“OCTOBER IS THE BEST TIMEof year to head to Grandpa’s cabin,” my mom said wistfully. I imagined she was wearing her serene smile, and I wished I was sitting across the kitchen table from her instead of talking over the phone. “The leaves are changing, and the weather is perfect.”
“How’s Dadreallydoing with his radiation treatments?” I wanted to check in before we left for Tennessee in the morning.
A month had passed since his surgery, and he’d just started radiation therapy. I wanted to take Maegan away for a long weekend in the middle of the month because the end of October was a hectic time for her. I wanted this four-day weekend to be something special she would remember for the rest of her life, not a few days squeezed in between Halloween and birthday celebrations. On the other hand, I wanted to be there for my dad too.
“Elijah, your father isn’t lying just to make you feel better. He’s doing okay right now. As the weeks go on, the radiation will take its toll. Right now, he’s just a little tired. You need to have this time away with Maegan, and you need to do it without worrying about us. I promise I will call you if something comes up, but I know it won’t. Give Freckles our love. And, Elijah,” Mom said softly, “I cannot wait to see my grandmother’s ring on her finger.”
“How’d you know I was—”
“I’m your mother,” she said, cutting me off. “Mothers know these things. I don’t want to hear anymore conflict in your voice. Dad and I are doing just fine. Oh! Here he comes now. He’s holding out his hand, so he must want to talk to you. I love you, Elijah. I hope you have an amazing weekend.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
“Son,” my father said by way of greeting. “You aren’t asking your mother about my health after I already told you I’m doing fine, are you?”
“No, Dad.”
“I promised myself I’d be a better man if I ever got a second chance to be your father, and part of that is being honest and not trying to pretend I’m Superman. I’m flesh and blood, not a superhero.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get smart,” he said, but I heard the humor in his voice. “I’m trying to make a point here.”
“My apologies.”
“I will be honest with you about how I’m feeling throughout radiation, Son. I’m only two weeks in, and right now, I’m mostly tired. The doctor warned the next five weeks will take a harder toll on me. I want you to have the weekend away you planned with your Freckles because I will need your strength and her smiling face soon. Will you do that for me?”
I had to swallow a few times before I could speak. “Yeah, Dad.”
“That’s my boy. Now, it’s time for you to hang up this phone so you can finish getting ready for your trip.”
“Yes, sir. I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Son. You have a safe trip.”
We said our goodbyes then hung up. I sat on the bed I shared with Maegan for several minutes staring off into space. My relationship with my father had changed so much since we reconnected. It was everything I’d always wanted as a kid and young adult, but I wished it hadn’t taken a serious illness for us to patch things up. In the end, did it really matter why he took the first step? It didn’t. The only thing that mattered was the result. I felt lighter and happier than ever before in my life. I not only had the girl of my dreams, but I had my family back. My future had never looked brighter than it did right then on the cusp of asking Maegan to be my wife.
I heard the front door open and close below. Maegan had gone to work even though she was off on Wednesdays to make sure Bonnie didn’t have too much on her plate while we were gone. Jackie was also helping out wherever she was needed which was a big relief to Maegan. She’d texted me to say she was going to the store after work to get the non-perishable food items we needed for our trip. The general store closest to the cabin had the fresh meat and perishable items we’d need, but Maegan refused to pay their jacked-up, tourist-trap prices for boxed and canned goods we could bring from home. My lady was a shrewd businesswoman and negotiator.
“Elijah,” Maegan called from downstairs. “I brought home the fried chicken you like from the deli.” I almost made it to the kitchen before she finished her sentence. She laughed when she saw how eager I was to get my hands on the chicken. “How are your parents?”
“How’d you know I was going to call them?”
“I know you,” Maegan said. “You wanted to make sure your dad wasn’t lowballing his pain level so you could keep your plans. So, how is he?”
“Tired but otherwise good. He said the next five weeks will be hard on him.”
“Then we’ll make sure we get there as often as we can to give him the support he needs and your mom a break.”
The chicken was forgotten when I pulled Maegan into my arms and looked into her adoring eyes. She’d change our plans in a heartbeat if she thought my parents needed us which only made me love her more. I ran a finger over the freckles on her forehead I loved so much.
“Our lives have been a bit hectic lately, so I’m glad the two of us are getting away for the weekend.”
“And they’re about to get even crazier now that the network has worked out all the arrangements with the lawyers for The Golden Gate Bridge Inn.” A door slammed above. “Excuse me, Anthony,” Maegan said dramatically, “I meant the Blissview Hotel.”
“At least Anthony has prepared us for when our kids become petulant teenagers,” I suggested.
“You make a very good point,” Maegan said.
