Delilah
Ryan is fidgeting in the backseat with Matias and Ari. He’s smooshed between them and looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Hey, want to see my cool scar?” Ari asks, tugging the neck of his shirt down to show the nasty-looking burn.
“Oh my god.” Ryan rolls his lips together, and the color drains from his face.
“Wicked, right?”
“It looks painful.”
“Don’t let Ari fool you, Ryan. He isn’t in pain.”
“I was in pain. I was in a ton of pain.”
“You aren’t now,” Matias mumbles.
I watch in the rearview mirror as Ryan looks back and forth between Ari and Matias, bickering, and I put a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
“It’s like having children already. It’s a great test run,” Carmine says.
“He started it!” Ari defends himself, reaching over Ryan to shove Matias.
“I’ll fucking finish it too.” Matias pushes Ari back.
“That’s enough!” Carmine barks, yanking off his sunglasses as he lifts his eyes from the road to look into the mirror. “I will pull this car over right now, and none of you will get ice cream after the work is done. Except for you, Ryan. You can get ice cream.”
Ryan beams and places his hands in his lap, a new mood completely taking him over.
“How can he get ice cream? That’s not fair, Carmine.” Ari crosses his arms over his chest and looks out the window while I’m laughing so hard, I have tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Life isn’t fair. Maybe don’t act like a brat.” Carmine flips on his turn signal and takes the next right, which isn’t toward the school at all.
I sit up, ignoring the harsh whispering in the backseat while I look around. “Where are we going?”
“We are making a quick stop before going to the school. I promise,” he squeezes my leg, and I relax against the seat.
The longer we travel down the road, the more familiar it looks. My heart races when I realize where we’re going.
“Carmine?” I can’t keep the struggle out of my voice.
“Yes, Sweetling?”
“Are we…” I have to take a breath. “Are we going to see my dad?”
He takes my hand in his and nods. “I wanted to surprise you. I feel like you need him right now, and while I will forever protect you and not understand why he did the things he did, he’s still your father. Your professor’s office hours are only for another two hours, so we can’t stay long.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek, the press my forehead to his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“I’ll unblocked his number from your phone,” he says. “I’m not as stubborn as you think. I needed time with you first.”
I wasn’t sure if I was ready to talk to my father, anyway. I’ve been mad at him. The more I think about everything he did and the ways I’ve had to clean up his messes over the years, the angrier I felt. It’s been nice not having that pressure on my shoulders.
Not only has Carmine forgiven my father’s debt, but he’s paid the debt I had to take one, bailing my dad out of bad situations.
Carmine has saved me in more ways than one.
We slow as he turns on the blinker and pulls into the parking lot of my dad’s mechanic shop.
“Where are we?” Ryan asks.
“We’re visiting Delilah’s father first,” Ari says.
“You knew?” I gape at him. “And you didn’t say anything?”
“And risk the wrath of Carmine? No thanks. No ice cream is worth that.” Ari climbs out of the car, and Ryan debates following him or not, then Matias gets out, leaving Ryan all alone.
He scurries out of the backseat, and I stand outside the door, looking up at the old building. The white paint is chipped and peeling from the cement blocks. Two cars are taking up the two bay areas. They’re up on lifts, and Dad is under one tinkering away. He hasn’t noticed me yet.
I take a step forward, but Matias is in front of me, Ryan and Ari are behind me, and Carmine is at my side.
We’re safe at all angles.
Our shoes scuff on the floor, and the clinks of tools come in and out of the red toolbox I got him a few years back. It’s beaten up and rusted, but he always told me he refused to get a new one when this one was bought with love.
“We’re booked for the day,” he says, without taking his eyes from the car. “If you see Mikey at the desk, he can make an appointment for you.” Something in his tone sounds absent as if he isn’t there or something is on his mind.
“I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m not here to make an appointment.”
The tool in his hand crashes down when he hears my voice, and he rolls out from under the car. He stands, wiping his greasy hands on a stained rag. There’s a black smudge on his cheek, and his overalls need washing. Dad has never been good at taking care of himself.
Tears spring to my eyes as I take a step forward. “Hey, Dad.”
“Lilah? Is that really you?” He drops the cloth from his hand and rushes forward, nearly tripping over his feet.
I step to the side so he can see me. “Hey, Dad.”
“Lilah.” He runs to me, slamming against me so hard my breath is knocked from my lungs. He holds onto me tight, and I do the same, missing how he smells of coffee. I inhale him and cry, sobbing against his chest.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper.
“I’ve missed you too. Let me look at you.” He grabs me by the shoulders and leans away, smiling. “You look beautiful, Lilah. You look good. He’s been good to you, then?” His eyes are red-rimmed, and he wipes a tear away.
“Yes,” I reply, holding my hand for Carmine to take. “He’s been very good to me, Dad. We’re married.”
“Married?” He narrows his eyes at Carmine, putting the pieces together. “Lilah…”