A touching story. I wish the emphasis could have been more on
dad, Travis, the watch and their journey.
What if the watch was presented to his dad in retirement. And
dad passed it along to Travis. And with Donna's pregnancy, the
watch will be handed down to their child.
As a bit of a horologist, I would have liked to seen the watch face.
Is it an old Omega? A Bulova perhaps?
Got to be a timepiece that represents Americana of the '50s and '60s.

How Travis handles the watch, how it must feel in his hands, can be
measured by his expression.
And have him hold the watch to his ear. Definitely. to his ear. Just to hear
the ticking. Just the way we listen to a heart beat.

Nice bit of writing and I applaud the way you've handled the story.

I related to this story in that I went through the “Better get down here” moments with each of my parents. I got a little confused at times but it’s probably just me. I liked the watch reference even though it wasn’t connected to the father. In reading the other comments, I agree that it would have been more touching if it were.

Many commented they also received “the call” about a parent in I’ll health, where death was inevitable. This story, from start to finish, was exactly how it went down when I lost my dad. I used to own a deli — I got the call there. My wife, who was pregnant, and I went to see him one final time and I received “the call” at 4 in the morning.

We had to cancel a little weekend getaway for funeral services and what not. That was Memorial Day 2009. Later, around the 4th of July, we finally took that weekend getaway and that was where I first heard the song The Medication Is Wearing Off by the Eels. I instantly connected that song with my father’s passing, and all the emotions I was going through.

Maybe one day I’ll write a story about how my dad came back and visited his grandson when he was just a toddler. For another time.

Steve

Quoted from SAC Many commented they also received “the call” about a parent in I’ll health, where death was inevitable. This story, from start to finish, was exactly how it went down when I lost my dad. I used to own a deli — I got the call there. My wife, who was pregnant, and I went to see him one final time and I received “the call” at 4 in the morning. We had to cancel a little weekend getaway for funeral services and what not. That was Memorial Day 2009. Later, around the 4th of July, we finally took that weekend getaway and that was where I first heard the song The Medication Is Wearing Off by the Eels. I instantly connected that song with my father’s passing, and all the emotions I was going through. Maybe one day I’ll write a story about how my dad came back and visited his grandson when he was just a toddler. For another time. Steve

Ok, I'm on board for the whole story of your dad visiting your son from beyond - and you have hereby committed yourself to the writing of it.  I'll be waiting.