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Well. Every family has to have their dark horse. And my money's on Ronnie showing just how much of a diamond in the rough he is. In his own time.
No furniture polish required either.
They’ve both sworn off the hooch and have settled into their company jobs better than anyone could’ve hoped.
“You staying for dinner?” I ask, checking my watch. Knowing that Eve will be home from the parlor any second.
Dad shakes his head again, but smiling this time.
“I’ll take a rain check, son.” He winks.
“Oh! Hot date with the younger step mom?” I joke, knowing he never gets tired of hearing it. But still never having found the right moment to even broach the topic of Eve and me.
Dad and me are close now. Weird but true.
He really did change after marrying Trinity, and I know I did too.
Funny how love, real love can make a man his absolute best. Not just in his own mind.
“Eve coming over?” My dad asks, catching me off guard and making me stammer a reply. It’s no secret she comes over, and often. She does live in the same building after all.
Once I discovered how talented she was at dictation, it was another no-brainer for me to appoint her as my private secretary. So it makes sense to have her close by at all times.
And on call.
Within arm’s reach, so to speak.
But I’ve been trying to deceive the master of fast talking for too long. And despite the poor timing, I know it has to come out sooner or later.
I just hadn't ever guessed the old man would join the dots by himself. And so soon.
“Son. Zeke?” He asks me with a knowing smile, making my belly itch because I know what's coming.
“I invented the other woman story… alright? Now, your step mother Trinity and I have been patient with you two. But will you please just stop pretending?”
His friendly honesty is so left field, so unlike who I thought he was all these years that all I can do is nod slow and feel my mouth quiver as I try to think of something to say.
How about the truth, champ?
“How- How long have you known?” I ask. Making dad laugh out loud until he's slapping his thigh laughing. Only stopping when he turns purple and can't breathe.
“Papa! You okay?” I gasp, reaching for him, but he's fine. A couple of his heart pills under his tongue and he's gold again.
“I dunno…” He muses thoughtfully. “It might’ve been the way you looked at her that first night. Reminded me so much of just how I felt when I met her mom… or it could've been the fact that for once in your life the day after she turned up you stopped acting like such an asshole.”
He says it with a serious face because it's true.
I take a moment to digest this massive piece of reality I somehow missed.
I thought we’d taken every precaution, covered it from all angles.
“We know, son. And we’re not upset… Trinity and I have already agreed.” He says. Again with that matter of fact tone.
I feel myself gulp.
“What have you decided?” I ask, feeling more of my old self starting to rear its ugly head, but dad’s smile, although still a new feature is kinda disarming.
I still can’t believe I ever plotted some weird ass kinda revenge. He’d only found what I’ve got now. Just a little sooner than me.
