“That’s entirely possible. But you know, I think about where you were, that broken kid, and who you are now… it makes me proud to know you.” Again Dad broke down as he forced the remaining words out of his trembling throat. “You may not consider yourself one, but you’re myhero,kid.”
Dammit, now I was swallowing back the noticeable lump in my throat. What the hell was wrong with me? This whole day – actually, the past few weeks – had felt like an ending of sorts, like life was about to change forever, and the uncertainty of it all was messing withmyhead.
Struggling to preserve my cool, I averted my eyes to the cup in his hand, printed with the word ‘WHAM.’ It was so stupidly random I had to smile. My dad had a way of sidetracking me with his wackiness. And I’d counted on his lightheartedness during the darkest days of my life. Without his positive attitude and penchant for off-color jokes at all the wrong times, I was sure I wouldn’t be the man I was today. Crap, here came the feelings. “Thanks for always being there for me, Dad. I know I don’t say it often, but… Iloveyou.”
His fingers pressed together like lobster claws, my dad clumsily wiped the tears away. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to be funny or not, until his words made clear he wasn’t. “You don’t need to say it. Ialreadyknow.”
Unaccustomed to sharing such personal truths, we stared awkwardly at his superhero cup, struggling to find words… any words. Mercifully, my father pulled it together in time to turn our raw honesty into a joke. “Well, thissucks.”
“I know, right?” I loved the guy, but he was not someone I wanted to dive into a deep conversation with. “Can I ask you something without you breaking down likeababy?”
“Probably not, but you can give itashot.”
“Before you married Mom, did you ever have any doubts that you’d be a good husband andfather?”
He eyed me with interest. “Why? Are you havingdoubts?”
“Me? No. I’m asking for afriend.”
“Oh, right.” Dad laughed. “Here’s the thing about me. I married your mother when I was twenty-three. I was so damn immature, I doubt I gave it a moment’s thought. It wasn’t until after we were husband and wife that I was like… oh, snap, this shitisreal.”
“Please don’t usethatword.”
“Shit?” His face twisted in surprise at the thought that I took offense to swear words, when I myself used them on a very regularbasis.
“No.Snap. That word’s not for your agegroup.”
“For reals?I’mfly.”
“Ooh… no.” I cringed. “Juststop.”
“Pfft.” He waved off my recoil. “I don’t think you realize how totally awesome I am. My son’s a rock star,youknow?”
“So I’ve heard. Can you please finish yourstory?”
“Oh, right. So, I had to grow up on the job. Marriage is not easy. You’ve got to work at it, but the rewards are great. And I’m not just talking about sex,whichis...”
I jumped in to stop him. The last thing I wanted when I was already stressed was to hear a story about him and my mother getting it on. “Dad,seriously…no.”
“Sorry. Anyway, if you’re feeling this way now, it’s because you’re a more introspective person than I ever was – which is code for ‘You overthink things.’ My advice to you is to just relax and enjoy the ride. It’s unpredictable, but damn, is it everworthit.”
“So then why do you always make Mom sound like your paroleofficer?”
“Because it’s funny. And true. She owns my ass… just like Casey will own yours in just a few shorthours.”
“Dammit, why does everyone keep saying that? I’m not going to wuss out like the restofyou.”
“Oh, no?” Dad’s grin transformed his entire face. “Talk to me again in twentyyears.”
“Casey’s notlikethat.”
“Neither was your Mom… until we got hitched. And thenitwas…”
Dad made his hand into a fist and squeezed. His face took on the look of a man being clocked in the nuts. I laughed despite myself. He was always good at dispensing unhelpful advice, similar to those ladies who circled around a first-time pregnant woman in order to pepper her with tales of their own unbearable childbirthsuffering.
“Whatever,Dad.”
“You don’t believe me? Fine. Let me share with you my theory on the similarities between marriage andhoneybeesex.”
