I pointed to my old condo. “We took you home to that house right there when you were a baby.”
“That was where I was made?”
Unsure as to how to answer that, I said, “Technically, you were made in Australia, but you were born here.”
“Australia?”
“Yes.”
“I’m like a Koala bear?”
“I guess so.” I chuckled.
Kendall had found out she was pregnant with Brucey shortly after we returned from our private Australian wedding. We’d gotten married under a sunset just outside the Sydney Opera House.
We lived modestly in a typical one-level, three-bedroom house in Boca. Kendall was adamant that she didn’t want our son to grow up like she did. She didn’t want him placing so much value on material things.
Kendall was loving being a stay-at-home mom. Meanwhile, I took a contract pilot position for a private jet company that allowed me to choose when I wanted to work. It was the best of both worlds; I still got to fly but on my own terms.
As we continued down the road, I was careful to look out for any oncoming cars.
I pointed to Gordon’s old condo. “See this house here?”
“Yeah?”
“That was where your Grandpa Gordon lived.”
“Gordon? Like Trash Gordon from Sesame Street?”
“Same name, yes. Your grandfather was a great man, way cooler than Trash Gordon. Someday, when you’re a little older, I’ll tell you a really neat story about him and how you got your name.”
“Okay.”
Slowing down, I asked, “You tired? Want to take a snack break?”
He nodded.
We ended up stopping under a shady tree. I took out the juice boxes and various snacks that Kendall had packed.
Brucey looked up at me. He had my dark hair and Kendall’s blue eyes. “Daddy, tell me one of your stories.”
“Which one?”
“Lucy.”
I smiled and mussed up his hair. Starting when he was about two years old, I’d make up stories to tell him at bedtime. Sometimes, he’d randomly ask me to recite one during the day. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was his favorite one, partly because—as he always pointed out—Lucy rhymed with Brucey.
“Okay. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, it is.”
Letting out a deep breath, I put my arm around him and started.
“Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lucy who lived in the sky…”
THE END