Page 78 of Reckless Curves
Epilogue
Three months later, Tom growled and slid the tie from the collar of his tuxedo shirt. “Marcus, tie this thing, will you?”
Marcus snorted. “When was the last time you saw me with a tie on?”
Tom looked at him in the mirror. “You grew up wearing suits so you know how to tie one.”
“Nope. Mom or Dad always had to do mine. Or Kendra when she wasn’t in the hospital,” Marcus said.
“That doesn’t help me right now, does it? I can’t ask Kendra or your parents. Will you go find Sam? I don’t know where the hell he went,” Tom said.
“Well, I’m not Sam, but will I do?”
Tom grinned and turned around. “Yeah, you’ll do, Dad.”
Vincent glanced at Marcus. “Do you mind if I talk to Tommy?”
“Nope,” Marcus said. “That’ll give me a chance to decide which lucky lady gets to go home with me tonight.”
Vincent chuckled and took the tie from Tom as Marcus left the dressing room. “That one’s a troublemaker.”
Tom raised an eyebrow. “You should talk.”
Vincent chuckled. “Takes one to know one, which is why I always knew that you would be our problem child. Sam was easy to raise, but you? You were a hellion from the beginning.”
Tom laughed. “Guilty.”
“Watch what I’m doing so you know how to do it the next time.”
Vincent turned Tom around and started instructing Tom and as he did, Tom’s mind went back to his earlier childhood when Vincent had spent hours teaching him and Sam to hit a baseball or how to ride their bikes. He’d been patient and encouraging.
When Vincent finished, he said, “Did you catch that?”
Tom sighed. “No. I doubt I’ll ever get it.”
Vincent patted his shoulder. “That’s okay. We’ll keep practicing so that when Connor’s older you can show him. You should’ve picked the pre-tied one like I told you.”
Tom turned sheepish. “Kendra liked the look and I didn’t want to tell her I didn’t know how to work them.”
Vincent grinned. “I’m not surprised. We men hate admitting our weaknesses.” He patted Tom’s tie. “There. You’re irresistible.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, I’ll give you some fatherly advice since I’m still around to give it, thanks to you,” Vincent said.
“Dad, you don’t have to say that.”
“Shut up. Your old man’s talking.”
Tom smiled, but stayed silent.
Vincent collected his thoughts. “Don’t be anything like me and you’ll be just fine. Don’t ever pick up that bottle again, Tommy. I don’t care how bad things get, don’t do it. If you do, you’ll lose everything, just like me. I lost your mother, you, and Sam to a certain extent. I almost lost my life to alcohol and if it wasn’t for you, I’d be six feet under.”
Tom clenched his teeth against the tears that threatened.
“If you steer clear of booze, you’ll be just fine. And don’t take it for granted that you’ll wake up each morning. I hope you learned that from me and your bride.” Vincent grinned. “You sure got yourself a good one, son.”
“I know, Dad.”
