On an otherwise unremarkable summer evening, I asked my girlfriend’s father, Randy, if he would go on a walk with me. Randy lived in what are called the boonies or sticks—i.e., the sacred parts of the earth that remain untarnished by artificial colors of industry. I liked going to Randy’s house for this reason. But that, of course, was not the only reason I liked going to Randy’s house.
We left his porch and began walking down an old country road. I was taller than Randy even back then, though he outsized me in muscle mass to be sure. One side of the road was walled with stalks of sweet corn, while an open expanse freed the other. The sun was on its way down for the day, but my spirits were on their way up.
Under normal circumstances, it was not hard for me to talk with Randy. This was not a normal circumstance, however, and Randy could tell. It was not just the fact that we did not go on walks together; we never went on walks together. I think one time we went on a run together, but that does not count. If we had a serious conversation, it would always be softened with a silly tone. But tonight was all serious.
We walked down the road at a steady pace. Randy carried a quiet disposition about himself, which was rather unusual. You could tell he was in the moment. We both were. After a few minutes of chitter-chatter about weather and weapons, I got to the point of our walk.
“I want to begin by complimenting you, Randy, for raising such a wonderful daughter,” I began, my voice reflecting both sincerity and respect. Without as much as a whisper, Randy kept his gaze straight ahead.
“It is no accident,” I continued, determined to express my full sentiments, “that Chelsea is the amazing person that she is.” Randy’s lip twitched awkwardly in the air, as if he was trying to hold back a smile. His eyes remained focused on the road, yet I could sense that he was listening intently. “There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea is the product of two God-fearing parents who have loved her dearly. Therefore, I have you and Julie to thank for Chelsea.” Randy nodded in approval, still keeping quiet.
“As you know, Chelsea and I began our relationship with the end goal of marriage in mind. We saw no point in fooling around with each other unless we were heading in a marital direction. That was our mindset from the start.” Glancing over at Randy, I searched for any sign of reaction, but his stoic posture remained unyielding. He appeared unfazed at the prospect of this seventeen-year-old asking for his blessing to marry his daughter. It soon became clear: Randy knew that this was the real destination of our walk.
There was a brief pause, and the weight of my words hung in the air. Time seemed to slow as I anxiously awaited Randy’s response. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned his gaze toward me, his eyes softening with a mixture of emotion. The unspoken understanding between us said volumes, and without uttering a single word, Randy conveyed his approval.
[The above is a sample passage from my upcoming book, “Saving the Subject: How I Found You When I Almost Lost Me,” which is slated for a late summer or early Fall 2024 release. Subscribe to this website to stay updated.]
Cameron Fathauer 