“Kat, we’ve gone over this more than once already. He’s going to love you. My dad is one of the most welcoming guys you’ll ever meet. I promise.” I winked at her and turned my attention back to the road.
“Did you ever find out if he had a ‘lady friend’?” she smirked.
“Nah, he’s not giving anything up.”
“How do you think you’ll feel if he does in fact have someone there?”
I was quiet for a few moments. “I don’t know. I’ve only ever seen him with Mom, but I trust him to find someone that makes him happy.”
She reached over and patted my hand. I laced my fingers through hers, and we drove the rest of the way listening to the radio and playing a ridiculous twenty questions game.
Pulling into Dad’s driveway, I shut off the car and got out to stretch. Kat had gotten out and walked around to the trunk to get our stuff.
“You better be the gentleman I raised you to be, boy, and get the lady’s bags.” My dad was walking out the front door and coming down the porch steps.
I noticed he looked brighter. His eyes weren’t so tired, and he was actually smiling. I grinned at him and put the bags down on the ground. “Hey old man, how’ve you been?” I brought him in for a hug.
He slapped me on the back a couple of times. “Real good. Real good, kid.” As he stepped back, he looked over at Kat. He smiled so widely at her, it touched his eyes. A short whistle came from his mouth. “Well, look at what you snagged. Boy, isn’t she pretty.” Kat’s cheeks turned the sweetest shade of pink. “You must be Kat, the girlfriend.” She glanced at me and I just shrugged. He opened his arms to her and she stepped into his embrace. I don’t know what I had been expecting when I saw my old man, but he was certainly happy to see us. It warmed me to see him like this. He hugged her tightly and whispered something in her ear, to which she giggled and flushed red. When he let her go, she moved to my side. My arm went around her back and settled on her hip like it was the most natural thing in the world. Dad was beaming while he looked at us.
“Thank you so much for having me, Mr. Nelson. Timber told me that you love the Fourth of July.”
“For starters, there’s no Mr. Nelsons around here. You can call me Thomas. And second, the Fourth is my favorite holiday. Any excuse to light things on fire, watch them explode, and then stuff my face full of BBQ is bound to be the greatest holiday,” he chuckled. She smiled a brilliant smile at him that melted my heart. I could already tell this weekend was going to be one of the best times I’d had in while. “Alright, well, let’s not stand out here in the heat. I’ve got some fresh sweet tea and some chairs with your names on them. Let’s go relax, huh?”
Bending down, I grabbed our bags and we went into the house. Everything was the same for the most part, except something seemed different. At first I couldn’t put my finger on it, but then I realized that it was airier. All of the curtains were pulled back and there was actual light flooding in through the windows. In fact, I didn’t recall there even being any curtains the last time I was here. Wonder what that was all about.
“Timber, go put your stuff in your room. I’m assuming that this pretty lady is going to be sharing a bed with you.” Kat looked down at the ground. I’d never seen her so shy and reserved. It was sweet.
“If you had a girl that looked like her, would you let her sleep in another room?” I teased.
“Timber!” Kat’s eyes shot up to mine, silently telling me to shut my mouth.
“Hell no I wouldn’t!” Dad laughed.
Turning, I went down the hall and dumped our stuff on the bed. When I walked back out, I found the two of them standing in the kitchen drinking tea and getting to know one another. I leaned against the door frame and watched them talk animatedly about me when I was younger. Listening to them, I also came to find out that Dad knew Kat’s parents. Turns out, they went to high school together as well. Funny how the world seemed so small. Clearing my throat, I walked in and got a glass out of the cupboard.
“I have a feeling you two are going to be trouble together.”
“Probably. Wait until I show her your baby pictures. That’s when the real fun begins.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Kat.
“Dad, isn’t that something that moms are supposed to do?” I rolled my eyes.
“Bullshit. I’ll gladly show off your two year old white ass in a bathtub. The girl deserves to know what her kids might look like, although you were pretty damn cute. Got your looks from your mom.”
I choked on my drink. “Slow down, old man. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”