Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

you're saying there's no hope for us? You're not willing to even make an effort to work out some sort of solution—some way for us to see each other?"
    The hot tears began to stream down Jason's cheeks as he felt the emotion sweep over him. "Glenn, I'm sorry. I don't know what to do."
    "You have my number. I want you to give it some more thought. I'll call a cab."
    "Wait! Do you have to go already?"
    "It's after ten o'clock. My flight leaves at one and it's an hour drive to the airport."
    "I don't want you to go."
    "But I have to. You said so yourself," Glenn reminded him.
    Jason stood on the balcony for the next forty five minutes until he saw Glenn get into his cab and leave his life for good.
    ****
    "Wow," Jason said, "you come back tanned, relaxed, happy—in the best mood you've been in years. You need to take more trips to Texas."
    It was their first day back to work and Jason was in his father's office with him. "This coffee is terrible," Robert said. "I wonder if I could get Janine to run over to Starbucks."
    Jason laughed. "Dad, it's the same coffee you've been drinking for the last five years. You want Starbucks, I'll make a run over there. I'll check with everyone else to see what they want."
    "Nah, you don't have to. I'll deal." He turned toward his computer screen, whistling as he read through emails. He was like an entirely new man. Smiling, laughing … and now even whistling.
    "You got more than just a big sale down in Texas, didn't you?" Jason asked.
    His dad grinned. "I had a good time, sure. And what'd you do this weekend?" He looked up from the monitor to make eye contact with Jason.
    "I input all the data from the show. We made a hundred fifty-three contacts which I added to the database. I also worked on the Huntington software and …"
    "In other words, you worked all weekend. You didn't do anything fun or relaxing like we agreed." His dad pushed his chair back and clasped his hands behind his head.
    "I didn't even come in to the office," Jason said, raising his hands, palms out. "Ask Janine or Devin. And I went to a movie. And I ate a corn dog, for Chrissakes."
    His father laughed. "Jason, when was the last time you took vacation?"
    "Uh, I don't know. I've only been home from school for two years."
    "So, never?"
    "I just had a vacation. I haven't worked since last Wednesday. I already told you I didn't come into the office…"
    "Jason, you're on vacation starting immediately."
    He jumped out of his chair, shaking his head. "No, Dad. I have way too much…"
    "A deal's a deal," he said. "I want you to go home, put on a pair of shorts and grab yourself a beer. Then you're gonna open your laptop and find a travel agent and get the fuck out of here for the next two weeks."
    "I can't do that, Dad. Please."
    "Do you know how big this account is that we just landed?" His dad asked. "One point seven million dollars, and it's all because of you, son. You designed it! You created the demos and the Power Point presentations, and you even handled all the details of the trade show."
    "And you sold it! Dad, I had nothing to do with that sale. It was 100% you !"
    "Son, I'm proud of you, and I love you very much, but please don't make the same mistakes I have. There is more to life than work."
    This made no sense. Jason's dad was praising him while at the same time informing him that he was being banished. He knew he should be grateful for the time off work, but it felt more like a punishment to him. "Dad, if you're so proud of me, why are you trying to get rid of me?" He placed his hands on the edge of his dad's desk and leaned forward.
    "No, it's not like that," his father said, staring directly into his eyes. "You know I've been very lucky. When I met your mother, I fell head over heels for her. I never really understood what she saw in a guy like me. I was so blessed.
    "But I wasted those years. All I did was work. I worked twelve, fourteen hours every day. We never took a vacation together, other than our honeymoon. We hardly ever went out for a romantic dinner or even just to do something fun. Then, all of a sudden, it was too late."
    "Mom was very happy," Jason said. "She loved her life."
    His dad nodded. "Yes, but that's not the point. I'll always regret not doing more for her. You've heard the saying that when you walk through a graveyard you never see the epithet 'I wish I'd have worked harder' on a tombstone."
    Jason's dad pushed his chair back and stood up, stepping around the desk. He placed his