapters I have written chapter 4 was my favorite to write. I had planned that chapter out and loved the execution of it, but this chapter has taken its place a favorite one to write. I didn't think I would write this chapter the way I ended up writing, but I'm glad I did. Sometimes it is when things don't go to plan even better things can happen. As always thank you Tigersman for your input and editing.

Trevor waited patiently by the door for Katie to arrive at BD's Mongolian BBQ. The weather was supposed to be clear, but it started snowing an hour earlier. While it was a light snow, many of the drivers decided to take it nice and slow as the temperature was right at freezing if not a degree or two below. Ice was very likely to be forming on the roads and cause a few accidents. Thankfully a few minutes later he was relieved to see Katie's car pull into the parking lot and park.

Once parked Katie turned off the engine, got out of her car, and slowly walked to the restaurant, nearly slipping halfway through on some ice. Her dad opened it for her so she could walk in.

"I'm glad you were able to get here safely," Trevor said happy to see his daughter.

"Yeah, it was very slow going. I'm just glad I got winter tires put on the car. Made the driving a little safer."

Both of them went to the hostess who guided them to a table. They sat down and within a minute their waiter came by. He asked what they would like to drink and if they just wanted bowls. Both Katie and Trevor ordered their drinks and just asked for bowls. Once he got their order the waiter left to go get them their drinks.

"So how are things going with Scott?"

Katie smiled at the mention of Scott. "Things with him are going good. We're hit a rough patch recently, but we've gotten through it."

"That's good to hear."

"How is Carly is doing?"

"She is doing good. Still lots of energy and loves to fight for what she wants. I swear after the terrible twos and the trying threes there should be the ferocious fours."

That got a laugh out of Katie. "She certainly has a strong will."

"She also misses you. She keeps asking if Miss Katie can come over to play with her again."

It warmed Katie's heart to hear that piece of information. "I miss her too. I honestly would love to spend some more time with her before I go off to college."

"Well you are more than welcome to stop by the house anytime you want. You can also have Scott join us as long as we're home."

Their waiter came back with their drinks and bowls and left them. Katie and Trevor decided to get up and browse the food items to make their stir fry. Once their bowls were overflowing and not able to even fit another single noodle, they went to the grill and had the cooks cook their food in front of them.

"Does Scott like stir fry?" Trevor asked.

"Oh yeah," Katie said with a smile. "Every time he comes over for dinner we always make stir fry because mom and I know he loves it and will never complain about it."

Trevor shook his head still not believing that Jillian was letting Katie date Scott and have him over at their house. "I still can't believe you and Scott are dating. Never in my wildest fantasies did I think you would stop bullying him, much less become friends with him."

"Yeah," Katie said as she grabbed her arm and rubbed it while looking away. "I've been told that a lot."

A few minutes later their food was cooked, put on a plate and served to them. They went back to their table and started eating their custom-made stir fry dish. They each took a few bites from their plates.

"Well I definitely chose some good combinations," Trevor said proud of himself.

"From how it smells you certainly did," Katie complimented.

"Have you thought about having a date here with Scott?"

Katie shook her head and swallowed her food before she explained. "Don't see why we would. It is cheaper just to make stir fry at home."

"True, but you get to see what else he would like in his stir fry. Give him the chance to surprise you again."

"What do you mean by that? Surprise me again?"

"You know your mother and I are talking to each other again, right?"

"Um, yeah," Katie responded thinking that was a dumb question to ask.

"Well she's mentioned how she has been surprised by Scott more than a few times and she knows you've been surprised by him starting with his apology to you."

"Well yeah, I mean his apology was very surprising that he actually did it."

"And then at Homecoming he came to your rescue after you found your now ex was cheating on you and didn't let you have a terrible evening."

"Yes, that did surprise me as well," Katie said, still missing the point of what her dad was getting at.

"Well, let him surprise you again. You, your mother and even I have him in a box of what we believe he is, whether because of his autism or because he is the son of his father. Give him the chance to change your misconceptions of him."

"And bringing him here to let him choose how he wants his stir fry to be made will do this how?"

