HARMONY

Part 14 "Only BFF makes sense for me"

Sophia has been adopted by "two dads" , Jim and Peter, and together they have built a loving, supportive family. 

Claire walked into Sophia's house and plopped onto the mohair couch next to Jim. Wearing his Angels jersey and backwards baseball cap, he mowed down the second half of his loaded hot dog. With the tip of a napkin, he dabbed his lips. "No pitching," he said. "It's like watching batting practice."

"Where's Peter?"

Jim took a long swig of his light beer and pointed toward the office. "Finishing grading finals for his AP class. Tax season is my crazy time and this is his."

"It's not like him to miss an Angels game."

"Well, I have his favorite Chicken Cordon Blue in oven to lessen his pain." Jim smiled. "Why don't you stay for dinner?"

Claire leaned forward and scooped salsa onto a chip. "Thanks, I will. It's not like my family will miss me."

Jim patted her leg. "It's hard to be a family these days."

"You and Peter make it work."

"Work is the key word there," Jim said. "Look at that, another base hit."

"I think my dad like ran away," Claire said. She bit her lower lip. "And lately he and my mom barely talk, except if they're arguing and then like he's at the office all the time and she's trying to sell some house all the time and like everything totally sucks and..." She looked at Jim who just muted the TV. "I'm sorry. You've got your game and I've got...problems."

Jim turned to face Claire and give her his full attention. "What makes you think your dad ran away?"

"He went to this concert with my Uncle Chad and then like didn't come home and he hasn't even called anyone. But, Uncle Chad said he's okay—that he just wanted to like hang out with the band or something." She kicked off her Converse and tucked her legs underneath her. "It's all like super weird."

"Listen." Jim put his hand on her shoulder. "I started doing your parents' taxes right after they got married—when they had only two nickels to rub together. And each year, they worked harder and saved and worked and invested." 

 He paused and gathered his thoughts. "Your mom went from staging houses to the more profitable selling them, but I personally think staging was her gift. Soon after that, your dad opened the brokerage firm and, well, here you are." He tried for a smile.

Claire let out a sarcastic laugh. "My mom is a total pro at staging, but..." Claire searched the warm family room for an answer, like it would be hanging there, next to the family photo of Jim, Peter and Sophia. "But, they're like a business couple, not a couple couple and it's like they have to keep buying stuff to show that, I don't know, that it's like all worth it 'cuz they can wear some stupid watch or have some stupid purse." She pulled at her black and purple braided string bracelet. "We have a great house and a shitty home."

Jim hugged Claire. "You have an exhausted family—and maybe your dad just needed to get off the treadmill for a while and regroup. Maybe he thought a little time and space would help him and your mom clear their heads."

"Ya," Claire said. "Maybe. Sorry to interrupt your game."

"Hey, none of that," he said. "We're always totally like here for you." He smiled.

"Like, totally, nice try," she said. "Stick to gay and leave teenager to us."

He laughed.

Claire took a chip and headed up to Sophia's room. Sophia sat propped up on her pillows, her silver laptop balancing on her knees. "Hey girl."

"Hey," Claire said as she flopped next to her. "I wish my parents were gay."

Sophia laughed. "Oh no you don't. Ever see folks stare at us when we walk into a restaurant? Two cracker white men and one chocolate brown girl. People move around us like we was contagious."

Claire lay flat on her back across the bed. "I still haven't heard from my dad."

Sophia flipped down her laptop lip and looked at Claire. "For real? He's still missing?"

"If I were him, I'd leave my mom too," she said. "But I don't know why he hasn't like ...called... me."

"Look," Sophia said. "Parents got all sorts of shit that goes on between them and it has nothing to do with the kids."

"I get they have their issues, but," Claire said. She pulled her long sweatshirt sleeve up to her eyes. "He's still my dad."

"Oh girl," Sophia said, putting her arm around Claire. "That don't change. We'll find your pops. What concert did you say he went to?"

"Wicked Snicker."

"I'll keep checking their concert postings—see if he's the new lead guitar."

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