Leo
The week had flown by fast, with lots of planning and spending, but by Friday, we’d come to a few conclusions. For one, we weren’t having bachelor and bachelorette parties. Neither of us really wanted to do that, and with Sadie pregnant and needing her rest and Jon undecided about what we should do, Kya and I agreed we wanted to throw tradition out the window and spend the night together. Since my father had already planned to get Addie, it would be the perfect night at home alone. Just the two of us.
As we loaded into the car to take Addison to my father’s, Kya looked at her phone, going down our to-do list to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything. “Food is done, dresses and shoes are bought, suits are rented, flowers, cake, and the judge.”
I reached over and patted her knee. “I took care of the rings, and we called everyone we know and loved to spread the word.”
“Is there anything we’ve forgotten?” She put her hand on her temples and closed her eyes.
“Yes, there is,” I said, starting the car.
“What?” She looked down at the phone.
“You forget to breathe. Just relax, okay. Everything is going to be fine. We practiced, and everyone knows their places. We’re all set. Now, all we have to do is let the clock run out.”
“I don’t know how you can be so calm.”
Deep inside, I was nervous, but I wasn’t going to make it worse for her by letting her know that. I had also taken it upon myself to invite her parents, a big surprise I hoped wouldn’t backfire.
“I have been practicing throwing my petals too,” said Addie from the back seat.
“And you’re going to do a great job.”
“My dress makes me look like a real princess too. Even though Mama wouldn’t let me buy real high heels.”
“They don’t make tall heels in your size for a reason. Little girls don’t wear heels.”
Addie sighed loudly. “It’s not fair.”
“You’ll have your whole life to wear tall heels, sweet pea, and your mother is right. I want you to be my little girl forever.” She was so ready to grow up, already wanting to wear makeup and heels. I wanted to lock her in a closet until she was eighteen. No, thirty.
I looked in the mirror at her wide eyes and realized that if Kya’s parents did show up, the only one of our parents missing would be my mother. I liked to think that part of her spirit was always with me and maybe she would see the thing through my daughter’s eyes that were exactly like hers.
After fighting a little traffic, we made it to my father’s house, and as soon as I stopped the car, Addie undid her booster and jumped out of her seat. By the time I made it around to get her out, she had already done so and was halfway to the door where my father waited with open arms.
She ran to hug him, and I grabbed her suitcase and walked around to join Kya.
“There’s my sweet pea!” He tucked a piece of chocolate into her small hand and lifted her up in his arms.
“Dad, it’s a bit soon for chocolate. She hasn’t even had dinner.” I knew Kya had gotten onto me for the crappy diet we’d had in her absence, and she wanted us all to do better.
Dad squared his jaw. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. When she’s at my house, it’s Grandpa’s rules. Besides, it’s one piece of chocolate. It’s hardly going to spoil the pizza I ordered for dinner.”
Kya and I exchanged a look, and Addie cheered as she unwrapped her chocolate. “Is it the same kind as before?” She popped the candy in her mouth.
“Yes, ma’am, I know how much you love pineapple and ham.”
I remembered as a child begging my father to order pizza, only to have him tell me no, but Addie didn’t even have to ask. Suddenly, the tin man had a heart. He carried her into the house, and we followed.
When we were inside, I saw a blanket fort set up in front of the TV next to his recliner. “I’ve got us all set up to watch movies, and we’ll have popcorn too.”
Kya spoke up, “Grandpa, remember there’s a wedding tomorrow. I don’t want her to be sick with a tummy ache.” It was her polite way of telling my father he better slow down on the junk food, and I had to agree.
“Yeah, no eating past seven-thirty, and no more candy.” I kissed Addie on the cheek, and Kya did the same.
We left the two to their fun, and then Kya and I made our way out to the car.
As we drove away, she eased back in her seat. “We’re really doing this. Tomorrow.”
I reached over and took her hand. “Yes, we are. And I can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle, for the moment you take my hand and we say those I dos.” I brought her hand to my lips.
“Me too.” She eased over in her seat. “I just hope everything goes off without a hitch and people show up. You never know with last-minute planning.”
“The people at the office are coming, Tabby’s bringing the new man, and Edith is excited she’s going to make it before her big move. Then the rest of my father’s people will be there, and I’m sure they’ll come, or he’ll have their asses. All of my cousins, and mom’s sister.” I turned onto the freeway and hit the fast lane.