"By seeing if given the choice of staying safe with what he knows he likes or trying something completely new. We can't just expect only certain things from people like him."

"Don't make it sound like that," Katie interjected.

"Sound like what?" Trevor asked confused.

"Don't say 'people like him'. Scott is autistic, but not less human than anyone else. Just like..." Katie had to stop and really consider if she really wanted to say what she was about it. "...you are not less human for cheating on mom," Katie said finishing her thought, looking down at her plate of food regretting bringing up the fact again the Trevor cheated on her mother.

They ate in silence for the next few minutes. Katie couldn't even look at Trevor, feeling ashamed for what she had just said knowing full well it wasn't fair to him. She was supposed to be trying to make peace with him, not bring up old wounds.

"Thank you for saying I'm not less human," Trevor eventually said.

"You're welcome," Katie muttered, still feeling guilty.

They finished their food and set aside their plates. Their waiter came by soon after and got their plates and asked if they wanted the check. Trevor said yes and that he would be taking care of it. The waiter nodded and took away their plates. A couple of minutes later he came back with the check and handed it to Trevor.

"I know this isn't easy for you Katie, having dinner with me and trying to act nice to me even though you still resent me for what I did." Katie didn't look up at him, but just kept her head down. "Just know that I still love you and am proud of the beautiful, young woman you have become. I will understand if you can't forgive me for what I've done, but just know...I'm happy that you are choosing to spend time with me. It means a lot to me."

Trevor put his credit card in the billfold and set it aside on the table for the waiter to take it.

"Scott was the one who suggested that we have dinner together," Katie said with her head still down.

Trevor shook his head wondering if he had heard his daughter correctly. "Scott suggested this?"

Katie nodded her head and looked up. "Yeah, he did."

"Ok," Trevor said caught off guard by the admission. "So you're just doing this to make Scott happy."

"No, at first I told him I would never make peace with you and we ended up having a heated argument over it. I ended up leaving his house still mad at him," she lied not wanting to tell her dad about how Scott scared her when he got angry, "but when I got home I started thinking about why he suggested it and the fact he didn't ask me to do this without seriously thinking about it. I also realized that I can't hate you forever, not if I want to spend more time with Carly. Hating you...will never make the pain go away. But trying to at least make some sort of peace with you is better than nothing."

"Well, I'm glad you're at least willing to try. I know I hurt you and can never expect you to forgive me."

"I don't know if I ever will, but...if Scott can forgive me for everything I have done to him, why can't I at least try to find a way to make peace with you."

Trevor appreciated hearing Katie say that she was willing to at least try to make peace with him. His daughter had grown up so much without and he hated the fact he couldn't be there to watch it happen day by day. All he could hope for would be some form of peace made between them.

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"Ok, so should I move the rifleman here or move back to my city that is about to be attacked?" Scott asked himself out loud as he was playing Civilization on his computer. This was the only thing he knew that would distract from thinking about Katie having dinner with her dad and could go very, very wrong with it. At the same time if she decided to call him that night he could just stop what he was doing and answer the phone as Civilization is a turn based game.

He played out several more turns, conquered another civilization by taking over their last city when his phone started ringing. He glanced at it quickly, saw it was Katie calling and answered it immediately.

"Hey Katie."

"Hey Scottie. How are you doing?"

"Oh you know, playing Civilization, waiting for my beautiful and amazing to girlfriend to call me."

"Beautiful and amazing huh? Sounds like you're trying to get a head start on something."

"Maybe, just in case dinner with your dad didn't go all that well."

"Well, it didn't go horribly," Katie admitted, "but I haven't made peace with him either."

"Were you not civil with him?"

"No, I was civil and actually enjoyed having dinner with him. We talked about us, Carly, and school. Usual small talk and all that."

"At least you were civil with him."

"Yeah and I'm going to their house Sunday to play with Carly for a few hours. Trevor and Lauren need to get some housework done and Carly literally demands all their attention. They are going to feed me dinner so of course I'm going to say yes."

