Two Steps Behind

Solace

It has been a couple of months, since I left California. Myrtle and I would sometimes do video calls, especially on weekends. But because she was busy in school, there are times that she would let me know ahead of time if she won't be able to go on a video call. It's Winter, although the weather here is fairly nice, it started to get cold. The snow started to fall, but not unlike any other states, the snow here is just light.

This week is the same as last week. We won't be able to do a video call. It was Saturday. I was just home and chilling. My homework was done ahead of time. Dad was sitting with me in the living room as he looks at the pile of papers he needed to work on. After a few moments, he started to speak. 

"Hey, Devin. I'm sorry to have hauled you out of California. I know you miss Myrtle." He said.

"That's okay dad. I mean, she and I already talked about stuff." I said to him 

"Listen, I promise you, when you get to college, you can pick any University you'd like to go. You can stay here or move as far away as possible. I will support it." He says.

"Dad, Thank you for supporting me and for being such a strong man. I know how hard it was for you when mom died. I just wanted to let you know, that I am ready to accept if you have someone special. You can bring her home, you can settle with her." I said to him. 

I took the opportunity to tell him this, after all he's not always home and I think he does this on purpose because he didn't want to be reminded of Mom. People who knew my mom would agree that I looked just exactly like her. I guess that's why my Dad would always drag me along with him where ever he goes. Now that I am about to go to College, I worry that there will be no one to look after him. 

"Thank you, Devin. That's something I am learning to accept, in time. Maybe not now. But in time." He smiled at me.

"Will you also stop moving? I mean you're not getting any younger, Dad. All the moving from one state to another won't do you any good."

"When my work here is done, I'll move back to California." He smiled at me.

"Okay, Good. Where are you moving back?" I asked him tentatively.

"The house we lived at, I already bought that house, I'll move there once my work is done. In a few months, I am retiring for good."

"Dad? You bought that house?" I asked him.

"Yes, sweetheart. I did. I know what that house meant to you, I know you loved it there."

He smiled softly at me as I hugged him.

"Dad, thank you."

"You're welcome." He said to me.

"I bet Myrtle would be surprised to know." I gushed at the thought of it.

"I bet, she's a sweet girl. I remember the first time you brought her home. There was a spark in your eye that I haven't seen before, that's when I knew she is the one for you." My dad teased me as he recalled that night.

I smiled goofily at his recollection. This is one of the things I loved about Dad, he was very supportive of me and all the things that I want. He loved me more than anything else. He never fails to surprise me.

"Dad, how would you know if she is really the one?" I asked him.

"At first, you don't see it for yourself. But the people around you and her will see it, the next thing you know is naiimagine mo na ang future niyo, napapangiti ka sa kakaisip." He smiled.

"Is that how you felt for mom?" I asked him.

"Sure did, I can't imagine my life with out her, Devin." I hugged him again.