Page 127 of Last Letters to Ara
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Okay.” Uncertainty rings out in her voice. What he’s saying sounds illogical to her, she knows it is, but when it’s your hero, do you really want to know the truth?
“Okay.”
I hold my breath as footsteps pass by inches from the door which I’m hidden behind. Some rustling comes from the kitchen. “I’m going to eat these.”
“Have at ’em.”
“Where did you get these?”
Shit.My jalapeño chips. My go-to. My staple snack.
“Someone at work gave them to me.”
She misses nothing. “But you don’t like spicy stuff.”
“Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?”
Snort. “That was lame.”
“You’relame. Now stop bothering me and come sit down.”
She walks by again and I fight the urge to leave my hiding spot just to get a look at her face in real life. From the picture he showed me of her as a teenager, she must be stunning as an adult. Paired with dry humor? I shake my head. I could stay here all night, trapped in this closet, listening to their bicker with no bite.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Do youhaveto go to New York?”
I close my eyes and rest my head against the shelf behind me. This is going to be a tough one. How William gets through this conversation without crying, I will never know.
He’d told his daughter that he would be going to New York for a work convention and staying for an over fifties retreat throughout the holiday season. He told her that his boss gave it to him as a gift, and since it was so expensive, he couldn’t turn it down.
“Yeah. I have to go to New York.”
“Can’t I come with you then?”
William chuckles. “No, you can’t come with me. You’re not over fifty.”
“Hear me out. I saw this video, of this young girl dressing like an old lady to get alcohol…”
“Ara. Not this time.”
“I just don’t know how I’ll ever be able to get through Thanksgiving to New Year’s without you.” I hear emotion in her voice for the first time. “You’re my best friend. I don’t want to be by myself.”
William tries to take the humor route, but it falls flat to us all. “It will be good practice for the future, when you’re too cool to hang out with your old man.”
“Like that day will ever come.”
It won’t be because she’s too cool, but soon, she won’t be able to hang out with her old man at all. She is going to lose him for good, and she has no idea. The thought sends my gut twisting.
“I have to go to work.” Her voice is more reserved again.
William sighs. “I hope it’s not miserable.”
“Ugh, you’re telling me.” I can practically hear her eye roll from here.
