Chapter 8

Tony glanced over at Tim and wondered if he should say something. He wasn't sure if he was irritated at Tim's irritation or if he felt bad because he probably was going overboard. There had been some understanding already reached silently just because Tony could see that Tim was a little embarrassed at his own reaction. However, at the same time, Tony had just been expressing some concern. There was no need for Tim to get so snippy.

"I got us some tickets last night," Tony said, deciding to let the matter slide.

"You did?" Tim asked, in surprise.

"Yeah. I was reading a little and I was worried that we might not be able to get there. We were lucky to get some. The entire month of August is sold out."

"Oh. I didn't even think about that. Thanks, Tony," Tim said.

"I can plan ahead on occasion."

"Are we there yet?" Tommy asked from the back seat.

"Nope. We have a little ways to go, Tommy," Tim said.

"It won't be long, though," Tony said.

"Why don't you count all the blue cars you see," Tim suggested.

Instantly, Tommy leaned forward in his seat and started looking out the window. Tony could see what Tim was doing. Right now, unfortunately, all that they could see was the interstate. Cars and asphalt. If they had unlimited time, they'd take the side roads and get more of a view, but this trip was a little more focused, at least for the part with Tommy. Luckily, he was at the age where just looking for cars of a particular color could entertain him for a little while.

"Daddy, is that one blue?" Tommy asked.

"Yes. It's green-blue."

"Is that blue?" Tommy asked.

"Yes, it's a kind of blue."

Tony suppressed a smile at the inevitable questions.

"What makes something blue, Daddy?"

"It's because of light, Tommy."

"Is he ready for a science lesson?" Tony asked in a low voice.

"Always," Tim said. "As long as I give it at his level."

"Why light? Is light blue?"

"Some light is. The only way we can see is if there's light around. Right? Can you see in the dark?"

"No."

"So when we have light we can see. What color is your shirt?" Tim asked.

"Green!"

"Right. And it's green because, when the light hits it, the green light bounces off your shirt and hits your eyes."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Why doesn't it hurt?" Tommy asked, staring hard at his green shirt.

Tony laughed. "Yeah, Dad. Why doesn't the green light hurt?"

Tim smiled. "Because light doesn't weigh anything. So you don't feel it."

"It doesn't?"

"Nope."

"Wow."

"So why is the big truck by us blue, Tommy?" Tim asked.

"Because only blue light bounces off it!"

"That's right! Good job!" Tim turned around in the seat and gave Tommy a high five.

"Not bad, Dad."

"If he still remembers it later, it'll be impressive. Otherwise..."

"It's still impressive. I can't think of anyone who ever tried to teach me about light at age five."

"Well, what can I say? I'm a hopeless nerd," Tim said.

"No, you're not," Tony said, seriously. He didn't like Tim putting himself down, even as a joke.

He could see Tim deciding how to respond to that and then, Tim smiled archly.

"Are you saying there's something wrong with that?" he asked.

"Maybe."

"Ha."

"Daddy, does that big truck count? It's blue in front but only white in back!"

"Yes, Tommy. That counts," Tim said.

"Hey, do you want to try to go up Freedom Tower while we're here?" Tony asked.

"Sh!" Tim said suddenly. "Don't mention that so Tommy can hear."

"Why not?" Tony asked in confusion.

"Because that's going to be a surprise for Delilah," Tim said, earnestly. "I want to take us all on a family trip to the Freedom Tower. It's completely wheelchair accessible, and we haven't really been able to do a family trip because of the twins. It'd just be a day or two, but I don't want Tommy asking to go."

"Sorry, sorry," Tony said.

"No, it's fine," Tim said, clearly trying to be nonchalant...when he wasn't at all. "But you know Tommy. He won't be able to keep a secret."

Tony laughed, even as he wondered at Tim's intensity. It was a lot like when he'd planned on proposing to Delilah and left the ring on the counter. Tim had in his mind the way things were supposed to be and if it wasn't that way, it was wrong.

"Daddy, that one is every color. Does it count?" Tommy asked, pointing.

Tim looked out the window confused.

"Where, Tommy?"

"There! On this side!"

