32. Papa Bear

Monroe

There's just one little problem.

This party. Time is running out now after my errand, and I promised my dad I'd be there. Promised him I'd make a speech. Promised Juliet I'd take her as my date. She'll be meeting me soon. Even though I let her down, she'll still show up. I don't deserve her, but I'm going to try with everything in me.

I pull into a parking spot at the golf course in Duck Falls, arriving early. Wishing I could speed up time, I race walk into the clubhouse. Dad's chatting with a woman in chef whites. She gives a nod, then heads to the kitchen.

He turns around and scans the room, spotting me quickly. I head to him, tugging on the cuffs of my suit jacket, antsy to get this show on the road. Eager for the party to end, so I can take Juliet out. I hope. When she arrives, I'll ask her on a proper date tonight.

I'm still working through what to say to her as my dad reaches me. "You're antsy."

It's that obvious? "I'm fine," I say, keeping up a wall.

His brow knits. "You sure?"

No, I'm in a total funk, and I'm this close to losing the love of my life, and maybe I already have, and I wish she were here, and I need to make sure she doesn't move on from me.

But fuck walls. I need to be more honest. I should start with him. "Not really," I admit.

Dad sets a hand on my shoulder, guides me down a quiet hallway. "What's going on with you, son?"

He hasn't asked me that in years. "Do you actually want to know?"

There's a long silence. He blows out a breath. Drags a hand through his thick gray hair. He's gearing up to say something important and the last time he said something important to me he taught me how to shave. It's been years since we talked for real. "I do. And here's why. I've been planning my retirement for a year now. And the first thing everyone asks is if I'm excited to spend more time with family. It's made me realize that I've done a terrible job of it. All that time fixing other people, and I never realized that our family is broken."

I freeze. Did he truly just say that? Something that observant? But then, he shocked me on the course when he admitted he listened to my podcast. I guess this is the week for surprising me.

"Why do you think I invited all of your friends to this party?" He continues. "It's not because I don't have friends to invite."

I'm even more surprised, but a little confused too. On the golf course he said he invited them to make it more enjoyable for me. But I guess I didn't truly believe him. Perhaps I thought he'd just wanted adulation and admiration from colleagues. And that the addition of my friends was…well…to fill the room.

Maybe I should try listening more. "What do you mean?"

"I wanted you to be with your friends," he says, in an earnest tone I rarely hear. "They've become your family. I can tell that from your show. I get that. That's on me. But maybe when I stop working, we can…" He stops, clears his throat. He's not used to trying. It must all be so awkward, like learning to walk all over again. "Start…over?"

I definitely didn't have put the past behind us on my father-son bingo card tonight. But it sounds like a damn good idea. "As adults? Not as father and son? Not as someone who judges me?"

He takes that on the chin with a guilty as charged nod. "Yes. As adults."

I don't know if it's possible, but when someone offers you an olive branch, you should take it. After all, I'm willing to try. That's what my entire career is based on after all. Trying. That's what love is based on. Trying. "It might not be easy to fix this, Dad. A lot of things I'm realizing that are broken in my life tie back to you. But it's on me now to fix my own stuff."

"Maybe I can help?" He offers, and there's no judgment. No arrogance. Just a simple offer.

I take it. "I fell in love with Juliet, and I need to tell her before I lose her."

He slices a hand through the air, pointing to the exit. "Go get her."

A short laugh bursts from me. "Well, that's my goal."

He brooks no argument. "No. Do it now. Get her now."

"But it's your party," I insist.

His voice goes deeper, all papa bear. "But it's your life. And life is short. I should know that as well as anyone."

But the doors are opening, and guests are streaming in. Which gives me an idea. "What if," I begin.

I tell him and agreement flashes instantly in his eyes, then delightful deviousness. "And since it's my party, I'm going to change the schedule right now."