A Father's Name(35)
Until now.
Nervously, he tried to focus on mother and son.
“You are eighteen,” Tucker agreed. “Which means you do know my cell number, and I’m sure, judging by the amount of time you talk to whoever this new girl is, you know how to use the keypad either to call or text me.” She jabbed at an imaginary keypad for emphasis. “Just pick up the damn phone and tell me you’ll be late. Let me know you’re not dead in a ditch.”
“Why on earth do you always go there if I’m a little late?” Bart asked, then muttered, “Drama queen.”
“Drama queen?” Tucker sputtered, as if looking for something to say that would counter his accusation. “Have you read the statistics for teenaged drivers?”
“I’m not a freaking kid anymore.”
Bart’s voice was still loud, but the angry edge had faded, as if he was finally understanding what his mother was saying. As the tension between them ebbed, Tyler felt himself relax a bit.
“No, you’re not. You’re old enough to care about someone else’s feelings. In a few months you’ll be gone to college. You’ll be independent. I get that. I remember what it’s like to feel as if you’re an adult for the first time. But a real adult would realize that being courteous isn’t a sign of immaturity. Worrying about someone else’s feelings shows exactly the opposite.”
She turned and asked Tyler, “If you were going to be late picking up Jace, you’d let me know, right? You wouldn’t leave me here worrying?”
“I don’t think I want to get in the middle of this.”
She turned back to Bart. “Ha. That’s Ty’s polite way of saying, he’d call. Because he’s an adult. Because he wouldn’t leave somebody hanging, especially someone who cares.” Tucker reached out and gently touched Bart’s forearm. “I worry because I care. I’ve spent eighteen years worrying, and it’s going to be a tough habit to break. I won’t make you report in at college, but when you’re here, when you’ve said you’ll be home at one time and then ignore phone calls and texts, and don’t show up until two hours later—”
Any residual anger bled off, and Bart seemed truly apologetic. “I get it and I really am sorry, Mom.”
Angelina seemed to relax as well. “Well, okay then.”
“I’ll call next time,” Bart promised.
“I’d appreciate that.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
It was so tender, so loving, Tyler felt a pang of longing. Would his mother have loved him that fiercely if she’d lived, or would she have been like his father?
“So, what’s for dinner?” Bart asked.
“Taco lasagne.”
Bart leaned over and kissed her cheek in return. “I guess there are worse things than having someone worry about you.”
“I guess there are. And while you’re feeling so mellow, I should probably warn you that if you don’t call at least once a week while you’re in college, I’ll worry. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll drive down to Pittsburgh.”
He laughed and started down the hall. “So, if I get homesick, I should not call…got it.”
“Smart ass,” she called after him.
She turned back to Tyler. “Sorry about that. Jace is napping and…” The sentence faded off and she looked concerned. “What’s wrong, Tyler?”
“You two were fighting and then you weren’t. Just like that.”
“Yeah, we were fighting. Bart went out and said he’d be home by two-thirty, but he didn’t walk in until right before you did. I’d tried calling, but he’d had his phone on vibrate, and then left it in the car.”
“But you were fighting, then you were talking about food.” When his old man fought with him, well, it didn’t end in a dinner discussion.
Angelina was staring at him as if he were slightly crazy. She nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. We fought. Bart apologized and will probably remember next time. At least for the next few times. There’s a chance we’ll have a similar fight again before the summer’s over, and probably when he’s home for his first holiday break. But eventually, it’ll sink in. My future daughter-in-law will appreciate the efforts I made.”
Tyler shook his head. He felt mystified. “I’ve never seen a fight like that.”
“You’re new at the garage. It would have happened sooner or later. Pop and I used to get into some major rows…” She paused. “You’ve never fought like that?”