Off the Ice (Penalty Kill 2)

I valet my car at the Royal and the hostess just stares at me when I ask where my parents are sitting. I’m sure her snobby ass is not happy with my outfit of choice. I see my parents sitting in the private room. They probably figure it’s best, in case I lose my mind again.

“I’m here.” I sit down in my seat, as my parents look back at me.

“Levi went through a lot of trouble for this to work out today,” Mom points outs.

“May I just take my card and go?”

“No,” Dad’s voice is stern.

I huff as the waiter comes. I just order something to drink since I already ate with Trevor.

“Levi came and talked to us, explained this big plan and we thought it was really sweet. It shows that he cares a lot about you.” Mom’s voice chokes up a bit.

“He’s an amazing guy,” I say, smiling when I think of everything that has happened today, and how much I love Levi.

“Your mother and I have been talking a lot since that night at your apartment. I think there has been a misunderstanding on both of our parts.” Dad’s face is somber as he speaks to me.

“I don’t think-,” I’m about to argue my point, but Mom interrupts me.

“May we tell you a story?” After a moment, I nod and sigh in defeat. My parents look at each other for a moment and then look back at me. My mother has tears in her eyes, and my father begins to tell the story.

“I fell in love with your mother the moment I saw her. She was this independent and carefree, beautiful woman. She was the opposite of everything that I was. One night at a party in college, I told my buddies that I was going to marry her and I didn’t even know her name. I just saw her and I knew that I was going to be with her. So, I went up and used every charm I had on her. Some of it worked and some she could see right through.” My mom smiles big at the story he is telling. “Our time together, in the beginning of our marriage, was perfect. We both had great jobs and everything anyone could want. Then your mom told me she was pregnant and I thought my heart was going to explode with happiness. Then we found out there were twins and I cried.” My eyes grow wide. My dad cried. There was no way. My dad never shows any type of emotion, let alone crying.

“He was sobbing like a baby when the doctor told us,” Mom confirms.

“Anyway,” Dad shifts uncomfortably from the attention and continues. “The night your mom went into labor, I was a crazy man. I mean, I almost forgot where the hospital was and I worked there at the time. But we finally made it.” Dad stops and takes another deep breath.

“Presley, when you were placed in my arms.” Dad chokes up and I can feel the tears building in my eyes. “I never thought I could love anything so much in my whole life.” My tears fall down my cheeks at my dad’s words.

“Sweetie, he couldn’t speak when you came into this world. He was just beaming with pride when he held you.” Mom dabs the corner of her eyes.

“Presley, you are so much like your mother. You’re so independent. You have always been that way. Trevor needs guidance, but we never worried about you. Over the years, I think our focus lost its path from letting you being independent to forgetting that you need reassurance that we are still here.”

“We love you and you mean as much to us as Trevor.” My mom has tears coming down her face.

“We are very proud of you and we know that whatever you want to do in the future, you will be successful.”

My dad and mom are proud of me. I can’t believe it. We all three sit there for a moment before I’m able to speak.

“May I ask a question?”

They both nod.

“Why did you divorce? Why did you separate us?”

“I can answer that.” Mom pats Dad’s hand. “It’s my fault. My damn independence and goals that I had for my career got in the way of my obligations at home. We decided to send Trevor with your dad because he needed that guidance. You didn’t. That is the reason why I wanted you to stay with me. I was selfish. I’m thankful that your dad and I have talked and we are working on our relationship.”

“What made you tell me this story?” I wipe the tears from my eyes.

“That night when we all were here with Victor, he seemed to know more about you than we did and we knew then that something needed to change.” My mother’s voice is sad, and my dad keeps his head down.

Again, we sit there in silence. I can’t help the feeling of being loved by my parents. We’ve all made our mistakes, but they love me, and they are proud of me. I get up, as do my parents, and we hug. It’s an amazing feeling.

“I think Levi needs to be a family coach,” I say as we all laugh.

“I think you deserve this.” Mom pulls the card from behind her back.

I open it and it says: