First, he wanted to remind Ani of his presence, especially since he knew she was with Kami, or would be shortly. Secondly, he didneedthis wedding to go well and would do anything in his power to get it there. If it was as high profile as Ani was making it out to be, if he could book more weddings, if it could get Ô on the map, he’d have a chance at showing his dad he could keep his dream alive. And that Raffi did it his own way.
She texted back shortly, which ignited a flare of hope in him.
Raffi jan—his heart leapt. That was the first time she’d said it.Said it back.She mirrored his endearment term. For a moment he couldn’t read anything else, couldn’t see anything but stars.Raffi jan. He tried to hear it in her voice, smooth and confident. His entire body felt light, taking it in.
When his vision had resumed, he continued reading, pretending like he hadn’t just been knocked sideways by a single word.
—all is well. Getting the work done as soon as possible is the priority. We should do a photoshoot after it’s set, for my portfolio and your winery.
Check this out, he texted, and sent her a photo of the stones he’d snapped.
Perfection!! Damn, he’s quick, she replied.
And I assure you, still meticulous.
I can see that,Ani responded.
Raffi then asked,What’s next?
She responded,We need to figure out the fountain. Can we meet this week and nail it down?
Yes, he certainly could meet this week.
Definitely. Let’s do it. Wednesday?
Two days from now.
Perfect, she replied.
“I can’t wait,” he wanted to reply, but of course he stopped himself.
Meet me here, 10am, I’ll drive us.Then he texted her his home address.It’ll be easier.A risk, sure, but it made more sense for them to meet at his place first.
There was a brief pause before she texted back. Hmm, maybe she realized it was a condo, not the winery, and was worried about meeting at his place. Then her text came in.Sounds good, she replied.
Nothing would happen. She wasn’t interested in him. They were going to figure out the fountain situation, and Raffi would get to spend some time in the company of a beautiful and brilliant woman. Simply bask in her radiance, that was all. That was normal to want, right?
While he was not ready for the conversation to end, he heard a lumbering outside his door. His dad entered, his perpetually unimpressed expression wearing down his face.
“Dad, here,” Raffi said, moving to grab a chair.
“I’m not an old man, I can pull out my own chair.”
His dad waved him off, but as he did, the man lost his balance and began to topple to the floor. Raffi dove toward him and broke the worst of his fall. He was holding his dad, who was quite heavy, in his arms. The son carrying the father. It felt all wrong. His dad, evidently, thought so, too.
He spat, “I was fine. I would have caught myself if you didn’t do that!”
His dad wrenched out of his position, got on all fours, and was about to get up but clearly couldn’t. Raffi, now standing, extended his arm. His father reluctantly took it and pulled himself into the chair.
“Dad. Come on, can we please talk about it? It’s time for a cane. At the very least.”
“Dghas,” his dad said, meaning “my boy,” a loving phrase he almost never, ever used. Raffi leaned in, shocked, wanting to hear more. His dad’s voice was low. “I would rather die—die—than be seen with a cane. Do you understand me?”
Raffi drew back like he’d been slapped. He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he glanced at his father. Shoulders still broad, but hunched now with pain and age, eyes still sharp, but dimmed around the edges. He looked like a fortress crumbling from the inside out.
“You don’t have to prove anything,” Raffi said. “Not to me or anyone else.”
