“No! Of course not but… um, yeah. It would make avoiding him easier.”

“You’re loopy-loo,” Tex said.

“Shut up Tex.” Al y came up and put her hand on my arm,

“Seriously, Jet…”

“Please,” I said (or kinda begged).

Luckily, Lee came to my rescue and when he talked, people listened. “Let her be.”

“Lee!” Al y dropped her hand from my arm.

“You al have to promise not to say anything,” I said.

“Sure!” Indy replied quickly, so quickly I thought maybe she was lying. I also saw Lee’s eyes narrow on her and then he shook his head and the crinkles by his eyes deepened. I got the impression that I was in more serious trouble than I’d been in when they thought I was a racist, but that wasn’t even the half of it.

* * * * *

Later, in the early afternoon, Eddie came in. I didn’t expect him to, I thought he would avoid me too but there he was.

He walked in, his eyes scanned the room cutting across me like I wasn’t even there, and I immediately changed my mind that I didn’t want him to think I was a racist.

He looked good; worn Levi’s that fit real well (tight in al the right places, loose in al the right places), black cowboy boots, a black, long-sleeved t-shirt that was snug on his chest and biceps, and a big silver belt buckle on his black leather belt. His black hair was kind of messy from something, the wind, his hand running through it, whatever.

He made my mouth water.

I was behind the espresso counter with Tex and Indy was behind the book counter. Eddie saw Indy and walked right to her, ignoring everyone else.

I was terrified Indy would say something, even more so when Tex elbowed me.

“You should go talk to him,” Tex stage whispered.

“I’m not going to talk to him!” I hissed back.

“You’re loopy-loo,” Tex told me.

Then the bel over the door rang again and as I was concentrating on semi-arguing with Tex, I didn’t look up.

At first.

Then I heard someone sing.

“Jet! Jet!”

I looked up.

Tex looked up.

Indy looked up.

Al y walked to the front from the back where al the bookshelves were.

Eddie turned around.

And there was Ray McAlister, my Dad, standing in the middle of Fortnum’s, banging his head and playing air guitar while he hummed, loudly.

My mouth dropped open.

Then Dad went on, singing the Paul McCartney and Wings song “Jet”.

He was real y going at it. Dad was. Singing al the lyrics, the “oo-oo’s”, jamming on his air guitar like there was no tomorrow, snapping his head around so hard I thought he’d give himself whiplash.

When the lyrics included the word “father”, he got a big, goofy grin on his face, put his hands on his heart and, I couldn’t help it, I started around the counter toward him.

“Dad,” I whispered.

Everyone was staring. Tex in avid fascination with a huge grin on his face. Indy was giggling. Al y was nodding her head. Eddie’s arms were crossed on his chest, watching, blank-faced, with his hip leaned against the book counter.

Dad wasn’t quite done. More air guitar. More “oo-oo’s”.

Then, when I made it to him, he grabbed me in his arms, pul ed me close and started dancing with me, flipping me around, stil singing, but louder this time.

In fact, he was at the part where McCartney begs Jet to love him and Dad was kind of yel ing (as he always did when he sang this song to me, which was a lot, in fact, it was every time he came back to town and first saw me).

He did the catcal and I started laughing, I couldn’t help it.

My Dad may have been a crap Dad but he was crazy and he was funny and even though he’d only been in my life for what amounted to hours in the past fourteen years, he was stil my Dad.

“Dad!” I shouted over him humming the musical part.

He was half swinging me around, half dancing with me, total y ignoring me, and he kept going. He ended the song as usual, on a hug, swaying me side to side and humming the sad saxophone finale.

“Dad,” I whispered again, my cheek pressed against his stubbly one and he stopped swaying and held me close.

“Jet,” he whispered back and tears stung my eyes, a couple leaking out the corners.

We stood that way for a few seconds, holding on to each other and then he pushed me back, stil holding my arms.

“How’d you find me?” I asked, wiping my cheeks.

“Went to that place you used to work. Sweet-talked the old biddy behind the counter into tel ing me where you were. Why’d you give up a cushy job like that?” He was wearing an old army jacket, a t-shirt with a Mack truck on the front, a pair of worn out jeans and construction boots. His graying, sandy blond hair was too long and (if I was honest) a bit dirty. His hazel eyes were dancing, as usual.

I ignored his question.

“What are you doing here?”

“Came to see my girl.” His eyes scanned my face, and then went to my hair.

His hand came up and he yanked the ponytail holder out with a tug. Without looking where it was going, he tossed it over his shoulder. I watched it fly, and, stil watching, saw Eddie’s hand reach out and nab it in midair.

“Shee-it. Your mother gave you a beautiful head of hair, don’t know why you’re always hidin’ it.” He arranged my hair around my face, “Much better.” he said.

“Dad.”

He snatched me in his arms again and gave me a tight squeeze.

“Fuck!” He shouted. “You feel good. Been missin’ my girl.”

When he let me go, Eddie was right there. Indy and Al y were staring at us, not even trying to pretend they weren’t and I didn’t have to turn around to know Tex was watching.

Eddie held out my ponytail holder.

“Thanks Eddie,” I said, taking the band and I could feel the heat coming into my face.

Dad looked between Eddie and me.

“Who’s this? Your boyfriend?”

My lungs froze and my mouth went dry.

Eddie just stood there.

Dad looked between Eddie and me, again.

“Wel ? Are you gonna introduce me?” Dad asked me.

My mind disengaged.

Dad took matters into his own hands.

“I’m Ray McAlister, Jet’s Dad.”

“Eddie Chavez,” Eddie replied and shook Dad’s hand.

Dad nodded and smiled, “Figures. Jet’s always had a thing for our Southern brothers.”

Oh Lord, please save me.