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No, that one ano down type… Nobody except my father
And with our fa on the horizon, an enorrandbabies on the est of all, because at this reunion, Dad’s announcing his retirement His retirement and the appointment of the new company CEO The future heir apparent to Quint Motors Me
But with all the reflecting Dad has been doing on the company’s history, it just makes hi in his life Narandchildren
“I’ “Think I’ Head cold, maybe? Flu? Isn’t it still flu season?”
Greg narrows his eyes atout front in the Andromeda”
Ah, the Andromeda The first car our company, Quint Motors, ever released, way back in the 1970s when h to drive hiifted it to hi day But also because it re that’scars, and putting the best product we can out into the market—it’s the family behind all that
“Fa in the world,” he’s always saying “Even when you want to strangle the at(who, for being my personal assistant, can definitely be a real narc when it co my extracurricular activities with the old man) about one of my exploits or another
What can I say? It’s
I just wish it wasn’tI h and square ht Time to face the music”
“Bring a coat,” Greg shouts at ain”
Dad’s favorite lunch spot I’h the office when one of our other adall over for you” He holds out a file alot the list of interns for the su them into departments…”
“Tell Greg to put so a suit coat fro it on as I walk toward the distant front entrance, and the drivehere I can already see Dad’s car idling Tugging the jacket on over ives the appearance that I dressed for the occasion
So I think Then I drop into the front seat, and find Dad eying my neck, nose scrunched up in disapproval
“No tie?” he says “And as the last time you shaved?”
“This ,” I reply “Not enes” Permanent five o’clock shadow, just one of the many markers of a Quint man That, a tall but muscular frame, and our thick dark hair—mine and Dad’s look almost exactly the sa across our eyes Even though he’s pushing sixty now, his is still as dark and thick as ever Pretty sure Quintht up until we’re on our backs in coffins
“Always bla me” Dad shakes his head, but I notice he peels out of the driveway just as fast as always, and cuts corners the whole way to the Waldorf, speeding through every yellow light along the route
My speed deenes didn’t pop out of thin air either, ot it
We skid into the Waldorf parking lot, and Dad barely glances at the valet as he tosses his keys over his shoulder for the h the broad double doors, past the hotel lobby, and back into the dining rooot our usual booth
He’s in a mood today I can tell by the way he starts in before we’ve even had a chance to sit down, let alone give the menus a once-over “The reunion is in one month, Jasper”
“Yes, I know It would be i about for the last six months” I shoot the waiter who’s appeared at our table an apologetic glance, then wave him off to come back later
“The reunion is in one h I haven’t even spoken, “and I’ to announce the company’s future My own retire forward to Do you knohat I’ forward to most?”
Here we go “What, Dad?” is all I say
“The fanant again That’ll make five for her and her husband And your cousin Alexander and his three little boys Chloe and the twins; Luke and his newborn; and did I tell you Jason isfor a baby now, God bless them I hope they don’t have the same trouble your mother and I did”
“Dad…” Thankfully, the waiter returns to spare lass of water, but don’t decide on any food for the ti to this
Dad takes time to order his usual—steak, ravy He thinks it’s healthier than French fries Who am I to deny the old man one of his few vices in life?
Mo a fit if she knew She’s always on about his cholesterol levels and the bad hearts that run in his side of the enor off
The pause for food ordering only sparesThen Dad lays down his menu and crosses his hands on the table once randmother how many times over now? Fifteen? Aunt Alyssa has Chloe’s little twins to keep her busy Uncle Xavier spoils Sofia’s tribe rotten”
“Dad—”
“Everyone’s fa on except mine Mine has stalled out like a bad clutch on a car destined for the junk yard”
I grimace “Look, I’m not like my cousins, okay?”
“Youman”
“Philandering implies it’s not totally consensual on both sides” I rolla family—“
“Well clock’s ticking, son, and you aren’t getting any younger Neither are your mother and I, for that matter”
“But I’e with a wife I’m not that into just to satisfy you Or anyone else, for that matter It’s my life, Dad”
“Your spoiled, easy life Yes” Dad heaves a sigh “Your ht She tells me I spoiled you too much Gave you too
much We were both so happy to have you, Jasper, after all that ti You have no idea what it was like To watchchildren, yet be unable to conceive a child of my own And your mother, her heartbreak every time we failed, I cannot even describe…”
And yet you continually try, I think After all, he’s toldto conceive me—about a hundred times “Dad, I appreciate that you and Mo—you had Mom You were married You knew you wanted a family with her I’m…”
“Enjoying sleeping around too et serious about one wolares at lass of water “This is a farandfather founded Quint Motors, and then he passed the company on to my father before o, so that one day, in the future, you can pass it on to your son or daughter next But it’s looking more and more like there won’t be anyone for you to hand this company down to when the time comes”
I groan and lean back inridiculous”
“What do I always tell you is the ?”