When Case and I had exited the bathroom, we found Dad, sitting on the couch, surrounded by the remainder of the guests. Charlie was wheeling out a large suitcase to Dad, who had his eyes covered like a little child.
Case went to Max and swung an arm around her shoulder, pulling them together. I, meanwhile, stood behind Mom who was seated to the direct left of Dad. She looked up as I entered, patted my hand as it grasped the top of the chair and said nothing more. I believe she knew everything anyhow-she usually did.
"All right, Zack, you can open," Syl said as Charlie set the suitcase in front of Dad.
"A suitcase?" he questioned upon seeing it.
"You travel enough," Charlie reasoned.
"Who's it from?" Dad asked, leaning over and searching the suitcase for a nametag of sort.
"Me, Case, and Charlie," Max said to Dad. He looked up in surprise as if he had suddenly noticed Max for the first time. Nodding in affirmation, Dad proceeded to put the suitcase off to the side so that it wouldn't be in the way.
"Hold on," Krit said, raising a hand to stop Dad. "There's more in there."
"Where?"
"In the suitcase."
Dad looked confused for a second, then dragged the suitcase back over in front of him. He then zipped it open on the side and suddenly, wrapped presents came tumbling out. Jumping back in shock, Dad seemed to be experiencing a true birthday for the first time in his life.
Picking up one of the gifts, Dad juggled it lightly in his hand. "Heavy, fairly solid," he mused. "I wonder…"
"I wonder if you'll ever open anything," I spoke up for the first time.
Surprisingly, Dad laughed, and ripped open the decorated paper. Out fell an electric razor along with a bottle of shaving cream and a washcloth. We all giggled, especially me as I remembered how he had been trying to grow facial hair when he had first arrived after fifteen years.
"Ok? Who is this from?" Dad asked in between laughs.
"Jace and I," Victor said.
"We figured it might be some use to you on all of your interstate excursions," Jace added.
"There's pink on it," Dad complained.
"Technically," Max said, "it's magenta."
"It'll bring out your feminine side, Zack, you know how all the ladies love a man like that," Krit said.
Dad grinned, setting the razor behind him on the couch, "Yeah, just what I needed." But even I could see that the smile was fake because he wouldn't dare risk hurting Mom.
The next present was a small box that wasn't wrapped, but silver unto itself. This one, Dad opened with caution as if something might actually come out and bite his hand.
"This one's from me," Mom said, leaning forward in her chair.
Dad glanced up at her, but didn't reply as he opened it up. Inside was an expensive-looking digital watch complete with two buttons on each side. Already, the seconds were being counted as he lifted it up and strapped it on. He studied it for a moment, then began to speak, but Mom interrupted him.
"You're gone so much I figured that you might want to know what time it is when you're out there, alone."
"Thank you, Max."
"You're welcome," she answered almost too curtly, regaining her upright sitting position.
He then pulled out a small, lumpy looking little thing that was wrapped in a brown paper sack. This one was opened with tenderness that Dad usually didn't display, and he pulled out a knitted scarf.
"It's from me," Brin told him, speaking for the first time since the party began. "I'm sorry it's so…cheap…I didn't have a lot of money."
Dad smiled in reply, flashing his genetically engineered perfected teeth. Then, with the attitude of a gallant warrior, he swished the scarf around his neck. "Brin, dear, it's beautiful," he whispered to her, leaning in to peck her on the cheek.
She blushed, and mumbled a tiny thank you. We all knew that her health wasn't the best, so we didn't push her too much. After all, in a private conversation without her, we had estimated she had, at the most, six months to live. Everything for her was supposed to be perfect.
Up next was my gift. I had spent a fair amount of time searching for the gift that would be just right for Dad. He didn't have any hobbies, well, I suppose he did, but how do you tell the lady at your local JCPenny's that your dad has an interest in killing people while running across the country to save his siblings from psycho men? Yup, that'd go over real well.
As Dad tore open the wrapping paper, I saw his face flicker with confusion at what lay in his lap. "'Lanza, it's a-"
"Leather jacket," I finished, stepping forward and kneeling in front of him on the couch. "I know. You already have one. I know that. You don't need to repeat it."
"Then why'd you get me one?"
"First of all, it's your birthday and you needed a gift. Secondly, the one you're wearing now is over twenty years old, burned and crisped worse than the marshmallows up at camp, torn and ripped." I laid my hand over his, noticing for the first time that mine were slightly larger than his were. "You need to let go of the past."
We met eyes before I turned and walked back over to Mom. Dad followed me with his eyes, then cleared his throat, seeing that the suitcase was empty.
"Thank you very much everyone for the gifts. They really weren't necessary, but thank-"
"Hold on, right there," Krit said, stepping forward. He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out an envelope. "These are for you too."
Dad paused before opening the envelope, and he pulled out three tickets. I, unfortunately, couldn't see what they were for. "Krit," he replied, "they're plane tickets."
"I know."
"There's three of them."
"Yes."
"What for?"
Krit inhaled deeply, then let it back out. "Syl and I want you to come out to New York City with us to see us on the Broadway stage. There's one there for you, 'Lanzie, and Maxie. You three are all invited out."
"Krit," Mom said to him, "I don't think I'll be joining you."
I could hear the mental cry of Dad so clearly it would've burst my eardrums had he been truly speaking it: Logan. Some days, telepathy was annoying and painful.
"Well, then, Zack, you have an extra ticket, pick your person."
Dad turned to me. "You comin' 'Lanza?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
He then turned back to the circle of people around him. "I'd really like all of you to come, but there's one person that I need to spend some more time with." He held the ticket out to that person. "Would you like to come?"
Case smiled. "Yes, Zack, I would."
Syl then clapped her hands together. "Well, let's get going! We got a plane to catch!"
