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“I knew you’d like it,” I find my voice to say. “Can I, um…get you anything else?”

“I’m okay for now.”

There’s only an hour left of my shift. I’m surprised when Dad does stay, only paying when it’s just about time for me to get off. I tell him I’ll meet him outside, then clock out and grab my things, all while fighting not to get my hopes up, to be prepared to stand my ground.

Dad is waiting out front with his hands in his pockets. He looks up as if sensing me, and I can see the same emotions warring inside me reflected in his gaze—fear, sadness, hope. “Can we walk?” he asks.

“Sure.”

We’re both quiet as we make our way down the sidewalk. I wait to see what he has to say. He’s the one who came here, so I’m going to give him the chance to tell me why.

“I was watching you in there. You’re really good with the customers. I heard the woman at the next table say how she always likes it when you work.”

“I like what I do,” I say simply.

Dad sighs. “I don’t know why this is so hard… I guess admitting you’re wrong is never easy, but I owe you an apology.”

“You owe Marshall one.”

“I owe you both one,” he amends. “But right now, I’m not talking about you and Marshall. I’m talking about you and me.”

We turn the corner to a quieter street, and I stop to look at him.

“I know I haven’t been the perfect father. I’ve spent the last month or so doing a lot of reflecting, and I think…I think I’ve made you feel very alone sometimes. I think I haven’t shown you very well that I’m proud of you. That I know you’re strong, confident, and smart.”

“That’s not how you acted before.” Maybe I owe him a better response than that, but the truth is, I’m hurt.

“I told myself I was doing right by you, giving you the best opportunities, trying to push you to want more, and in that, I made you feel like there’s something wrong with who you are and the choices you make. I won’t make excuses for myself. When I set my mind to something, I don’t back down. I’m aware of that. Sometimes that’s good, like when we found out we were pregnant with you, then college and things like that. Other times…it’s not ideal, like when it comes to my hopes for you. I decided you were going to be just like me, follow in my footsteps, want the same things, and then I couldn’t see past that. I put my wants and choices on you. Once I was on that path, it was hard to back down, but I was wrong, JT. And I made you feel like you don’t make me the proudest father in the world, and that’s my biggest regret. I don’t care what your job is, or if you go to school or not. I want you happy. I want you in my life. That’s the only thing that’s important.”

For a moment, I’m not sure I heard him right. My heart thuds in my ears, making everything sound far off and echoey.

“You’re a good man, JT. A good person. You’re strong and kind and know who you are. And I’ll never forgive myself for trying to stifle that,” he adds, making my eyes sting. It takes everything in me not to wrap him in my arms. Not to tell him it’s okay. He’s my dad, and I love him, but…

“You hurt me.”

“I know. I’m so damn sorry. I know I can’t fix the past, but I want a chance to change our future.”

I shove my hands in my pockets. “I’m sorry too. I know I hurt you… We hurt you. We didn’t mean to, and I miss you so much, but I can’t do this if you can’t accept Marshall. If you love me, you have to love all of me—the parts that are with him, that want to spend the rest of my life with him. I’m not asking you to understand. I’m asking you to accept me anyway… To accept us.”

He smiles at me, tears in his eyes. “I’m so damn proud of the man you are and the way you stand up for what you know is right and those you love…and he’s the same. Both of you are led by your hearts. It’s a good match.”

And for now, I can’t ask for anything more. “I love you, Dad.” I throw my arms around him, Dad returning my hug, squeezing me so tight, I can hardly breathe.

“I love you too, son.”

I don’t expect perfection from him, any more than anyone can expect it from me. Life is full of lessons, of learning and growing and changing, but I know we’ll come out of it at the other end better than where we are now.

We walk and talk for a good hour. I tell him about culinary school, and about me and Marshall some too, and he listens. We end at my car. Dad hugs me again, tells me he loves me, then watches me get into my car and drive away.

As soon as I come inside the house, Marshall’s head snaps up, eyes meeting mine. “Are you okay?” He’s already moving toward me.

“I’m happy.” I lose myself in his embrace, knowing he’s happy too.

EPILOGUE

JT

Two years later

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