Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Do you have good seats?”
“Yep, fifty-yard line. We have this huge section because the players’ wives are going to sit with us. Grandma Bianca is coming. Josie says I can’t listen to anything she says because she cusses like a sailor. It’s not like I’m a child and haven’t heard someone swear before.”
“Do you swear?” I ask him.
“Uh . . .”
I laugh. “It’s fine, Mack. I think everyone swears at your age.”
“Yeah, we do. It’s a thing.”
It is. I remember being the same way, although I didn’t much care for swearing.
“Do you know when you’re going to be home?”
“I’m hoping it will be soon.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want you to leave if Mom or Amelie needs you. Like, I’m okay with the Westburys. They’re really great people. Liam has me pitching to him every day. He taught me how to throw a slider. It’s pretty wicked.”
And there it is—what I feared most—Liam raising my son. I know some would argue I did the same thing with Noah when he was young, but the circumstances are different. We didn’t know where Liam was, and Liam didn’t know that he had a son. I want to be in Beaumont. I want to be with both my children. With my family. Together, in one place. But right now, I can’t, and short of splitting myself in two, I won’t be able to until I know exactly what Aubrey wants to do. This trip was supposed to be temporary. I should’ve been back by now, but here I am a world away from my son, who doesn’t seem to need me. Yet, I need him. I’m not mad at Liam. He’s doing exactly what I asked and what he promised. I’m mad at myself. At Aubrey. At life.
“If I remember correctly, Liam and Noah could both throw a nasty slider. I’m happy Liam showed you.”
“I like him. He’s fun to hang out with.”
“And Betty Paige?”
Mack’s cheeks flare red. I groan. I didn’t have the chat with him before I left, and I should’ve. Adjusting, I inhale deeply and prepare myself. “Listen, I need you to promise me that you’re abiding by Liam’s house rules. You and Paige . . . well you’re too young—”
“Dad,” Mack interrupts. “I follow all the rules, and while I like Paige a lot, I respect Liam and Noah. Noah told me she’s off limits. I’m listening to him.”
“Thank God,” I mutter under my breath. “Listen to Noah!”
Mack laughs. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t want Liam to lock me in his basement or anything. That place is soundproof.”
“Probably best,” I tell him.
“Are you working with Mom?”
“No, but one of my former coworkers offered me a job. I turned it down though.”
“Why? You like helping people.”
“I do, but I also want to come home to you. If I have a job, I have to sign a contract. Doing so limits my ability to leave when I want.”
Mack’s quiet for a moment. “I think you should work, Dad. You’re a good doctor and things are going really well here. Noah said if I can’t stay with his parents I can stay at Peyton’s grandpa’s. I’ve been mowing his lawn, too. I miss you, but I also know the people over there would benefit from someone like you.”
“I miss you too, bud. You have no idea how much. I’ll think about what you said though, because you are right, I do like helping people. However, it’s a decision I can’t make without consulting Josie and Liam. Maybe even Noah. This is one of those moments where it takes a village to raise a child. They’re the village and you’re the child. I can’t dump you on them anymore than I have.”
“Dad, they make me feel like I’m part of their family. I don’t know how else to explain it and I’m being respectful. Liam and Josie have rules and I follow each one. Liam’s great. We do a lot of things together, especially when it comes to football and baseball. They always make sure my homework is done, my grades are good, and there’s always food on the table. I know this was a hard decision for you, but I love you for it. Dad, Noah’s about to run out and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Go, Mack. I’ll be watching!”
“Love you,” he says as he hangs up.
He hangs up before I have a chance to say anything else. I don’t know how long I hold the phone, but it’s long enough for my hand to cramp. Quickly, I log into the sports app and project the image to the television. I’m in time to see Liam sing the anthem. What an honor it must be for him to sing before his son takes the field.
Tears spill onto my cheeks and I can’t shut them off. I’m bitter. Angry. I should be there. Noah worked hard to get where he is and I was there every step of the way, from Peewee to junior high, high school to college when he didn’t have any offers for football, only baseball. He didn’t give up and walked on at Notre Dame, only to be offered a scholarship the next year due to his performance. I was there on draft day, sitting at the table with Liam and Josie, and I should be at the stadium now, cheering my ass off when he runs out onto the field. But I’m here, a million miles away, torn between my wife who either wants a divorce and doesn’t want me around, or is asking me not to leave because she’s not entirely comfortable with her schedule yet. And then there’s our children. One living his life and telling me to stay and help the people of South Africa. And the other is fighting me every step of the way when it comes to wearing a damn uniform to school and not understanding why it’s not safe for her to go to work with her mother. That child has no idea what it’s like when you leave a civilized city.