“Oh come on, Paxton, lighten up. I’m your dad, not a decrepit old man,” he teases.
I explode in laughter. “Fine, not decrepit, but we may need to argue the whole old point.”
“Har har, kid! And you’ll always be my kid, so don’t try to argue that one,” he tells me with a gleam of happiness in his eye.
Lifting my hands as if defending myself, I reply, “Whoa there, I wouldn’t dare disagree with you on the morning of my return to the home clan.” He laughs.
My dad pats me on the back as he walks past me. “I’m glad you’re home, Pax. I’ve got to get the nice china out before your mom gets home—you know how she is about using her best dishes for the special occasions.”
“Oh, I remember, and I’m happy to be home too, Dad. It’s been too long,” I confess.
He leaves me sitting alone, thinking about all the special occasions I’ve missed the last ten years—the family moments…all of the moments.