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He stares at me and sucks in a deep breath before he speaks. “I haven’t been a part of your life for such a long time.”
“I know…” I start to say but he holds up a hand and I stop talking. I got to say my piece to him and I suppose I should allow him the same.
“And I didn’t deserve to be, son…” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “But all I could think about when those assholes were beating the hell out of me, was that you never knew how truly sorry I was for everything. It is my greatest regret in life that I didn’t get sober for you and your mom. And now, I get to tell you to your face that I’m sorry.” He holds a hand over his heart. “That even though I have no right to be, I am so proud of the man you’ve become.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I whisper.
He nods his head and a tear rolls down his face. “I thought I’d never hear you call me that again. I’d let those punks kick my ass every damn day to hear you say that word.”
I don’t speak because I can’t. There is so much hurt and pain between us. So many things that have been left unsaid for too long. Right now, words aren’t needed. We both know.
So, we sit in silence, easy in each other’s company while we wait for Lucia and Matthias to return.
* * *
We leftmy father resting and with a supply of candy and comics that would keep a kindergarten class busy for a week. He loves comics. I didn’t know that about him, but Matthias did. He’s an amazing kid and the fact that he calls me Dad is a fucking honor. I see now why it means so much to my own father that I finally call him dad again. In my head, he’s always been Dad, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of saying it to his face for so long.
As we reach my truck, a huge SUV pulls up beside us. The window rolls down to reveal Alejandro’s face. I mean, of course he hired a giant black SUV. No truck for him.
“I have a lead, amigo,” he says and then he opens the door and climbs out.
“From the bar?”
“Hmm,” he flashes his eyebrows at me. “The owner was a little more receptive without his buddy, the sheriff around.”
“And your boot on his face,” Raoul adds as he climbs out of the back seat.
Alejandro shrugs before he stoops and picks up his grandson. “You want to go back to the house with your mom? I think that dog needs a walk. And Tomás and Dario are desperate for you to show them around the place.”
“Yeah,” Matthias agrees. “What about you, Papa?”
“I just got to go somewhere with your Dad, but we’ll be back before dinner. Okay?”
“Okay,” he agrees and then hands Matthias to Raoul, who straps him into the child seat in the back.
“Your mom is still looking into Ed back at the house, but she could use a little help,” he says to Lucia.
“I’d rather come help you two,” she says, popping an eyebrow.
“No, angel,” I say, pulling her close and kissing her forehead. “I need you and Matthias safe. Please go home.”
“We’re only going to scare a few red-necks,mija, we’ll be just fine,” her father assures her.
She rolls her eyes. “Please be careful. Both of you,” she hugs each of us in turn before she climbs into the back of the car with our son.
Alejandro and I watch the SUV pull out of the parking lot. “Am I gonna get my suit dirty in your beat up truck?” he asks me.
“Hey, Darlene might be old, but she’s clean,” I tell him.
“Darlene? You named your truck Darlene?”
“Yup.”
He frowns at me in disgust. “Who the fuck are you and what have you done with my best buddy?” he asks with a shake of his head as he starts walking toward the old Ford I drive when I’m down here. “I mean in LA you wear good suits and drive a fucking Goliath. I mean it’s a truck, but it’s a beast.”
“And your point is?” I ask as I open the driver door.
“Here you wear jeans and cowboy boots and drive an old jalopy that you’ve named Darlene.”
