Chapter 3
“How’s it going?”
Steve sighs as he leans against the car while he waits for Tony to come out of the roadside country store. “Getting a crash course in the louder spectrum of the music that I missed over the last 70 years. I miss the Big Band Era like you wouldn’t believe.”
“You guys talking at all?”
“Kind of. I can tell he wants to ask me something, guessing it’s about his dad.”
“So, why don’t you bring him up?”
“I don’t think that’s a great idea, Nat.”
“So, are you Beatles or Rolling Stones?”
“Hmm… I like the early Beatles. Later stuff was just too weird.” He hears Nat laugh at the other end then looks up to see Tony coming out the door with two large gift bags. “Damn.”
“What?”
“Tony - it’s nothing. I’ll call you later, Nat.”
“Be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“That Nat?” Tony asks as he puts one of the bags in the trunk, then tosses the other in the small back seat.
“Yeah, she wanted to be sure we hadn’t killed each other yet. What’s all that?”
“Some stuff for Pepper, and some snacks. I’m starving. Don’t you ever get hungry?
“Sometimes, when I’m - I don’t know, stressed.”
“Got some M&Ms in there.”
“The plain ones?”
“Yep.”
Tony grins at him, a bit shyly, and slams his door, then starts the car. “Now, where were we?”
“Any chance there’s any Benny Goodman on the radio somewhere?”
“All right, Benny Goodman, coming up.”
They asked me how I knew
My true love was true
Oh, I of course replied
Something here inside cannot be denied
They said someday you'll find
All who love are blind
Oh, when your heart's on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes…*
Tony says nothing after the song ends, but after a moment, turns the radio off and clears his throat, then asks quietly, “will you tell me about my father?”