“And my family. Everyone should be there except my parents, of course. The best thing I did was not invite them.”
My back stiffened, and when I didn’t make a sound, she turned and looked at me.
“What’s wrong?”
I glanced her way but couldn’t hold her stare.
“Oh, no.” Kya turned in her seat to face me. “What did you do, Leo?”
“They may not come. I mean, when have they ever, right?”
“You invited my parents without telling me?” She folded her arms and turned away from me. “I can’t believe you did that without discussing it with me first. You don’t even know the situation.”
“I just thought they’d be glad to know you’re getting married and that things are good in your life. I don’t see what the big deal is, Kya. I didn’t think it would hurt to make an effort, and I hoped that if they did show, it would be a nice surprise.”
She feigned laughter. “A nice surprise? Sorry, but the last thing I need tomorrow is my addict father showing up with my bitch of a mother so they can either cause a scene or blame me for their troubles.”
“What?” I hadn’t ever heard of her refer to her father as an addict before.
“Yeah, as I said, Leonard, you don’t even know what the issues are.”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“I really didn’t want to go into it right now or anything before this wedding. Shit. What did they say?”
I let loose a long breath, wishing I’d listened to my father and not tried to fix things. I should have talked to her first and respected her to handle it herself.
“I called them Tuesday. I talked to your mother who sounded good, and she remembered me. I told her we were getting married, that her granddaughter and you would love to see her for the big day. She said okay, seemed like it was not the worst thing she could think of doing on a Saturday, and then asked where it was. She asked about my father and, you know, made a little small talk.”
“My mother made small talk with you?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but Kya shook her head.
“You’re kidding me. Do you know that when I get her on the phone, she never makes small talk? Hell, it’s hard enough to get her on the phone, much less get any kind of human response from her. When she does talk, all she does is ask me if I’m still hanging out in bars and wasting my life.”
“I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” I felt like I was shrinking with each and every word. “I wish you’d told me. When did your dad become an addict?”
“Well, he’s always messed around on my mother, but it got worse when I was a junior. I pretended things were okay and didn’t ask for a whole lot of support, you know. I just hid in my music, put all my focus and energy into it. I guess that’s part of the reason my mother hates it so much. I disappeared into my music and left her to deal with it alone. It wasn’t like she could be supportive and come to my shows. That would put her and Dad in the bars. That would put Dad in the path of a relapse.”
“And then, when I had my friends come over to do practices, we had to do them one a month. My mom was sweet to my friends, hid it well, you know. But when there was no one around, she was a mess over my father. She finally gave him an ultimatum and told him he needed to reform his life, to start attending church and being a member of society. So, my hanging out in bars was only a temptation. I didn’t want to stick around and watch my family fall apart, so I bailed just as soon as I could.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’d been right next door and not known, and even my father didn’t know the whole truth. “You could have told me. You could have talked to me, Kya. I’d have taken care of you.”
“Don’t you see, Leonard? I knew that. I didn’t turn you down because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship with a relationship. I just didn’t want you to find out the truth.”
I took the next exit and then turned down our street. “I’ll call them and ask them not to come if you want, but, and while I know this is out of line, I think you should really consider letting them see what a great person you are. You don’t have to let them into your life every day, but once in a while, it’s good for the soul, and I think it’s time you healed.” I held my breath and waited for her to yell at me. Not twenty-four hours from the ceremony and here we were in disagreement.
But she took a deep breath and nodded, which was not what I expected. “You’re probably right. Deep down, I know I want them to come, but I really didn’t want to have to face the disappointment if they didn’t.”
I pulled into our driveway and stopped. “Let’s just have a little faith, and if they don’t, we’ll agree that it's their loss, but then, at least you can know you were the bigger person.”
“You were the bigger person, Leo. And thank you. It was a sweet gesture; I just hope they come. I’d like them to meet Addie before she grows up. She won’t be young forever.” A tear formed in the corner of her eye, and she quickly wiped it away.
“It’s going to be okay, Kya.” I leaned over and pulled her into my arms. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll draw us a nice, hot bath, and then I’ll give you a long rubdown.”
“That sounds good.” She brought her mouth down on mine, and after a long, deep kiss, we went inside.