Chapter 31
Gage – 2017
Over the next few days, Natalie, Dash, Roxy, and I fell into a comfortable routine. Although I spent a lot of time at the gym, I always returned to the loft for lunch with Natalie.
We’d make stir-fry or a big salad with fish. While we ate, the two of us talked about everything from Dash to books to politics. I really wanted to ask about her time in jail and how she managed with Dash, but every time I approached the subject, she’d veer off in the opposite direction. It had obviously been so traumatic that she didn’t want to talk about it.
After Dash’s basketball tournament on Saturday, he announced he was going to make us French toast for lunch. Apparently, he’d learned how last week in school.
I was skeptical about my son’s cooking abilities, but his French toast was delicious. I ate way too much, destroying my nutrition plan for the day. Not that I regretted it. Sometimes it was good to have a cheat day.
“We should play tourist this afternoon,” I suggested, pushing my plate away.
“That sounds like a fun game.” Dash took one last bite of his French toast. “How do you play?”
I gave Natalie a our-kid-is-so-cute wink. “It’s not a game. I was just thinking we should rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge like the tourists always do.”
“Yes, let’s do that!” Dash jumped up and down with excitement. “Can we, Mom? Please?”
Natalie nodded. “Sure, why not? That actually sounds like a lot of fun, and after this meal, I could use a little physical activity.”
While Dash and I did the dishes, Natalie took Roxy for a quick walk so she wouldn’t pee in the house while we were gone.
At Fisherman’s Wharf, we rented bikes and helmets before setting off for the Golden Gate Bridge. Riding along the sidewalk with the water on our right, we went past the Palace of Fine Arts and through the Presidio. At the bottom of the hill, we got off our bikes and pushed them up the path.
“We’re never going to get there,” Dash complained.
“Just a few more steps,” Natalie said.
“That’s what you said a million steps ago.”
“I know, but look.” Natalie pointed ahead.
“It’s the bridge.” Excited, Dash pushed his bike a little faster.
“Thank goodness,” I said, glancing at Natalie.
She smiled. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I was so impressed the first time I saw the bridge, and I’m just as impressed now.”
I nodded. “It’s one of those things that is truly breathtaking.”
We followed Dash across the bridge. At the midpoint, we got off our bikes, and I asked an older couple to take our picture.
With Dash in front of us, I slipped my arm across Natalie’s shoulders and smiled at the camera. Since I was already playing tourist today, what was the harm in playing family as well?
After the picture, we climbed back on our bikes and rode until we reached the other side of the bridge where we took several more pictures. I was surprised by how many people had selfie sticks. While I understood the convenience of being able to take a picture without asking for help, I felt something was lost in the tourist experience.
When Natalie and I came here on our honeymoon, we’d met so many wonderful people by asking them to take our picture. It’d been a great way to exchange information. I wasn’t blaming the selfie stick on ruining society, but sometimes it bothered me how isolating technology could be.
“Hey, Dad,” Dash said, “maybe we should get one of those selfie sticks so we wouldn’t have to ask people to take pictures of us.”
Before I could say anything, Natalie responded, “I don’t mind asking people to take our picture. It’s kind of fun talking to the other tourists.”
I smiled, thinking I couldn’t agree more.
After admiring the view and taking a ton of pictures, we joined the other tourists in riding down the hill to the quaint city of Sausalito. There, we locked our bikes and ate dinner at The Trident, the restaurant Natalie and I had dined at on our honeymoon.
Dash had never eaten crab legs, so I insisted on treating him. When I put on the bib that came with the meal, he broke into peals of laughter.
“You look like a baby,” he said, cracking up.
Natalie handed Dash a bib. “Trust me, if you don’t wear this, you’re going to look like an even bigger baby. Crab legs are super messy.”
Dash complied, and we set about cracking open the shells and digging out the meat with our lobster forks. I loved every minute of the meal, even when Dash accidentally squirted me in the eye with lobster juice.
“It’s a lot of work,” Dash said at one point.
“Everything good in life is a lot of work,” Natalie said. “If it was easy, it wouldn’t mean as much.”
“Kind of like basketball,” Dash said.
I tousled my son’s hair. “Yeah, kind of like basketball.”
Afterward, we spent a few minutes walking through the shops. Dash quickly got bored, so I took him to collect the bikes while Natalie visited a few more stores.
As we unlocked our bikes, Dash said, “You know what, Dad?”
“What?” I grinned, thinking I loved hearing him call me Dad.
“I like having a dad.”
My heart turned to butter. “I like having a son.”
I smiled at him as he pulled his bike out of the rack. His comment hadn’t been made to flatter me. He’d just been stating a fact. A fact I couldn’t agree with more.
Instead of riding back to San Francisco on our bikes, we took the ferry. On Dash’s insistence, we went upstairs to the deck where a light rain fell as the wind whipped against us.
“It’s freezing,” Natalie said, shivering as she zipped up her rain coat. “I’m going inside.”
“No, Mom. Stay out here.”
“No way.” Laughing, she turned to head inside, but I stopped her.
“I’ll keep you warm.” Acting on impulse, I pulled her toward me.
To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned into me. Warmth, peace, and excitement filled my soul as I held her.
“Hey,” Dash protested, squirming his way in between us. “I need some love, too.”
Natalie laughed and pulled Dash into our embrace. The rain pelted against the back of my neck, but I felt warm, wrapped in this family sandwich.
Had I not been such a jerk and abandoned Natalie, I could’ve had this. Was it too late?
“Help,” Dash screamed, trying to wiggle out of our embrace. “You’re squishing me. I can’t breathe.”
I loosened my grip, afraid I might really be hurting him, but Natalie just squeezed tighter, causing both Dash and me to crack up.