When the offer came through from Homestead, Mick put his fist in the air. "Yes!"

He had been excited about the opportunity ever since he left the interview. As a boost to his ego, it took less than a day for the offer. The first person he told was Harper. She called him the minute his text went through.

"OMG! Mick, I'm so excited. We can have lunch together. This is amazing. You'll love it here. They'll love you!"

If he could bottle her energy, he would sell it as a tonic to reverse aging. Following the initial burst of excitement, a tightness moved across his chest. He felt crowded. After years of moving from one job to the next, the thought of settling down scared him. It wasn't the drop in salary. Obviously, as a contractor his pay was higher, but at least he would finally have health insurance and paid holidays.

After hanging up with Harper, he texted Tyler. Are you free for a drink?

He smiled when his friend responded, dinner at my house.

He agreed because he wanted to talk to his friend. Their old routine was to go out for a drink, but Tyler wanted to be home with his wife and baby. Mick was still getting to know Poppy, but he liked her.

Tyler added, we can walk Blue.

After Mick arrived at Tyler's apartment, the two men set out with the dog, but without the stroller.

"Clara's not coming?"

Tyler shook his head. "She's hungry. She'll be tired soon. We eat after she goes to bed."

"That gives you time together. I don't need to stay." He could go home and eat leftovers.

"We want you to. What's going on?"

Mick chuckled. "You know me. I can't get anything past you."

"Please don't tell me you're leaving for a new project."

"No, but I got a job. A regular job with Homestead."

Tyler smiled. "Monty came through. That's good news, right?"

"I think so. I might have cold feet about the commitment."

Tyler laughed. "It's not a marriage, a life commitment. Stick around for a while and see what happens. Maybe the girl of your dreams is around the corner."

Mick was pretty sure the only thing around the corner was another lamp post for Blue to sniff. If he traveled, he would always wonder if Trish was around the corner or more likely working in every restaurant he entered. Maybe he would find her on his travels for Homestead.

"I'll travel some, but just for a few days at a time."

"If you are asking for my advice, my answer will be totally selfish. I want you around."

"I want to be around too. Hopefully, the job will be fine."

"Maybe you'll love it."

Mick laughed. "Maybe." Tyler wanted everyone to be happy just like him.

At the apartment, Mick took out his phone while Tyler helped Poppy give Clara a bath. He texted his father, Homestead offered me a job. Then he waited for a response, but none came. The elder Michael was probably working. A man so unhappy in his marriage might seek comfort elsewhere, but he didn't think his mother would put up with it. He shook his head wondering why she stayed.

"You're deep in thought." Mick jerked as Poppy approached. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I was just thinking about some things."

Poppy smiled. "It couldn't have been anything good. You were scowling."

"I don't know if Tyler mentioned it but my family is pretty dysfunctional."

"Mine is too. Tyler never said anything, but Chickie alluded to something. She thinks of you like another son."

Mick sighed. "If only my mother was like Chickie. For years I wished she would adopt me."

"Growing up, I was happy. I didn't realize how screwed up my parents were until I went to college. My middle sister caught on faster than me."

"Tyler told me about your ex and I met your parents at your wedding."

"They were well behaved."

Mick chuckled. Would his parents behave if he ever had a wedding? "My parents don't enjoy being in the same room."

She frowned. "That must have been hard. Our family, me and Tyler make up for my crazy family."

"I'm so glad you make him happy."

Tyler stepped out. "She's ready."

Poppy nodded and walked away. Mick studied his friend's face. Since Mick's return, Tyler was always happy which had not been the case for years. Loving the wrong woman had led him to terrible relationships and heartache.

Mick had never had his heart broken because he had never been in love. He had dated, and some relationships lasted a long time. In college, he dated Allie for two years, but she was always going back to New Jersey after graduation, and never invited him. He didn't allow himself to love her.

"Poppy will feed her and she'll be ready for dreamland." Mick nodded, although none of it meant anything to him. "You two looked deep in conversation."

