“I get that hanging with us isn’t that fun for you anymore, but I just wanted to check in and make sure you are okay. Anything you want to chat about?” I can see him thinking about what’s going on his head and whether he wants to share it.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to, but just know that I’m always here if you need me.” I give him a minute, and when he doesn’t say anything, I push back up off the bed and smile as I step toward him, lean down, and give him a hug.
“Night, buddy, love you.” Walking toward the door, I pause with my hand on the doorknob.
“Dad.” His voice is no more than a whisper wrapping around his uncertainty.
“Yeah.” I turn back and face him.
He just pats the bed with his hand, and I walk back and sit closer to him this time.
I give him time, but it doesn’t take long before he blurts it out.
“I’ve met a girl, and she’s really great and cute and likes music, and she’s nice to me, and she’s at my music workshop, and if we aren’t here then I won’t see her and then Baron will ask her out because he likes her too, and then I won’t ever get a chance because he is better-looking than me.”
“Whoa, buddy, take a breath. I’m not sure there are meant to be that many ‘ands’ in one sentence.” I chuckle at the redness on his cheeks at the embarrassment of telling me about this girl—or the lack of oxygen, one of the two.
“Let’s start at the top. I guessed it might have been a girl. And don’t worry, we all feel nervous and uncoordinated when we meet a girl we like. You don’t remember, you were too little, but I was a mess the day I met your mom. I almost bought out the whole of Target trying to keep you all safe, and in some subconscious way to also impress her. But if I can give you one piece of advice, money is never the answer. Friendship and just talking, getting to know a girl, is the perfect way to start.”
Thinking back to when I was his age, I was awkward as hell and none of the girls looked at me. They were all after Tate and Mason to start with, then Gray. My father wasn’t someone I could confide in, but I remember an afternoon sitting out in the gardens with our butler Charles and having a chat. I was lucky to have such great staff at the house who really were the ones whoraised me. My relationship with my father is better now, but it’s taken a lot of hard work on both sides to get here.
“I can’t even talk to her.” He rolls his eyes and slaps his hand on his forehead.
“What’s her name?”
“Charlotte Emerson.” And the moment he speaks her name, his face lights up, and I can tell he is hooked.
“Does she know you exist?” I ask, trying to establish whether he is just admiring from afar.
“Yeah, I’m not a creep, Dad. She is in my songwriting class. I sit next to her, but we only talk about music and lyrics.”
“Well, that’s a good start, let’s work on that. And who is this Baron guy? Do I need to send the uncles around to sort him out?” We both start laughing, knowing full well I’m joking, and then he moves over on his bed, and I get comfy next to him, leaning on the headboard, settling in for a good chat.
These are the times I’m so grateful for, feeling like I’m making a difference in their world. Memories I hope they will look back on one day with love and forget the times we butted heads arguing about things.
“This is your captain speaking. Well, actually I’m one of a few captains on this flight, but I’m the one who has permission to yell at every single kid on this plane. Now listen up. Seatbelt sign is now on, so that means sit down, buckle up, and turn off your phones. I know there has been a lot of commotion just to get on the plane this morning, so sit back, relax, and enjoy. Lex, over to you, buddy.” Mason’s voice cuts off, and the jolt of the plane signals we are starting to taxi to the runway.
Looking around, I wait as every parent checks on all the kids’ seatbelts and makes sure everyone is safely settled. Once Mia takes her seat in between the twins and I see her tighten her belt, I start.
All heads are turned, even if their seat is facing away from me.
“This year’s New Year’s Eve trip is a little different, but I just want to preface, kids, you won’t always be coming with us, but this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”
“Get on with it, are we going to a beach?” Tate yells from behind me.
“I hope he takes us to the Arctic just to shut you up.” Gray laughs out loud.
“Yes, we are off to the beach. Manly Beach, in fact, in Sydney, Australia,” I declare, and the silence on the plane is almost deafening.
The adults are all stunned, and it’s the kids that react first.
“Dad, are you for real? Like, as in the land down under?” Jack is looking at me like I’ve hung the moon.
“I love the beach, and Trudy in my class said when she came back from Australia that the waves are big and you have to watch out for all the surfers.” Kayla grabs my arm from where she is sitting next to me.
“What’s not to like about a bunch of bronzed, shirtless Australian surfers.” Mia joins her daughter’s excitement but for a completely different reason.
“Exactly!” Tilly cheers, along with Paige and Bella.
