Page 35 of DadBod

“Do more than that,” she says rather angrily. “I mean it, Rome.”

“I’ll talk to Mom about it.”

“Why?” She blinks a few times.

“Because she mentioned it as well.”

“I knew your mom was smart.”

“She’s a genius, actually.” That’s no joke. Mensa called and they wanted her to lead them. “She used to teach English literature.” She quit her job when she got pregnant with my sister. “She’s an expert on Shakespeare.”

“Ah.” Elizabeth nods. “That’s why you and your sister are named after Shakespearean characters.”

“Yep.”

“Why those, though?” She looks up to her right like she’s really thinking about it. “Those stories were really tragic.”

I’m not sure what to say. I take a moment to look at her.

“What?” she asks, her face turning red. “I read a little bit after I heard your actual names.”

“Mom doesn’t believe they were tragic. She thinks of them as passionate. That they loved beyond themselves. That they gave everything they had for the people they loved.” I smile. “Or something along those lines.”

“Wow.” She turns her head and looks out the window again. “She gave a lot of thought to your names. I’d do that if I ever have kids––” Her blush turns two shades darker. “I mean––”

“I get what you mean.” We named our kids after Tina’s grandfather and her best friend, Ryan. I didn’t have much say in the matter.

Okay, that’s wrong. I could have argued with her, but why? She gave me two children. That’s all that mattered to me. She could have named them Heckle and Jeckle for all I cared. I would have loved them all the same. But I see what Elizabeth is saying. I have hated my name for as long as I can remember. Shortening it to Rome when I was in middle school was the best decision I ever made. Mom wasn’t pleased, but she didn’t stop me. She refuses to call me by that moniker, though. I’m always going to be Romeo to her.

“Now that I agreed to consider therapy for the kids, will you take the job?”

“Let me sleep on it.”

“You’ll let me know tomorrow?”

“I will.”

* * *

WalkingElizabeth to my front door, I offer to drive her home, but she declines, saying, “I’m meeting Jeriann. I’m not going home since I’ve got to work later.”

That’s right. She’s working tonight.

“You talking to Jeriann about all of this?” I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I don’t think it’d be wise to dissuade her.

Elizabeth nods. “She’s my best friend.” She looks at me like I should already know that. I guess I did. “She’s my voice of reason.”

“Are we talking about the same Jeriann?” I chuckle. “The same Jeriann who talked an entire table of six at my restaurant into ordering cheeseburgers because Antony pissed her off?” And boy, was Antony angry about that. Cheeseburgers are not in his wheelhouse. “Peasant food” was his response when the order came through. Damn, that was funny. I didn’t laugh out loud, of course. Antony would have quit on me. Instead, I laughed inside like I do most of the time.

Elizabeth giggles at the memory. “That’s the same one. She’s really quite logical.” She laughs again. “Until you piss her off. She’s a bit crazy.”

“Noted.” I nod.

When she turns, she lifts her hand and gives me a little wave. “See you later.”

“Yep.” I sure will.