Chapter One
Payden
Boy in unicorn outfit
We leave the station bright and early tomorrow morning. I was beyond excited having Daddy all to myself for a whole week. A giant mobile pride party that fulfilled a bucket list item of mine—riding on a train. Up and back down the Pacific coastline and I couldn’t wait.
Daddy had been so busy lately that we hadn’t seen each other much and texts went unanswered. Sometimes for days… But I was good boy and didn’t complain. This was gonna be our time to get closer and maybe, just maybe, he’d finally ask me to move in with him.
I hoped.
We’d been dating for like six months now and it was time. At least, I thought it was but whenever I brought it up, Daddy changed the subject. I saved and saved for this trip and evenpaid extra so we had a slightly bigger cabin room to surprise Daddy with. He wasn’t thrilled about the cramped spaces we’d be in and almost didn’t go because of it. I worked a bunch of extra assignments to make this happen. Hopefully Daddy will appreciate that.
But still didn’t know what time he was picking me up.
Me: I hope you had a great day at work, Daddy. What time will you be here in the morning?
The dots came and went then nothing. I still had loads of packing to do and figured he’d text back as soon as he had a break. Poor Daddy worked a lot of long hours and needed this vacation break for sure.
The hardest part of packing was deciding which stuffies to bring. If I brought them all we’d have nowhere to sleep, or I’d be nakey butt, so I chose just two. Had to make sure my new unicorn onesie with footy-footies were washed and ready to go so I threw a quick load in the washer. It’ll keep me nice and warm when we roam around the cars at night. With all that in my ginormous suitcase, all that was left was the stuff I’d use in the morning. Maybe I could sneak in a couple of toys…
My tummy decided it was time to eat, hollering at me. I popped some leftovers in the microwave, grabbed my phone, sat down to wait, and noticed that Daddy finally texted back.
Daddy: Meet you at the station.
Me: Okie dokey. I’m so excited. Love you, Daddy, see you tomorrow for our big trip!
“Hmm, no love you back. Daddy must be really busy.” I shrugged it off, ate, then washed my dishes. If I left any in the sink they’d be super yucky when I got home.
“Ooohhh, don’t want to forget my new train onesie. Choo choo!” I called out, sliding my feet across the floor playing Super Train Payden. I wonder if one of the stations we’ll stop at will have train stuffies. With as many as I have now they’ve taken up so much space, Daddy will have to say yes to moving in together, then I can finally have a playroom for all my toys.
Hmm, maybe I should put together a list of reasons to live together and not mention any negatives. Before I had a chance to start the note in my phone, it rang.
“Hi mom,” I figured she’d call at some point.
“Excited for your trip?”
“Very. I’m almost done packing. He’s meeting me at the station in the morning.” Mom sighed. She’d only met Daddy once and did not care for his wandering eyes, as she’d called them. His comment that he’staken but not blinddidn’t go over well with her.
“Not too late to leave him at a remote station in the middle of nowhere.” Funny-not-funny, but if it were up to her she’d do it. I always loved that about my mom, not afraid to keep it real. She is who she is, and she never asks for forgiveness. Me, I was a people pleaser like Dad. Avoid confrontation at all costs. “Too much?”
“I-I’m not sure, to be honest. I really want this to work out, Mom. I’m hoping he asks me to move in with him.” Probably shouldn’t have shared that.
“Your place is so cute, Payden, and your father and I are so thrilled with the life you’ve made for yourself. Who knew selling newspapers could do that,” she laughed. “Just kidding, I hope you know how proud we really are.”
“I do mom.” And I worked hard, taking on more when I could for the magazine, mostly working remotely. Occasionally popping into the office for a team meeting, though most of thosewere done by video lately. “But you know I want the picket fence dream.”
“Always the dreamer, my sweet boy, but sometimes the dream isn’t what it should be. The house may be perfect on the exterior but broken inside.” She had no idea how much that scared me, especially the further I felt Daddy pulling away from me.
Enough of that depressing bologna. Daddy and I were on our rainbow infused holiday starting tomorrow and things were gonna be better. Making this right and winning my Daddy back, that was the goal for this trip.
I hoped.
Seem to be thinking those two little words a whole lot today.
“Send us as many pictures as you can,” Mom said while Dad hollered in the background, “We love you, son, be safe.”
“I love you both too and I promise I’ll send so many pictures you’ll want to block me.” I have missed them terribly since I’d moved out of Yucca Valley. With a degree in journalism, small town Cali didn’t offer much, and by the time graduation rolled around, I had landed a job closer to Los Angeles. Not with a major publication, but we all have to start somewhere, and my teammates were wonderful to work with. Nearly three years later, at the age of twenty-four, I can’t imagine myself working anywhere else. Naïve? Quite possibly, but for now happily content will do.
