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Sam

M onica got Kelsey on a flight that left within fifteen minutes of the team charter so we could travel to the airport together.

I helped her and Crew get through security.

A car was waiting for her at JFK, and she would meet me at the hotel afterward.

There wasn’t much time to show her the city that night, but I had planned a few surprises to be sent to the suite for her.

Other than when Kelsey bought groceries for me, she wouldn’t spend more than a hundred bucks on the credit card.

I'd have to spoil her if she didn’t buy things for herself.

I had planned to bring her to pick out furniture for the nursery, but when I reached out to her sister Kylie, she confirmed that Kelsey would be a pain in the ass and probably wouldn’t tell me what she wanted.

Monica and Kylie connected, and both were working behind the scenes to get it done before we returned from my mother’s house on Monday night.

Me: Just landed .

Within twenty minutes, Kelsey texted to let me know they had also landed.

My flight had landed earlier than hers in La Guardia, and I planned to arrive at the hotel in advance.

With traffic, I didn’t expect Kelsey for a bit longer.

I had arranged for room service for dinner, expecting that both Kelsey and the Crew would need some time to decompress after flying.

Monica: I made reservations for tomorrow with your father and grandfather. Just be prepared. Your dad is not in a good place.

Me: Care to elaborate?

Monica: He’s always aggressively trying to reach you, but his tone is different. Not sure if that means he is drinking more or not.

Me: Great. Thank you for dealing with him.

Monica: I have plenty of rehab referrals ready for when you’re ready.

Me: Thanks. But he’s avoided it this far. I don’t think he would know how to breathe without booze.

My father didn’t quit drinking when my mother made good on her ultimatum, and there was no way that he would be moved to stop because I cut off communication.

I hoped that the warning I gave Kelsey in advance was enough for her to prepare to meet him fully.

I was confident that he would say something insulting to me or to her, and I hated that I had to expose Kelsey to him.

Judging by my excitement, you would think it had been days since I had seen Kelsey and Crew. I hated traveling without them, and it would have been nice if families could travel with the team, but that wasn’t an option.

I had found an SUV to purchase in New Jersey and planned to drive it back to Boston at the end of the road trip.

I planned to cancel her flight if Kelsey felt okay to bring Crew for the long drive.

The SUV was primarily a replacement for her vehicle, but I planned to act as if it were my second car.

She already squirmed whenever I bought anything for her.

While I knew she’d eventually love the M Series BMW X5, she’d likely be pissed that I bought it.

In the meantime, I’d be okay parking it in the garage until she gave in and drove it.

She could keep her Honda if she wanted to, but I’d let her decide for herself.

I checked in and waited for her when she texted me that she was pulling up in front. I met her in the lobby, taking Crew’s car seat and as many bags as possible to the suite.

“I confirmed that your dad will have the suite next door when he checks in tomorrow. Is he good to get here on his own from the train, or should I have Monica send a car for him?”

“He’s good. He’ll likely take a cab. He’d hate for you to make a fuss over him.”

“Hmm, wonder where you get it.”

Kelsey ignored me and started to settle into the suite.

She had brought the bassinet because it was portable, and we’d realized that the hotel's crib option was another large playpen.

Her father had offered to keep Crew overnight, so even though we were only a room away, Kelsey would have her first night off since his birth.

“He’s not going to last much longer in this. It makes me sad; time seems to crawl some days, but when I look back, I realize it passed like warp speed.”

I had pulled him out of the car seat and realized he needed a diaper change.

I took care of that while Kelsey finished unpacking their stuff.

I was continually surprised at the ease with which we worked together.

If you’d told me a few months ago that I would be excited about a night in a while traveling to New York, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I hope you brought comfortable shoes. I plan to walk you all over town before I leave for the stadium tomorrow.”

“I know you won’t eat it, but I’m looking forward to some pizza.”

“Ugh? You’re going to make me watch you eat my favorite food.”

“Oh, come on. You can have one cheat meal.”

“Not on game day, but if you wait until Sunday, I’ll join the fun.”

“Fine. I’ll starve until then.