“Can I help you son?” Buck asked walking up to him.
Billy was nervous and seemed to be upset.
“I’m just here to see Daisy, sir. My, my name is Billy.” he stammered, as he stuck his hand out to shake Buck’s.
Buck shook his hand and held eye contact with him. “So, this is Billy.” he thought. He seemed familiar but couldn’t place where he has seen him,
“What’s up, Billy?” Daisy asked coming up behind her dad.
She could feel the tension almost oozing from Buck as she approached them.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful just showing up at your home like this, and I don’t want to come off as creepy, I just had to talk to you.” Billy said anxiously.
Buck walked inside and left them alone on the porch to sit and talk, making clear that they were not to move off the porch and out of sight.
“Have a seat, Billy,” she said as she walked to the row of rocking chairs. “What’s wrong, you seem upset.”
“Well, I wanted to talk to you because you are the only friend I have here, and I really need advice. My dad reached out to my mom and wants to see me…after almost eighteen years. I am a wreck, why should I go see him after all these years and why did he wait for so long to reach out to me? It turns out, he still lives here in Oak Grove, but I wouldn’t know him if I passed him on the street.”
“Whoa really, he lives here in town?” Daisy asked just as shocked as he is.
“Yeah and now we live in the same area. I don’t even know if he knows what I look like. I mean, he had to have had some way to talk to mom if he got a hold of her to want to talk to me and meet me. How long has he been able to do that, why wait? It just doesn’t make any sense.” Billy said growing more tense by the second.
“I guess you need to weigh your pro’s and con’s.” Daisy started. “Do you personally want to meet him? Because if not, you shouldn’t feel obligated to do so. He is the one who skipped out on you, right? But then on the other hand, if you want to meet him, then take that step. He could turn out to be a nice guy or he could be an absolute jerk.”
Billy put his elbows on his knees and his head on his hands scrunching his dark curls in his hands. He was shaking his knee and every time he did so, he shook his head. Daisy reached her hand out and laid it on his shoulder to try to calm him down.
“Why don’t you come inside and have something to drink. It may help you settle down a little bit and you can think more clearly.” she smiled.
Katie stood at the kitchen sink cleaning up the last of the dishes that she and Buck used for lunch. She overheard bits and pieces of the conversation that was being had from Daisy and Billy from the dining room. She fixed a glass of tea and leaned up against the doorway. Daisy looked up at her and motioned for her to join them. Daisy always turns to her mom in times that she wants to help, but doesn’t quite know how. This is one of those instances.
“Do you know anything about your dad?” Katie asked Billy as she sat down at the table with them.
“No, nothing at all,” Billy said. “I don’t even know what he looks like. Mom didn’t or doesn’t have any pictures of him. The only thing I know now, is that he lives in this town.” He explained.
“Do you think maybe that’s why your mom moved you guys here, so maybe you two could meet up?” Daisy asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine, friend."
“How did your mom even have contact with him? Katie asked. Was it a phone call, text message, e-mail?
“She didn’t say, I didn’t ask. I got hit with that when I got home from school. After that, I went to my room, thought about what I should do, and then came here.” Billy said as he looked at Daisy. “She,I knew, would be there to help me sort it out.” He smiled.
“I wonder why she is keeping and has kept him such a secret from you over the years. I mean, no doubt she knew you would have questions as you got older, right?” Katie said a she took a drink of her tea and sat it back down.
“That’s what I was wondering about too, Billy.” Daisy said. “Like, do you even know his name?”
Buck came in before Billy could answer.
“Katie, I need your help with this gadget you bought to organize the closet. I can put together and take apart a whole tractor, but I can’t for the life of me figure out this shelving unit.”
They all chuckled. “I’ll be right there, dear.” She said. “Billy, whatever you decide to do, buddy, just make sure it is something you truly want to do. If it isn’t something you feel comfortable with, don’t do it now. Just give it more time.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brady, I will take that to heart.” Billy said. “I guess I better go, thank you for listening and for your help in clearing my mind. Thank your mom also for me again. I know that in the end, it has to be my decisions. Not his and not my mom’s either. I have a lot to think about.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you out.” Daisy said as she stood up