His father did the same, and they shared a quick hug and a pounding slap on the back – it was a guy thing.
“It is so good to see you,” Stella said to Mercedes as she hugged her tightly before taking her hand and leading her toward the exhibit on the other side of the room.
“You look great,” Mercedes told his mother as she glanced back at Xander and his father who had fallen into step behind the women. “As do you, Mr. Boone.”
“I definitely don’t mind when a beautiful young lady calls me Mr. Boone, but I prefer Stan, Ms. Bryant.” Xander’s father teased Mercedes, making her blush.
“Stan,” she tacked on, followed by, “How are you feeling?”
The four of them came to a stop in front.
“Much better,” he told her as Xander glanced over at his father. “Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Stan redirected.
Mercedes met Xander’s gaze, and she knew as much as he did that Stan had purposely avoided saying more. Fine. He would give his father a brief reprieve for a few minutes, but he fully intended to ask him for the details. The real details this time.
Xander spent the next half hour following his mother and father and Mercedes through the many exhibits that highlight football’s greats and the numerous details about the history of the game. It was true, he had been there once before, but even now, he felt a bit nostalgic.
No, he didn’t miss his football days. Not in the least. He had moved on to bigger and better things, and he didn’t have to worry about a potential life altering injury changing the course of his career. He’d made that decision long before that could happen.
“How about some lunch?” Stella asked, turning around.
“I could handle lunch,” Xander told her. He wasn’t starving, but he would get the chance to talk directly to his father. And he knew his father was doing his best to avoid Xander’s questions, which was why he’d been hearing all about football for the last thirty minutes.
The café they entered was nothing more than a snack bar with chairs and tables, but Xander wasn’t picky. It didn’t hurt that they were the only people in the place aside from the ragged looking guy behind the counter. Ok, so maybe he wasn’t ragged, maybe he was just trying to stay awake because it was clear today was not a day he was hustling to keep up.
The four of them ordered and then took their seats at one of the few tables. Once they were seated, their little baskets of food and bottles of water in front of them, Xander decided now was as good a time as any to talk to his old man.
“How’re you feeling?” he asked. It was the same question Stan had managed to avoid earlier, but as far as Xander was concerned, he didn’t get a good enough answer.
Stan sighed. “I guess it’s safe to say I’m getting a little old to be swinging from the rafters.”
Xander looked up then, looking over at Mercedes. She was staring at his father with wide eyes. When she looked over at him, he smiled at her and just shook his head.
“Hush,” Stella said, laughing. “We were certainly not swinging from the rafters. No matter what Xander told you.”
“We?” Mercedes asked, obviously realizing they were joking.
“How was the trip?” Stella asked. Leave it to his mother to try and change the subject.
“Quick.”
“Well, I guess that’s a luxury that’s worth the price, huh?” Stan asked.
Xander laughed.
Although his parents hadn’t ever hurt for money, they weren’t by any means wealthy. They were comfortable, having always managed their money efficiently. And Xander hadn’t grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth either. But, once he made his first million at twenty-five, he’d vowed to ensure that they didn’t have to worry about money. He didn’t spend extravagantly, but he did prefer to travel and dine in style.
Glancing over at the snack bar behind his father’s head, he grinned. Ok, so maybe not always in style.
“It’s worth the price, Dad.”
“Where’s Shane?” Stella asked as she picked at her hamburger. Or what looked like a hamburger.
“Working, I’m sure.”
“He should’ve come with you.”
No, he shouldn’t have. But Xander didn’t respond. That’s the way his mother was. It was her little way of pressing the issue. The Mercedes issue.
Knowing they would rather talk about anything but his father’s health, Xander decided it was now or never. “How are you really feeling?”
“Better than I was. Nothing’s broken, thank the good Lord, but there for a couple of days, I wasn’t so sure they hadn’t been looking at someone else’s x-rays.”