Page 128 of Tito

He deserved to spend his retirement years fishing off the Pacific coast. It was his dream, but I doubted it would ever materialize. Growing up, his salary was barely enough to keep us alive. The little money he saved would buy several fishing excursions, but it certainly wouldn’t buy a vessel.

I couldn’t remember the last time I cried, but I was about to. I sat down in the chair beside Tito. “That was nice of them.”

“I thought so, too.” He placed the steaks on the clean platter. “Mind helping me get everything else out here, Tito?”

Tito stood. “Not at all.”

“I’ll help,” I said.

My father grinned. “Tito and I will get it. Just relax.” He gazed at the cloudless evening sky. “Enjoy the view.”

The essence of honeysuckle wafted by. I closed my eyes and dreamed of a future with a father who was safe from harm. A life without a motorcycle club crushing my lover’s spirit every time they held a late-night meeting.

When the men returned, I was in such a state of relaxation that I was nearly asleep. I opened my eyes to a plate filled with steak, salad, a tortellini salad, and garlic bread.

I rubbed my eyes. “That took a while.”

“We were discussing guy stuff,” my father said. “We got carried away.”

In four years, my father didn’t say three words to Jared. Having him discuss guy stuff with Tito brought a joy to my heart that was undeniably welcomed.

Tito took a seat on my left. My father sat at my right.

“Let’s say a prayer,” my father said, reaching for each of our hands.

We bowed our heads.

“Heavenly father, we gather before you today as a family. We ask that you be so gracious to bless this food we are about to eat. We further ask that you provide those who are gathered here and those who can’t be present with your protection. Lastly, we ask that you provide us with the guidance to make the right decisions today, tomorrow, and as far in the future as you allow us to grace this earth. We ask all these things in your name. Amen.”

I squeezed the hands of the two men who mattered most to me and opened my eyes. “Amen.”