A Father's Name(42)
“Thank you, sir.”
“I believe in second chances,” George continued, “but I can’t believe in them where Angel’s concerned. I hope you understand that.”
“I have Jace now, and I guarantee that I get it. Even before he was in my care, I wanted nothing but the best for him.”
“Okay. I assume Angel was waiting for you?’
In the interest of being honest, he told Angelina’s father, “I’m meeting Joe and North in Erie for dinner and the fireworks. Joe’s bringing his wife, and the idea of another in-depth Star Trek vs. Star Wars discussion with North was almost more than I could stand. I invited Angelina to come along and run interference. It wasn’t a date, though. It was all the guys and Jace…”
“It’s fine, Tyler. If you can pry her away from her desk and get her out of here, I’d appreciate it. She’s a very stubborn woman.”
Tyler snorted. “I’ve noticed.”
Angelina threw open the door and said, “I heard the words stubborn and woman and assume the two of you were discussing me?”
“Tyler says he’s taking you into Erie with him and the boys.”
“I know, I said yes,” she said to Tyler, “but really, I have a ton of work—”
He interrupted. “I could use a hand with Jace. I haven’t really tried an outing with him, and rumor has it you’re an expert.”
“Where is he now?” she asked.
“Bart was leaving when I came in and Jace wanted nothing to do with anything that didn’t include him, so they’re out in the front looking for bugs. He ate one the other day.”
“Bart?” she asked with a grin.
Tyler chuckled. “No, Jace. I called poison control, but the lady there assured me he probably wasn’t going to suffer any serious side-effects from chewing on a spider.”
“Oh, gross,” Angelina groaned. “Bart ate a slug once. Pops said think about it as a protein source.”
“Bugs aside,” Tyler said, “you’re still coming?”
She eyed her father, who smiled at her, then she turned back to Tyler. “Fireworks sound wonderful.”
“Thanks. You’re saving me from North’s enthusiastic science fiction talk.”
“Oh, nothing can truly save you from that. But hey, maybe we can scope out the celebration and find a woman for him. Someone who likes guys who have big sci fi tattoos?”
“You think that such a woman exists?” Tyler asked.
“We’ll ask Joe and Carol to keep an eye out. Maybe with all of us looking…”
Angelina’s father said, “Have fun you two, but not too much fun.”
Tyler wasn’t sure if George’s warning was for him, or for Angelina, but he knew her dad was right, having too much fun with Angelina wouldn’t do.
DESPITE THE ODD TENSION between her father and Tyler at the start of the outing, Tucker was having fun.
They all gathered at The Cornerstone for dinner before heading down to Erie’s bayfront for fireworks. North stayed behind with a girl he’d met…a girl he’d met with Tucker’s help. She had watched North and their waitress, Jen, flirting with each other all evening, half-envious of them. It had been a long time since she’d been that young and felt that first rush of attraction. And she wasn’t sure she’d ever flirted.
Then she glanced across the table. It was strange to be with Joe outside the garage. They didn’t do this kind of thing often enough. She hadn’t seen Joe’s wife, Carol, in a long time. But watching them together gave her the oddest feeling, especially when she saw them holding hands. Knowing they’d been married for years and still held hands…
She’d sighed when she noticed, then felt appalled. She wasn’t a sigh-over-mushy-displays sort of person.
She blamed Laura and Eli’s chick flick on Friday.
After dinner, Joe and Carol drove to the fireworks and they eventually lost them in all the traffic. Tucker was relieved. North’s infatuation, Joe’s mushiness with Carol… She was just as glad to escape the chick-flick worthy public display of affection.
Tyler and Tucker parked on Front Street, packed everything in Jace’s stroller and walked to the bluffs that overlooked Erie’s bay. Once an industrial hub, the bayfront was now a tourist destination. A big outdoor amphitheater, a convention center and a huge tower at the foot of the dock anchored the ever-growing and changing landscape of the bay.