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His shrug is exactly how I feel about Gabrielle; I love her so damn much, I’ll do nearly anything she asks. Like, be an usher at the theater when I actively hate conversing with people.
“You’re thinking that you’d do the same for Gabrielle.” It’s Dad’s turn to smirk as the call goes out that there are five minutes to showtime.
A rush of people begins toward the theater doors, and I rifle out the pamphlets in my hands without having to talk as they scurry inside the dome behind me.
“Of course I would,” I tell Dad when the crowd of people slows to a trickle.
“It suits you, you know. I’ve been waiting for you to become the head of your own family for quite some time now.” My father’s bushy eyebrows are nearly white in his older age as he raises them.
“You do know that Patrick was always the wifed-up child, right? The whole white picket fence was his dream.” The lobby is becoming less and less full.
Dad crosses his arms. “But being the man of the family was yours. Don’t think I didn’t see it as you were growing up, Liam. You’re my firstborn, the prodigal son.”
“You’re not supposed to actually admit that you have a favorite,” I taunt him.
He rolls his eyes. “I’m not, it’s a figure of speech. Since you were a kid, you’ve always had this air about you that makes you seem much older and wiser than you are. You’re a natural born leader, even if you’re quiet and subtle in your approach. You’ve kept your siblings on track, kept the farm afloat and even thriving. Liam, you have really stepped up in the last five years, in a way that left me confident to retire.”
“As if you’ve really retired,” I mutter.
The man has been in and out of my and Evan’s business so much, you’d think he had frequent flyer miles.
“Now you’re getting ready to start your family, the land Cass sold us is in development, and you’re … you seem happy, Liam. I’m proud of you, son.”
It’s what every child always wants to hear from their parent, and I let it soak in. Not that I’ve ever doubted how much my parents love me, but I’m the least high-maintenance of all their children. I’m the one who always took a back seat emotionally to the problems of the others, never wanting to burden anyone with how I was feeling. I was the kid who worked as hard as I could to be noticed, not by asking for love or attention. To know that the way I’ve gone about everything is something that makes my dad proud … well, even though I shouldn’t want the validation because I already know inside how happy I am, it still makes me feel like I’ve achieved something.
“It’s also why I’m so happy to know you’ll be taking the reins now that I’m done.”
Frustration ripples through me, and I have wondered when he’d bring this up. It’s possibly the worst time and place to have this conversation, considering there is a theater full of people in back of us and a lobby full of our family members, but I’m so exhausted by the whole thing that I have to shut it down once and for all.
“Dad.” I sigh, knowing I’m about to admit something I’ve been avoiding. But my talk with Evan and the new chapter Gabrielle and I are entering prompted this. “We both know that I don’t want it.”
“Of course you do. You’re the oldest child, the dependable one. This is in your blood, it’s how the legacy of our family and this business has always been.” Dad doesn’t look incredulous, but there is a finality in his tone that makes me panic.
“And now we’re going to do something different. The farm is what I want, Dad. Before me, that had never been an option. Yes, Nonno saw to it that the farm was a bigger part of the business, but it was never a business within itself. It was never just as big as the restaurant, not until I came along. Now, the two need to run separately, and you need one person to run the farm and one to run Hope Pizza. I don’t want that added responsibility. Not only do I suck at it, but it’s not my passion. Not like how your other son feels about it.”
I nod my head at Evan, and Dad’s eyes flick over to my youngest brother.
“Evan isn’t ready for all that.” He says it simply, as if my brother didn’t give up his big city dreams to come home.
Clapping my dad on the shoulder, I deliver the news he needs to hear. “He is. He gave up the city to come run the family business. If that doesn’t show you that he’s ready to step up, I’m not sure what will. As for me, I’m staying put. I’ll be on that farm, making it successful every day. That’s where you want me, to ensure the business thrives. Not downtown, not in the kitchen, or in some office talking strategy. That’s not me, and you know it.”
The confession comes out surprisingly easy, and I’m honestly floored at how much calmer I am during this talk than I thought I’d be. For months, years, I’ve been dreading this takeover conversation. Probably because I didn’t want to do it. But now, I see this path forward so clearly that it’s easy to tell my family what I want.
Gabrielle, our baby, the farm. In that order. My brother told me to go get the life I want, and that’s it. So I’m going for it. Dad can’t force me into the restaurant; not only will I fight him tooth and nail, but he just said he sees how happy I am. He knows, deep down, how many years it’s taken me to get here, and even in his stubbornness, he won’t want to ruin that.
Dad purses his lips. “You kids never make it easy, you know?”
“Am I in for that, too?” I smile, knowing how much I can’t wait to be wrapped around my child’s finger.
“Oh, hell yes.” He chuckles, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’ll also be told you’re wrong every step of the way, be in awe of how strong willed and resilient they are, and be bowled over when they make a decision you hadn’t seen in their future. You’ll think you know absolutely everything about them, after all, you raised them, but they surprise you at every turn. And damn good on their part. Damn good on your part, Liam. Did I imagine that my eldest son would become me one day? Yes. It’s the family tradition, and you’ve never been anything but the tow-the-line son. Naturally, I expected it. But I can see how things have changed. I know how much the farm means to you. Am I ready to hand the reins over, am I completely on board with your brother being the head of the business? Maybe not. But you’re right, that’s for me to worry about.”
To say I’m shocked at his rationale would be an understatement. “Dad, I … I’m surprised you see it this way. Happy, but a little surprised.”
My father shrugs. “Eh, what can I say? I’m an emotional, nostalgic grandfather now. About to be one twice over. I’m getting sappy in my old age.”
I give him a sideways hug, about as physically emotional as two men in this family can get. “I appreciate it. It’s where I want to be, that farm and my family with Gabrielle are all I’ve ever wanted. But you need to give Evan more credit, have some faith in him. I have a feeling he’s going to surprise you.”
“I guess we’ll see.” He gives my brother a scrutinizing look across the theater lobby as the real ushers begin to close the doors.
