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“And I want you to be there,” I said. “Both of you.”
Eleanor folded her hands over her heart. “Sure, I’d love to,” she said, smiling.
But Johnny scoffed and jerked his head away. “Unreal. I can’t believe you’d seriously ask me to do that.”
“It won’t be the same if you’re not there,” I said.
“Yeah? Good. I’m glad. Go fuck yourself.”
“John, stop and think about what he’s saying,” Eleanor said calmly. “And think about what it would mean if you don’tgo.”
He cast a glare at his wife. “What do you mean?”
“If Rust does this, but you don’t go, you’re basically saying you don’t approve.”
“Good! Because Idon’tapprove!”
“Do you really think that will help your relationship with Izzy?” she countered.
He grumbled. “What difference would it make? She already hates me. She won’t talk to me, either.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to lose,” she said. “If you have any hope of repairing your relationship with your daughter, you should go. It’d show that you’re willing to move on and support her, even if you don’t agree. She’s anadult,John. It’s time to start treating her like one.”
“Argh. God,” he huffed. Tension gripped at his writhing body, his arms and legs shaking, his head tossing, as he struggled with the decision.
I slid out of my chair and onto my knees. “Please, Johnny. I’m begging you,” I said, my hands clasped.
He blew out a heavy and defeated sigh. “Alright. Fuck it. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ll go.”
“Thank you. Thank you both,” I said.
I neared Eleanor first and we hugged.
“Just speak to her from your heart,” she said.
I didn’t expect a hug from Johnny. I extended a hand to him instead. He stared at it reluctantly. With another sigh, he took my hand.
“I’m really sorry for how everything went down, Johnny,” I said as we shook.
“Fuck it,” he said. “If this helps patch things up with me and Izzy, then whatever.”
After we finished shaking, Eleanor hugged Johnny. “I’m proud of you, John. This is what I’ve been wanting from you for all along.”
He sighed and squeezed her back. With his wife in his arms, the tension slowly left his body, her hug warming his heart. They held each other for a few tender moments.
I pulled out my phone and ordered a cab on an app.
“Well, I should probably get going,” I said. “My car will be here in a few. I’ll just wait outside.”
“Where are you going?” Johnny asked.
“The airport. I need to catch a red-eye back to Vegas.”
“You’ll need this first, won’t you?” Eleanor grabbed a notepad and quickly jotted something down. “Here.”
She passed me the note, an address in Green Valley.
“Thank you,” I said, tucking it into my wallet. “Thank you so much.”
