Family Ties

Maybe not tomorrow—I mean, seriously, you’re still in school—but one day.

I’ve seen your talent. You don’t think it’s all that special ’cause you live with it. Like me and my sculpture. Or Sabrina and her looks. And oh my gosh, Paul! You have no idea how insecure she is sometimes.”

I chuckled.

“But you know what I mean. You have this amazing talent, and other people see it even if you think it’s just normal.”

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And you asked what you bring to the party? That’s easy.”

“What?”

“You bring a very happy Birdy.” She hugged my arm and looked up at me, her eyes aglow with happiness. “You might not think it’s much, but it’s pretty important to me. My family too.”

“I guess you’re right.” I put my arm around her and we continued walking. As we rounded the block and turned toward her house, I looked down at her. “You never told me what your flaws are.”

“Oh? Didn’t I?”

“No.”

She slipped from under my arm and danced ahead of me.

“You’re not going to, are you?”

“Going to what?” She pirouetted and grinned at me over her shoulder.

I jogged to catch up but she danced out of reach. I knew I couldn’t catch her so I didn’t try. She did a couple of scissor-kick leaps followed by a twirl.

Then she ran toward me and leapt into my arms. She wrapped hers around my neck and kissed me.

“Happy Birdy?”

“Happy Birdy.”

Jim and family left early the next morning to fly back to Florida. Danny and Sabrina said goodbye a little before lunch. Rich and Terry drove them to the airport and then continued to their own house in Coronado. Christy and I were the last to leave.

“Birdy,” her father said as we finished lunch, “do you mind if I talk to Paul before you go?”

My eyebrows shot up. What a difference a few days made.

“Um… okay.”

“Don’t take long, dear,” Anne said. “You know how traffic is on the I-5.”

“We should have plenty of time.” He nodded for me to join him in his office. “Little early for whiskey,” he said. “The sun’s over the yardarm, but…”

“Still a little early,” I finished for him.

“Right.” He sat in one of the armchairs and gestured to the other. “You know I don’t like to beat around the bush, so I’ll get right to the point.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Just Harold. You’ve earned it.”

“Thank you… Harold.”

He actually grinned. And then he seemed to change thoughts midstream.

“Are you sure you won’t reconsider the Navy? I know the man who’s in charge of recruiting on the east coast. He could guarantee you Aviation. If you pass all the tests, that is. Which I’m sure you would. And you already have your private license, don’t you?”

“Yes, but—”

“Hear me out. The Navy needs men like you, son. I couldn’t help your career directly, but I know all the right doors to open. And I’ll be honest, I’d feel a whole lot better if Birdy was dating a military man.” He gave me a searching look. “Will you at least think about it?”

“I’ll… think about it,” I said. It was the least I could do.

He went to the desk and took out a Filofax. When he returned he handed me a note with a name and phone number.

“Here you go. You don’t have to make a decision right now.” He returned

to his chair. “You graduate a year from June?”

“Two years. Architecture’s a five-year program.”

“Wait,” he said suddenly. “Is it a BA or a BS?”

“Neither. It’s a Bachelor of Architecture.”

“Hmm. You might need a waiver.” He glanced toward his Filofax and started to rise.

“Sir… Harold… stop.” I paused to gather my thoughts. “You’ve put me in an awkward position…”

He sank back to his chair and said with a touch of sarcasm, “Where have I heard that before?”

“Well, think about it. You’re my girlfriend’s father, and…”

“You want to make me happy.”

I nodded. The man didn’t get to where he was on good looks alone.

“So it’d be easy to tell me what I want to hear,” he added.

“Much easier than what I’m doing now.”

“You’re telling me you won’t even think about it?”

“I’ll think about it. I owe you that much. But…” I held up the folded note.

“This would mean changing my entire life’s plan. It would mean giving up something I love. Very much. Do you really want me to trade my dreams for your daughter?”

“And if I say yes?”

I looked at him.

He regarded me just as calmly. And when I still hadn’t said anything after nearly a minute, he chuckled and said, “I’d like to meet your father.”

“He’s a lot like you. But you really want to meet my mother. I’m more like her than him.”

His eyebrows rose. “She must be an interesting woman.”

“I think she is.”

He sat back and studied me for another long moment. “Your father didn’t make a career of the military, did he?”

“No.”

“Do you know why?”

“He doesn’t talk about it much.”

“He flew in combat?”

I nodded.

“No, he wouldn’t talk about that.” He sat in silence, deep in his own memories of Vietnam. Then he smiled at something and returned his

attention to me. “You seem to like quotations. Well, here’s one for you. ‘I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.’”

I searched my memory but drew a blank.

“John Adams,” he said.

“Ah. Not exactly what I normally read…”