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“I think the ret that he never got to know me I mean, I’m sure he had his reasons If what my mom said is true, he was a bit of a wild spirit Untamable A true rebel heart That’s what she fell in love with … but it’s also what broke them apart, especially after I was born My dad just … couldn’t handle the responsibility He needed his freedom And is it odd that in a weird, totally detached way … I understand hi “I was a bit of an accident My mom won’t say it, but it’s true And while I … I never really knew my dad, I always felt like I had a part of hiood boy, to do well, to impress others, to be liked … I always had a part of ”
“You always had it in you,” Vann notes “You kept saying I’ave that to you, but … I just helped you wake it up It was always in you, that part of him”
I turn to Vann “And I guess it’s that part of e I just can’t see myself there Not at this point in my life, at least” I meet his eyes suddenly, the subject of my dad dropped for a moment “Um, did you tell your parents yet about, uh … your decision …?”
“Oh That” Vann chuckles and shakes his head “They’re so dah school, I think I’ll … give theh’ before I drop the not-going-to-college bomb on them”
“You could always go next year Or in the spring Or not at all We’re young The road to your future is yours to pave”
“That it is,” Vann agrees “And yours, too”
I take his hand, then gaze at it thoughtfully as the rest of that letter—sitting on the dining room table—echoes in my numb mind on loop, over and over
A little fire ignites in my heart, a fire of determination “Want to take a little trip with me?”
Vann lifts a curious eyebrow “A trip to where?”
“I have to see a lawyer about the house I just inherited”
His eyes turn into two black stones Indeed, in the feords of that letter, my father’s lawyer made it clear: He left me a modest sum of money intended to fuel my dreams, whatever they may be, as well as his house and all the property left inside it
After inputting the address from the lawyer’s letter into my phone, we discover his office to be an hour and twenty ht on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico “It’s the same beach town Lee and I were taken to as kids,” I realize “I didn’t know my dad had a house there”
“I’ve been longing to see a beach again,” Vann admits
“We’re long overdue,” I admit, then turn to him “You ready for the ‘taste of salt on your face’?” The yearning spark in Vann’s eyes is all the answer I need
We ride his bike out to the coastal beach town Upon arriving at the lawyer’s office, I sign soiven a set of keys, and a letter from my dad I was to receive in the event of his death In the letter, he tellson this planet he was proud to have had a part in creating He kept an eye onto interfere with my new life andpiece of hi the one thing he’s proud of helping create, Isomewhat empty, especially since he walked away from me and my mom and didn’t soI know, it’s that this past year has done nothing but challengeVann intobroken and strained relationship withme a new side to my once enemy Hoyt—and perhaps the loss of a father I never really had to begin with is just one last challenge
Maybe it’s the answer to the big question ued h school career
My dad’s house is just up the road froe and weathered side paneling, is inviting and full of char hands stroll by on their way to the beach, and they give ay,” I add, s as I head up the creaky porch to the door Upon entering it, I find reenish ar the road Shelves full of books and whimsical knickknacks A table in another roohts, dwarves, and huge-haht piano with a red-and-purple ukulele sitting atop it We find a short set of stairs leading up to a bedroom with the bed unmade, sheets halfway on the floor, as if o and took off to hit the beach The s with the sunlight spilling in, and through it, I can see the gentle rush and pull of distant waves