Page 114 of Last Fall

* * *

Jack putme in a melancholy mood and I spent the rest of the morning writing some very heartfelt stuff for...something. It didn’t fit the book I was editing and it had nothing to do with any of the other projects I had sitting on the back burner. It had no home but I wrote it anyway because if I had learned anything in my short career, it was that inspired, heartfelt bursts of writing were gold, nomatterwhat.

After Erik woke up from his nap we got dressed for the night ahead. Him to face the press on his way into the stadium with the rest of the team, and me to meet his mother. I was kind of relieved that it was only Bernice and Jack coming to today’s game. I’d meet almost everyone else by the end ofnextweek.

No pressureatall.

It was just that I didn’t want any sort of foot to drop and ruin how incredibly happy I was right now. Plus I didn’t want any drama distracting Erik from his dreamcomingtrue.

Luckily my concerns were completely unfounded. Not only was Bernice every bit as lovely and wonderful as her sons described, but her first moment alone with me she voiced thesamehope.

“My son has dreamt about playing in The World Series since he was ten. I found him standing on his bed with his bat over his shoulder, calling an imaginary game. The only thing that matters for the next three weeks is keeping him happy andhealthy.”

“I completely agree.” I leaned back against the kitchen counter with a glass of water in my hand as I looked her over. She was shorter than I was by a good two inches, with dark shiny hair shot through with streaks of white. Her dark brown eyes missed nothing. She took in every detail with the kind of quiet contemplation I’d fear if I were her child. I bet she knew everything about everyone. She was not the kind of woman I wanted to upset. “Erik and I have one thing in common. We’re both unexpectedly living out our wildest dreams. I understand what this means to him and how incredibly rare it is. I will be every bit as supportive of him this month as he’s beenofme.”

I struck gold with that one. Bernice sighed with relief. “You know I always worried about who he’d finally fall for. It’s not easy to love someone whose face is in the spotlight all the time. We’ve had our ups and downswiththat.”

“Jack?”

She nodded. “You know I live just a few blocks from Berlin. We’re still very close. She’s still a part of the family as far as I’m concerned. I thought both of them being so successful would be a good thing. They each had lives. But in the end Berlin was already successful while Jack was just coming into his. They grewapart.”

It was kind of touching how much she seemed to be torn up over their marriage. “Erik once said ballplayers and writers were alike because we do something very few peoplewilldo.”

“I can already see why that’s important for the twoofyou.”

Seth barreled his way into the kitchen. “Mama Kaine!” He wrapped her up in a hug. “Did you bring mycookies?”

It was funny the way he dissolved into a teenager aroundBernice.

“They are on your bed. By the way, cleanyourroom.”

“Yes, Mama Kaine.” He leaned his head on her shoulder. “I’m going to miss your visits when Erik moves inwithZoe.”

Her eyebrowsshotup.

I shrugged. “News to me.” Not that it wasn’tinevitable.

“Like there’s any question,” he grumbled. “You’re hereeveryday.”

“How would you know?” I shot back with a grin. “You keep shacking up with the woman you’re notinterestedin.”

“Seth Butler!” Berniceadmonished.

“Thanks, Zoe,” hegrimaced.

My phone vibrated, saving me from further evil glares. “Sorry guys. This is my agent. I need to take it.” Out on the balcony and away from the lecture Seth was getting about respecting relationships. “Hey Maggie!What’sup?”

“Please don’t be madatme.”

She had never, ever said anything like that to me. “Why would I be madatyou?”

“The producers have requested you visit the week after next to go over the final script, casting, anddetails.”

Oh.“I see.” I never thought I’d be disappointed by something like this, but I was. Usually being a writer was awesome because I made my own hours. And because of that advantage I’d planned on traveling with Erik to support him during theplayoffs.

“I know this is terrible timing for you but it should just be one, maybe two daysinLA.”

“No, no. It’s fine. I was justsurprised.”