Father's Day
"Rusty, are you ready? We need to get going." Sharon called from down the hall.
"Yeah Sharon about that…"She heard Rusty saying from behind her.
Sharon turned surprised to see Rusty still standing there in pajama bottoms and t-shirt.
"Sharon. I don't want to be rude or hurt anyone's feelings but I really don't want to go to this today." He told her not making eye contact.
"Why not? You always seem to enjoy yourself when we get together with Nicole's family." She asked him.
"It's just well the nature of today. I mean it's Father's Day and well. When you've never had a Father. It's just well…awkward."
Sharon nodded slowly in understanding. Father's Day had always been rough for Ricky and Emily too and at least they had a father as lousy as Jack had been most of the time at least they had a few good memories with him.
"Rusty, I'm sorry for not thinking about that. No of course you don't have to go. If you want I can stay home and we can go do something." She offered
"No Sharon, I appreciate it but you should go with Andy. I promise I will be all right." He assured her just as the doorbell was ringing.
"Are you sure?" she asked him again.
"Yes go, maybe bring me home some food." He told her.
"I will" She said as she opened the door to Andy.
After all of these months the sight of him dressed casually in jeans a t-shirt still made her stomach flutter. He leaned in and kissed her quickly.
"Hey, Beautiful, you guys ready?' He asked.
'I think it's just going to be me today." She told him taking his hand.
"Oh, OK," He said and Sharon could see he was trying to hide a little disappointment. She was grateful that he wanted Rusty with them and that he didn't make a big deal out of it.
Sharon noticed he was holding an envelope in his other hand.
"What's that?" She asked.
"Nothing really." He set the envelope on her front table and Sharon gave him a puzzled look when she saw Rusty's name on it.
ASASASASASASASASASASAS
When they arrived at Nicole's house the boys met them in the drive way.
"Grandpa! Sharon!" They yelled and Andy and Sharon took turns hugging them both.
"How are my boys?" Andy asked them
"Good, did you bring us anything?" Connor the youngest one asked.
'Connor, Grandpa doesn't have to bring you something every time he comes over." Nicole said coming out the front door.
"Yes I do." Andy corrected her pulling two large bags from the backseat.
The boys ripped into them and screamed.
"Remote control helicopters! Thank you Grandpa" As they ran off to the backyard to fly them.
"You spoil then Dad." Nicole said with a smile.
Sharon smiled when she saw Andy give her the crooked grin he used on her so many times.
"I'm the Grandpa, that's my job." He told her.
"Sharon, were is Rusty?" Nicole asked when she realized he wasn't there.
"He wasn't feeling himself today and needed a little space." She told Nicole who seemed to understand.
They made their way into the backyard where the boys were flying helicopters. Dean and Andy's son Steven were grilling out. They spent several hours over there and Sharon loved watching Andy with his family. She knew he had made his share of mistakes as a father but he was trying so hard to be a good one now. While she watched them she couldn't help but feel some sadness for all three of her children and their lack of a reliable father. She knew that in New York and Palo Alto Ricky and Emily were probably feeling similar feelings to what Rusty was feeling today.
"Hey, you all right?" Andy said sitting next to her on the chair and pulling her close.
Sharon kissed him, "Yes, I was just thinking about how lucky your kids are to have a dad that's not afraid to own his mistakes and to never give up on having a relationship with them. I was also thinking watching you play with the boys is very sexy." She said with a grin.
He leaned over and kissed her, "It's not too late for your kids to have someone like that you know."
Sharon looked at him with the distinct impression he wasn't talking about Jack. He sensed her uneasiness and grinned at her.
"Now excuse me but if you find it sexy I must go play with those kids some more." He said with a wink as he went to play.
Sharon just shook her head. This man that she loves was so unbelievably complex but she loved peeling back the layers of him each day. She watched as Andy went to his jacket and picked up envelopes like the ones that he had left on her table for Rusty. She watched in confusion as he handed one to Nicole and Dean and another one to Steven. Then he handed one to the boys which of course they tore into immediately.
"Disneyland! Really Grandpa?"