"Is she really that much of a terror?"

"Oh yes! She is constant energy and does not like the words stop or no. I'm actually going to Walmart tomorrow to get some Frozen coloring books and anything else Frozen I can find to make her sit down for a least five minutes."

"Well, have you thought about watching the sing-a-long Frozen movies with her and singing them with her?"

Katie shook her head and mentally slapped herself for not thinking of that. "That is a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you didn't have a little sister growing up who also loved the Frozen movies. My mom would do the sing-a-longs with Sarah just to have her relax and actually sit down."

"And you didn't want to join in the fun?"

"Oh hell no. I was too busy playing video games and I can't sing."

Katie laughed at that statement. "I think you play video games a little too much sometimes."

"Well my parents don't think so...unless I'm not getting my homework done. Then I would agree that I was maybe playing them too much."

Katie could only shake her head. "Maybe playing them too much. Sometimes I wonder if you like video game more than you like me."

Scott knew instantly what Katie was trying to do. "First, you know I like you more than video games. Second, please don't do that. I know you meant what you said to be sarcastic, but I still don't like it when my love and care for someone is questioned. If I choose to be with someone, it is because I want to."

"Thank you for telling me. I'll try my best to not sarcastically question your love for me and I'm sorry."

"It's ok Katie. I forgive you."

"Now then, make sure you do finish your homework by the end of tonight."

"Umm, why?" Scott questioned wondering why Katie was ordering him to do this.

"Because if you do, you'll get a very nice treat from me in the form of some pictures."

Scott sat still, wanting to make sure he just heard his girlfriend right. "What type of pictures?"

"You'll see if you get your homework done."

Scott pursed his lips, realizing again what was going on. "Pardon my French, but you are a manipulative bitch."

Katie laughed really hard at Scott calling her a bitch. "What? I can't use sex to help you be a better person? A better man?"

"One of these days I'm going to say no."

Katie smiled, knowing she had Scott. "But today is not one of those days. As you said at the start, I'm an amazing and beautiful woman."

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"Love is an open door," Katie and Carly sang together as they watched the first Frozen movie together.

Trevor and Lauren couldn't help but laugh as they prepped and cooked dinner.

"I'm glad Katie decided to come over and help watch Carly. It is nice to be able to make dinner without her asking us a hundred questions or trying to show us something," Lauren said.

"Yeah. It is nice," Trevor commented somewhat sadly.

Lauren heard the sadness in his voice. "I know you wish things with Katie were better. Be glad that she is wanting to spend time with Carly. At least it is something."

"Yeah," Trevor agreed, feigning a smile. "I know. It's just...she's grown up so much and I haven't been there to see any of it these past five years." Trevor glanced over into the family room and saw Carly with the biggest smile on her face, sitting on Katie's lap who had an equally big smile. Guilt was coming over him. Guilt from cheating on Jillian and seeing the look on Katie's face when she found out. "Do you regret what we did?"

Lauren turned to look at her husband. "What we did to Jillian, yes." She then turned to look at Carly, that big smile still on her face. "But I don't regret the beautiful daughter we made together."

Trevor took the burgers out of the frying pan and placed them on a plate, smiling. "That I definitely do not regret as well. How are the peppers and onions coming? I'd like to at least get them somewhat cooked before the burgers get cold."

Lauren brought over the plate of cut up red peppers and onions and Trevor put them in another pan with oil already heated in it. After cooking them for a few minutes he put them on another plate and yelled to the girls that the burgers were ready. Carly of course complained and whined that she needed to finish the movie first. It took a few minutes for Katie to convince Carly to eat, but eventually she did.

Katie helped Carly get seated at the table. Once seated she helped Carly cut up her hamburger into smaller pieces. Trevor then put some pieces of pepper and onions onto Carly's plate. Once she was set, everyone started eating their owner burgers and made small talk.

"Miss Katie, can I ask you a question?" Carly asked.

"Of course you can Carly," Katie said with a smile.

"Do you have a dad?" Carly asked innocently.

