Don
Nat and Dad flew to LAX from Seattle, the last stop of the cruise. I went to pick them up. Charlie refused to come with me. He still felt hurt about what Dad did.
"Donnie!" he called out while holding all but one of the carryons. Natalie kept trying to lighten Dad's load by grabbing something but he would pull it from her grasp. She didn't seem happy about his carrying so much.
"Dad!" I smiled and firmly got a couple of bags from him. "How was the flight?"
"Smooth"'
"I got your postcards" I told them. Dad had sent one from Alaska and another from somewhere in British Colombia.
At the carrousel, Dad scolded Natalie when she got one of their suitcases.
"Let Don take care of it" he told her. Thanks a lot! After what seemed like forever, we got everything and put all of it on two carts.
"Let's go!" I led while pushing one of them.
"Donnie, why don't you drive your car up to the front?"
"It's not that far, Dad"
"Nat's leg is hurting" he told me.
"Not that much!" she rolled her eyes, and added impatiently. "I can walk!"
"It's okay... I'll pull up the car" I said mostly to keep the peace and to appease Dad.
I walked to the parking structure nearby, got the car and picked them and their luggage up.
As we drove out of the airport area, Dad asked
"Could you take us somewhere to eat real quick? The plane didn't offer us any food!"
"Sure..." I nodded. Dad was in the front with me. He looked well rested, and happy. "Where would you like to go?"
"It's up to Nat" He turned his head and smiled at her.
"I'm not that hungry" she told us.
"But you've hardly eaten anything all day!" Dad scolded her again. Natalie shook her head and stared out the window.
Just then, I saw a drive thru and got into it, while wondering why they were fighting over whether they should eat.
"Welcome to In and out" a perky voice said from the loudspeaker. "What can I get you?"
"I'd like the double double meal" I said, and turned Dad "You?"
"Same"
"Two double double meals" I told the loudspeaker.
"Anything else?"
"Nat?" Dad turned around.
"I'll share with you" she said and teased "Unless you just want everything to yourself."
"Fine..." he didn't seem to happy about it. I wonder why Natalie's not as eager as usual to get junk food. Maybe she caught something on the boat? Or one of the rich meals disagreed with her?
We went to the next window, paid, got the food when it was ready, and parked somewhere to eat.
"I just want fries babe" she told Dad. "After you've added a bit of salt"
"Salt??" Dad repeated, and quickly said "Don't you remember? Your blood pressure is borderline!"
This was the first I'd heard of this "yeah?"
"...she uh found out just before the trip" Dad replied with some hesitation.
"I see"
"I just need to watch my diet with common sense" she explained. Why did I sense a jibe at Dad?
"Here are some fries and a piece of the double double" he handed her the napkin.
"Thanks" she took it from him and munched a fry. "They need salt"
"Adding salt is part of the frying process" Dad told her and ate his double double.
"These taste like starch without some salt." she complained. I saw her gimace from the mirror.
"Balance it with the double double" Dad advised.
----------------------
After dinner, I took them home.
A few days later, I went to visit Dad at his office, needing his expertise on a case. To my surprise, he was taking out and admiring an expensive looking digital camera out of its box. That's weird. Dad usually didn't just spurge on stuff like this.
"Isn't it a little late to get it?" I teased him.
"It's uh...not for me, but the firm." he explained uneasily. His desk, as always, had blueprints laid out.
"Yeah?
"To show potential clients our uh…..work" Dad nervously put it back in its box.
"At least you can write it off" I admired the picture on the box. "Looks fancy"
"Stan's idea" he shrugged. "I would have been happy with a simpler model."
"That must have cost a pretty penny huh?"
"The investment will pay off" Dad grinned, saw the folders in my hands, and remarked "I take it you're not here to discuss the camera?"
--------------------------------
I went to see Dad that night for dinner around six. As he opened the door for me, I could hear his argument with Natalie on the phone.
"Can't Carl do the house call?" he complained.
He listened for a bit, sighed, and said "Don't take too long, take care of yourself, and drive safe." Soon, the phone call ended.
"Natalie's working late, huh?" I asked, not that I was disappointed.
"I know...I should be used to it, but uh...sometimes she takes on more than her fair share. "Dad said as he put the phone in its place. "I'm gonna go check on dinner."
"Sure..." I followed him to get myself a beer, and returned to the living room, only to find myself sitting on a teddy bear. I put it beside me and examined it. Dad and Natalie weren't really teddy bear collectors, so I was curious. It had green overalls, large smooth, plastic eyes, and felt soft to the touch. At first I thought it was a souvenir, but it had nothing to indicate that.
"Oh that's a uh...little something I found when I met with some clients. Thought Nat might like it." Dad began as if I had asked him about it.
Joined by the cat and dog, I watched TV until dinner was ready.
"How's your brother?" Dad asked neutrally. Charlie still hadn't talked to him.
"He's fine" I told him.
"That' s good" Dad's eyes dulled.
"He'll come around" I tried to assure him.
"I hope you're right." he said softly, and served himself some more food.
---------------------------
The next day, I decided to go talk to Charlie. It was about time he and Dad made up.
TBC
