Chapter 178 - With Family

"It was Andrzej who forced me to take better care of myself and listen to the doctor. I know the word 'forced' sounds a bit scary, but remember when I was a kid and I didn't want to take medication, did you threaten me not to let me watch TV? He has used a similar form of compulsion on me."

Of course, Dominik could not tell his mother that Nowicki was threatening to take away something more than the ability to watch TV.

"He made me read that Hollywood script, too," added Dominik, and again concealed that the blackmail was about sex. "I don't regret it. I was against this movie at first, but now I think it will be a very interesting experience. Do you want to see which famous people I took pictures with?"

His mother immediately perked up. She grew up in American cinema, so most of the screen stars she admired were from there. Dominik knew this very well, so although he did not like to pose for random photos, while in Hollywood he overcame his resistance and took some souvenir photos with several people. Of course, Śliwiński did not approach stars he met by chance, but two teams were shooting next door, where Dominik was invited to 'sightseeing'. As his guide was none other than Brand Kitt himself, the young Polish actor was very well received, practically like a friend and member of the crew.

So Helena Śliwińska looked at photos of her son in the company of older and younger Hollywood celebrities and looked happy and proud.

Dominik had almost no contact with his family since his role in his first film, so he wasn't sure how they relate to his work. The expression of pride in his mother's face made him very happy and made the young actor feel pleased that he went to the States. It seemed he had to consider more factors than he had realized when deciding his own career.

It's not like Dominik would obey his parents' orders. But if there is their joy and pride on one scale and acceptance only on the other, it is worth considering which is more important.

"Mom, what do you think about me playing in this movie?"

"What? You ask me?" his mother wondered.

"Yes. I'm sorry I never asked you before, but now I'd like to hear from you."

"You know, you can do it as you like..." Helena Śliwińska tried to avoid the answer and Dominik decided that his mother was really sweet.

"Of course I'll do what I want," he admitted. "But I'd like to know your opinion and dad's opinion, but he'll probably be too drunk soon," he added, hearing laughter coming from the room. Poor Andrzej will have a painful hangover.

"Oh my, I don't know," Dominik's mother blushed. "I am proud to have such a capable and resourceful son that he got an offer from Hollywood itself. Plus you will have the opportunity to play alongside Scarlett Yang."

"I didn't know you liked her."

"Ay, not so much. The movies she plays are not for me. But I know that young people like it. And you are young. Together you will reach young people all over the world!"

Dominik never cared about such worldwide fame, but his mother probably dreamed such dreams about him. He didn't blame her for that. Before Dominik started acting in movies, his family was not doing very well. His father worked hard, but keeping three children was not easy.

It was in order to help the family that Dominik agreed to star in his first film. Who would have thought then that it would be the first step to break off contacts with his family for many years.

For a moment, the young actor wanted to ask his mother what she would think about her son quitting acting, but thought that he would not spoil her holiday mood. After all, he himself did not know what tomorrow would bring. Even if today he was determined that this would be his last role, it may turn out that in a year he will change his mind. Mrs. Pasek had told him once that he might face all sorts of circumstances in his life. Dominik, on the other hand, remembered the old saying that only a cow does not change its mind. He will still have time to talk to his mother about it when he will actually end his career.

They talked and talked, and Dominik had the impression that both he and his mother felt more and more at ease, as if they had managed to close the gap that had formed between them over the years. It seemed that Andrzej was right and family ties are not that hard to rebuild. Goodwill is enough on both sides, and there was no shortage of this among the Śliwiński family.

When they had satisfied the first hunger for conversation, Dominik went back to washing the dishes, and his mother started cutting Christmas cakes. Dominik looked longingly at the yeast poppy seed cake, gingerbread, apple pie with crumble and raisin cheesecake, which had been made according to his grandmother's recipe. The air smelled of spices, apples, and rum. These were the smells and flavors of Christmas that Dominik remembered from his childhood and at that moment he felt like a little child himself.

Still, it was wonderful to spend Christmas with the family, even if it was just the Second Day of Christmas.

When he and his mother returned to the room where the family was gathered, he saw Andrzej give him a quick glance. Dominik smiled brightly at him, wanting to convey to him that everything was fine, that he really had nothing to worry about. Nowicki understood his answer. To be sure, he also glanced at Dominik's mother and, clearly calmed down, returned to drinking vodka with the three Śliwiński family.

It quickly turned out that only Dominik's father and Nowicki, forced by him, were actually drinking vodka. Andrzej knew there was no other choice. He had to fulfill his son-in-law's duty to his father-in-law. Dominik, however, felt a rising unease within him. If Andrzej is completely drunk, not only will he not be able to take them to the cottage on the Bug, but also he will not be able to fulfill their Christmas fantasies about romantic and hot sex by the fireplace, on a bear (although completely artificial) skin.

Dominik's anxiety was noticed by his sister, who slapped him on the shoulder and said:

"Don't worry, they don't drink that much, it's just the way it looks."

"But Andrzej will not be able to drive after alcohol anyway."

"You can not drive?"

"Not really. I have never had time to get a driving license and in such weather..."

"Why drive a car?" Dominik's father was suddenly surprised. "Your room is still free. The bed is small..."

Cold sweat poured over the young actor's back. If it were a movie, to emphasize the horror of the situation, a sound effect would be used in which an icy wind would blow. Everyone in the room looked as if they had been chilled and Dominik did not even dare to look at his mother, from whom it was blowing the coldest. The woman might start to accept her son's choice, but far from accepting his male lover sleeping under her roof and - as Zygmunt suggested - in the same room and bed as Dominik.

Everyone was surprised by Nowicki, who huffed with laughter.

"You know, Zygmunt, you have an interesting sense of humor."

"Right?" both of them laughed, but that didn't lighten the atmosphere as everyone else realized that the problem remained.

"I'll drive you," Olek suddenly suggested.

"We'll go two cars," their sister added. "Olek will drive Andrzej's car and I will bring him home."

The solution was clean and simple. Dominik was surprised that he had not come up with it himself. I guess he really lacked a lot of life experience, which he noticed more and more now. He also decided to get a driving license as soon as possible.

***

The young Śliwiński siblings left from a small summer house on the Bug River, where Dominik and Andrzej were staying. Seeing the deplorable condition of the building, Dominik's sister offered to take them somewhere more decent, but he declined to say that the place was perfectly fine, that they were already here and didn't need to worry about anything. Olek nudged his sister aside mumbling something about giving Dominik and his man privacy, which definitely worked. Now the headlights of the car in which the young Śliwiński family drove have disappeared from view. Dominik and Andrzej were left alone.

Nowicki was not completely drunk, but clearly smudged with alcohol. He finished drinking vodka almost three hours ago, then he consumed a large amount of coffee and even later the frost helped him to sober up.

Dominik had never seen Andrzej drunk, so he had no idea what to expect. Some got drunk merrily, others sadly, while still others… aggressively. However, the young actor was not afraid of the latter for a moment.