Parenthood isn't for everyone.

-By now Muriel has put the phone on speaker so Socorro could listen too.

Muriel: I do not appreciate you hiring a private investigator and digging after your son and I.

Have you no shame telling me this and on the phone as well, it would have been at least a bit respectful if you faced me with the truth!

Tor: I apologize again,I understand that my actions are creepy to say the least but put yourself in my shoes, if you have a son who you did wrong all these years, would you be so brave to approach him right away?

Muriel: I suppose you think all people think like you? well let me tell you something!

If I did my child this wrong, I would still try and approach them myself out of respect because last time I checked, children are people too.

Just because Thorn is your child, it does not give you the right to treat him like a belonging without feelings.

Tor: That was not my intentions! I just needed to assess the situation just in case before talking to him.

Muriel: So from what I am gathering, you hired a private investigator for the past few months, gathered a lot of information on your son and even myself! I mean you have my personal number! Just to assess whether you should approach your son or not?!

Tor: I hope you forgive me again for this and I know you're wondering why did I contact you after doing all of this, and what my intentions with you and Thorn in general are.

Muriel: I will go out on a limb here and say that you have totally lost the right to call him your son, I know about you and Thorn's mother.

You barely treated him like a son, barely visiting him one a year and your parenting style was basically dropping cash in his lab instead of spending time with him.

Tor: I understand you're upset, you have every right to after all Thorn is your partner and it's never a good sight to see your partner hurt.

I just want you to understand that Thorn's mother and I were living our darkest times when we had him, and it's not his fault that things ended-up that way, we take full responsibility for what happened all these years.

Muriel: With that I agree but let me tell you something, while I do consider you two bad parents, it is not really my place to judge you.

However I do not consider you good enough to be even having this conversation with me, I mean what happened that you had to reach out to me? Do you want me to help you or something of that sort?

Tor: Unfortunately yes, I do need your help... currently Tanisha, she's Thorn's mother, is talking to him or probably done considering his temper, I know he won't last long with her on the other side of the phone although she had a better chance of talking to him than I did because to him, I'm worse than her.

But as I said, they're having a conversation similar to ours.

Muriel: I see now why I feel his immense sadness in my heart, poor Thorn! This is supposed to be a happy day for us, did you really have to call today?!

Tor: Again, I am sorry about doing all of this and I don't know exactly what you're planning to do today... I wish you all luck with that.

I genuinely want both of you to be happy which is why I want to wrap this up quickly.

Muriel: I too want this conversation to be done already, so please tell me why are you calling me...

Tor: As unreasonable as it sounds, Tanisha and I are back together, as a couple...and before you say anything I can understand this kind of news is probably damaging to our son and even to you.

-With Socorro glaring at the phone with wide eyes,

Muriel: Are you kidding me Tor?! you denied Thorn a happy family, a stable home for 29 years and now you two are back together?!

What do you want him to do now?! Be happy for you? be your son again and come live with you or something?!

Obviously this news is damaging! no one can take such news in his situation!

Tor: I understand...i

Muriel: NO! YOU DO NOT BLOODY UNDERSTAND! stop saying you understand!

Tor: Please give me an opportunity to quickly explain this.

Muriel: Goodness I want to punch you on the face! I completely understand Thorn's feelings about you guys now!

Tor: i know it sounds unbelievable even though it's probably what was in store for us anyways, and you can say it happened on a whim considering that both her and i have been through two recent separate divorces that I can only describe as ugly.

Muriel: So you got divorced, she got divorced and then what you met-up and started talking about your exes and fell in love again?!

Tor: I suppose that's the cliche we fell into and it doesn't stop there...unfortunately...

Muriel: Oh God do not say the P word!

Tor: Yes Tanisha is pregnant, we did not see that coming at our age, and to be fair we really messed-up with Thorn, so she and i are keeping the baby...we thought it was only fair that we give this one a chance at a happy family.

Muriel: You mean you are going to have a baby that you are going to supposedly parent very well as a way to make-up for what you did to Thorn?!

Tor: I know it doesn't look good in any way but it is what it is...I cannot stress enough that this is probably the worst and best time of my life at the same time because I have just realized that I've been living a lie myself, and I've denied myself the opportunity to be with the person I love due to petty reasons.

Tanisha and I from the beginning belonged to each other...i cannot go into details at least not yet, I was hoping that I can tell you the whole story you and Thorn over dinner.

