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"Dad," Sarah wines as she waits at the front door, shoes on feet, bag on back, lunch in hand. "We're gonna be late."
"I'm coming, can ya wait one second?" her dad calls from upstairs. Sarah sighs and rolls her eyes, looking over at her uncle Tommy, who's leaning against the wall, swinging his keys on his fingers.
Dad comes downstairs, and both Sarah and Tommy's jaws fall open in unison.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Tommy asks.
Her dad is dressed in pressed dark blue jeans, a white dress shirt, and a navy blue sports coat. His boots are polished, his hair is slicked back, and his beard and mustache are trimmed short and neat.
"It's just a sports coat, okay? It's nothin' to make a big deal of." Her dad says, a blush creeping up his neck.
"I think it looks really nice, Dad," Sarah says, placing her lunch bag on the floor for a second before stepping forward to adjust the collar on his coat.
"What are you all dolled up for?" Tommy says, his eyes sharp.
"I'm meeting a client after I drop you off at the site. I got a change of shirt in the trailer at work, so I can change it when I get back." Her dad says, eyes shifting away from Tommy. "Let's get goin'. Don't want Sarah to be late."
"What's different about this client, you never dress up this much for any of our other clients." Tommy muses as they all leave the house and climb into his truck.
"It could be because this client's name is Tess, and she's a tall, pretty lady with long auburn hair, and she made Dad blush last week when she came to the house to drop off the blueprint from the architect," Sarah says with a nonchalant tone as she buckles her seat belt.
Dad turns around and gives her a look like, 'You traitor.' She gives him a smirk.
"Oh ho ho. Now I think I'm catchin' on. Is this the same Tess that I saw your daddy almost trip over his own damn feet when he was showing her around the construction site last week?" Tommy says, giving Dad the side-eye as he pulls out of the driveway.
"Hmm, I think it just might be," Sarah says, lips curved, and she watches Dad turn absolutely red with embarrassment.
"it ain't fuckin' like that. She's just a client, okay? I got dressed up because the meetin' is at a restaurant for brunch or somethin' like that."
"Dad, it's a date!" Sarah says, leaning forward to grab his shoulder excitedly.
"It is not a date. It's just a meetin', and sit back in your seat." Dad says as he adjusts his sports coat so it won't get wrinkled.
"Well, date or not. If for some reason you can't make it back into work today, can ya please make sure to get me back my truck by the end of the day so I can go home at least?" Tommy says, adjusting his rearview mirror so he can give Sarah a knowing look.
"It ain't like that. I will not be stayin' later, and it's not a fuckin' date." Dad says and then looks at the two of them as they exchange a look like 'sure it's not.' "Can you two cut it, please?" He asks.
Sarah smiles and pats him on the shoulder. "Okay, Dad, we'll stop. Just be careful, ok."
"Yeah, don't forget to bring protection. There's some in the glove compartment if you need it." Tommy smirks.
"Goddamn it, Tommy." Dad groans as both Sarah and Tommy break out in laughter.
---
"Hey Joel, what's up, big brother," Tommy says, balancing his cell phone on his shoulder as he struggles to measure the wood he's getting ready to cut.
"Ah, yeah, I'm gonna be a little late, but I'll be back in time to pick ya up by the end of the workday."
A smile creeps over Tommy's face, and he puts down the piece of wood and pencil so he can take his phone in hand and turn so the other guys can't hear him. "So it was a date?"
"Shut up, Tommy. I swear to god, if you say anything to Sarah about this, I am goin' to make sure she hears about why you were late to her 15th birthday party," Joel says, his voice tight.
"Jesus, don't do that," Tommy says, chuckling. "I won't say anything, I swear. I hope you had a good time, at least."
"Yeah, yeah, it's been pretty good," Joel says, and Tommy could swear he hears a feminine snort in the background. "Oh yeah, that reminds me, you're gonna have to buy more of that protection for your glove compartment, you're all out."
"Christ Joel, there were at least four of them in there, what the hell."
"Well, it was a very productive meetin'," Joel says, and this time, there's no mistaking the female laugh Tommy hears on the other end of the line.