“Sit, sit.Tell me all about how you lured this sweet thing into thinking you’re a good guy.”
I sent Alice a panicked look, and she held my hand as we sat down with my dad.
“I’m just going to let you all visit,” Nancy stood up with a smile.“I was losing anyhow.”
“You lose every time we play, uh, uh…” He blinked up at Nancy, clearly searching for her name.
“It’s hard to win when you’re playing against a card sharp.Have fun you guys.”She patted my shoulder before leaving.
I sighed as I took her seat and picked up the cards.“So what have I missed out on since I’ve been gone?”
I figured it was a safe question no matter who Dad thought I was.
“You know my life is pretty boring.How about you tell me all the exciting things you’ve been up to?”Dad reset the pegs on the board.
“Uh, you know I can’t do that.It’s classified.”Or at least that was what I remembered Uncle Joel telling me anytime I’d asked him about his time in the Navy.
“Fine,” he huffed.“Then how about you tell me how you met this pretty little thing.”
Alice leaned forward.“He came to one of my shows.I’m a drummer in a band in Vegas.Joel here hung around after our show and helped load my kit for me.It was love at first sight.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand in thanks.
“Drummer, huh?You should go have a chat with my son, Noah.That kid will wail on his drums every minute of the day if we let him.Pisses off the neighbors to no end.That’s half the reason I let him do it!”He cackled with glee.
The sound had me smiling back at my dad.It was one of my favorite sounds in the world.
“A drummer, huh?”Alice raised her eyebrows.“Is he any good?”
“He’s the best.”My dad grinned back at her.“That kid can pick up any song he hears, and in less than a day he’ll play it perfectly.Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.He’s going to go places.”The pride and awe in his voice had me choking up.I couldn’t remember ever hearing that from him.
Sure, he’d been proud and congratulated me when we’d signed our record deal and as our band got recognition and we’d toured the world.But back when I was a kid, all I remembered was how my playing annoyed him.
How it gave him a headache.
He’d been proud of me since way back then.Wow.
“He sounds like quite a kid.”Alice gave me a teary smile.
“He’s the best.But don’t let him hear me say that.Smug little shit wouldn’t do his homework ever again if he knew what I thought about his talent.He’s gotta graduate high school before he can chase that dream.Now—” Dad clapped.“Who am I playing?Let’s get this game going.”
* * *
It had to be one of my favorite memories ever of my dad.Hearing him talk about me, about his life when we were little, as if he was talking to a peer—it’d all been amazing.And it was a gift I wouldn’t have but for his Alzheimer’s.
So it was bittersweet.
After his nurse talked him into taking a nap, Alice and I sat in the living room with my mom.
“It’s good that you’re visiting, Noah.”My mom sent me a tremulous smile as she fussed with the magazines piled on the coffee table.Once they were in a neat stack, she sat back in her chair with a sigh and clasped her hands in her lap.“I’m selling the house.”
“Oh.”I blinked.“Uh, okay.”
She nodded.“Yes.I found a facility near Seattle that I think will be good for your father.”
“Seattle,” I repeated weakly.
“Yes.I’ll be closer to Faith and the kids.I’ll be able to help her out with childcare, and it’ll give me something to look forward to.I think it’ll be good for both of us.”
