Status: Uh....story kinda died. You can blame it on Bettman :P
While You Were Away
XXVI
Following Emily into the small restaurant, I couldn’t help but look around at the people. I hadn’t seen my dad since he had moved away when I was younger, so I had no idea what he even looked like. Saying I was excited would be a lie, because I really felt I could have gone even longer without seeing him. It was more of an anxious feeling. But I knew that it would mean a lot to him, and more importantly Emily. I figured if she cared enough to ask me to join her at her doctors appointment, then the least I could do was go to lunch with her and our father.
I bit my lip as Emily glanced around at the tables before moving forward towards one of the far tables. I instantly recognized the man as our father. He looked a lot like he did when I was younger, just that he had aged a bit.
“Hey Papi,” Emily said happily as she walked up to the table. He looked up from his phone and a shocked expression washed over his face.
“Hey baby girl,” He said, standing up to give Emily a hug. After they broke apart we all just stood there, him and I staring each other down. I felt a wave of emotions wash over me as we did so.
“Hi,” I said quietly, not sure what to do. I didn’t know if I should hug him, shake his hand, just sit down.
“It’s been quite awhile,” He commented with a nod of his head, and it seemed as though he was trying to gauge how I was reacting to seeing him.
“Yeah.”
“Well, why are we all standing around? Have a seat girls,” He said, motioning to the booth. I sat down in the booth and slid over as Emily sat next to me.
“How’s work?” Emily asked as a waitress popped up to give us some menus and take our drink orders.
“It’s work. I’m not as lucky as you to be involved in something I look forward to each and every day,” He said, a smile playing on his lips.
“I don’t exactly look forward to the stuff at the Staples Center every day you know,” She said, and I noticed her throw a glance over to me.
“So Amy,” He started, looking over at me before taking a breath. “What do you do for a living?”
“I uh, I work at Fox Sports Detroit part time, usually use as a tech. director or camera person when the camera guy is sick. And I do small projects with films,” I said, biting my lip as I waited for his response.
“Films?”
“Yeah. I wanted to be a director ever since I took a TV class in high school. But as of late I’ve just been an actor in my friends films. She’s got her foot in the door of the business already.”
“Hard to believe the girl I knew with the determined attitude isn’t already making major motion pictures,” He said with a smile and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Oh as far as I can tell she’s just as determined,” Emily pointed out and I nodded.
“Yeah, I’ve been trying. I haven’t gotten to write a good screenplay down lately. I’ve been busy.”
“Busy with a certain hockey player I’ve heard,” He said slowly, looking up from his menu to me. I looked down, playing with the ring around my finger.
“Yeah…”
“I have to say, even though I knew how big of a fan you were as a kid, that was the last thing I expected. Especially after Emily started dating Jack. You’d think one of you dating a guy in the NHL was enough, but I guess you two are twins…” He trailed off and Emily and I glanced at each other, both smiling a little.
-
“Well, it was nice catching up with you two.” We all stood up to leave and I watched as Emily gave our dad a hug. He stood there for a second before closing his eyes tightly. When he turned to me fully I noticed his eyes were misty.
“It was nice seeing you Dad,” I said, looking at him, watching as he smiled softly.
“Hopefully you don’t hate me still,” He said and I felt a pang of guilt at his words.
“Well, we gotta get out of here,” Emily said, most likely noticing my discomfort.
“Yes, of course. I need to get to the airport soon to get back home,” He said, looking at his watch. “I guess I’ll see you two later.”
“Bye Dad,” I said, giving him a small hug, much to everyone’s surprise.
“That went a lot better than I expected, to be honest,” Emily said as we made our way out to her car.
“…same here,” I said, still replaying the days events in my head.
“If Val hears about how things are going, he’s probably going to fly you out to Vegas so he can marry you tomorrow.”
I bit my lip as Emily glanced around at the tables before moving forward towards one of the far tables. I instantly recognized the man as our father. He looked a lot like he did when I was younger, just that he had aged a bit.
“Hey Papi,” Emily said happily as she walked up to the table. He looked up from his phone and a shocked expression washed over his face.
“Hey baby girl,” He said, standing up to give Emily a hug. After they broke apart we all just stood there, him and I staring each other down. I felt a wave of emotions wash over me as we did so.
“Hi,” I said quietly, not sure what to do. I didn’t know if I should hug him, shake his hand, just sit down.
“It’s been quite awhile,” He commented with a nod of his head, and it seemed as though he was trying to gauge how I was reacting to seeing him.
“Yeah.”
“Well, why are we all standing around? Have a seat girls,” He said, motioning to the booth. I sat down in the booth and slid over as Emily sat next to me.
“How’s work?” Emily asked as a waitress popped up to give us some menus and take our drink orders.
“It’s work. I’m not as lucky as you to be involved in something I look forward to each and every day,” He said, a smile playing on his lips.
“I don’t exactly look forward to the stuff at the Staples Center every day you know,” She said, and I noticed her throw a glance over to me.
“So Amy,” He started, looking over at me before taking a breath. “What do you do for a living?”
“I uh, I work at Fox Sports Detroit part time, usually use as a tech. director or camera person when the camera guy is sick. And I do small projects with films,” I said, biting my lip as I waited for his response.
“Films?”
“Yeah. I wanted to be a director ever since I took a TV class in high school. But as of late I’ve just been an actor in my friends films. She’s got her foot in the door of the business already.”
“Hard to believe the girl I knew with the determined attitude isn’t already making major motion pictures,” He said with a smile and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Oh as far as I can tell she’s just as determined,” Emily pointed out and I nodded.
“Yeah, I’ve been trying. I haven’t gotten to write a good screenplay down lately. I’ve been busy.”
“Busy with a certain hockey player I’ve heard,” He said slowly, looking up from his menu to me. I looked down, playing with the ring around my finger.
“Yeah…”
“I have to say, even though I knew how big of a fan you were as a kid, that was the last thing I expected. Especially after Emily started dating Jack. You’d think one of you dating a guy in the NHL was enough, but I guess you two are twins…” He trailed off and Emily and I glanced at each other, both smiling a little.
-
“Well, it was nice catching up with you two.” We all stood up to leave and I watched as Emily gave our dad a hug. He stood there for a second before closing his eyes tightly. When he turned to me fully I noticed his eyes were misty.
“It was nice seeing you Dad,” I said, looking at him, watching as he smiled softly.
“Hopefully you don’t hate me still,” He said and I felt a pang of guilt at his words.
“Well, we gotta get out of here,” Emily said, most likely noticing my discomfort.
“Yes, of course. I need to get to the airport soon to get back home,” He said, looking at his watch. “I guess I’ll see you two later.”
“Bye Dad,” I said, giving him a small hug, much to everyone’s surprise.
“That went a lot better than I expected, to be honest,” Emily said as we made our way out to her car.
“…same here,” I said, still replaying the days events in my head.
“If Val hears about how things are going, he’s probably going to fly you out to Vegas so he can marry you tomorrow.”