Granddad
by
Owlcroft
This one is for CK, who helps keep us going - thanks and Merry Christmas!
"So you never told me who we're picking up," Hardcastle complained as they made their way to Gate 14A. "I know it's not the Aunts because they've sworn never to fly again." Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and grinned at the middle-aged man tugging him along. "It's Barbara Johnson, isn't it? Coming from Florida, it's gotta be."
"Nope," McCormick grinned back at him. "Not even close."
A throng of people was surging out of the passenger disembarking area, so McCormick pulled his friend to one side and said, "Stay here. I'll get a little closer and see if I can spot him. Or her," he suddenly grinned.
A few minutes later, a frail, elderly gentleman appeared on the ramp, looking around, searching for someone. When he saw McCormick, he smiled – still the same infectious Sonny smile – and made his way in that direction, walking slowly and carefully.
Two of the flight attendants came close behind him and, seeing him heading toward someone waiting for him, each took an arm and escorted him over. "You take care now, Sonny," one of them told him. "And we're crossing our fingers we get to do your flight back."
He turned his smile on them, charming as always, and thanked them, waving as they walked away, then faced his son again and opened his arms wide.
"Mark!" he exclaimed. "You never get any older. Just like me!"
ooooo
Mark drove back and Sonny opted to sit in the back seat of the Volvo with his 'old buddy Milt' and exchange some memories and a few half-hearted gibes. Mark kept his eyes on the road, but his ears were tuned to the conversation in the back between the two contemporaries.
"Yeah, it's a great deal," Sonny said in answer to a question. "They don't pay very much, but I live on the ship. All the food I want, a nice room – like a little apartment – and I only do one show a night. During the afternoon, I have to wander around, chat to people, maybe sign some autographs and pose for a photo or two –"
There was an audible snort from the other man in the back seat.
"But it's great. No bills, no responsibilities –"
There was another snort, then the judge said hastily, "Sorry, musta caught cold in the airport. Do they have to turn the air-conditioning up that high?"
The two seniors began commiserating with one another over the freezing temperatures indoors these days and other common older people complaints.
McCormick just smiled and kept driving.
ooooo
The automatic gate swung wide, then Mark piloted the car around the fountain and parked in front of the gatehouse. At once, the door opened and his wife appeared, waving.
"Come on in," she called. "There's someone here waiting for you all."
McCormick helped his father out of the car, keeping an eye on the judge as well, in case he needed an arm.
But Hardcastle managed to haul himself out and went to the trunk for Sonny's suitcase, which gave the other two time to get to the door, where they stopped and waited for him.
"Okay, Sonny?" said Mark quietly. "You ready?"
Sonny Daye looked at his son with trepidation in his eyes. "Mark, you're sure about this, huh?"
McCormick nodded and ushered him through the door, where a small figure stood in the center of the room, staring at them.
"Hey," said Sonny tentatively. "You must be Matt." He went to one knee awkwardly, and with some pain, and held out his arms.
Matt approached slowly, then threw himself into his grandfather's embrace. "Granddad!" he said excitedly.
"That was all we could think of to call you. Everything else was sort of taken," said Mark quietly. "If you'd rather be –"
"There's nothing I'd rather be," said Sonny huskily, "than this kid's granddad."