Mick sighed. "Somehow I mentioned my parents."

"That will do it. Are you hungry? I'm starved."

Tyler moved to the kitchen. In the past, Mick's friend never had delicious aromas coming from his oven. As they ate, they kept to lighter subjects, and by the time Mick reached his apartment, he knew staying in Boston and working at Homestead was the right choice.

The following evening, he stepped into the overrated steakhouse his father loved. As expected, the workaholic hadn't arrived yet. Mick pulled at his tie wondering why he bothered. The answer was simple: at thirty-two he was still hoping for his father's approval.

When Michael walked in, he saw Mick waiting and smiled. The man behind the podium greeted him. "Good evening, Mr. Daigle."

"Hello, Francis. This is my son. We're celebrating his new job."

"Congratulations, sir."

Mick nodded to the smiling man. "Thanks."

"Your father is glad you've returned home."

Mick smiled as he tried to imagine his father talking to restaurant staff about him. After they sat and servers came by to greet them, Mick asked, "How often do you eat here?"

"Whenever I can. A few times a week."

"You eat steak three times a week?"

"No, I like other items on the menu. It's sad to say, but people are nicer to me here than at home."

Mick felt a stab in his heart to think of servers replacing his family. "Why don't you move out?"

"It's my house. I bought it as a home for you before you were born."

"But you are so unhappy with her. She's miserable. It makes me sad." He thought of Meg and Cade. Both were excited about their baby. "I wasn't born out of love."

His father looked at him. "You are wrong, son. Your mother loved you very much, as do I."

"Past tense."

Michael frowned and sighed. "Not for me, and I'm proud of you. I know I put my work before you, I'm not proud of myself. I was selfish and justified it by thinking I was providing for you."

"You did." Mick went to the best schools and had nice clothes. "I was torn about accepting the job."

"Because it would clip your wings?"

"There is travel involved, but it's a pay cut."

"But it's consistent. You have your trust fund."

"I don't like to touch it. I saved by living cheaply in Colombia."

"You have a good head on your shoulders. You have never acted spoiled."

"I was never spoiled. Hell, most of my life I never felt loved."

His father looked old. "You were always loved. I failed to show you. I'm sorry."

"It's her. She's toxic. Aunt Lori keeps telling me to talk to you. Why can't her sister be like her?"

Frowning, he said, "She never was. I dated Annette for years. She was happier in her youth, but always jealous. I, um. Anyway, it was a long time ago."

"Just get divorced. You deserve happiness."

"I'm too old. It doesn't matter. We live our own lives."

"Are you, um, do you see women?"

Michael frowned. "I'm too busy. Marriage vows are sacred."

"There is nothing sacred about your union." Mick stopped.

His father looked pale. "So much you don't understand."

"Tell me."

"I can't." He shook his head.

Searching for something light to say, he exclaimed rather loudly. "I'll see Harper regularly at work."

"That's good. You always fit in with the Putnam brood."

He nodded but refrained from saying he wished he had siblings. His life would have been different. "I went to Tyler's for dinner. He's completely domesticated."

Michael laughed. "Chickie and Arthur must be proud."

Mick knew his father loved him and didn't want to hurt him further by proclaiming he wished his friend's parents had adopted him.

Their dinners arrived; Mick had a porterhouse, but Michael ordered salmon. They discussed politics, a aggravating topic with fewer minefields than their family problems.

Outside the restaurant, his father hugged him, leaving Mick speechless. As he Ubered home, he remembered moments growing up when his father was home with him. He had felt his love, but in his memory it never felt enough.

Mick never understood or complained, but he celebrated his birthday alone with his father. Even if it was on a weekday, his father took the day off and Mick skipped school. They went to zoos or amusement parks. One time they drove to Maine for lobster. Every year was different, but it was always just the two of them. The days off stopped when his highschool studies became too rigorous. Instead, father and son had dinner together. Unfortunately, he hadn't been home for many birthdays since starting his professional career.

His father was a complex man and Mick wanted to understand him and for his old man to be happy.

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