Chapter 19 #4
“Well, he's seen better days,” I smiled through the pain, but really, I just wanted her to have one memory with him before he passed.
“But he's fine. Sure he'll be up and at them in no time,” bending the truth a little.
He wouldn't be fine in the literal sense, just that he would be no longer with us and suffering, so it hadn't felt like a lie.
“It would mean a lot to me, Jaq.”
“Okay.”
“You sure? Because it's okay to say no.”
“I've literally met everyone in your family. I want to see the man responsible for lending his genetic makeup to make all this—” as she pointed to my chest. “Possible.”
“Don't have your expectations too high. Most of what you're seeing is my mom's genetics. All my weird and corny I get from him,” I warned.
“Well, your corny and weird match mine.”
“That's fair. Just wanted to set the bar low,” I joked. She had been firm at not trying any surfing, but that didn't matter, because I was right where I wanted to be, with exactly who I wanted to be with, and I never felt more home.
For once, she let me objectify her, letting me capture her on film, recreating the iconic Baywatch run. Man, I still pinched myself every day, knowing that this was my girlfriend.
If it hadn't been for my text alerts, I would have been willing to camp out at the beach, but Mum really wanted everyone to be home for dinner.
It started out awkward, because you could literally feel my dad's absence, but Wilhelmina's husband, Ka’imi, and my uncle Tiake filled in his place, so they always kept the dinner talk light and friendly.
It was getting close to bed, and I checked in one more time, if it was okay with Jaq to meet him. I took her hand in mine, but the moment she saw him, she put a respectable distance between us. “Dad, I brought you to meet Jaq, my girlfriend.”
She shot me a look of worry, like she suspected he was worse than I said, but wasn't really willing to say it.
“I've been waiting all day to meet you,” my dad smiled warm.
It looked like someone had freshened him up a little because he looked more awake.
Jaq uncomfortably sat at one of the chairs on his bedside and introduced herself.
“So, I'm told you're where my man gets his weird and corny from?” she came in her usual self, her signature silly voice.
“Is that what he said? I was hoping he would say that I was where he got his good looks from. But if you met his mother, you'd know that that was a lie,” my dad joked. He regarded her, smiled, and gave his blessing.
“I'm glad you're here with Graham. It's been an honor to meet you. Everyone bragged how smitten my son was, and I'm glad I'm finally getting to know why,” he beamed.
“Nice to meet you too—”
“Elliot,” he interjected.
What was supposed to have been a hi-and-bye interaction turned into an hour-long go-around about what I was like as a kid or what I was like as a man, and even though half the time they seemed to talk about me as if I wasn't there, for me, it was healing to see two people I loved just get along without having to bring up the future, or religion, or kids.
Or just any of the other touchy subjects that had plagued us throughout the day.
“You should join Graham and his sister for the show of Toiere—”
“Oh, what's that?” Jaq cooed.
“It's a show that plays at the Opera House. It's a tradition we do every year with our kids, who’ve in our eyes, reached a level of maturity to join. Kylie is patiently anticipating the next year or two when she turns twelve. But for now, Winnie and Graham uphold the tradition,” as he paused and corrected himself.
“Or at least he used to. Winnie, Ka’imi and Mārama and I went last year, but I'm not up for it at the moment.”
“Graham didn't tell me he used to go to opera houses.”
“It’s really my thing, but given his love for composing, I don't think he ever complained.”
“Well, now we have to go. Maybe before the end of our trip.”
“Well, don't let me keep you. It's getting late, and if Graham's going to be of any use at the farm, he's going to need rest.”
We wished my dad good night, disappearing into our room before Jaq would bring it up.
“You sure your dad's okay, right? Because he didn't look…okay.”
“Jaq, I told you he's fine. He's just tired. It's been a bad week. Sooner than later, he'll be back to his old self,” I deluded.
Not wanting to press any further, she slipped into her pajamas. “So, what was he talking about with the farm?”
“I said I'd help around. Figured I was due, given my sister has been overextending herself. I assumed you could just drop me off and explore some things on your own, so I wouldn't bore you.”
“I'd join you on the farm. See my baby putting in that hard work,” she teased. “Your girl ain't participated in hard work since college,” she strained. “But you promised me not to leave me by myself.”
“You're right. I'm sorry,” as I sat on the bed, kissing her on the cheek before collapsing next to her. “Thank you for coming with me—”
“Graham. If you thank me one more time.”
“I know. But this…this feels…perfect.” I laid my head on her chest, her fingers massaging my scalp, fingering through my hair. After a day like today, I didn't see anything ruining such a good feeling, not even the reality that I was about to lose my dad.