Tony glanced over and was surprised to see a car that really did look like every color. It was as if someone had taken every paint color in the world, mixed them together and then poured them over the car and let the colors run and mix as they would.

"There's blue in that," Tim said, after a moment. "I think it counts."

"Yea! That's twenty blue cars, Daddy!"

"Great job."

And it only took about ten more minutes before they arrived at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. There was more parking on this side (rather than Battery Park in New York) and since they didn't have a convenient place to leave the car here, a lot was ideal.

"Tommy?" Tim asked as they pulled into a parking space.

"I stay with you and don't run off."

"Good. Let's get out and stretch our legs."

Tim and Tony got out and then, laughed as Tommy began dramatically stretching his legs out, one at a time.

"Nicely done, Tommy," Tim said. "Let's go find a bathroom."

"Hey, I'll go pick up our tickets," Tony said. "Looks like it's just over here. We'll meet back up over by the river okay?"

"Works for me. Come on, Tommy."

Tony watched as Tim and Tommy walked away together, Tommy holding Tim's hand. There was something that was just touching about it, even though he knew it was because Tim was nervous about something happening to his son on his watch. It was just so stereotypically parental and Tony loved the parent stereotypes. The good ones anyway.

Then, he refocused on his task and went to pick up the tickets he'd reserved the night before. Since they couldn't go up into the crown with Tommy (and Tim probably wouldn't really want to go anyway), it had been possible. If they had wanted the crown, they would have been out of luck until October.

Speaking of heights, Tony suddenly wondered why Tim would be planning a family trip that required him to go up over a 100 stories when he didn't like heights. Had Delilah said something about wanting it? Could Tim really enjoy something like that?

Okay, Tony. Stop worrying so much. You're not his father. You're his friend. Just relax.

Then, he got to the counter, picked up the three tickets, found a restroom himself and then headed for the river. Tim and Tommy were there before him. He could see Tim kneeling beside Tommy, his arm around his son's shoulder, pointing out at the New York skyline and over at the Statue of Liberty. Tony hoped that Tim wasn't telling Tommy about 9/11. While it was something everyone needed to know about eventually, Tommy would have plenty of chances to learn about that tragedy without being introduced to it so young. Some people had no choice about the lessons they learned and when they learned them. Tommy wasn't one of those people.

He kept walking and as he got closer, he saw that his worries had been in vain.

"...and they could see this big statue and they knew they were almost here. She was a symbol to them of everything they could have here."

"Did they get everything, Daddy?" Tommy asked, wide-eyed.

"No, not everything, but they did get to come here and do their best," Tim said. "That's why it's called the Statue of Liberty. It's supposed to remind us of freedom."

"Like the bell?"

"Exactly," Tim said. Then, he looked back and saw Tony watching. There was a flash of surprise and then he smiled. "Have to get a little bit of a history lesson in."

"It's summer," Tony said. "That's the time for letting the brain rot."

"Oh, so that's what your problem is," Tim said. "You're letting your brain rot."

"Well, if you're going to talk like that, maybe I'll just keep these tickets for myself."

"No! I want my ticket!" Tommy said. "I want to see the statue!"

He jumped in the air to grab it from Tony's hand.

Tony laughed and held the tickets out of Tommy's reach. "I'm just kidding, Tommy. We should get over to the ferry. It'll be boarding soon."

"Okay."

Tommy was still jumping to grab his ticket.

"Tommy, stop it. You'll get it. Tony wasn't serious," Tim said. "We don't want to lose it before we get over there."

Finally, Tommy calmed down and they walked over to join the line to get on the ferry. The trip over began with a stop at Ellis Island. Tim got off, not to look around but to get off the boat for a few minutes. Tony kept Tommy on board and showed him where they were going next. Then, Tim got back on with the rest of the group and they went to Liberty Island, their destination. Tim kept a strong hold on Tommy's hand as they got off the ferry and headed straight for the Statue of Liberty. They could walk around the rest of the island later. Lady Liberty had to come first.

Tommy saw the statue looming up over them and he began pulling at Tim's hand, trying to get there faster.

