Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

Jason's mom, his father split with his business partner. Jason was young at the time and grieving the loss of his mother, so he never really knew all of the details about what happened between his father and Glenn Braeburn, the now estranged business partner. What Jason did know was that it was very much a sore spot with his dad. The mere mention of Glenn's name sent his father into a tirade. Whatever the falling out had been centered around must have been serious.
    "Dad, we're way early. Why don't you pull into this Starbucks? I'll buy us a cup of Joe."
    His father glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard and grunted. He slowed the vehicle, engaging the turn indicator, and pulled into the Starbucks parking lot. Jason was checking email on his phone when they stepped up to the counter. He glanced up at the barista and smiled, casually placing his standard order in a rather disinterested tone. "Venti non-fat caramel macchiato, please."
    "Don't you have just regular coffee here?" His father said in an accusatory tone, as if a crime had been committed.
    "Yes, sir," the young man behind the counter nodded. "What size?"
    "Uh… medium."
    "Dark roast, medium roast, blonde, Kona…?"
    "Regular!" his father snapped. "I said I just want a damned regular cup of coffee."
    Jason felt his cheeks getting hotter. "Medium roast, grande, please." The barista, who was much closer to Jason's age, smiled at him and nodded.
    "Not a problem. Eight forty-seven, please?"
    "Eight bucks for two coffees?" his father exclaimed.
    "I got it, dad," Jason said, pulling out his wallet.
    As they took a seat in a corner booth, Jason's father was still grumbling about the price of the coffee. Well, the idea that a relaxing cup of java may steady the man's nerves didn't seem to have worked too well. Jason decided to try another tack. If all else failed, talk shop.
    "We've got a great shot at picking up some heavy-weight clients with this new software," he said. "Don't you think?"
    His dad sipped his coffee, making a face as he did so. Jason didn't know if the drink was too hot or if his dad just didn't like the taste. "Yeah, I really do," his dad said. "Jason, I know I've been on edge lately, but I've got to tell you, I'm so pleased with your work. I'm so proud of you."
    Jason smiled at him sincerely. "Thanks, Dad."
    "And if your mother were alive today, she'd be proud too. It means everything to me to be able to hand down this business—this enterprise that I started with my own sweat and blood—to my own son."
    "I appreciate that, Dad. And I love it… I love my job, and in that sense I'm really lucky. But can I ask you something?" His dad just stared at him, not answering, so Jason pressed on. "Why don't you try to relax a little, enjoy life a little more? Don't you think Mom would have wanted…?"
    "You mean go out and find someone to replace your mother?"
    Jason quickly shook his head. "No, of course I'm not saying that, Dad. No one will ever replace Mom. But she wouldn't want you to stop living your life. She'd want you to be happy. For the past ten years, all you've done is work. Well, I'm here now… and you said yourself, I'm capable. Why not relax a little? Go golfing, buy a sailboat, take a trip to Vegas… anything!"
    His dad gave him a half-smile, raising the corner of his lip in the unique way he always did when he was amused. "Jase, your old man is almost fifty years old."
    "You're a very young forty-eight. And so what? You're still in the prime of your life."
    This time he laughed right out loud. "Is this a polite way of trying to get rid of me?"
    "No! Dad, all I'm saying is that life is too short to waste. You're forty-eight, not ninety-eight! Live a little."
    His dad sighed and took another sip of his coffee, this time appearing to savor the taste a little more. "Son, I think you're the one who should heed your own advice. Why doesn't a twenty-four year old, good lookin’ kid like you have a girlfriend? You're the one who ought to be out there whoopin’ it up and enjoying your youth."
    Jason cocked his head to the side and nodded, frowning somewhat for emphasis. "Good point," he said with a laugh. This would probably be the perfect opportunity for Jason to level with his dad and come out to him, but he couldn't do it now, not when they had a three-day trade show ahead of them. He'd wanted to tell his father for a long time that he wasn't interested in girls. It was just that he didn't want to put the man through any more than