Page 100 of Razor

Razor grips my hand hard.

“You okay, darlin’?”

“Of course.”

I turn to him, never tiring of the way he gazes at me as if I am his world, and I share that devotion because he is mine.

Joe’s Waffle Houseis lit up like a beacon on the LED sign outside, and there is a line of customers holding their electronic number for their space in the line.

Razor pushes past the gaping customers who have probably never seen anything like him in their lives, and as we enter theplace I used to call home, nostalgia reaches out and pulls me in for a hug.

I approach the woman at the desk, noting she is new, and she smiles. “Table for two?”

I shake my head.

“I was wondering if Joe was out back.”

She is surprised and for a second appears confused. My heart falls, and then she smiles and calls to an approaching waiter. “Tell Joe–”

She turns to me. “What’s your name?”

“Um,” I swallow hard. “Josie.”

Razor grips my hand, and as always, it reassures me.

As the waiter heads off, the woman smiles. “He shouldn’t be long. You can wait over there.”

She points to the waiting area where several seats are already occupied, and I nod, turning away as a loud voice booms, “Josie!”

Tears blind me as I turn and my father rushes toward me, his anxious expression mixing with a joyful one and I break away from Razor and run into my father’s arms, unable to hold it together for a minute longer, so happy I’m home.

“I missed you so much.”

I sob on his chest, as I have done since I was a child, memories crowding around me, his strong arms holding me safe.

“I missed you, honey, so much.”

He buries his face in my hair, and it’s as if I’m a kid again.

It takes a while before we break apart, and his huge grin lights my world and sets it right again.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I couldn’t stay away.”

His gaze falls behind me, and the gratitude in his sudden smile tells me where it’s directed.

“Dad, this is Razor. My um, boyfriend.”

I still can’t get used to that, and as my father breaks away, he holds out his hand.

“Thank you.”

Grateful tears shine in his eyes, and as my father shakes the hand of the man I love, everything is right with my world.

“Come, sit, eat, talk.”

My father says with a joyful tone to his voice I haven’t heard in a long time.