Chapter 3 begins with me, Frank Szatowski, reflecting on my life at the age of fifty-two. For most of my adult years, I’ve worked as a package car driver for UPS, a job that has kept me on the road delivering packages all across neighborhoods. These large brown trucks are a constant presence in most areas, delivering everything from online shopping orders to other goods. After serving in the army, I started my career as a UPS driver, and recently, I received the honor of being inducted into the Circle of Honor for driving twenty-five years without an accident. The physically demanding nature of the job, which now includes lifting everything from futons to car tires, has not deterred me, and I’ve made a comfortable living with a steady income, frequently earning over one hundred thousand dollars when factoring in overtime.

Financially, I’ve managed to establish a stable life for myself. My Jeep is paid off, and my mortgage is almost settled, with no credit card debt weighing me down. I had been looking forward to an early retirement, believing that a solid pension and healthcare benefits would provide me with a comfortable and peaceful future. However, after my wife passed away, life took an unexpected turn, and complications arose with my daughter, Maggie. The stability I had once enjoyed now seemed fragile, and the changes in our family dynamic have made me reevaluate the future. Despite this, I hold on to the sense of security I had built, even as I navigate these challenges.

Recently, Maggie reached out to share an important update—her wedding, which is set for July 23rd. When she first called, I was caught off guard by the news, as she excitedly spoke about her fiancé, Aidan. They had met just last Halloween at a costume party, where they dressed as characters from The Office, and she quickly became infatuated with him. I was surprised by the speed at which their relationship had developed, having only known each other for six months. It wasn’t the kind of timeline I had expected for such a significant decision, and I struggled to reconcile the quick pace with my own cautious nature.

Aidan, to my surprise, turned out to be an artist, not a housepainter as I had initially assumed. Maggie explained that he was working hard to build his reputation as an artist while also teaching at MassArt, which seemed to impress her. While I wanted to be supportive of Maggie’s relationship, I found myself feeling uneasy about Aidan’s unconventional career choice. I couldn’t help but press her for more details about his financial stability, but my questions seemed to create an awkward tension between us. I wasn’t sure if I was being too intrusive or just looking for reassurance that Maggie’s future was secure with someone who could provide for her.

Maggie, on the other hand, was more open about Aidan’s family background, sharing that she had a great relationship with his mother. However, when it came to his father, she seemed hesitant to dive into specifics, offering only vague hints that there might be complications there. My persistence in asking more about Aidan’s background seemed to strain the conversation, and it was clear that Maggie was ready to move on to a different subject. She suggested we talk about everything further over dinner at an Irish pub in Boston, giving me the name of the place where we could meet up. Despite her eagerness to change the subject, I agreed to the dinner, hopeful that I might gain more insight into Aidan and their relationship.

As our conversation came to a close, I felt a deep sense of regret for the challenges that had occurred in the past few years. However, before I could fully express my thoughts, Maggie had already hung up the phone. The abrupt end to our conversation left me feeling unsettled and unsure of where I stood in her life. While I was eager to reconnect and be supportive, the increasing complexity of her relationship with Aidan made me question how much I truly understood about their future together. As the wedding day loomed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there were many more questions left unanswered.