Katie found herself forcing her smile to hide how nervous she was. Trevor was happy to not have any food in his mouth or else he would have choked on it.

"I used to have a dad, but something happened to him when he went on a trip a long time ago and my mom and I never heard from him again."

Carly became sad when she heard that information. "Do you miss him?"

Katie glanced at Trevor before turning back to Carly. "I do miss him. I miss him a lot."

Carly took a bite of some peppers. "I'm sorry that you miss your dad."

Katie couldn't help but smile at Carly's sweetness. "Thank you Carly."

The rest of the dinner went off without any more incidents. Carly finished her food quickly wanting to return to watching Frozen. Lauren was eating her burger and asked if Carly would be happy if she finished watching Frozen with her. Carly in turn asked Katie if it was ok and Katie said of course. With that Carly jumped out of her chair, went to the family room, and grabbed the remote and hit play. Lauren was only a minute behind and sat with her daughter while Katie and Trevor stayed at the table.

"Did you mean what you said to Carly? That you miss your dad?" Trevor asked.

Katie looked down at the table, coming to terms with the truth. "Honestly, there are days that I miss you. I wished I could have introduced my ex to you and maybe you would have picked up on the fact he was a cheater." Katie looked up from the table and turned her head to face her father. "I miss the times you would play board games with me, take me to the mall and...," tears started to form in her eyes, "I miss you being there for me when I needed you most."

Seeing his daughter cry made him cry. "I'm sorry Katie for everything I've put you through. You don't deserve...something like me in your life."

Katie wiped the tears from her face, but then suddenly smiled coming to a realization. "Just like how I thought I wasn't worth Scott's kindness at Homecoming."

"Your mom told me he was the one who told you your ex was cheating on you and gave you a ride home."

Katie started to laugh. "Mom doesn't know that Scott actually asked me to slow dance with him and I said yes. He made some goofy faces at me and played it off like he wasn't until he couldn't hold up the act anymore." Her laughter stopped as a sad smile formed on her face. "He had absolutely no reason to be nice to me, no reason to try to make me feel better after the hell I've put him through and yet...he did it anyway. He made me feel special and cared about when I didn't deserve it."

"Sounds like Scott is quite the guy to do that for you," Trevor commented.

"Yes, he is," Katie agreed, nodding her head, but also deep in thought about the current situation. "And if he can do that...why can't I..." the battle within Katie became stronger. She wanted so much to hate Trevor for everything that he did to her and her mom. Yet she did so much worse to Scott and he was able to forgive her. "Why can't I try to forgive you?"

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Scott didn't hear from Katie the previous night, but knew she might not be in the mood to talk after spending an evening with her dad's family. He didn't sleep well because he couldn't help but worry about Katie. The little sleep he did get made him want to stay home, but then he wouldn't get to talk to his girlfriend and see how she was doing.

After a slow morning of getting ready, driving to school at a slower pace because he was so tired, he parked his car and groggily walked over to his locker. He hoped that he would run into Katie at his locker like he did so many times before but that didn't happen. All five of his classes that happen before lunch went by super slow. He was glad when lunch finally came...until he remembered that he didn't pack a lunch. Groaning at his own forgetfulness, he walked over to a table and sat down, accepting the fact he wasn't going to eat lunch today. However, a few minutes later Katie sat down next to him and slid him a Tupperware container of stir fry and it was hot.

"You don't have to give me your lunch. I'll live one day without eating lunch."

"I actually brought two," Katie admitted. "I had a funny feeling you might forget your lunch and by funny feeling I mean your sister texted me that you were a mess this morning and forgot to make a lunch."

"And she didn't stop me because?"

"Because she saw how tired you were and didn't want to watch you slowly make a lunch and arrive late."

Even with how tired Scott felt, everything Katie told him made sense. "Thank you," he said as he used the plastic fork provided to eat the stir fry. They sat there together eating their stir fries together. "So how was your evening with Carly?"

Katie smiled, thinking back to the previous night. "It was good. We watched the first Frozen movie together, sang along to all the songs and had a great time. She gave me a big hug before she went off to bed."