“That we do,” I agree with a sigh, sitting to his right on the couch so that he’s surrounded by his two sons. Wayne gives me a nod and high five behind our dad’s back.
“Dad, I still think it’s too soon for you to retire. You had one fall, and I know it must have scared you. It sure scared me. That doesn’t mean you’re incapable of still running things,” I tell him.
He shakes his head.
“I want to step aside while I’m still relatively high functioning, and finish my ownership of the bar with my head held high. We talked about this months ago now, when I told you that you had to get married in order to get El Abrevadero. It’s just happening a little sooner than I thought.”
“You’re going to miss it too much,” I argue.
“I’ll still be visiting. The physical therapist had me fitted for a cane to make sure I don’t lose my balance like that again,” he says, indicating where it lays propped up on the coffee table in front of him.
“You said you’re getting two more weeks of at home physical therapy, right?” I ask.
“Yes, even though I don’t think it’s necessary now that I have the cane,” he grumbles.
“Don’t be a baby, dad,” Wayne chides.
“Dad, please at least be a good patient,” I beg.
He waves us off.
“I’ll be a model patient, I just don’t have to like it. Now, enough of that. We need to talk about the transition and how we want to go about it. The staff obviously knows what’s going on by now, I sent an email. Nothing is really going to change with them except promoting Iggy to take your place as manager. We should do some strong social media about it.”
Owning the bar is what I’ve always wanted. I went into a fake marriage to get it, for fuck’s sake, and I’m excited at the prospect of taking over. There’s no getting around it. I’m also completely crestfallen that my vital, strong dad is giving it up like this. It’s the very definition of bittersweet, and it’s making my throat tight.
I know there’s no arguing with him. He’s holding my stare with a challenge in his eyes, daring me to keep tryingto convince him to stay on a little longer. His stubbornness is legendary for a reason, so I make the decision to let him have his way, in spite of my conflicted feelings.
“I’ll work on some posts,” I agree. He relaxes, realizing I’ve capitulated to him.
“Good. We also need to do a quit claim deed in order to put the bar in your name, which means we need a notary. We’ll take care of that as soon we can,” he says.
I nod, before asking a question that’s been on my mind since the hospital.
“Dad, why are you giving me the bar if you know I got married for convenience? What about your big stipulation?”
He leans closer to me and clasps my shoulder.
“I told you. Celeste is your person, son. It was obvious the moment I saw you two together. You did what I asked, and now you’re married to a woman who could not possibly be more perfect for you. It’s all I wanted,” he explains with a wistful tone.
“Gage, you’re completely gone for her, and she’s the best thing that has ever happened to you. I’ve never seen you so happy. Don’t let her go, you hear me?” Wayne adds.
“I don’t know what our future looks like. We’ve just decided to be together for real, and she’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. That doesn’t mean it won’t end in a painful breakup. She might not even want to stay married, and start from scratch to keep it more low pressure,” I tell them honestly.
“So talk to her and figure it out,” Wayne asserts.
“That’s the risk we all take, son. I’m very confident that in the case of you and Celeste, it will be well worth the gamble,” my dad chimes in.
“What if she leaves? What if I make the same mistakes or drive her away, or she ends up getting tired of me likemom?” The question is a whisper, as if I don’t want to loudly verbalize my fear to the universe.
My dad’s face crumples, and Wayne looks at me with knowing sympathy.
“She’s not your mother, son,” my dad assures me gently. “Your mom and I were so young when we met, and got married too quickly. Her family absolutely hated me. We were only twenty-two when she got pregnant with Wayne, and then twenty-seven with you. There was never any chance for us to grow as a couple before kids, the bar, and so many other responsibilities pulled us apart. You both are thirty, and have such a strong sense of who you are and what you want. It won’t be the same. I’ve had this talk with Wayne, too, when he and Gina got serious.”
“You did?” I can’t hide how shocked I am, because Wayne has never seemed anything but completely secure about how madly in love he is with Gina. When I look at my brother, he nods and shrugs.
“I’ve got my bullshit that I had to work through, too, Gage. Why do you think I’ve shied away so much from taking an active roll at the bar? Coming home at five from my accounting job to my family, being steady, that was me not wanting to go down the same path dad did. I know what you’re feeling, and it’s hard. Celeste is amazing, though. She’s not like mom, I remember her more clearly since I was older. Mom hated the bar, and Celeste has been nothing but supportive of it. She let you marry her to get it, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“How could I ever forget,” I deadpan.