"Come on, Daddy! There's the statue we get to go inside!"

"Tommy, slow down! We have to go through security before we can go inside anyway," Tim said.

Still, Tommy kept pulling and Tony just laughed and took a picture of the father and son on their way to the security checkpoint. They'd read about what was allowed into Fort Wood and what wasn't, so they were prepared and didn't need to get a locker for anything.

Once they got inside, they were in a kind of museum/gift shop. Tommy was everywhere at once, so excited to see everything and knowing that he was inside a statue, even if he wasn't really inside Lady Liberty herself. Still, he loved seeing the original torch, the face and the feet. Tony and Tim took plenty of pictures, mostly of Tommy posing for each thing they could keep him still to pose at.

Then, finally, they went up to the top of the pedestal for the highest view they were going to get. And it really wasn't bad at all. They could look out over the water, see the amazing New York skyline and also, of course, look up at the looming green statue.

That was what Tommy spent most of his time looking at.

"Why is she green, Daddy?" Tommy asked.

And the questions began again. Tony listened as he took in the view, and he admired Tim's patience once more.

"It's called a patina. That's what happens to copper when it's outside for a long time."

"Then, what color was it before?"

"Do you remember when we were looking at that big face inside?"

"Yeah."

"That's pretty much what it would look like. Like copper, but it's been green for a long time."

"Will it change again?"

"Nope. It's stable now and it'll stay green."

"Wow."

Then, Tommy realized that the ledge around the pedestal was too high for him to see over.

"Hold me up, Daddy! I want to see!"

Obligingly, Tim reached down and lifted Tommy up so he could look out over the ocean.

"Why are the buildings so tall, Daddy?" Tommy asked.

"Because there's no room to spread out."

"But why does everyone live here?"

"It's not all where people live. It's also where people work."

"But couldn't they work other places?"

"Yes, but I guess they like living here."

Then, to Tony's surprise, Tommy look over at the Freedom Tower.

"Is that where the big buildings fell down?"

"Yes, Tommy," Tim said, softly.

"That's sad."

"Yes, it is."

There was a moment of silence, and then, in the way that only little kids can do, Tommy completely switched subjects as he looked out at the water.

"Daddy, can we go fishing in the water?"

"No, Tommy."

"Why not?"

"We don't have fishing poles."

"Oh."

Tim set Tommy down and they headed back down to walk around the star-shaped base. Tommy loved this part. It wasn't very crowded and so Tim let him run around more, as long as he could always see Tony and Tim. There were multiple levels and that was fun for Tommy, too. As they walked along, keeping an eye on Tommy at all times, Tony glanced at Tim.

"He's going to be tired out already."

"Maybe for a little while," Tim said. "But you'd be amazed at how quickly he recovers from being tired out."

Tim lifted his camera and took a picture of Tommy as he was running over to look out at the harbor again.

"So do you miss your kids?" Tim asked.

"It's only been a day, Tim."

"Yeah, but you're still away from your kids. Do you?"

"Yeah. But it's nice to get away from the complications sometimes."

"Yeah. I get that," Tim said. "Is that all it is?"

"All what is?" Tony asked, hoping that Tim wouldn't try to probe.

Tim stopped walking and looked at him, but before he could say anything more, Tommy ran over.

"Daddy, can we go down there?" Tommy asked, pointing at the walkway that went right by the water.

"Yes, Tommy, we can. You okay with that, Tony?"

"Yep. Let's go."

They went into the gift shop first and bought a few things, but then, they walked down one more level to the grounds and began to walk around. It was much more crowded down here than it had been on the base, but it was to be expected and they simply did their best. Tommy held Tim's hand here, but he wasn't afraid. He was still excited, and he was even more excited when he saw one of the coin-op viewers. He dragged on Tim's hand again.

"Daddy, can I look through there?" he asked.

"Sure."

They walked over to the viewer. Tim put the money in and helped Tommy look through.

"Everything is so close, Daddy!" Tommy said. "I can see everything close up! I can see the water and a bridge and boats and people on the boats! And I can see buildings on the other side of the water!"

"Very cool, Tommy," Tim said. He glanced at Tony and looked like he was ready to ask another question.