Muriel: Over dinner?! I am sorry are you inviting me to dinner?!

Tor: You're our son's current partner, of course I am inviting you.

Muriel: You actually have the audacity to host a dinner and invite us?! You did not even bother showing your face!

Tor: I don't understand?

Muriel: Of course you do not understand! you never did?! color Me surprised!

Tor: Are you angry because we did not come personally to invite you? if this will change your mind, I can arrange for Tanisha and I to come see you.

Muriel: *sarcastically* Of course you can do that since you hired the private investigator behind our backs and even got my phone number, of course you probably also have my address! you even probably know which hospital I go to as well!

Tor: *Nervously* Oh about that...

Muriel: *Unamused* do not tell me You know which hospital I go to.

Tor: The private investigator was very thorough... Although I don't know why you go to the hospital.

Muriel : And I will not be telling you anything! just like i will not be accepting your invitation because I know Thorn will refuse.

Tor: *sighing* So I think that means no for dinner.

Muriel: Of course it means no for dinner! stop ruining my day oh for God's sake! Merde?!

Tor: I'm sorry for insisting Muriel but I reached out to you because I know your influence on Thorn, you're the only one who can convince him to come.

Muriel: I know! you are trying to make me manipulate your son into accepting whatever fucking invitation this is!

Tor: It's okay if you refuse the dinner invite, but if you can just convince Thorn to talk to me in person for just few minutes, I'd be most grateful.

I just want a chance to apologize to him, and I want you to be there because I know he won't let me talk...not after years have been since last I've seen him.

I know that I'll never probably get his forgiveness but I don't want to die before trying, okay! I don't know how years or even days I have left in life...I mean I could die tomorrow for all I know! And I don't want to die before I get a chance to ask my son for his forgiveness!

Can you at least understand that? I know you may not be a parent but you're a person with a heart, can you understand how I feel?

- Muriel glanced at Socorro, "I won't lie, I'm pitying the guy." She whispered.

Muriel: *sighing* Tor...I can understand that and I sympathize with you but that does not mean that I will help you, Thorn means so much to me.

Tor: Then forgive me for saying this but what if he's the one dying soon, what if something happens to Thorn...would you be okay with yourself knowing that you had an opportunity to make his life better hypothetically, and you denied him that?

- "Okay this guy sucks! I can't believe I pitied him!" Socorro whispered in disbelief.

Muriel: *Scoffing* I swear to God I always thought Thorn had too much audacity while pursuing me, I mean the boy does not give-up that is for sure, not to mention he was so straightforward to the point where he comes off as rude.

But to imagine that his straightforwardness and audacity are hereditary?! to think that you are his source is beyond my comprehension!

What a wonderful thing DNA is! Even audacity is shared among family members, at least Thorn's version is acceptable, you are a straightforward asshole Tor!

Tor: I didn't mean to upset you.

Muriel: bloody hell you did not!

Tor: Please you're literally my only chance now, I know this is bad! I lack social skills, I never was good with people.

I'm too much of an introvert and you can probably hear my nervous heartbeats from the phone, I'm just trying to tell you that I have no other choice but to beg you! literally!

Please help change Thorn's mind, I just need to talk to him for like 10 minutes! that's all I need! I'd be most grateful and you can forget the dinner idea.

I never even thought the dinner would work, I just wanted to tell Thorn how sorry I am face to face, but I knew he would never agree to let me or Tanisha, talk to him on our own, but you could convince him.

Muriel: I am under a lot of stress Tor, I am tired physically, mentally and spiritually and I have recently lived the toughest days of my life.

I could collapse at any moment and I need to focus on my health and happiness, at least if not for my sake then for Thorn, but you had to call today and right now of all times!

Tor: I don't know how to apologize enough to you, I never wanted to bother you!

Muriel: *sighing* All right listen... if this ruins my relationship with Thorn, I swear I will hunt you and Tanisha to the end of Earth and make you suffer, is that understood?!

Tor: YES! Perfectly!

- "Muriel what are you doing?" Socorro curiously asked.

Muriel: Tor, I will give you a very generous opportunity to talk to Thorn face to face.

I will be sending you the address, you and Tanisha better dress-up well and come with your best behavior, however at the first minor inconvenience you cause, if Thorn decided he does not want to talk to you, you disappear before I even interfere, is that understood?!

Tor: Absolutely! thank you so much!