“Pops, this is Presley McCarthy, my girlfriend.” A thrill runs through me still at calling her that. “Pres, this is my father, Victor Carr.”
Dad looks shocked, but it disappears quickly when Presley holds out her hand. My dad laughs, temporarily confusing her. “I’m a hugger,” he explains, and I smile as they embrace. “It’s nice to meet you.” Pops turns his attention back to me. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I decided to surprise you.”
Both of Dad’s white eyebrows rise, but all he says is, “Well, I’m happy to see you. It’s been too long, you know. Your mother wouldn’t approve.”
“I know, Pops,” I reply quietly.
“How about we get out of this cold and go to the house? I’m sure I can find some embarrassing photos of Levi for you, Presley,” he winks.
“That’d be great,” she giggles.
“I’ll follow you,” I tell him. He nods and we return to our cars.
“Your dad seems pretty cool. Way better than mine,” she attempts a laugh, but it comes out halfheartedly.
“He’s great,” I confirm, still hung up on the comment of my mother’s disapproval.
Within minutes of being back at my childhood home, Dad has brought out a photo album from his bedroom and gives it to Presley to flip through at the kitchen table. Dad begins to rummage around to prepare somet
hing to eat, and I stop him.
“I’m sure the stories you can tell Presley are better than my version. Sit and I’ll fix something.”
“You can cook?” Presley and my father ask simultaneously. They laugh, and I shake my head. Dad knows I can at least fix one dish, because Mom made sure I could prepare her favorite, claiming it would come in handy one day.
“Go down memory lane and leave me alone,” I chuckle.
It doesn’t surprise me that all the ingredients are here. While I begin preparing the chili, I listen to their conversation.
“He was a big baby,” Presley comments.
Dad laughs. “Yes, he was. I felt so badly for Amanda. She wasn’t a tall woman, by no means, and she was carrying my child.”
“Your wife was beautiful,” she says, tearing at my heart. My blue eyes were the main thing I took after my mom, everything else is my old man to the T.
“Thank you. I thought so too.” I imagine he winks at her. Knowing him, he did.
Once they get past all the laughable photos of my childhood, I can tell by their silence what images they are looking at now. Photographs from the last years of my mom’s life. The best and worst time of our lives. It was the best because Mom was even more determined than ever to cross things off her bucket list. The worst because we were on a time limit and we all knew it.
“Levi,” Presley says, bringing me out of my trance. “You never told me you met the Penguins.”
I leave my pot and stand behind her, resting my hands on her shoulders. Her finger was sitting just below one picture in particular. Mom and I were standing on either side of the Penguins’ one and only, Sidney Crosby. My heart aches at her cheeky grin, the happiness radiating even through the photo.
“Oh, yeah. We went to a meet and greet once.”
“Don’t tell me you brought home a Pittsburgh fan, son?” my dad says in mock horror.
“Sure did, Pops.” I smile and kiss the top of Presley’s head before returning to the stove.
“Sorry, but you won’t be able to convert me to a Flyers fan either, Mr. Carr,” Pres laughs.
I lean against the counter and cross my arms, smirking at my girl’s comment and my dad shaking his head.
“Please, call me Victor. And that’s the worst thing for us, you know. Being surrounded by a bunch of Pens fans. Absolutely horrible. Amanda made it tolerable, though,” he seems lost in memories, probably of their little spats. “I still can’t believe she got Levi hooked on them too. I thought once he grew up and got some sense in him, he would realize it was the wrong team,” he snickers. “Although, I’m glad he likes them. It made my wife very happy.” I turn away and stir when he adds to me, “She would be proud of you, son. I hope you know that.”
“I know,” I mumble, even though it’s a lie. She might be proud as far as hockey is concerned, but as far as the man I’ve become, proud wouldn’t even make the list. “It’s almost ready.”