Again, Tommy saved Tony from Tim's questions. Tommy started pulling at Tim's arm.

"Daddy, you look, too. Tony, you look, too!"

"You can look, Tommy," Tim said.

"No, Daddy. It's cool. I want you to see it, too."

Tony watched as Tim melted. He always did. His kids were definitely his Achilles heel. And when Tommy did something so sweet as wanting to share what he was seeing, Tim wouldn't say no to anything. Tony hoped that Tim would get a little more backbone in dealing with his son before Tommy became a rotten teenager.

"Okay, Tommy. I'll look," Tim said and looked through the viewer. "It's amazing, Tommy."

"Tony, you look, too!"

Tony bent over to look, but the timer had run out on the viewer.

"I can't see anything," he said.

Tommy looked into the viewer again.

"Why is it black?"

"Because the time ran out," Tony said. "I'll just put some more money into the slot."

Tommy shook his head and covered the slot.

"No. My turn," Tommy said, firmly.

Then, Tony was surprised when Tommy dug his hand into his pocket and carefully counted out the fifty cents that the viewer cost to use.

"Here, Tony! You can look!"

Tony ruffled Tommy's hair and then leaned over and looked for a few seconds. The viewers really did bring things in close.

...and then, Tommy proved that he was still a little kid, no matter how sweet on occasion.

"Let me see again!" he said, pulling at Tony's arm.

Tony laughed and stepped back. He grinned at Tim who watched as Tommy looked out at Manhattan until the viewer shut off again.

"Okay, we should start heading back toward the ferry," Tim said. "And we can get lunch once we're over there."

"Yes! I'm hungry, Daddy," Tommy said, forgetting the viewer completely in the face of getting food.

They went back to the ferry and got on the next one that arrived. Then, it was a relatively quick ride back to Liberty Park. Tommy began whining about being hungry and so their first stop once they got to the car was to get something to eat. Tim insisted that they actually sit and eat instead of eating in the car. And considering how messy Tommy was sitting in the restaurant, Tony could acknowledge that it was probably a good idea.

They considered driving over to Central Park but decided that it wasn't worth fighting New York City traffic and instead skirted around the city and then headed for the coast. They wanted to drive as close to the ocean as possible and hopefully stop in a couple of places to enjoy the beach.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"Mis-quam-i-cut State Beach," Tim read. "Want to go?"

"Sure," Tony said. "We could use a break. A real break."

Tim smiled and looked back at Tommy who was currently looking at his books.

"Tommy, do you want to go to the beach?"

Tommy looked up.

"The ocean?"

"Yep. We'll play in the ocean."

"Yea!" Tommy said, clapping. "When?"

"Only about ten minutes, I think," Tony said.

"Yea!"

Tim loved it when Tommy got excited about things, especially when it was truly something he was seeing for the very first time.

When they arrived at the beach, it was pretty crowded, but there were still places to park in a very large parking lot and they found a spot. Then, they got into some better beach attire and they were off to find a spot. They weren't planning on staying for a really long time, but it was better to have a spot they could sit without getting in anyone else's way. Tim made Tommy stay on the beach for a couple of minutes while he checked out the water. Was it too cold, too deep, what were the currents like. Then, he went back and got Tommy and let him start playing in the water.

"Daddy, the water is salty," Tommy said.

"That's because it's the ocean, Tommy," Tim said.

Tommy knelt down in the wet sand and began digging down into it with his fingers, dredging up big piles until the next wave came in and washed his pile away.

"Help me, Daddy," Tommy said.

"Help you what?" Tim asked.

"Make a hill before the water comes!"

Tim knelt down beside Tommy and did as instructed. They made a big pile of wet sand and then the next wave came in and swamped them, stinging their eyes with the salty spray.

Then, Tommy looked around and saw Tony watching them from the dry sand.

"Tony, come and help!" Tommy called.

"You don't need my help," Tony said and lay back in the sand.

Tim grinned. "Should we get Tony to come into the water, Tommy?"

Tommy grinned, too. "Yes!"

Tim dug his hands into the wettest sand and came up with two large handfuls. Tommy copied him.

