Rason & Eliza - Cee Bowerman Page 0,1

it my dad loved to play on the computer. “You can find almost anything if you put in the right words. Found a man about six hours south of here that had this sitting out in his barn. We finagled a price and now she’s all mine.”

“What does Mom think?” I laughed.

“I showed her what they looked like brand new, told her she can pick the paint and interior colors, and she came around.”

“So, you’re going to have a red convertible with white interior?”

“Yes, I am.” Dad said with a nod. “Something about happiness and purity? I don’t remember. Anyway, if you’ve got the time occasionally, I’d appreciate the help.”

“I’m all in.”

I visited my parents often, at least every few weeks, but Dad’s request for help with his project was his way of saying I should come around more often. My parents lived in a small town about half an hour from Rojo. It wasn’t a long distance, but I sometimes let life and work get in the way of coming home. I made a promise to myself that I’d try to do better.

“Why don’t we just make plans to work together on Sundays? I’ll come on out early and we’ll take the day. I’ll even bring Mom some laundry to do for me. She seems to think I don’t know how to work my washer.”

“That woman.” Dad laughed as he shook his head. “You’re still four years old in her head, you know. What’s new with you? How are things going with that girl you told me about?”

“Things are non-existent,” I confided as I walked around the car, making note of rust spots and dings that would have to be repaired. “She turned out to be nothing like she’d led me to believe, and I called it quits with her.”

“Glad you never brought her home then, but I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Bringing her home was part of what started the final argument,” I admitted. “I wasn’t sure she was the right one to introduce to Mom. You know how Mom is about dating around, especially at my age. If I’m going to bring a woman home, she’s got to be the one that I want to stick with for good.”

“How did that turn into the end? Did you make her feel like she wasn’t worthy of meeting your family?” Dad’s eyes were wide and he was shaking his head. “Thought I’d brought you up better than that.”

“It’s not anything like that!” I laughed. “When I came over on Mom’s birthday last month, she was pissed that I wouldn’t bring her. And then she got even more pissed that I refused to consider giving Mom the gift she’d bought. I told her not to spend her money on it, but she didn’t listen and bought it anyway. It was this antique watch she’d found down on Sixth Street. It was beautiful, but Mom would have lost her shit if Robin had given it to her.”

“Yeah, she would have,” Dad agreed.

“I tried to explain that even though she’s lived here in Texas since you brought her back from Vietnam, she’s still very much Vietnamese. There are some things you just don’t give as gifts. Antiques are a definite no. A watch? Absolutely not.”

“Here let me just give you this haunted item that means I hope you die,” Dad added. “Great way to make an impression on the woman you want to be your mother-in-law someday.”

“Exactly!” I stood up and held my hand out toward the house, motioning toward my mother who was inside. “I may not closely follow all the things she’s taught me through the years, but I can at least respect her ways.”

“I appreciate that you consider her beliefs and act accordingly. The friends you’ve brought home since you started working at the garage have been nothing but respectful towards the way your mom runs our home. That shows good character on your part and theirs.”

“I’m not going to hang out with assholes, Dad.” I laughed. “Why would I?”

“Well, still, I like your friends. They’re good people.”

“I’m glad you think so because when I tell them what you’ve got in your garage, they’re going to show up and help you work on it if you’ll let them.”

“They’re always welcome. Hell, let us know in advance who’s coming so your mom can worry herself to death cooking. I think she secretly enjoys it, no matter what she says.”

“You know she does.” I laughed.

Just then my mom called out the