He told me to meet him in the park. I sat on a bench next to the playground and watched the children play on the swings, climb the monkey bars, and go head first down the slide-- all while parents kept an eagle-eye on their precious children.
There were a few fathers who seemed to fit the bill of weekend dads. Putting a whole week, month , or how ever long it had been of togetherness and cramming it into twelve hours. Then, dropping them off at home with a quick kiss and a "See you next time."
Was that what my dad had in mind? Spend a 'nice' lunch in the park and then it's off for another twenty years? A "you've grown into such a fine young man," then "here's a birthday present for you" and finally a "my, look at the time. I really must go now. I'll give you a call" lunch.
I checked my watch. It read 12:45.
I looked around for my father. Had he chickened out? Was this his idea of a joke? Get his son all worked up to be in his life again and then not show up. Ha ha ha. Very funny dad.
Then I thought I saw him.
He was an older man, walking towards the swings.
I wanted to stand up and shout "Dad. Dad. Over here. It's me."
Then my heart sank.
A boy of about ten ran up to him. The man pulled out his wallet and gave the boy a few dollars.
I got up and headed to my car.
I was pissed.
I was unlocking my car door.
"Greg?"
I turned around.
It was the older man I had seen.
"Yes?"
"I'm your father."
Then the ten year old boy ran up holding an ice-cream cone. "Dad."
My father pointed to the boy. "Max, this is your older brother, Greg."
"More wine?" asks Steve.
"That would wonderful, kind sir."
He refills my glass.
I have no idea what's going on.
All I know is when I got home-- he had this whole candle light dinner waiting for me.
I do like surprises.
He then hands me an envelope across the table. I open it, finding an airline ticket to San Francisco for my birthday.
He says he has to go on an earlier flight but when I get there he'll have a limo ready to take us to the best restaurant in the city.
"And that's only the beginning." Steve announces.
