Page 172 of Offside Rules

No new message from Wolf.

I open Ellie’s instead.

Me: On the plane. Can you find out if any of the girls knows his dad’s address?

Ellie: I’ll ask around and send it to you.

Me: Thanks. Wish me luck.

Ellie: Go get him.

Then I send Wolf one more message before switching my phone to airplane mode.

Me: I love you. I was trying to tell you that before we got interrupted. I’m telling you now.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Wolf

My dad pulls into the shop parking lot at eight thirty on a Saturday night, which tells me everything I need to know about how seriously he’s taking retirement.

"No."

He puts the truck in park. "I haven’t said anything."

"You don’t have to. Whatever’s in there can wait until Monday."

"I need to pick something up."

"You have employees."

I look through the windshield at the dark service bays. We went out for dinner because Marcy said we both needed to leave the house for something other than a medical appointment. Apparently, Dad interpreted that as an opportunity to sneak in some work.

"You know she’s going to ask where we stopped."

"I’m counting on your discretion."

"You called her when I tried to make my own sandwich."

"You nearly dropped a knife."

"It was a butter knife."

"And yet you still managed to make it concerning."

He gets out before I can answer, then comes around to my side. I open the door myself, which he has the good sense not to comment on.

Getting out takes longer than it should. Everything takes longer than it should. I’ve spent two days learning exactly how many ordinary things require a shoulder that works.

Dad waits while I straighten, then locks the truck.

"Five minutes," I tell him.

"Look at you. Home three days and already running the place."

"Somebody should."

He smiles and heads toward the office entrance.