Page 34 of Served
I reached my hand across the table. “Jason oh my God, I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “It’s ok. It’s been a while. But I decided to keep it going. So that’s the story.”
“What about your mom?” I asked.
“Oh, she passed when I was in high school. Breast cancer.” He looked down with a mix of sadness and love on his face. I was still holding his hand across the table as my heart started breaking for him when the server brought our food. I had to move my arm out of the way so I let go of his hand and pulled it back to me. The steaks were sizzling on the plates that the server was sure to remind us were extremely hot.
Once he finished placing our food on the table and walked away, Jason was serving my sides to me.
“So, it was just you and your dad for a while. Did you get along?” I asked.
He sighed, “Yeah, he was great. Mom, too. It was tough. I was young. But you roll with the punches, right? So, your turn. I know some stuff, about college, your friends, your job. But what about your family?”
“Well, uh, I don’t know. Both parents still alive. Don’t live too far. Good parents.”
He looked across the table and motioned with his hands to continue.
“My mom was a music teacher for years but retired a while back. She still does a few private lessons to keep her busy. My older brother lives in South Georgia with his wife and kids. We got along well growing up, but he has his own family now. Dad,” I paused to take a swig of my wine, then another, “Dad is the Chief of Police.”
“As inourChief of Police?” he asked while he cut into his steak.
I nodded and turned back the rest of my wine and motioned to the server for another.
He grinned and asked, “So, is that a bad thing? You seem tense about that.”
I shook my head. “I dunno. He’s great. But a little overbearing. And very old fashioned.”
He put his utensils down. “So that’s why you didn’t want to go Sunday? Your dad?”
I nodded. “I feel like a jerk now, though. I’m complaining about my overbearing dad and you…” My voice trailed off. I did feel bad. I was always so annoyed by my parents, but they weren’t bad. Just parents.
“Hey, I get it. I was pissed at my dad for making me work the club at first, but when he got sick, that changed. And I had already lost my mom. He was very overbearing with me, too.” He started cutting his steak again. “I think because he lost her, he was that way with me. He loved her so much. It was hard for both of us. And caring for him and working the club was a lot for someone in college. But I just couldn’t imagine selling my dad’s legacy so…” Now his voice trailed off.
“Moving on, any siblings?” He shook his head. Just him. I couldn’t help but feel bad. Not just for him, but for the way I acted with my family.
He snapped back into reality and stabbed a piece of steak before he asked, “So, what did your dad say?”
“He hasn’t said anything, actually. I only saw one of the detectives and he told me he wouldn’t tell him but did say he’d likely figure it out eventually. It’s hard to explain. You’re a man, you won’t get it.”
He stopped cutting. “I get it. You didn’t want your dad turn it on you.”
I stopped cutting my own steak and hung my head.
“I know he would believe me, and he’d want to help me. But he’s still my dad and like I said, very old fashioned.”
Jason nodded. “I’ve been at the club for a while. Unfortunately, I’ve been witness to my fair share of incidents and even gone to testify a few times. So, I know what you mean.” He reached across the table to me this time. “But you did the right thing. And he’s your dad. He may surprise you. But I still wish you told me. I could have driven you over or walked you there. Held your hand. Hugged you after.” He leaned back and stabbed a piece of steak and took a bite.
I needed to change the subject. “Not sure I want to go down this road, but how are you not married or something?”
He grinned as he chewed his food then took another drink of his sweet tea.
“Well, I won’t lie and say I haven’t had my share of dates, but nothing long term. Just never worked out.”
I turned my chin up at him. “I got it, you’re a serial killer. This is part of your master plan and soon I’ll be dead.”
He choked on his food but was laughing at the same time.
“You got me.” He put his hands up like he had a gun in his face.
