Page 77

Kelsey

“ I s it bad that I’m looking forward to October?” I asked Sam as we finished breakfast in the kitchen. Sam had watched Crew while I went for a run earlier that morning. He had to be at the stadium before noon that morning for training and was the starting pitcher tonight.

“What if we make the playoffs? The season can always go longer.”

“My dad has been frustrated with you guys. The entire team is on his shit list, except for you. He’s already talking about football.”

Sam chuckled, “It’s a long season. Lots can happen after the All-Star break. Who is going to the game with you tonight?”

“Kylie is watching Crew, I’m bringing my dad.”

“Since when do we reward his lack of faith with tickets to the game?”

“Since we remember that he bleeds for the Minutemen. If you don’t retire with the team, he’ll show up in your next ballpark with your jersey, but it will be like you are forever on this team.”

“Any update from Tom?” Sam asked nervously .

“He asked me if his mother could Facetime with me and Crew. She lives in Vancouver and is dying to see him. I think she’s planning to travel to Denver while we’re in town.”

“Have you talked to her yet?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, just text. She’s three hours behind. We hope to connect later today, as long as Crew is awake.” I observed Sam, “This bothers you; I can see how hard you try to pretend it’s all okay. But I can see how badly this is tearing you apart.”

“Do you think he might be better off if you tried to be with his father? I mean, don’t kids do better when their parents are together? Are we setting him up to fail?”

“Sam,” I said, waiting for him to look at me, “I don’t see any life where Crew is better off without you in it.”

“Kelsey, I fell in love with both of you. It was one hell of a two-for-one package deal. But I would rip my own heart out before I ever hurt either of you.”

“Five years from now, when we’ve dealt with this chaos, we’re going to laugh because I’m certain we’ll fill our lives with something else equally chaotic.”

“Hmm, sounds amazing,” Sam said, nuzzling my cheek. “Will you give me more babies?”

“You ask me just like that, and I’ll give you anything you want. But no more babies for me until I’m married.”

“Noted,” Sam said, planting a kiss on me and Crew before he headed out. “I’ll see you later tonight. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

While Sam was gone, I took advantage of the time alone to add some touches of Crew and me to our home.

I’d found a website where I could print some of my favorite photos to canvas.

Several had arrived while we were in Texas, and I wanted to hang them before Sam got home tonight as a surprise.

My favorite one I’d stolen from online was him greeting us after one of his home games.

Crew’s baby equipment had already taken over the family room, and I’d finally been able to put together the high chair from my baby shower.

He still wasn’t holding himself up enough for me to feel good about starting solids, but it wouldn’t be long.

If I supported him, he could hold himself upright for a few seconds.

I’d been nervous about FaceTime with Tom’s mother, Patty, but once I got through the initial awkwardness, I realized that her priority was Crew.

I couldn’t imagine raising him without either of my parents, and I would never keep him from her.

She was eager to hear any stories I was willing to share about him, and I promised that we could talk often so Crew could become familiar with her face and the sound of her voice.

My dad rolled his eyes as we slid into my new SUV. “Sam doesn’t go halfway, does he?”

When we pulled into the player lot at the stadium, my father’s chest puffed up just a bit. “Oh, come on, Dad, you’re living out a dream from childhood.”

“Kelsey, I never wanted my daughters to be with professional athletes. I loved watching the games, but I thought they were all dickheads. Sam is just way too goddamned likable.”

“He is, isn’t he?”

“You got yourself a good one.”