Page 82 of Laugh

Grunting, he looks away. “I hope he didn’t throw them off. Consistency is key to having a winning team. You know that.”

“George,” mom snaps out, scowling in frustration.

“What?” he asks, clueless why she’s acting like he’s being an asshole.

I don’t want to fight, at least not tonight. Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose and ask, “Dad, can you just take a break from the criticisms for one night? I need a break from it.”

“I’m just saying–” he cuts off at the same time I feel a slender arm wrap around my side, and I know Haddie is here. Instead of tucking herself into my side, she pushes me back and behind her.

I look down at the back of her head in surprise when she plants her hands on her hips and stares down my father. With a finger jabbed in his direction, she hisses out, “Enough. Be proud of him.”

My eyes shoot up to my dad and I want to laugh at the look on his face. He’s utterly dumbstruck, looking down at the petite woman facing off with him. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, he says, “I am proud of him.”

I jerk my head back at his words. I’ve never heard him say that before, not in my thirty-four years of life. George Hudson is a man of few words other than how you can always ‘be better’.

My girl sniffs at him and crosses her arms. “Jesus Christ, George. Why can’t people just be satisfied with how their children decide to live their lives? It’s not hard. He’s one of the top coaches out there. He’s healthy, he’s happy, he’s stable. What more could you possibly want for him?”

I bite back a laugh when I hear my mom giggle behind her hand. “You tell him, baby girl,” she urges.

Now he’s scowling and crosses his arms back at her, but she doesn’t back down. “I said Iamproud of him. I always have been.”

“Then fucking tellhimthat. But not tonight, because we’re going home. This was good enough for now.” She spins around and looks at me with tired eyes. “I’m ready to go.”

“You got it,” I say, kissing her forehead and leading her away from my parents to walk to my car.

“Told you,” I hear my mom say to my dad.

Haddie ducks out from under my arm and turns back around. “Sorry, I forgot to say goodbye. Thank you both for coming out tonight. It really means a lot to me, and I think Captain too. I think… I think you both would have really liked Marcus.”

My mom’s gaze softens on her, and my dad looks clueless. “Captain?” he asks, but Haddie just keeps rambling, more from being worn out, I think, rather than embarrassment.

“Oh, and George?” Dad looks at her when she calls his name. “I need you to forgive me next time I see you for talking to you like that. I’m really freaking emotional right now and beyond exhausted. But seriously, I meant every word. Just… forgive me for them, please and thank you.”

He waves her off, and I know that he’s not upset. I think what she said to him may have hit him harder than he was prepared for. I truly believe that my father means well. He’s just terrible at expressing himself. What he views as helpful suggestions comes across as disappointment and critique.

“You’re humming,” I tell her as Haddie sits in the car. And she is. She’s been humming since we walked away from them. A song that’s nonsensical, something unique to her.

Nodding that she knows, she stops to say, “I’m keeping the noise going so I don’t think about the fact that I just yelled at your dad.” Then she picks up the soft humming again as I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.

With the car idling, I pull it out to read before we get on the road. Haddie’s fingers are tapping her thighs nervously in tune with her song while I read the text from my mom.

Mom: Tell Haddie that your father is already trying to figure out a way to make sure you know how proud he is of you without, and I quote, ‘sounding like a sappy shit’. Also, he likes her. Come to dinner soon. xoxo

I hand my phone over to my girl so she can read. Pulling out of the parking lot, I smile when I hear her soft sigh in relief. She’s also stopped humming.

Harriet “Happy” Elena Byer just fixed my dad.

Chapter 32

A New Normal

Haddie

Whispering from the corner of my mouth as we walk in my front door, I say, “I’m gonna need a milkshake the second we get out of here. I don’t think dinner is going to be palatable.”

Huffing out a laugh, he shakes his head at me. “Nice word.”

“Thanks!” I say, beaming up at him.

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