Page 97 of Until Landon
“When you gonna give him his gift?”
“I don’t know how long I can hold out. When do you think I should do it? Before or after dinner?”
“As soon as everyone has had a drink. Get Ronnie a little relaxed, after finding out it’s really a birthday party for him. Then what? Are you gonna make an announcement? How you going to do it?”
“After a drink, but before he has to take a piss. It wouldn’t be good to miss his own surprise. I’m gonna take him to the garage. Do it in private in case he cries.”
I must look anxious, because he puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s gonna be great.”
As we get closer to the house a cheer rises from the crowd. Whistles, laughter.
“What the hell is that about?” Wes says.
Rounding the final bend in the road, I see my Dad surrounded by the guests. Hugging, kissing. Greeting the seventy-year-old birthday boy. They’re early!
“Mom and Mark are here,” Wes says. “Good. They didn’t miss the surprise.”
Judy is kissing my father and he looks happy. They’ve always had a good connection. Mom’s friends hold a special place with him.
“Why didn’t Stacy text me?” I grab my cell and check. Shit. She did. I must have been admiring myself in the car. “Probably held him off as long as she could.”
“That was dangerously close, bro.”
Dad looks better than he has in years. Clean-shaven, dressed in light pants and a tan short sleeved shirt. Mom would be so happy he has resurfaced.
“Who is this guy?”
Wes is as thrown as I am, by the new and improved Ronnie.
“They cheered for him and his new look.”
The closer we get, the more details of the party decorations I see. A birthday banner, hats and horns on the gift table like a kid’s party. Some of the trees have lights hanging down. I point it out to Wes.
“Look at the lights.”
“The place looks great. As usual, the women knew how to make it special.”
Wes breaks off but sends one final thought.
“I’ll make sure you’re not followed.”
“Landon!”
Dad’s voice rises above the conversations around him as he walks my way.
“You little piss ant! You and your sister deserve Oscars. Thanks, son. It’s great.”
We come together in a hug and he kisses my cheek.
“Hey! Looking good, Dad! Let’s see the outfit.”
We part and he does his version of a man modeling. Head in the air, looking off in the distance. Legs separated and hands on either side of his waistband.
“Very nice.”
We laugh and he touches his clean-shaven face.
“What about this? Your old man hasn’t looked this good for a long time.”
