He did the catcal and I started laughing, I couldn’t help it.
My Dad may have been a crap Dad but he was crazy and he was funny and even though he’d only been in my life for what amounted to hours in the past fourteen years, he was stil my Dad.
“Dad!” I shouted over him humming the musical part.
He was half swinging me around, half dancing with me, total y ignoring me, and he kept going. He ended the song as usual, on a hug, swaying me side to side and humming the sad saxophone finale.
“Dad,” I whispered again, my cheek pressed against his stubbly one and he stopped swaying and held me close.
“Jet,” he whispered back and tears stung my eyes, a couple leaking out the corners.
We stood that way for a few seconds, holding on to each other and then he pushed me back, stil holding my arms.
“How’d you find me?” I asked, wiping my cheeks.
“Went to that place you used to work. Sweet-talked the old biddy behind the counter into tel ing me where you were. Why’d you give up a cushy job like that?” He was wearing an old army jacket, a t-shirt with a Mack truck on the front, a pair of worn out jeans and construction boots. His graying, sandy blond hair was too long and (if I was honest) a bit dirty. His hazel eyes were dancing, as usual.
I ignored his question.
“What are you doing here?”
“Came to see my girl.” His eyes scanned my face, and then went to my hair.
His hand came up and he yanked the ponytail holder out with a tug. Without looking where it was going, he tossed it over his shoulder. I watched it fly, and, stil watching, saw Eddie’s hand reach out and nab it in midair.
“Shee-it. Your mother gave you a beautiful head of hair, don’t know why you’re always hidin’ it.” He arranged my hair around my face, “Much better.” he said.
“Dad.”
He snatched me in his arms again and gave me a tight squeeze.
“Fuck!” He shouted. “You feel good. Been missin’ my girl.”
When he let me go, Eddie was right there. Indy and Al y were staring at us, not even trying to pretend they weren’t and I didn’t have to turn around to know Tex was watching.
Eddie held out my ponytail holder.
“Thanks Eddie,” I said, taking the band and I could feel the heat coming into my face.
Dad looked between Eddie and me.
“Who’s this? Your boyfriend?”
My lungs froze and my mouth went dry.
Eddie just stood there.
Dad looked between Eddie and me, again.
“Wel ? Are you gonna introduce me?” Dad asked me.
My mind disengaged.
Dad took matters into his own hands.
“I’m Ray McAlister, Jet’s Dad.”
“Eddie Chavez,” Eddie replied and shook Dad’s hand.
Dad nodded and smiled, “Figures. Jet’s always had a thing for our Southern brothers.”
Oh Lord, please save me.
“Dad.”
I could have happily died at that moment.
“What?” Dad asked, al innocent.
“Funny, Jet’s explained she has a little trouble with my kind,” Eddie said.
Dad turned to me, his eyes comical y wide.
“Since when? Every boyfriend you’ve ever had was Mexican.”
Nope, I was wrong. It was this moment when I could have happily died.
“Is that so?” Eddie asked, his eyes moving to me and I could swear I heard both Indy and Al y gulping back laughter.
“Yeah. Thought I’d have me some sweet, dark-headed grandbabies way before now but Jet’s taking her fuckin’
time. You know, I’m not getting any younger,” Dad told me,
“Least you final y got a job in a cool place,” he said, looking around. “The old one might have been cushy but… hel o?
Boring! ”
“Maybe we should go somewhere and talk,” I suggested.
“What’s wrong with right here?” he asked, looking at the espresso counter, “I could do with a coffee.”
“What’l it be?” Tex boomed.
I closed my eyes. When I opened them, Dad was already headed toward the coffee and al I could see was Eddie.
He wasn’t smiling, as such, but the dimple was in his cheek.
Guess I didn’t have to worry about him thinking I was a racist anymore.
Before I could come unstuck from mortification, Eddie’s hand came up and he tucked some hair behind my ear. He scanned my face and hair, then his eyes locked on mine and he said, “I like it.”
My stomach lurched.
Without a word, I turned my back on him, pul ing my hair into another ponytail and fol owed Dad who was ordering from Tex. When I got to him, he hooked an arm around my neck and kissed the top of my head.
“Ain’t she gorgeous?” he asked Tex.
“She’s a nut,” Tex answered.
Dad threw his head back and laughed.
“Ain’t that right?”
Indy and Al y both materialized behind the counter, I did introductions and there was general chitchat while Dad sucked back a latte.
They al drifted away, but not far enough away that they couldn’t hear everything we said. I guess this was my payback for being so cagey. People were going to get curious.
Eddie planted himself at the end of the espresso counter and didn’t even pretend to pretend he wasn’t eavesdropping.