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Bradley
My dad has been trying to convince me to join his business after I finish college. I’ve been working with him since I graduated high school. He’s taught me everything that he knows about the business. His words were, “Just in case the whole Mathematician thing doesn’t work out.” He wanted me to know.
I know his true reason runs much deeper than that. Because of my ignorance early on in life, we’d missed out on precious years that we can never get back. We are closer than ever now, and I don’t think he’s ready to let me go.
If I weren’t intent on doing something else, I’d jump at the opportunity to join my dad. But I need to follow my own path to see if that’s truly where I’m meant to be. Otherwise, I’ll always wonder.
Until then, I don’t mind hanging out and working side by side with him during the week. I actually enjoy it. It’s the thing that made us as close as we are today.
I tap the open doorway to his office at the end of our workday. He looks up from his desk and nods for me to enter. The look on his face is serious as it always is when he’s at work.
“Close the door Bradley,” he says in his signature gravelly voice.
I hold back a smile at his formal behavior. If we were anywhere but here, he would’ve addressed me as ‘son.’ But this is work, and my dad doesn’t show favor when business is involved, not even for me.
I walk in and take a seat across the desk from him. He’d told me this morning that he needed to talk to me about something before I left. I have no idea what it could be about. Whatever it is, it must be serious for me to get called to the boss’s office.
He sits his pen down, leans forward, and laces his fingers together on the top of the desk.
“I know that this isn’t what you want to do for the rest of your life, but I would still like for you to be involved until you see fit to leave. With that said, I’m thinking about expanding the business. I’m meeting with a realtor in Munik to find a suitable space. I want you to come with me.”
“How long will we be gone?” I would love to go. Any experience, regardless of the type of work, I count as a good experience. The thought of leaving Sam for a long period of time keeps me from saying yes right away.
“One day, possibly two,” dad says. “Just a short weekend trip,” he adds. “We would need to leave right after work tomorrow evening. We can get a good night's sleep and be up early the next morning to get started on the search. If everything goes well, we’ll be heading back home Saturday.”
I nod. I can handle that, and Sam will be at work all day on Saturday anyway. “Okay,” I say, agreeing to the trip. The short distance could do Sam and me some good. My mind is already thinking of things to do to her, so she’ll definitely miss me while I’m gone.
I wait until I get home to tell her. She knows that it’s something that I have to do, but she’s still not looking forward to being away from me. I promised I would make it up to her and we spend the evening behaving as if we’ll never see each other again.
***
TOMORROW SEEMS TO COME too fast. Before I know it, another work day has passed. I send Sam a short and inviting message before I leave work.
Me: Be ready for me, baby.
My phone chimes almost instantly.
Sam: Always
I swing by the dorm to pick something up from Nate before I head home. Phil and Garrett are there with him. Of course, they give me a hard time about Sam. I may have disclosed a little too much information about my plans for tonight, and stayed twenty minutes longer than I’d planned.
Sam is still at work when I get home. I can’t wait until she sees what I have planned for her. Her mood has been different this week. I don’t know what’s caused it. When I ask her if something’s wrong, she always replies with no. Nothing else, just no. That’s not like her. Normally she would eventually tell me what it is, but not this time. Maybe the pressure of work and school is getting to her. Maybe the problem is me, and this time apart is just what she needs to relax.
I pack my suitcase and jump in the shower. I hurry to set the apartment up for her. I wanted to do something special to surprise her and let her know just how much she’ll be missed while I’m gone. I’ve set battery-operated candles around the apartment so that there is no need for electric lights. A blindfold sits on her pillow for her eyes only. Strawberries, cream, and chilled wine wait patiently on the nightstand in a bed of ice. Rose petals line our bed in the shape of a sun.
I think I’ve done well. She’ll be surprised. She hasn’t even seen the place yet, and the anticipation of my return is already present within me.
***
MY MIND IS ON SAM THE entire drive over to my parent’s house. Her beautiful face. Her reaction to my surprise. Her reaction when I get back. I haven’t even left yet, and I already miss her; her laugh, her witty comebacks, her touch.
I can’t come over without saying hi to mom. She would kill me. So, I get out and go inside. The house is quiet, aside from the light noise coming from the television in the living room. Mom immediately comes to greet me when I enter.
“Bradley,” she greets.
“Mom.” I smile, giving her a tight hug. She hugs me back as if she’ll never see me again. She whispers softly in my ear so that my father doesn’t hear. “Watch out for your father, and make sure he takes his meds.”
I chuckle at her request. “I will, mom.” It still amazes me how much they still care for each other after all of these years, in front of and behind the other’s back. “Where’s Hale?” I ask.
Mom steps back and waves her hand through the air. “She’s over at Ashley’s. She’s at that age where she thinks it’s not cool to be with mom and dad so much. Anyway, how’s Samantha?”
“She’s good. Home. Happy.” I think about the surprise I had waiting for her tonight again.
“Good. Let her know that she can come over anytime she wants. She’s a keeper.” Mom smiles widely.
“It’s time for us to hit the road, Laura.” Dad enters with a packed, tight rolling suitcase.
Mom must have packed his bag. She always says It’s not enough until it’s enough. To this day, I have no idea what that truly means. He lets go of the suitcase and pulls her close to his chest. I turn away from the awkward kiss he places on her lips.
“I’ll give you a call once we settle in for the night,” Dad says to mom as he grabs the handle of his suitcase.
“Alright. You two be safe. And don’t forget to call.”
“I won’t let him forget mom. I promise.”
Mom watches us from the front window until we pull away.
