AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s deep into tradition, as is my whole family. We have ways of doing anything and everything. I didn’t appreciate it when I was younger, but then as Tori and I were going through all the wedding planning, I saw the personal value away from the business side. It was a warm blanket Pops and Gran handed to Mom and Dad, who handed it to Hayley and me. I guess I was looking forward to passing the tradition on to the next generation.
I hold my father’s old basketball in my hand and dribble it a couple times. He’s right, this does feel right even with all the miles it has. I dribble a couple times on the right, then shift to my left, then shoot. The vibration of the hoop echoes into the night with the crickets.
I slide my jacket off, laying it across the hood of my car, as I pull my keys and phone from my pocket. After setting them down, I open an extra button on my shirt, trying to go full-out. I’m dodging and dekeing like King James is chasing me. I’m hacking the hell out of my dress shoes, and I don’t give a shit. I miss more shots than I make. I’m kind of enjoying the poundingI’m giving my body. I go for a layup to the left and try to grab the rim.
“Still can’t go to your left, Eli.”
I grab the ball and slap it. The shadows give way to my father. He’s got his NYU half zip on with his flannel pajama pants and his hard-soled slippers. His hands extend to me to toss him the ball. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I live here.” He smiles.
“I mean, I thought you were in the Hamptons. Shit. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“Your mother has a charity function in the morning, so we opted out, and you didn’t wake me. I was night owling it with my newest World War II depiction. I saw the light come on and went to check the security footage. This is late even for you, Son.”
“I was out with Wes. I’m supposed to pass on a hello from Sam Roark too.”
“Sam? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Where did you see him?”
“He was in town I think partially as part of a two man intervention for me and to ask for our professional help with his foundation. Wes forced me to go out with him tonight, so Sam met us after Wes finally got me out the door.”
“You were out in the city with them but ended up here?” Dad gives the ball a couple of bounces, taking a couple steps forward. “Want to talk about it?”
He bounce passes the ball back to me like he who has the stick talks. Instead of saying what’s on my mind, I set the ball down on the cement drive, sitting down on top of it. “Do I ever?”
“No, which is why I’m finally asking.” My father comes slowly to my side, placing a soft hand on my shoulder, and crouches down. “I’ve never been through what you’ve been through. I can’t imagine it. What I do know is your mother and I love youvery much. We hate to see you in pain. We’d like to see you finally be able to get through to the other side.”
I sigh. “I don’t want you both worried.”
“We’re parents. It’s what we do. Do you think your gran and pops have stopped with me?”
“No. I know that’s not how they’re built.”
“Neither are we, Elijah.”
“Am I that bad? I mean, I know how bad it is in here,” I run my fingers through my hair in a subtle hint to my head, “but how bad does it look to you?”
“If we didn’t love you and know your true nature, we likely wouldn’t notice. You’re excelling at the office. Eli, you were built for our business. I couldn’t be prouder if I was able to be. That’s never been the issue, even in the darkest days. Your mother and I would just like to see you open your heart back up again.”
“Seems to be the theme of the evening.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wes tried to hook me up with any number of women tonight. He seems to think a string of women in and out of my bed is going to fix everything. I’m not sure Sam agrees with him. What Sam did say is take the time I need, just not too much. He’s become very philosophical as he’s gotten sober. Sam said he would have been fine alone, but his reunion with Lucy made him better. He thinks I’m wasting time and that’s not good.”
“I’ve heard what they think. I know what I think. What doyouthink?”
“I left all the pseudo pressure to go get a round for us when Wes was, well, trying to get me laid. I ended up standing next to a woman at the bar. We had a nice conversation for a few minutes. She was an attorney for Blake and Bloom. She gave me her business card. Dad, she was beautiful, intelligent, well-spoken, and I had zero interest. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just too broken.”
“Eli, you’re not too broken. Son, I know it’s not going to be easy, but you’re going to have to begin again. That will start when you allow the last piece of healing.” He looks at my hands that hang between my knees. “Maybe it’s time to take off your wedding ring.”
I rest my head in my right hand as my left thumb rubs against my wedding band. “She was my penguin.”
“No, Elijah. I know you don’t see it right now, but your penguin is still out there. She will find you if you allow yourself to be open enough.”
“I don’t want our marriage, or my time with Tori, to be reduced to memories. If this ring is still on, it’s still alive.”
“No, Eli. That ended with her decision to walk away. Removing that ring won’t make your time with her any less. You gave her all of you. That’s all you could have done. Give yourself back to you.”
