Page 80 of Level Up

I always knew how my grandpa died. I never got a chance to meet him, the accident having happened about ten years before I was born. Even then, I had been so completely ignorant to the vast rippling waves that had shaped my dad from losing his. It was like seeing him in a whole new light, even after twenty-one years of being around him. “Dad… it’s—it’s okay.”

Without another word, he opened his arms and took me into a tight hug. The kind I’d get when I was a kid, coming home from summer camp and seeing my parents for the first time in weeks. I had missed those.

“You picked a good one. Hold on to him,” he whispered in my ear. I found myself smiling wide, the world falling back into place when only moments ago, it had been turned completely upside down.

And it was all because of Jay. He somehow managed to form a miles-long bridge over the silent ravine that had formed between me and my dad.

“I love you,” my dad said.

“Love you, too,” I responded, our hug breaking.

“And… Ryan… I’m sorry for not making your race. Truly. I’m going to work my damndest to make it up to you somehow.”

I was a little taken aback by that apology. I could have shook my head and stood my ground. But why? Family issues could either be left to fester and burn and spread, or they could be smoothed over and given a second chance to strengthen whatever bonds had been there before.

I didn’t hate my dad. I never did. And I couldn’t imagine not taking this apology from him.

“It’s ok, I’m past that.” I offered him a smile. “Just at least make it to my graduation.”

“Of course, Ryan. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Jay gave a happy squeal. Even though my dad had been an archnemesis to him, he still stepped in to help our relationship. If that didn’t prove he had a heart of gold, then I didn’t know what would.

We still weren’t out of the woods yet, though.

“What about the drilling project?” I asked him. As much warmth as this moment filled me with, there was a lingering icy cold lining to it.

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It’s quite a lot to consider right now.” There was a waver in his voice. “I can’t… I can’t give an answer to that question.”

“Dad,” I started, ready to push the topic again.

But it was Jay who put a hand on my lower back. He looked at me and slowly shook his head.

“It’s ok.” Jay said.

But it wasn’t. Yes, my relationship with my father stepped away from the edge of a steep cliff, but that didn’t solve the very issue we had come to this beach for.

“Ryan, my eyes have been opened today. I need time. I also can’t make any promises right now. There are stake holders and contracts to consider. But I will see what I can do.”

Music kicked up behind us. A queen was about to take to the stage. The protest had begun.

My dad looked over my shoulder then back at us. “Is there still a seat available for the protest?”

My eyes opened wide in shock. Jay made an incomprehensible sound next to me. Like he choked on a drink. “What?” I asked, unsure if maybe I’d misheard him.

“For the protest, is there a seat?”

Okay, now I was getting confused. Did my dad want to celebrate reconciling with me? Because we could do that at a restaurant, not here. “The media’s here, Dad. You’re wearing business attire. You’ll stick out. People are instantly going to talk.”

“It’s ok, I can handle it.”

My jaw dropped so fast it nearly cracked in half. Jay stumbled over his words before he got out an “Excuse me?”

My dad smiled at him. “A lot’s changed today. I still have quite a bit to think over. But if I do end up pulling my funding then the project is dead in the water. Sorry, too soon?”

“So that’s where Ryan gets his dad jokes from,” Jay said, laughing.

My dad joined in. I blinked a couple of times, expecting this all to wipe away and reveal itself as a sweet and surreal kind of dream.

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