“So, I take it that means you all are getting along?” asked Annette.
“Still taking baby steps, Mama,” Antonio said.
“Well, you seem to be taking steps in the right direction,” Horace said. He looked at Annette and nodded, encouraging her to talk. Antonio squinted. Those two were up to something.
“So, uhm, PJ told us that you are having lady troubles,” Annette said. “Something about you ‘crashing out’ over some woman. Is that what he said Horace? ‘Cash out’ or ‘crash out’?”
“Hell, I don’t remember,” Horace said. “I didn’t understand half of what that boy said. Kids these days speak in code.”
Boundaries, PJ. Damn. Antonio groaned as he rubbed his temple. “PJ is running his mouth. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“See, I told you to stop trying to be that boy’s friend and be his daddy! He wouldn’t be all in your love life. Even though we know you ain’t really got one,” Horace said.
“That was really shady, Pops.”
“Well, he’s not lying,” Annette agreed. “When’s the last time you had a girlfriend?”
Antonio thought about it. “I mean, I dated Carla for a minute. She was cool.”
“The esthetician?” Annette rolled her eyes. “That girl had clouds for brains. Sweet, but she wasn’t that bright.”
“You need a woman you can hold a conversation with. A pretty vessel that’s empty inside will do nothing for you, son,” Horace added.
“True,” Antonio agreed. They were right. Carla had been about ten years younger—not his type. She’d wanted to be in the club all weekend long and was always talking about celebrity gossip. Whereas his idea of a perfect night was staying in, ordering takeout or cooking a great meal, and watching true crime documentaries snuggled on the couch.
Just like he’d done with Jackie in Mexico…
Antonio blinked away the memory, coming back to the present. “I’m focused on work right now, and that’s about it.”
“Is it because the woman you like doesn’t like you back? That’s what PJ said. He said the situation is complicated. Love isn’t complicated,” his mother said.
Antonio tossed the stress ball a few more times. “Well, everyone can’t have a perfect love like you and dad.”
“Son, we said love is uncomplicated; we didn’t say it was perfect,” his father said. “We’ve had our ups and downs. But we talk it out. We see it through. There are no ‘complications’ when you communicate.”
Lord, if only they knew how ironic that statement is, Antonio thought. “But if the other person doesn’t want to talk—or can’t talk—what do you do?”
“Youkeep talking, sweetheart,” Annette said. “Trust me, if she’s worth it, she’ll hear you out. You have to at least fight for it.”
“And I didn’t raise a quitter,” Horace said. “Now, c’mon, Annette. We’ve kept the boy on the phone long enough, and he’s at work. We rented jet skis, remember?”
Antonio’s eyes widened. “Uhm, I don’t think that’s a good idea, you guys! Pops! C’mon, now! You’re almost seventy.”
Horace puffed out his chest. “Boy, you act like seventy is halfway in the grave! We are still full of life!”
“You only live once!” his mother sang. “Life is too short for regrets, son. Remember that!”
“I will,” Antonio replied. “I hope you all are back home in time for Thanksgiving. It’ll be here before we know it, and I really could use a slice of my mama’s sweet potato pie.”
“Of course,” Annette beamed. “The holiday wouldn’t be complete without it. Maybe PJ can come to the farm too. I hate to rush off, but we got to go, or we’ll lose our spots!”
“Love you, Ant!” his dad said.
“Love you too. Be safe.”
Antonio ended the call and instantly wanted to call his folks right back. He missed them deeply. His entire life, it had only been the three of them. His mother called them “three the hard way,” though their life together had been loving and easy. They were inseparable. Though he was an only child, his parents never made him feel lonely or alone. He was grateful for that. Now that he had a young adult son, he wanted their relationship to be the same way. He wanted to pour that same kind of love his parents had into his son. PJ calling his parents was a start. Maybe he was getting through to him.
But…the kid told his parents about Jackie? Yeah, he was going to have to work on those boundaries.
