Page 40 of Catching the Coach
“So, I never pictured you as one to yell at an umpire., I say with humor in my voice.
She groans quietly and puts her free hand up to her face. “Not my finest moment. I’m usually not like that, I swear. That game had me on edge the entire time, and that crap call just snapped whatever thread of calm I was holding onto.”
I chuckle. “I’m not going to lie. It was a big turn on to see you get riled up like that.”
I sneak a look over at her and see her face flush. I squeeze her hand again. “Don’t be embarrassed, it happens to the best of us.”
Lucy lets out a sigh and leans her head back against the seat, looking out the passenger window. “This drive is really pretty. How much longer until we’re at your parents?”
“About another ten minutes. This is my favorite drive to make during fall. The trees change into different shades of oranges and yellows with pops of reds throughout. I’ve always thought about getting property out here and building a house when I retire.”
Lucy keeps her head on the headrest and tilts her face towards me. “Do you think about retirement? I mean you’re not old, but your injury was bad and I know the toll injuries like that take on your body. It’s impressive you’ve been able to make such a fantastic recovery.”
I forget she knows all about recovering from injuries like that, being a physical therapist, I’m sure she’s seen it all. I feel like I can open up to her about it, and how difficult of a recovery I had in the beginning.
“After my first surgery, I thought my playing days were over.” I think back to the dark place I was in and how shitty I was to everyone who tried to help. “I didn’t handle not being able to play baseball well. I pushed myself harder than I should have, thinking if I just tried hard enough, I could make my body do what I wanted it to.” I shake my head and huff out a laugh. “I caused so much inflammation and scar tissue from pushing myself too hard too early, they had to go back in for a second surgery about four months later and clean it up.”
I see Lucy shake her head.
“I know, I was an idiot. Reese and Brent tried talking to me but I shut them out for a while. I shut everyone out actually. After I set myself back longer than I needed to, Coach Dixon came to my apartment one day and had a talk with me. He told me he understood and respected my drive to get back out on the field, but that I was causing more harm than good, not only for myself but for my team.” I laugh. “He told me to pull my head out of my ass and put it back on the good shoulders my parents gave me where it belongs.”
Lucy chuckles.
“After that, I listened to my body and the therapists, I took it easy and only pushed when I was told I could. The last six months of my recovery were grueling, but I was able to make the progress I needed to get back out where I belonged.” I look over at Lucy and see her looking out the window at the scenery passing us by and make the decision to tell her what I also learned while I was recovering.
“I also realized something else during that time. Something I didn’t really think I was missing, or needed. I spent a lot of time wondering what I had to show for all my hard work. Yes, I had awards, division championships, money.” I pause and lift her hand, placing another kiss to her fingers. She turns from the window and gives me a smile. “But what I didn’t have, was anyone to share that with.”
“My first game back, the day I met you, I felt something.” Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t say anything, so I continue, “I didn’t realize it until I was sitting at Tony’s with you and Hudson what it was that I felt. A want, no, a need, desire, whatever you want to call it, for a family.” I pause and take my eyes off the road to look at her. Her lips are parted slightly and she’s staring intently at me. Frozen. So I decide to lay it all out there. “I’ve known you for a little over a week, and you and Hudson are already the first thing I think about when I get up and the last thing to cross my mind before I go to sleep.”
Lucy pulls her hand from mine and sets it in her lap. I panic slightly, thinking I’ve gone too far. “That’s infatuation Kessler. It fades,” she says quietly.
“No, Lucy. I’ve been infatuated before, I’ve had flings and one night stands. What I felt the day I met you, the energy between us, me hearing your voice above all the others. That’s not something I’ve ever experienced, and if you can tell me you don’t feel the same way I will drop you and Hudson off after dinner, and never bother you again.” I sit there silently praying she doesn’t take me up on that.
She’s quiet for a few minutes, twisting the ring on her thumb. I can see her worrying her lip out of the corner of my eye. I grip the steering wheel, turning my knuckles white. I shouldn’t have said anything yet. It’s too soon. I see my parent’s long driveway come into view and I slow down and make the turn. I drive slowly up the gravel driveway and park behind my brother’s car. I turn the truck off and we sit there in silence.
“I didn’t-”
“Can I-”
We both start. We stop and motion for the other to go ahead. Exhaling a small laugh I say, “Please, go ahead.”
“I, just. I guess I just need some time to mull this over in my head. I’m not going to lie and say this doesn’t all freak me out a little.”
I nod, understanding where she’s coming from. “If I’m honest, it freaks me out a bit too that I can feel this strongly for someone, in such a short time.”
We sit in silence for a few beats, when we hear Hudson stirring in the back seat. I look back and see him yawn and stretch. He rubs his eyes asking, “Are we at the restaurant?”
Lucy unbuckles her seat and turns to look at him. “No restaurant bud. We’re at Kessler’s parent’s house.”
“Oh, ok,” he says, completely unaware of the weirdness between me and his mother right now.
I unbuckle my seatbelt and open my door. Lucy moves to do the same but I stop her. “No, don’t move. I will get your door.” I hop out and move to the passenger door and open it. I give her my hand and she takes it and slides out of the truck. She tries to take her hand back, but I hold onto it, not wanting to let go in case this is the last time I get to hold it. Hudson jumps out of the back and looks around.
“Woah, this place is huge. Did you grow up here?” he asks, taking it all in.
I look up at the two-story house with its stone chimney towering above us and memories flood my brain. “Yep, this is home.” I put my free hand on his back just below his neck, and guide them both up the walkway to the front door. It opens before we even reach it and my mom walks out.
“You must be Lucy and Hudson,” she says greeting us. “I’m Marlene. Kessler’s mom.” She takes Lucy’s free hand and gives it a squeeze then turns her attention to Hudson. “Come in, Come in. The food is almost done. You must be starving after playing so hard today,” she says to Hudson, ushering us inside.
