“So it sounds like Richard was telling the truth about everything,” said Dan.
“Yes, but get this, Kim didn't stop with one pharmacy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Over the next twenty years, Kim Bong opened seven stores between Port Arthur and Houston. Richard still owns the place in Port Arthur, as well as stores in Winnie, Stowell, Wallisville, and a few other Texas burgs. From what I can tell, Richard is worth quite a bit of money.”
“Huh,” said Dan. “I wonder why he didn't mention that?”
“Who knows? Maybe he wanted to make sure you wouldn't want any first.”
“Yeah, maybe,” said Dan. “Thanks, Rick, I'll talk to ya later.” Dan hung up his cell and went inside to get something to eat.
The young, skinny, pimple-faced kid behind the counter was just sliding Red his tray when Dan walked up to order. Richard had already brought his tray to a booth.
“That was Rick on the phone?” Red asked.
“Yes,” Dan replied.
“Was he able to get any information on Rich?”
“Quite a bit, actually.”
“Anything bad?”
“Nope.”
“Did he lie about anything?”
“Let's just say, he didn't tell the whole truth.”
“What do you mean?” Red and Dan stepped back away from the counter to let someone else order.
“Go ahead,” Dan said to the elderly woman behind him.
“Thank you, young man,” she said.
Dan returned his attention to Red. “Seems my big brother owns not one, but several pharmacies. According to Rick, he's loaded.”
“That's good news. At least now you know he's not here for your money.”
“I guess,” said Dan.
Red turned and went to the booth where Richard was seated. Dan waited for the old woman to finish ordering, and then he stepped up to the counter.
“I'll have a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a medium Coke,” said Dan.
“Hold on a second,” said the beanpole. He stared at the keyboard and punched a few buttons. “Okay, what?”
“I'll have a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a medium Coke,” Dan repeated.
The kid looked puzzled. He turned his head and stared at the menu display above him. “Double cheeseburger?” he asked.
“Yeah, double cheeseburger. It's twice the single cheeseburger.”
“Uh … I don't think we have a double cheeseburger.”
Dan pointed at the screen. “Right there … the double cheeseburger.”
“Are you talking about the Dave's Double?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” The kid glanced back down at the cash register. “You want cheese on that?”
“You're asking me if I want cheese on my cheeseburger?”
“Well, do ya?”
“Yes.”
“Will that be all?”
“I already told you—twice. Medium Coke and medium fries.”
“Coke and fries. Medium?”
“Yes.”
“Did you want chili or cheese on those?”
“Did I fuckin' say I wanted cheese or chili on them?”
The kid looked up at Dan with surprise. “I don't think I like your attitude, dude.”
“I don't think I give a rat's ass, dude.”
“I'm gonna have to ask you to please leave the store, sir.”
Dan placed his palms on the counter and leaned in toward the young man. In an angry whisper he said, “Listen, you little shit. You're gonna put a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a medium Coke on a tray and slide it across this counter to me, or I'm going to rip off your goddamn head and shove it so far up your ass you'll think you're stuck in a chocolate Frosty.”
The kid snorted. “Chocolate Frosty. Good one, dude.” The kid stood there in thought for a second. “I could call the cops.”
“Your head'll be in your ass long before they get here,” Dan warned.
“Fine.” The young man placed Dan's order. When it was up, he handed Dan his tray. “Here you go, sir,” he said. “Here's your Dave's Double with cheese.”
“Thank you,” Dan said.
He grabbed the tray and went to join his friends in the booth. Stopping at the condiment island for ketchup, the old lady accosted him.
“I overheard you speaking so rudely to that young man,” she said venomously. “A man your age should know better than to use such profound language in public. It's outrageous, the civil discourse that has become epidemic in our country! Aren't you ashamed?”
Without missing a beat, Dan bent down, cupped his hand over the old crow's ear, and whispered. The color left he face, and it seemed her petite body had turned to stone. Dan left her standing there, mute and immobile.
“Hey, what did you say to that old lady?” Red asked as Dan sat down.
“I made her an indecent proposal.”
“And?” Richard inquired.
“I think she's considering it,” Dan replied, grinning. “Let's eat quickly and get the hell out of here.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Loaded?” Maxine hollered from the kitchen. “How loaded?”
“I don't know,” Dan yelled back from the bathroom. He flushed the toilet and lowered the seat. “I didn't ask.”
“Are you going to ask him?”
“I don't know.” Dan opened the medicine chest in search of the toothpaste. The cabinet seemed to be much fuller than usual. Maxine's creams, serums, lotions, and cleansers had been slowly taking over. They were spreading like triffids after a colorful meteor shower. Dan picked up one of the small glass jars and read the label; Seacret: Minerals From The Dead Sea, it said in gold letters. I wonder how much this cost. He thought. He placed the jar back on the shelf and grabbed his toothpaste.
“You almost done in there?” Maxine called out.
