Page 56 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“Oh, yeah,” Peter said. “I just woke up from a nap. Seems like I’m sleeping more and more these days. Not sure why.”

“Probably just all the fresh air,” Wyatt mused.

Peter’s smile was shaky. “Would Ronnie and Donnie like a mint?”

“Boys?” Wyatt asked, lifting his brows as Peter dug around in his pocket and pulled out two plastic-wrapped, white-and-red peppermints.

“Sure,” the kids said in unison, stepping forward just long enough to retrieve them from the man’s gnarled and wrinkled, trembling hand. Then they were right back in front of Vica, practically standing on her toes.

“What’s with the getups?” Peter asked. “You four look like you’re headed to a Friday night social.”

“We had a little garden party to attend for some friends,” Wyatt said. “You know Elora, any excuse to dress up and get out of her nurse’s scrubs.”

Vica laughed and smiled. “I feel like I live in the things.”

“This is weird,” Griffon said.

“He’s our grandpa but he’s not our grandpa,” Jake replied. “I wish he knew who we were.”

Vica’s heart went out to the boys. It had to be confusing. Surely, this wasn’t the first time they experienced their grandfather like this, but she also couldn’t see it getting any easier. And it had to weigh on Wyatt too. His own father not even recognizing him. He was gone, but not really.

She wasn’t sure if her father simply passing away was a gentler blessing on her and her brother than this. Either way, watching a parent deteriorate, especially when you had such vivid memories of them being a strong and capable adult, wasn’t easy.

It was so wonderful to see the way Wyatt interacted with his dad though. Even if his father kept calling him “Steve” and reminiscing about their army days, Wyatt just laughed along. The way he looked at his dad warmed her to her core. If she wasn’t already inconveniently falling for this single dad, seeing him with his own father would have pushed her over the edge. His patience, his compassion, and above all, the fact that despite his father’s advanced state of Alzheimer’s, Wyatt was never condescending or patronizing. He didn’t treathis dad like an invalid or anything less than a totally capable, with-it, human being. They joked and told stories, and Wyatt even called his dad, “a grumpy old fucker,” which just made Peter laugh until he wheezed.

An hour passed before anybody knew it and although the boys seemed champing at the bit to get going, Vica could tell Wyatt was reluctant to say goodbye.

“Well, Peter, this has been a wonderful visit, but I need to get the boys and Elora home for supper.” Wyatt stood up from his seat, and the boys eagerly bounced up off the bed where they sat with Vica.

“Your visit has made my day,” Peter said, fatigue in his voice. “And your boys are such handsome young men. We’ll have to get them together with my boys very soon.”

“Absolutely.”

“Did I tell you, Janet is pregnant again?”

Wyatt smiled. “No. Congratulations. Do you think you’ll finally get a girl?”

“Why is Dad asking that when he knows it’s all boys?” Griffon murmured.

“Shh,” Vica said, stroking his head. “He’s just playing along. Make believe. Remember?”

Peter crossed his arthritic-looking fingers. “Fifth time lucky, maybe?”

Wyatt chuckled. “I’ll cross my fingers for you too.”

“That’s Uncle Jagger,” Jake whispered. “He doesn’t get a girl.”

Peter and Wyatt hugged, and Vica could tell Wyatt was holding onto his dad just a little tighter and a little longer. When they parted Wyatt’s eyes were a little glassy. The men then shook hands.

Vica stepped up and hugged Peter as well. “So nice to see you again, Peter. You look as dashing and youthful as ever.”

Peter kissed her cheek. “Always were such a charmer, Elora.”

Then the boys shook hands with Peter, and they said their final goodbye.

Vica laced her fingers through Wyatt’s as they walked down the hall of the seniors’ home. He glanced at her and smiled, giving her fingers a squeeze. “I justnever know when, or if, I’ll see him again.”

“I know.” She offered him a comforting smile and he held the door open for all of them to step back out into the warm afternoon sun.

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