“Ajollyrancher." I chuckle at my joke.
Wyatt snorts, a smile playing on his lips. "You're a goof sometimes."
“Hey, I’m happy to be a goof if it gets you grinnin’ like that.” I tap my temple. “Committin’ it to memory, so I don’t forget it while you’re out there in the great abyss.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s the ocean, Dad. Not a black hole. I’ll be back buggin’ you on the ranch soon enough.”
“Lookin’ forward to it, kid.”
I finish the last of the coffee and stand up, cracking my back as I do before dropping the cup in the trash bin. “You ready to pack up and head out?”
“Yep. Mags was already up and gettin’ ready when I came down here to find you.”
“Good. Then let’s go get you on that plane. Sooner you’re gone, sooner you’re back.”
“Have you got your phone charger?” I ask.
“Yep.”
“What about all the paperwork the captain wanted you to bring with you?” I continue.
“Yes, Dad.”
“What about–”
“Dad…” Wy says, shaking his head at me.
“What?”
“I love and appreciate you, but stop worryin’. I’ve got this. Besides, you’ve been checkin’ that I’ve got everythin’ I need for the past two weeks. If I don’t have it now—which would be a damn miracle in itself—then I’ll cope fine without it, I swear.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that have reappeared now that we’re standing at the airport about to say goodbye. “I know, kid. I just–you’re about to do somethin’ evenI’venever done, and it makes me so damn proud. But nervous too. I still remember holdin’ you in my arms the day you were born. Now look at you, all grown up and headin’ out to sea.”
Wyatt chuckles as he zips up his duffel bag. I don’t miss the way he’s blinking a little faster than normal. “Just because I’m goin’ fishin’ doesn’t mean things are goin’ to change between us. You know that, right?”
“I know,” I sigh, trying to reassure myself more than him. “It’s just… a big change, that’s all.”
His flight is called over the intercom and it hits home that this is it.He’s really going.
Wy walks over to Mags and pulls her in for a huge hug. "You better be prepared. The minute my boots step back into town, I'm comin' to the Loaded Hog for the biggest plate of Corned Beef Hash you can make."
“Tell me the date and time and you can have as much as you want, Wy.Anythin’you want, you hear?”
He nods and turns his head, murmuring in her ear. When they pull apart, they lock eyes and have a silent conversation that ends when Mags cups his cheek and lifts her chin. “Always, Wy. You don’t have to ask.”
I swallow hard as he takes the few steps he needs to reach me.
“I’ll keep in touch as much as I can,whenI can.”
“You better,” I say, my voice rough now.
“I know, Dad. I promise,” Wyatt replies softly, his eyes reflecting the same emotions swirling within me.
He wraps me in a tight embrace, just like he did when he was a boy. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the leather of his jacket envelops me, and I hold onto this moment, trying to etch it into my memory.
"Proud of you, kid. Your mom would be too. I just know it.”
“Yeah?”
