56. Father-in-law

William parked his car and ran impatiently along his father-in-law's yard towards the main door. He knocked on the door with mixed feelings. Anxious. 

The door was opened by a middle-aged man who looked a bit sleepy.

"Oh, William? What brings you here at this time?" asked Robert in amazement, mixed with disdain for his son-in-law.

"Dad, is Paula here? Can I take her home?" William bombarded his father-in-law with a barrage of questions.

"Come on, come in! Sit down first." Robert took William into the living room and asked the maid to serve hot drinks and cakes to calm his son-in-law down before answering all the questions.

"Enjoy the cake and tea first," Robert said with a friendly laugh, but it seemed forced. William half-heartedly finished a large slice of that red velvet cake despite being stuffed. He felt bad if he had to fight his father-in-law just for a trivial matter.