Page 27 of Catching Our Moment

Kelcie

“I wish I could have Thanksgiving here with you. Then I could play football with Shaw and Dylan and the guys. We could watch it and play it,” Aaron said as he slipped on his jacket.

“I know, but you get to spend time with your dad and get to see your grandparents and cousins. That should be fun,” I said.

Aaron ran back into the other room where Shaw was sitting at the counter, reading something on his phone. He immediately looked up.

“Will you text me?” Aaron asked, running over to him.

Shaw’s eyes grew wide, and he put his phone down, giving my son all his attention. He sat forward, extending his hand. “Of course. And you text me,” he said with a reassuring smile that melted my heart. “You sent your line-up, right?”

Aaron nodded.

Shaw quirked a side of his mouth. “Did you text TJ and tell him he was wrong about starting Mitchell and Reyes in his fantasy line-up?”

Aaron nodded.

The other side of Shaw’s mouth drew up. “What did he think about that?”

Aaron shrugged. “He said if I was right, he was going to give me a job.”

Shaw’s smile was devastating. “Did he now?”

“I’m right, of course. Mitchell won’t be able to break through Philadelphia’s defense, and Reyes won’t be given the ball enough to stack the points. He should’ve started Gonzalez.”

The doorbell rang, and a weight settled over the room.

Focusing only on Aaron, Shaw reached out and cupped his shoulder. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that today?”

My son’s smile could’ve lit up the room. It may have been just enough to get me through the next few days of missing him.

Shaw slapped his thighs, standing, and sighed, “God, help us all when you’re old enough to start betting.

In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving.

” He dropped his head to meet him eye to eye.

“You text, call, email, whatever, whenever, and I will be here to talk about football or whatever you want. Okay?”

Aaron nodded.

“And when you get back, we will keep working on that spiral.”

Aaron nodded again. Shaw straightened.

The doorbell rang again.

“Okay, well, I think that’s my cue to leave,” Shaw mumbled and nodded to me. Since it was the first time that James had even shown up since Shaw had moved in, we agreed it was better he wasn’t here to complicate matters.

“Don’t you want to meet my dad?” Aaron said.

“I know your dad, buddy,” Shaw said, then added, “I’ll catch him another time. It’s better for you three to be alone. Happy Thanksgiving, and I’ll see you on Sunday.”