Dan ignored the question and kept brushing. Minerals from the Dead Sea, he thought. If he could shake his head and brush his teeth at the same time, he would have.
Maxine was standing at the stove frying two T-bone steaks in a large cast iron frying pan when Dan entered the kitchen.
“Why didn't you cook those on the grill?” Dan asked.
“Because that grill is falling apart,” Maxine replied. “You need a new one.”
“That grill is just fine,” Dan argued. “What's with all the Dead Sea shit?” Dan walked back into the dining room to the bar and made himself a tequila and 7UP.
“Dead Sea shit?” Maxine replied.
“All that shit in the medicine chest.” Dan returned to the kitchen, a drink in one hand and the morning edition of the Key West Citizen in the other.
“A woman I work with is selling it.”
“And you couldn't say no.”
“Why would I say no? It's really good stuff.”
“How much did it cost?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“How much was that little jar of face cream?”
“Why do you want to know?” Maxine jabbed one the steaks with a fork and flipped it over.
“I'm just curious.”
“You just want to make fun of me.”
“I'm not going to make fun of you.”
“It was seventy-five dollars.”
“Are you shittin' me!”
“See, you're mad.”
“I'm not mad. It's your money. You can waste it however you want.”
“I'm not wasting it if I'm using it.”
“That jar is only 1.7 ounces. That's almost forty-five dollars an ounce.”
“It comes from the Dead Sea,” Maxine argued.
“My soap comes from the springs of Ireland, and I get eight bars for six bucks.”
“Oh, that's very funny,” Maxine said angrily.
“Get it?” Dan asked. “Springs of Ireland, because it's Irish Spring.”
“Yeah, I got it, smart ass. Get out of the kitchen before I stick this fork in you.”
“Stick with smart-ass,” said Maxine. “You're really good at that.”
Dan walked down the steps and along the gravel path to the two Adirondack chairs that sat next to the fire pit. He took a seat in one of the chairs and took a sip of his drink. He set the drink on the ground next to his chair, and opened the newspaper.
Halfway through the comics, Buddy lumbered up beside Dan's chair, sniffed his knee, and laid down beside him.
“Hey, pal,” said Dan. “What's going on?”
Buddy pressed his chin into the grass and closed his eyes.
“No kidding?” said Dan. He went back to the funnies.
Twenty minutes later, Dan was startled awake by Maxine's hollering from the back door. “Hey, are we eating outside?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Maxine disappeared back into the kitchen.
“You need my help?” Dan called out.
“That would be nice.”
Dan climbed out of his chair with a groan and went for the back door.
Maxine already had the plates made when Dan got inside. “What do you want me to carry?” Dan asked.
“I'll get the plates,” Maxine answered, “you get my wine glass … and grab the bottle of wine on the dining room table.”
“Roger that,” said Dan.
Dan sat on one side of the picnic table, and Maxine sat on the other side, the side facing Bev's house. Buddy lay under the table eagerly awaiting any morsel that might hit the ground.
Dan cut into his steak and took a bite. “Perfect,” he said.
“See,” said Maxine, “I didn't even need the grill.”
“Where did that cast iron pan come from?”
“I borrowed it from Bev. We should pick up one next time we're at the store.”
“How much does something like that cost?”
“Why?” Maxine joked. “Are you short of cash this week?”
Dan ignored the jab. He had been called cheap before. It didn't bother him then, and it sure as hell didn't bother him now. Dan didn't think of himself as cheap, he thought of himself as more of a bargain hunter. He wouldn't mind buying a new cast iron pan, or even a new grill, for that matter, but finding a perfectly good one on the curbside for free would be awesome.
“Did you hear back from your dad?” asked Maxine.
“Not yet,” Dan replied.
“I hope nothing's wrong.”
“Nothing's wrong. Mom just forgot to tell him I called, or she told him, and he forgot that she told him. They may have even forgotten they had a son. Either way, they'll blame each other for the mix-up.”
“So, you're saying they're forgetful,” Maxine said, and chuckled.
“Well, according to her, she's still as sharp as a tack, but he can't remember anything. According to him, he's still sharp as a tack, but she can't remember anything. I think they both just remember to forget the things they remember when it suits them.”
“You lost me on that one.”
Dan's phone vibrated in his pocket. “Speak of the devil,” he said. “Hello?”
“Sonny!” Gene Coast shouted.
“Hey, Dad.”
“It's your dad.”
“Yeah, I know, Dad. You're the only one who calls me Sonny.”
“Your mother says you called last night.”
“That was two nights ago,” Dan corrected.
“What? She just told me this morning.”
“I told you yesterday morning!” Dan heard his mother screech in the background.
“Bull shit!” said Gene. “Woman can't remember shit, Sonny.”
“I know, Dad. And you're still sharp as a tack.”
“I can remember serial numbers from jet parts I installed in Nam, and she can't remember to put mayonnaise on both pieces of bread when she makes me a sandwich. Over forty years and she can't put mayonnaise on both slices of bread. Woman got a mind like a screen door.”
