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Chapter Nineteen
Nick
I pulled into the driveway, turned the bike to face the street, and shut off the ignition. After a deep breath, I stepped over the gas tank and brushed the wrinkles from my jeans. The short walk up the driveway brought back memories, but it always did.
And it always would.
I knocked three times on the door.
“Enter!”
I pushed the door open. My father was sitting in his chair watching the news. He still resembled the military man he spent his lifetime being, his buzz-cut hair and athletic physique were a testament to his devotion to the Navy. Retired after 30 years in the military, he was now employed as a groundskeeper at a golf course. In his mind, however, he was simply on extended leave from the Navy.
“Get another tattoo?” he asked.
Nice to see you, too.
“Who is it?” my mother asked, her voice coming from the kitchen.
“It’s Nick, and he’s got a new tattoo,” my father shouted. “A god damned bumblebee. On his neck.”
“Let him in for heaven’s sake.”
“He’s already in. Wouldn’t be seeing his tattoo if he was still on the porch.”
“The tattoo’s old, Pop. Been there for a few years.”
“It’s dark.” He got out of his chair and glared. “Looks new.”
“It’s not.”
He studied my neck for a moment, then glanced over the patches on my kutte. “So, who died?”
“Nobody died, Pop. Just came to talk to mom.”
“Elizabeth, he’s here to see you.”
I shook my head and walked past him. “I’m here to see both of you.”
“Well, when you and your bumblebee get done talking to your mother, I’ll be here.”
To the unknowing bystander, my father would appear to be an asshole. Truthfully, he wasn’t. He had an opinion about everything, and offered it whether the recipient liked it or not, but he meant no harm in doing so. Over the years, I learned to dismiss a good part of what he said as being nothing more than bullshit.
“We’ll both come back and see ya,” I said in a sarcastic tone.
I stepped into the kitchen. My mother stood at the sink washing dishes.
“Why don’t you use the dishwasher?”
“It doesn’t get them clean.”
“It’s got a heat exchanger that superheats the water. It’s gets them clean and sterilizes them.”
“This is relaxing,” she said.
She turned her head to the side and waited. I pressed my lips to her cheek and kissed her. “How’s work?”
“Long hours. One of these days, I’ll retire, but I don’t know when. I’ll be done in just a minute.”
