Page 38 of 7 Miles High
“I understand you two have been together for forty years. That’s impressive.” Parker switches the spotlight back to my mother and father.
“Thank you. It’s gone by like four. No kidding,” my mother says.
It gets a smile and a squeeze of the hand from her husband. “You’re right, honey.”
“See, that’s what everyone wants, don’t you think? Real compatibility. Whatever the thing is that keeps your attention on each other. You two seem to have it in spades,” Parker says, surprising us all.
“Son, you just said a mouthful. People settle. That’s their mistake. You wait till you get it right. That’s the secret to happiness,” my father says.
The rest of the night is filled with laughter and multiple drinks. My father gets sloshed, but my mother keeps a clear head. She’s too interested in hearing who Parker is and how he thinks. I can tell they like him. It’s a rare occasion when Tom Coleman talks about his penchant for cars, outside of the business. Just doesn’t happen often. But he and Parker dissected the minutiae of the subject.
I’m not surprised they’ve hit it off. What’s not to like about the stuntman? What kind of tight ass wouldn’t connect with this all man, intelligent, and compassionate human being? It sounds like I’m exaggerating, even to myself. But I’m not.
When the evening ends, and we begrudgingly close the place, I’m left with the sense he’s made an impression on the people whose opinion I respect most. They see it.
Every day I spend with him, and even the phone conversations, reveal the prize I’ve found. As much as I’m hesitant to jump too fast, there’s an overriding thought playing in my head.He may be the one. Don’t fuck this up.
