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I nod “Yeah, let rio”

“Sounds good,” he says “Just let me knohen you’re ready”

Burgers and bowling is soether I don’t even remember how the tradition started, but it always ended up that if we ever want to spend tiether, then that’s e did

Soreithout with their fathers at all, so the idea that I would do so with , and whether or not it was because of our tradition, it’s always held a special place in my heart

Given the way I ao to sleep But going out and bowling—doing so I know I love—ht now

I takemy clothes I want to be comfortable, but I also don’t want to be in the same outfit that I just drove five hours in When I finally co He stands “Ready to go?”

“Yep”

I give s et back”

That h “I certainly hope so”

As soon as we get into the car,me with questions He works in the stock market—the same kind of work that Bryce used to do before he left to start his consulting fir private brokerage fire of the lower overhead in order to do business at a higher in

“So,” he asks, “how’s the business going?”

“It’s going okay,” I say “We are in the black, but not by much Not that that’s particularly weird Bookstores operate at a very close in”

“But your et by?”

“Yeah,” I say “I am”

My dad nods slowly “I was really nervous about the whole thing when you started,” he says “But you’ve done such a good job with the whole business, I never should have been worried”

“You’re s like that”

He s else?”

“What do you mean by else?”

“The rest of your life Social, romantic, whatever There’s more to life than work, you know”

That’s not a question that he would normally ask me, and despite the fact that I don’t want to talk about ht now, it makes me curious “Did Mom tell you to ask that?”

“No,” he laughs “Well, yes, but I brought it up first We just want to know that you’re happy”