"Okay, we need to run; otherwise, he'll be able to stop us," Tim said.

Tommy nodded gleefully.

"Now!"

They both got up and ran over to Tony and then threw the wet sand on him, Tommy aiming for Tony's face while Tim just focused on getting Tony sandy.

"Hey!" Tony shouted in surprise. He sat up and looked at them both.

"Come on, Tony!" Tommy said. "Now, you're dirty and you have to come into the water!"

"I think I know whose idea this was," Tony said, looking at Tim.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tim said.

"Oh, you'd better run, Probie."

Tim laughed, grabbed Tommy and began to sprint back to the water, knowing that Tony was faster than he was. They got to the wet sand just as another wave was coming in and they were all soaked by it. Tony wasn't satisfied with that. He started splashing Tim in the face, pulling him into the water. (Not too deep since Tim still was holding Tommy.)

"Splash him back, Tommy!" Tim said. "Splash him back!"

Tommy tried, but he wasn't as good at that as Tony was and they definitely got the worst of that particular exchange.

Finally, they called a mutual truce and walked back onto the sand. Tim put Tommy down and sat down with a thump.

"That was dirty, Tim," Tony said, although he wasn't really mad.

"Well, now you're clean," Tim said with an unrepentant grin. "I still have pretty good aim."

"So does Tommy."

"He always goes for the face," Tim said.

"Yeah, why do you do that, Tommy?" Tony asked.

Tommy just laughed and threw some more sand, not at anyone this time.

"Speaking of good aim," Tony said.

"Yeah?"

"I have to ask."

"What?" Tim asked.

"How did you get me so good with the salt when we were at the Salt Flats in Utah?"

Tim felt a surge of conflicting emotions at the reminder of that time, but that moment had been so nice that he could smile.

"I just have good aim," he said.

"Come on. That salt wasn't packing together at all. I know because I tried to throw it at you."

"Maybe I'm just better at packing salt than you," Tim said.

"Nope. That's not it. How?"

Tim laughed, knowing that Tony was going to hate his answer.

"I spit on it."

"What?!"

"I had to get it to pack somehow. I needed a liquid and my saliva was the only liquid I had available at the time."

"You threw spitty salt on me?"

"Yep."

"Ew!" Tony said. "Gross!"

"Oh, you didn't even notice."

"No, I just didn't know it. Yuck!" Tony said. Then, he looked at Tommy. "Tommy, tell your dad he's disgusting."

"Daddy, you're disgusting," Tommy said, dutifully. "Tony, what does disgusting mean?"

Tony laughed. "It means yucky."

"Oh." Tommy thought about that. "Daddy's not yucky."

"Maybe you're right, but that was gross, Tim."

"It was years ago, Tony."

"And I remember it like it was yesterday."

"Now, you do."

Tim hoped that they could leave that particular topic without getting serious.

As usual, Tommy helped with that. He started splashing them both with water again and that led to another water fight. Then, they spent some time trying to build a sand castle without any tools (failing miserably). Finally, they were ready to rinse off the salt and get on their way. The Misquamicut State Beach had a relatively new pavilion and they were happy to use the showers. Then, it was back to the car, not completely clean but not too bad and they continued on.

After all their running around on the beach, they were all hungry and so as they drove along, they searched for a good place to eat. In true road-tripping style (or at least their road-tripping style), they found a pizza place. Tommy liked pizza and so that was a good way to make sure that they weren't wasting money on a fancy place Tommy wouldn't appreciate. They ate at a relatively leisurely pace, having now decided not to push on to Boston but to get there first thing in the morning. Tim had already called the Fieldings and let them know. They could have made it there, but it was getting late by the time they got to Plymouth and Tim decided that Tommy would be all right without an extra night at his grandparents. Instead, they got a hotel and Tim made sure that Tommy had a thorough bath. He still smelled of the ocean.

Then, after that, Tommy went to bed and was asleep in seconds while Tim showered and then Tony did.

Tim had wanted to talk to Tony a little, but either he was more tired than he had thought or Tony just took a long time in the bathroom because he fell asleep before Tony came out.