“You don't need all that mayonnaise, ya old fool,” Peg shouted. “It's not good for your blood pressure!”
“You know what else ain't good for my blood pressure, woman?” Gene yelled back. “You hollerin' at me constantly.”
Dan held the phone away from his ear as his parents continued to bicker at each other. “What the Christ?” he whispered. He put the phone on speaker, laid it on the table, and cut into his steak. He put the piece in his mouth and slowly chewed.
“It's like dinner theater,” Maxine commented.
“Yeah,” Dan agreed. “Someday we'll probably be listening as it turns into one of those murder mystery dinners.”
Maxine giggled.
“Sonny?” Gene said. “Sonny, are ya there?”
Dan picked up his cell. “Right here, Dad.”
“Thought I lost ya.”
“Am I on speaker, Dad?”
“No. Why?”
“I need to talk to you in private. Can you walk outside for a second?”
“Private? Why, what's the problem?”
“No problem, Dad. Just walk outside for a minute. I have to ask you something.”
“I'll walk outside, but your mother will probably follow me right out there.”
“That's a risk we'll have to take, Dad.” Dan waited as his father walked outside. Maxine continued to grin from across the table. “Knock it off,” Dan whispered to her.
“I'm out in the backyard. Go ahead.”
“Dad, when you were in Viet—”
“Hold on. Your mother is staring at me through the kitchen window.”
“Good God.”
“I'm gonna go inside the shed.”
“Yeah, Dad, that won't look suspicious at all. You go right on inside that shed.”
“Shit, the door is locked. I left my keys inside. I'm gonna have to run back in the—”
“Dad, does the name Tran Pham ring a bell?”
“Amtrak?”
“No, Dad. Tran Pham,” Dan repeated a little slower.
“Tran Pham, Tran Pham. Why does that sound familiar?”
“Did you know a young woman in Vietnam named Tran Pham?”
“Oh my God,” Gene whispered. “I, uh … I, uh, haven't heard that name in a long long time.” Gene's voice cracked a little as he spoke. His voice sounded faraway and nostalgic. “A very long time.”
“So you remember her?”
“Of course.”
“Dad … she has a son.”
“A son?”
“He's forty-six.” Dan paused while his father did the math.
“Oh, my.”
Dan had never in his life heard his father utter the words “oh my.” He wondered if he had ever said them before, or if maybe those two words had been reserved for this exact occasion.
“Are you okay, Dad?”
“Yeah, Danny, I'm fine.”
“Her son's name is Richard Bong. He's here in Key West.”
“What does he look like?”
“He looks like a guy who's half Vietnamese and half American.”
“Is he good? I mean, is he doing okay?”
“He's doing good, Dad. He wants to meet you.”
“Tran told him I was his father?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe we should take the train down to your place.”
“Why don't you just fly, Dad?”
“Your mother would never fly. We'll take the train to Miami and rent a car from there.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“I'll explain everything to your mother, and get back to you with the details.”
“Sounds good.”
“Talk to ya later, Sonny.”
“Good luck, Dad.”
“You got that right.” Gene hung up the phone and Dan placed his on the table.
“Maybe I should have flown up to their place,”
said Dan.
“I'm sure everything will be fine,” Maxine responded. “This all happened before the two of them ever met.”
“Yeah, but it's still a lot for them to take in.”
Maxine reached out and put her hand on Dan's. “It'll be fine.”
Dan glanced down at the diamond on Maxine's finger, and then up at her eyes, which were focused on the ring. “Are you really consoling me, or did you just want to look at that ring again?”
“A little of both, babe. A little of both.”
Chapter Fifteen
Friday afternoon Dan dropped Maxine off at work and then headed over to Red's Bar and Grill. He backed into his usual spot and made the trek across the crushed stone parking lot. He pulled open the door and stepped inside. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he could see Red standing behind the bar, he grinned big and said, “There he is.”
Red grimaced. “There who is?” he asked.
“There you are,” Dan replied, pointing at the big guy as he crossed the sticky wooden floor. “Excited?”
“Excited about what?”
“You know what.” Dan took a seat on his favorite orange stool. “The big date.”
“It's not a big date. It's just a date. We're going to dinner and that's it.”
“What do you mean, 'and that's it'? There could be more.”
“Stop it.”
“You have condoms?”
“Really, just shut up.”
“You can't be too careful these days.”
“You want a drink?”
“Maxine said I could only have two drinks tonight.”
“So that's a yes?”
“Yes.”
As he prepared his friend's drink, Red asked, “Are you going to ask Richard about his stores?”
“At some point,” Dan replied. “I spoke with my father last night.”
“Oh yeah. What did he have to say?” Red slid Dan's drink across the bar to him.
“He said he remembers Richard's mother.”
“Does he remember her loving him long time?”
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