A Breath of Fresh Air
Richie stood at the gate watching for Michael Roberts to arrive in Coffs Harbor. He hadn’t seen his son since Christmas. They kept in touch by email and the occasional phone call. A few days ago he thought this the worst time possible for Michael to be coming for a visit but he’d changed his mind. Maybe it was what he needed.
He’d been home from Sydney for three days, time enough to fill the holes in his house where Nonnie had removed her things. He’d bought some potted plants, a painting from the gallery in The Glen. His house looked like someone lived there, it was lived in it just needed more life and here came some now down the ramp.
“Michael,” Richie grabbed him and hugged him. Michael was a little stiff in his arms but he didn’t care. “How are ya, no problems on the flight?”
“No Sir, just long. How are you…Dad?”
“Good, ah we’ll ah get your luggage and be off.”
“I only got one bag.”
“That makes it easy.” Richie smiled and put his hand in the middle of Michael’s back guiding him to the baggage claim. “Every time I see ya, man you are stretching up there.”
“Yeah, Mom says growth spurt now.”
Richie caught up on Michael’s sports teams on the way to The Glen. As they drove into the village, “We can stop at Andy’s for a pizza what do ya think?”
“Yeah sounds good, I can eat pizza anytime.”
“Hey there Michael,” Molly remembered him. She smiled at Richie, “sit anywhere you like, lunch crowd has thinned out.”
“Who was she?”
“Her name is Molly, she’s a waitress here…she’s got a fella,” Richie winked.
Michael blushed, “I just asked because she knew me and I didn’t know her.”
“Word’s out you’d be arriving. I’ll just have a Coke,” he turned to Molly
“Me too and a pizza with everything but anchovies.” Michael placed the order and Richie raised a brow.
“No anchovies?”
“Nooo, they’re yuck. Is um Nonnie still with you?”
“Uh, not right now…I’m not sure how…where that’s going yet…some problems,” he mumbled.
“Dad maybe you should just be a bachelor.”
Richie chuckled, “Yeah maybe I should I don’t seem to be having any luck with women right now.”
“Me either…”
Richie raised both brows, “Oh yeah,” It was easy to forget how old Michael was, he was 14 now, his voice was rising and falling, breaking a little…and now girls.
They had their pizza and walked over to his office to see Miss Peeg, let her know he was there and Richie wanted to check something before leaving for home.
“Oh my look at you,” Miss Peeg came around her desk and hugged Michael, “What a handsome young man you are…oh don’t mind me,” she grinned at his blush.
“How do you do Miss Peeg?”
“I do fine, just fine Michael. Now I want you to know you are welcome to come out to the cottage anytime, there’s another Michael who’s waiting to see you?”
“Who?”
“I suppose he was your grandfather by marriage…”
“Oh Mr. Stanley, okay that’s cool, he’s cool.”
Miss Peeg smiled.
“Are ya ready? I signed the papers,” Richie handed a file to Miss Peeg. “I’ll be around tomorrow, in and out but you can call me anytime.”
“Yes Sir, Mr. Roberts enjoy the rest of the day with your son.”
Richie backed out of his parking space, “I hope we can keep you busy so you don’t get bored. Remember the last time you were here for school break and were going horseback riding with Tee McGee and we had the floods, well hopefully this time no floods.”
“Do you know Tee and I email each other?”
“No…I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, we’re friends on facebook. “
“Oh, well I don’t need to tell you anything then?” Richie glanced over.
“Well I don’t know what else goes on. I know Toni and Travis McGee got married.”
“Yeah that just happened over the weekend.”
“You okay with that, Dad?”
“Oh sure, sure I’m glad she’s ah happy and McGee’s okay.”
Richie pulled into his drive, “Here we are…I’m glad you’re here.” He reached over and patted Michael’s hand.
Michael carried his bag inside and to his room. He liked his Dad’s house, nothing fancy and mostly guy stuff. He ran a hand over the picture on the dresser, one of him and his Dad taken by Toni at the old house. He wondered when would be the best time to bring it up, should he do it now and get it over with or wait…the longer he waited the more nervous he would get. He shrugged his shoulders, what could he say but yes or no. He had to say yes…he just had to.
“There’s plenty of junk food, you know me I eat whatever…so just make yourself at home here do whatever you like, there’s the Wii and…”
“Dad, think we could um talk a minute?”
“Sure, Michael,” Richie sat down with him on the sofa prepared to take whatever he wanted to talk about seriously.
“I’ve ah been thinking about this for a long time, month’s maybe even a year. I haven’t talked to anybody else yet…I mean I know its coming but…Dad I want to come and live with you…”
Richie wasn’t expecting that from Michael, “Well, Mike ah I can’t think of anything I’d like better but you know your Mom’s not going to let that happen.”
“I’m almost fifteen; I think I’m old enough to make that decision. I’ve lived with her since I was ten. I was a little kid then and probably needed to you know and my step dad’s okay and all we get along good but I’m not a little kid anymore, I’m ready…”
“Well what brought this on are you in trouble or something?”
“No, I just want to live with my real Dad, I wouldn’t be a problem I mean if I need to work or something I can find a part time job and still go to school. I can go to school here…Tee’s told me all about the school he goes to in Nana Glen, they’ve got a rugby team and…”
“Hey, hey, hey wait a minute. Is this something you and Tee have cooked up?”
“No, Dad I’m just sayin’ I can make it here.”
Richie ran a hand through his hair and looked away a minute, “I don’t have a problem with it, I’d love to have you here you know that but your Mom’s not…I can’t see her agreeing to this.”
“You can take her to court and get custody. I’m old enough now that what I want is going to carry some weight.”
“Oh…oh you think so huh, read up on it, found a precedent?”
“Actually I have, I wrote it down, case number, judge and everything.”
Richie smiled and reached over and mussed his hair, “You’re a breath of fresh air, Mike…just what I needed.”
