“I’d only tell you if I met someone worth introducing to you. The women I dated were nice but no one I wanted to meet my son.”
“Sounds serious.”
His slow grin more than confirmed how serious it was.
“It is. I…” He darted his eyes from mine for a moment. “I want to ask her to marry me.”
I sputtered a mouthful of beer and set down the glass.
“That’s…that’s amazing, Dad. Congratulations.”
“Well, I didn’t ask her yet. I wanted to come down here first.”
“What, to ask my permission?” I coughed out a laugh.
“To tell you in person, I guess. I didn’t expect this to happen either, but everything in its own time, right?”
“Absolutely. Now I really can’t wait to meet the woman who has you this happy and unshaven.”
“Thanks, son.” He rubbed his almost full beard. “That means a lot. Anything good you can tell me? Other than you’re ruling the place?”
“I’m not ruling the place. Not quite C-suite yet.”
“Seem pretty damn important to me. You’re doing so well down here. I miss you, but I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I won’t be here for much longer. They’re opening up a New York branch. It was all speculation until today. They haven’t made a formal offer yet, but they want me to run it. Soon, you won’t have to miss me that much.”
“Wow, that is great news.” Dad’s smile grew even wider. “I bet your friends will be thrilled. Julie, especially. How’s she doing?”
“She’s sick.”
All the elation evaporated from the table as Dad fell back against his seat with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong? It’s not…like your mother?”
“No, not that. Thank God, but it’s still serious. She has lupus. She’s been sick since January and now she’s feeling better with treatment, but it’s still there.”
“I worked with a woman with lupus. It’s tough. I’m glad to hear she’s feeling better. Is she still able to work?”
“Yes, but she was just laid off.”
“Shit. That poor kid. And when you’re laid off, insurance is an arm and a leg. I’ll make a call when I get back home and see if I can help her.”
“A call?”
“Remember I did this for a living? I worked in health care and insurance. I wasn’t an executive like you, but I still have some friends.” He arched a brow and rested his elbows on the table. “There’s coverage she can get that’s good and at a low premium, but you need to know where to look and who to speak to.”
“She’s got insurance.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Is it part of her severance? I know that our layoff packages had that included for a while—”
“I married her, Dad.”
Until I blurted it out, I’d had no idea how much I’d needed to tell someone. Or maybe I needed my father’s advice or approval, or some kind of assistance to drag me out of this torturous headspace I’d wandered into.
When he looked up, his face was stoic. No shock, no anger, no hurt. His non-reaction unnerved me.
“You married her? In Vegas? After Dean and Maria got married?”