"Yep, next weekend. I've got it all arranged with you parents. And maybe if we ask Sharon nicely she will come with us." He grinned over at her.
The boys ran up and hugged her, "Please Sharon, will you come with us?" they begged
"Of course." She said smiling back at them.
A little while later while Sharon was helping Nicole cleanup she asked her about the envelopes.
"Nicole, can I ask you what the envelopes your dad passed out are about?"
Nicole smiled, "Several years ago after Dad stopped drinking and mom still wouldn't let us see him on Father's Day he would write Steven and I a letter telling us how proud he was of us and how much he loved us. When we got older and Mom let us start seeing him more he would include something for us to do together in the envelope. Some years it was really simple like a movie or a ballgame. Other years it has been bigger. But it has always been one on one and something that we would like. He won't let us buy him anything for Father's Day he says getting a second chance at fatherhood is his present."
Sharon felt the tears forming in her eyes as she thought about the letter Andy left on the table at home. Then she thought about his comment earlier and excused herself to go find her phone. She grabbed it and walked to the driveway for a little privacy and dialed her daughter. She wasted no time when Emily answered.
"Did you by chance get something in the mail from Andy this week?"
"I did Mom. I was going to tell you later. He wrote me the sweetest letter telling me how much how nice it was to spend time together over Christmas and that he would like to take me to the ballet when I am home next time. But mom that's not all. I know he sent Ricky one too and bought tickets for the Dodgers Giants game next month for them to go to. Mom, you've got a good one."
"Yes, I think I do Emily. I have to go now. I love you."
"Love you too Mom."
Sharon turned around to find Andy standing there, "I guess I've been busted." He said stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Sharon went to him and placed her arms around him kissing him for a long time. When they stopped she looked him in the eyes.
"Andy, nobody had ever done something like that for my kids, ever." She said still in disbelief.
Andy leaned down and kissed her again.
"Like I said earlier, it's not too late." He whispered.
Sharon leaned against his chest and closed her eyes, "I love you" was all she could say.
ASASASASASASSASASASASA
When they arrived back at the condo later Rusty was waiting for them in the living room.
"How was the cookout?" He asked
"It was nice. How are you?" Sharon asked him noticing Andy's letter was open on the coffee table.
"I'm better thanks. Hey Andy, Friday afternoon would be good for me if that's all right with you." He said and Sharon looked at them both in confusion.
"Oh, Andy has a friend at the LA Times and he's going to take us on a private tour and let me sit in on an editorial meeting. " Rusty said causally before continuing "Hey, Andy, can you come look at the latest info I have on Alice? I would like to hear your take on it."
"Of course." Andy said following him to his room.
Sharon stared at the letter on the table wanting desperately to read it but knowing it wasn't hers to read.
"Go ahead and read it Sharon. We both know you are dying too." Rusty called back as they left the room.
Sharon picked it up and smiled at the handwritten letter.
Rusty,
I wanted to tell you how great I think you are. I cannot imagine where I would be if I had been through some of the things that you have been through. You are an amazing kid. Well actually you aren't a kid anymore you are a man. You are a man that I am proud to know and I am glad you are part of my life.
Also, I want you to know I know that my relationship with your mom is not always the easiest thing for you. I want you to know that I never want to come between you and your mom. I know that you and your brother and sister come first. I'm all right with that. I love your mom very much and I want to be in her life for as long as she will let me. I hope that you will let me be part of your life as well.
Andy
Sharon sat in amazement looking at the letter and the second one telling Rusty about the trip to the paper. In one day Andy had shown her children more fatherly love than they had known in a lifetime. She heard them coming back in and talking about Alice.
"I'm heading out to meet some friends good night guys." Rusty said as he left
Sharon was still sitting on the couch as Andy came and sat down next to her.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked as he pulled her to him.
"That maybe you are right, maybe it's not too late for my kids…or me." She said quietly
Andy kissed, "It's not too late at all. Although I was kind of hoping you were remembering how sexy I was earlier." He said kissing her again.
"Oh don't worry I haven't forgotten." She said kissing him back.
"Happy Father's Day Andy." She added before they both stopped talking.
The End