The Long Bye Bye Chapter 5

“Dad,” I called, tapping lightly on my father and mother’s screen door. The other door was wide open yet I could not see anyone inside.

I’d usually just storm in save for that day I was anxious about even walking into my own home. Finally I heard foot steps from somewhere and my father appeared in the hallway.

“Son,” he said unsurely, making me cringe. “What are you doing out there boy?”

“Sorry Pa, I didn’t know if I should come in,” I answered honestly.

“Don’t be sorry,” he shook his head at me. “You’re so sorry about everything. Some things need to not be anyone’s fault. Sometimes you need to just let things be with out a sorry.”

“Sure Pa,” I agree half-heartedly. I step inside.

He walked into the living room and sat on the couch, he looked restless. “I was going through things in the basement. Remember when you and Ellie were dating and she helped you rope me into letting that silly band of yours play here? Thank goodness you found another space. What would I have done with all that clutter?”

I take a deep breath at the Ellie reference. “We weren’t dating at that point anymore Pa, I knew for sure before that that I was…”

He looks up at me in surprise. “You were so young though, so young.”

After a long silence settles between us I feel compelled to say something, so I dived right in; “Pa, Dylan and I aren’t just boyfriends anymore, we’re engaged. It doesn’t mean wedding bells are in our future just yet- we just wanted this, to commit before he left.”

My father stared at me for a minute, like he’d never quite seen me until that moment. I felt like my heart was going to beat its way out of my chest, and then it happened, for the first time in my life I saw my father cry.

“Oh dad,” I choked out, “do you hate me finding someone to love this much just because he’s a guy?”

“No,” he bellowed, while franticly wiping his face. He stood and turned away from me. “I hate this distance between us. How could my own son not tell me about something this important? Am I such a bad father?”

“No,” I cried,” I just- you said you didn’t want to know this part of me, you said so and before you even said for years I knew already, okay! So why would I tell you? Huh? I just don’t want to hurt you because when I hurt you for being who I am it hurts me.”

I threw my arms up as a sign of defeat and sunk down onto the couch. I covered my eyes with my palms, trying to fight off the tears. I was so sick of being brought to tears.

After a moment I felt my father’s strong hand on my shoulder, he gave me a little squeeze and came to sit next to me. I didn’t look at him for a whole minute, needing a chance to re-re-cooperate from our tiff. I took my time and breathed, once I’d calmed down I removed my hands and gazed over at him. His eyes darted to my lap and focused on my hand. It took me a moment to realize he was looking over the ring Dylan gave me.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it,” I sniffed.

He placed his hand over mine. “He’s a good man.”

“He is,” I confirmed.

My father bit his lip. “You’re so young Marco, how do you now he’s the right one?”

“I don’t know, however you knew mom was the right one I guess. I can’t explain it,” I sighed. “It’s like he’s part of me now, like an arm or something, I need him, he’s mine and I can’t imagine him not being mine.”

“Funny Marco that’s how I feel about you.” He laughed. “You’re my son and you’ll always be my son, and I can’t imagine my life with out you. I love you more than anything in this world. I shouldn’t have let this whole thing come between us. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy dad,” I swore. “I’d be a lot happier if we could be okay.”

“We’re okay.” He assured me.

---

“So how’d it go sweetie?” Dylan asked when I came back into our house. He was cooking some macaroni and cheese on the stove. “I know it’s nothing special like you make,” he blushed. “I ordered pizza to go with it so it should be a decent meal.”

I threw my jacket onto a empty chair and allowed Dylan to take me in his arms, “Sounds good.”

“So?” He prodded.

“We’re going to be okay, I think. He’s hasn’t completely reformed his views however he’s willing to try.” I told Dylan.

He smiled down at me. “What did he say about us?”

I frowned up at him. “He wants to take us to dinner sometime before you leave, with my mom as well, of course. I hope it goes better than the time we ran into them at dinner.”

“Oh man,” Dylan tilted his head in thought. “That was so long ago.”

“It was.”

“So,” he muttered. “This is a good thing?”

My eyes brightened. “You’re worried.”

“Am not.”

“Are to.”

“Maybe a little, at least when we were a secret I didn’t have to worry as much about impressing your family.” The beautiful blond confessed.

“Don’t worry,” I swatted his arm playfully. “You’re very charming. Except when you do that thing…”

“What thing?” Dylan asked, alarmed.

With out missing a beat the door bell range and I pulled away from Dylan.

“Oh you know that thing you sometimes do when you’re nervous.”

“What are you talking about?” He shouted at my back as I walked out of the kitchen. “Marco?”

“I’ll pay for the pizza—“

“What thing?”

“Who knows, maybe you’re doing it right now.”

“Hey, wait, you’re teasing me… you jerk!”

---End---