Lucas fingered the bright silver studs that spelled Sindy’s name. “This is sterling.”
Sindy’s eyes darted up. “Tell me you’re joking.”
Lucas shook his head, amused that she expected his mom to use something besides precious metal.
“I’ve never owned something this beautiful. Thank you, Mrs. Blade.”
“You’re welcome, honey. But, please call me Jessi.”
“Or Mrs. Blade-Garcia.” Papi draped his arm over her shoulder and gave her a loving kiss on the cheek. “You are my wife, too, sweetheart.” Papi was always teasing her about using his name.
“Thanks, Mom,” Lucas said. “You’ve made me a million of these over the years, but I think I love this one the most.”
She touched his cheek. “That’s so sweet, baby. Thank you.”
“Are you all ready to go?” Papi asked.
“Wait. I have one more gift.” Lucas’ mom walked up to Mason, who was standing a few yards away with his family. She stuck her hand in the shopping bag and pulled out a leather stick bag and presented it to him.
“Oh, cool!” Mason exclaimed. “Thanks.” He turned it over several times, examining it from all angles, then held it up to show Lucas. Mason’s initials, MW, were branded into the side with the same silver studs.
Lucas gave his best friend the thumbs up, because the gift was truly a work of art.
Jimmy Wilder snatched it out of his son’s hand. “This is awesome, Jess. You never gave me a leather-studded stick bag. Man, I need one of these.”
“I made you one, too, Jimmy. It’s upstairs in my workroom.”
“Sa-weet!”
Lucas watched his dad hugging Tessa, which meant it was time to go. They hung onto one another, as if she was leaving for a year instead of a month. And Papi already had tears in his eyes. His mom was the strongest one of the three, standing tall with an excited smile, but he knew she’d probably miss them the most.
Everyone said their goodbyes, except Lucas and his dad. He saved it for last, because he knew it would be the hardest. His dad put his hands on Lucas’ shoulders and stared at him with a small smile. “Go leave your mark on the world, son. Show them what you got, because it’s something no one has ever seen before. Knock them off their feet.”
Lucas clutched his father in his arms and squeezed him with all his might. “Thank you for everything. For teaching me to play and how to run the band. I owe you everything.” As he hugged his father, thoughts of inadequacy from the past haunted him. He had thought that he lived in his father’s shadow. Now he realized that he shined in the afterglow. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Lucas. Now go show the world that you’re better than your old man.”
He tried to swallow the emotion clogging his throat. “Never. Not even close.”
