Old Familiar Song

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Now

Larry’s ex-wife didn’t believe in eating out. She’d seen Fast Food Nation and swore McDonald’s was single-handedly making America fat, and she refused to let her children eat anything that wasn’t organic, all-natural, or homemade. It was a recently adopted attitude of hers, now that she had remarried and her new husband earned more trading stocks in a month’s time than Larry made working at a local bookstore in a whole year—with that financial security, she could afford to be picky and elitist when it came to what she ate. She didn’t work, either, so there was never a time when she was too exhausted after a rough day to just call out for a pizza.

Fortunately Crystal was old enough to know not to tell her mother what she ate when she stayed the weekend with her father. So there was no more pretending he’d actually made the pad Thai he ordered as take-out, or that the burgers he grilled were as delicious as the ones she’d seen in commercials on TV. Now he could take her to Carytown Burgers and Fries and enjoy a delicious dinner safe in the knowledge that Jen would never find out.

Though enjoy obviously had different meanings for father and daughter. As Larry tried to keep the conversation moving, wracking his brain for questions he could ask that might get Crystal to open up, she seemed intent on ignoring him in favor of her friends. That damn cell phone never left her hand. How she managed to eat a sloppy, overstuffed burger and a plate full of hot boardwalk fries without getting anything on her and never relinquishing control of her phone, he didn’t know. He consoled himself with the thought that, even if they were talking, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hear her much anyway. It was Friday night, the place was packed, and the volume of noise from the other tables was just under a low roar. College kids, mostly, a few families, everyone yelling and laughing and squabbling, having a great time.

Suddenly Crystal looked up at him with wide eyes, the hint of a smile on her face.

“What?” he asked, stealing one of her fries. He’d already eaten all of his own, and he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t finish hers.

She looked up at the ceiling. “Hear that?”

“I can’t hear anything.” Larry took another fry.

“Dad!” She pulled her plate away, as if that would stop him. “They’re playing your old boyfriend’s song.”

Larry’s ears perked up. “I never said he was my boyfriend.”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “I’m kidding, God. He isn’t even gay.”

The comment surprised Larry so much, he let out a quick bark of laughter. “How would you know?”

“Chuh! I know Geo.” When he reached for another fry, she pulled the plate so far out of reach, it was almost in her lap. “Everyone knows he’s dating his PA, Marnie Hall. She’s gorgeous. And a royal bee-yotch, from what I hear.”

Larry didn’t even want to ask what a PA might be. Private attorney? Personal assistant? Perfumed adversary? Trying to ignore the jolt of jealousy that shot through him, he chided, “Don’t say that word.”

“It isn’t a bad word,” Crystal assured him. “It means a female dog.”

“It’s bad the way you said it,” Larry pointed out. “You meant it in a bad way. Seriously, how can you eat, talk with me, and text your girlfriends all at the same time? You must have crazy multi-tasking skills.”

Crystal shrugged. “Mom says I probably have ADHD.” Letting go of her plate, she used both hands to type something on her phone, and Larry took the opportunity to grab another few fries. She squealed. “Hey!”