Page 33 of A Very Merry Matchup
“Okay.” An awkward pause follows while I wait for my dad to ask some follow-up questions. When he doesn’t, I clear my throat and offer some follow-up answers anyway.
“Yeah, I took care of him a few months ago. It’s kind of a long story, but anyway, I’m spending Christmas with his family in Iowa. Town called Nolly Grove. It’s cute. Reminds me of Grandma’s little town. Anyway... Thanks for checking in. I’ll let you go. I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Okay, kiddo.” I can hear the relief in his voice that I’m letting him off the hook with making further conversation. I know he loves me. I know he wants to be a good dad. I also know he completely stinks at it and doesn’t even know how to make conversation with his daughter about a guy named Beau. “If I don’t talk to you again, kiddo, have a Merry Christmas.”
Since I know he won’t be talking to me again, I wish him a Merry Christmas back before we end the call.
Without realizing it, we’ve made it back to Beau’s parents’house. Beau’s outside with Pinky Collar, but I don’t see him at first.
Which is why he catches me wiping a tear off my cheek before I can hide it. “Oh, hey, Beau. Everybody ready to play Yahtzee?” His mom pretty much ordered all of us to join her at the table this evening for a family game night.
His footsteps crunch against the snow as he steps closer. “You okay?”
“What? Yeah. I’m fine. Just got off the phone with my dad. He’s...” I shrug. Guess I don’t know what to say about my dad to Beau any more than I know what to say about Beau to my dad.
Only difference is Beau apparently is the type of guy who knows how to make conversation and ask follow-up questions. “Your dad’s what?”
I sniff and drop my gaze to where Pinky and Hamish are playing in the snow. “He’s complicated. Everything about my family feels complicated. I don’t really want to talk about it right now.” Not when we’re supposed to be having fun.
When I don’t say anything more, Beau runs a soft thumb across my cheek. “Well, just know I’m here if you ever do want to talk about it.” When he scoops up Pinky Collar to go back into the house, his words continue to stick and cling to me like the snow covering Hamish’s snout.
Two simple words.I’m here.The only two words I everwanted to hear from my parents as a kid. The two words they never seemed able to say.
Well, one thing’s for certain. My kids will have two parents who can say those two words and mean it. So long as I stick to my plan.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The best things happen while you’re Yahtzee-ing
Beau
“Who quit?” Nana yells from the dining room table later that evening.
“Hold your horses, I’m coming,” I holler back as I let out the dogs and grab a container of Mom’s homemade Chex Mix from the kitchen.
“Looks like I’m going to have to make another batch soon,” Mom says, eyeing the container when I settle back in my seat.
“Yeah, Beau. You’re really putting that down,” says Janey, who I know for a fact ate nearly half of the mix before supperand is already reaching in for another handful. “Aren’t you supposed to stay in shape over the offseason?”
I pat my stomach. “Tip-top shape, baby. Tip-top shape. Now whose turn is it?”
“Yours,” Nana, Dad, Mom, Janey, and Ivy all answer back.
“Right.” Picking up the dice, I scan my Yahtzee score sheet. A full house would be good. Or a large straight. I roll the five dice and every single one rolls to a stop showing four dots. Even better. “Whoo! One roll, baby! Yahtzee!”
A chorus of boos and groans surround me as I pop out of my seat and do a little Yahtzee dance, which in this case means kicking one leg in the air while I flap my elbows and make clucking sounds.
“What is happening right now?” Ivy stares at me with her hand frozen in the Chex Mix bowl while I continue flapping my elbows and high-kicking.
“I got a Yahtzee.”
“I repeat,” says Ivy. “What is happening right now?”
“House rules are you do a chicken dance whenever you get a Yahtzee.” My mom peers down at her scorecard. “I’m not going to get my bonus this round, am I?”
Ivy is still staring at me. Probably because I’m not done doing my chicken dance. What can I say? It’s been a longtime since I’ve gotten a Yahtzee. Sometimes a man needs that extra moment to celebrate the big victories in life.
“And how exactly did this house rule come about?” Ivy hands the Chex Mix bowl back to Janey, who’s waving her hands for it.
