Jack and Diane

The karaoke bar was exactly what I expected.

Loud.

Crowded.

Chaotic.

And somehow, completely entertaining.

Jack's mother, Diane, immediately adopted me.

Within ten minutes she had introduced me to half the bar, explained who could and couldn't sing, and informed me which karaoke performances were legendary and which ones should never be spoken of again.

His father, Wayne, was the exact opposite.

Quiet.

Observant.

The kind of man who didn't say much but noticed everything.

I liked him immediately.

As we sat around one of the larger tables, conversation flowed easily.

Stories.

Jokes.

Family memories.

The more time I spent with them, the more I understood where Jack got his personality.

He had Diane's warmth.

Wayne's calm.

A dangerous combination.

At one point Diane smiled and asked,

"So, Lela, what's your last name?"

I answered without thinking.

The moment I did, everything changed.

Not dramatically.

Just enough for me to notice.

Diane blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then she got unusually quiet.

Wayne looked up from his drink.

"What was that?"

I repeated it.

Wayne looked at Diane.

Diane looked at Wayne.

Then Wayne looked back at me.

"Your father is Paul?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

The table became very quiet.

Uncomfortably quiet.

I looked at Jack.

Jack was suddenly very interested in his drink.

Which immediately made me suspicious.

"What?"

Nobody answered.

"What?"

Diane smiled.

A very forced smile.

"Oh nothing."

Now I knew something was happening.

Wayne rubbed the back of his neck.

"Paul."

I nodded.

"Yeah."

Another silence.

Then Diane suddenly stood up.

Far too quickly.

"You know what?"

What?

"Would you mind doing me a favor?"

I looked confused.

"Sure."

She smiled.

"Can you grab another round of drinks?"

I laughed.

"Of course."

"Put them on my tab."

The smile remained.

Too long.

Far too long.

Immediately suspicious.

But I shrugged.

"Okay."

As I walked toward the bar, I glanced back over my shoulder.

The second I was out of earshot, every single one of them leaned toward Jack.

Every single one.

I laughed to myself.

Something was definitely happening.

The bartender was taking forever.

So while I waited for the drinks, I occasionally glanced toward the table.

The conversation looked serious.

Very serious.

Diane was animated.

Wayne looked concerned.

Jack looked completely relaxed.

Which somehow made it worse.

Eventually, while waiting for one of the drinks, I wandered closer.

Not close enough to intentionally eavesdrop.

Just close enough that certain words drifted over.

"...you didn't tell us..."

Diane.

"...are you insane?"

Definitely Diane.

I nearly laughed.

Then Wayne spoke.

"Jack."

Uh-oh.

Nobody ever uses your full name unless something serious is happening.

Then Diane again.

"You mean to tell me that's Paul's daughter?"

I froze.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Jack's response was calm.

"Yep."

Diane looked horrified.

"Jack."

He smiled.

"What?"

"What were you thinking?"

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Because Jack looked completely unfazed.

Meanwhile his mother looked ready to lose her mind.

Wayne shook his head.

"You walked right into that one."

Jack shrugged.

"I like her."

The answer was simple.

Direct.

Honest.

For some reason, hearing it made me smile.

Diane stared at him.

"That is not the point."

"It is to me."

The table became quiet.

Then Wayne laughed.

Actually laughed.

Which apparently annoyed Diane even more.

Finally she lowered her voice.

"Did you tell her yet?"

Jack's smile disappeared slightly.

My curiosity immediately doubled.

Tell me what?

Wayne looked over.

Then back at Jack.

"No."

Diane's eyes widened.

"No?"

Jack shook his head.

"It's complicated."

I looked at the drinks.

Then back at the table.

Complicated?

That wasn't exactly comforting.

Diane crossed her arms.

"Jack."

He sighed.

"I know."

"No."

She pointed at him.

"I don't think you do."

The conversation became quieter.

Harder to hear.

Then I caught one more sentence.

"Her birthday is coming up."

A birthday?

Whose birthday?

Then Diane continued.

"And you know how GiGi gets."

Now I was completely lost.

Who in the world was GiGi?

Jack rubbed his forehead.

"I know."

"You better tell her."

"I will."

"When?"

Jack sighed.

"Soon."

Diane looked unconvinced.

Wayne looked amused.

And suddenly I had about a thousand questions.

The bartender finally handed me the tray of drinks.

Perfect timing.

As I walked back toward the table, every single person suddenly stopped talking.

Instantly.

Like children caught doing something they weren't supposed to be doing.

I set the drinks down.

Nobody said a word.

I looked around.

Then smiled.

"What are you all hiding?"

The silence lasted two full seconds.

Then Wayne burst out laughing.

Which immediately caused everyone else to laugh.

Except Diane.

Who was still staring at her son.

Jack simply smiled.

The exact smile of a man who knew something nobody else knew.

And for the first time that evening, I realized there might be more to Jack's story than I originally thought.

A lot more.

The question was whether I was ready to hear it.

And judging by the look on Diane's face, I wasn't going to be able to avoid it for much longer.