Page 75 of Cocky Nerd
I grit my teeth and refrain from launching into a monologue about general relativity and quantum mechanics. “Do you and Mr. Montgomery have fights? If you don’t mind myasking.”
She laughs and waves her hand dismissively. “Of course we do, I’m sure you’ve heard them. But they’re just fights. You learn how to fight fair eventually. You’ll see. Just give her sometime.”
“But what should Ido?”
“Usually it helps to just get back to the basics. You’ve taken her to Asia and a gala and Cleveland. You’ve done the grand gesture. Just be around for each other. Take it slow. See whathappens.”
Back tobasics.
What is a realrelationship?
How do I say I love you outloud?
What if one plus one doesn’t equaltwo?
“What do you mean,exactly?”
“You both have such demanding careers I think it would be nice if you have each other, for the quiettimes.”
“The quiet times.” I can do that. “I just wish I understoodher.”
“Why?” She cocks her head. She really doesn’t understand why I’d want to understand herdaughter.
“Don’tyou?”
She smiles and touches my hand. “You’re a good boy Johnny. But you don’t have to understand everything. When we try to understand something it’s because we want to feel like we have control overit.”
Is thattrue?
Itis.
This woman. She’s thegenius.
My leg is bouncing under thetable.
She smiles, her lovely warm smile. “You can go to the airportnow.”
I stand up and lean into the best hugger I’ve ever known. I would give anything to be her son-in-law. Even mytime.
