Page 95 of Strike Zone

“You too, Kellan.”

He jogs back across the street, sliding into his car and peeling out of the gas station at break-neck speed.

“How do you two know each other?”

“He was a few years above me at school. We grew up together but sort of lost touch after he moved away. We’ve seen each other a few times over the years but not enough.”

“Hopefully, he’ll take you up on your offer and come see us.”

“That would be great. He and Anders would be a riot to have in the same room.”

“I bet. You and Anders cause enough trouble on your own.”

“You love it.” He slings his arm over my shoulder.

“I do.”

Now that Lilah has stopped fussing, I snuggle her back in her stroller, ready to face the task we came here to fulfill. It’s a short walk to the trailer park where Linc grew up, and when he stops outside his mom’s place, I imagine Linc as a kid, running around here with a baseball in one hand and a bat in the other. No matter how he feels about it, his experiences here shaped him into the amazing man I know and love with all my heart.

“Sure you don’t want to cut and run?”

“I tell you what, if it goes badly, I’ll give you a really great blow job when we get home. Will that cheer you up?” There’s that playful grin I love so much.

“Fuck this, let’s skip to the good part.”

The door to the trailer opens, a small, gaunt woman with the same coloring as Linc stands before me, and I can’t for the life of me understand why she doesn’t want to be a part of her son’s life.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Lincoln.”

“Can we come in? I have some people I’d like you to meet.” He shrinks before my eyes.

“I know who they are. I saw you on the TV, making a fool of yourself. Everything’s always a big show with you. You were never content to be normal. It had to be flashy. You were too good for working a trade. Too big and fancy to stay here. And then you go and knock up this poor girl and have to make a big song and dance about having a baby.”

My heart breaks for him, for the boy he once was.

“Come on, Diana. This was a mistake.”

“Can you take Lilah for a moment? I want to talk to your mother real quick.”

“It’s not worth it. She doesn’t care.”

“You’re worth it, goddammit.” I turn my attention to his mother. “I’m Diana Lexington, and the sweet little baby in the stroller is your granddaughter, Lilah. Your son is an amazing man. A partner and a father I’m proud to call family. From what I can tell, Linc has grown into a successful, kind-hearted, wonderful man, despite your indifference to him. We came here today to offer you the chance to know him and to get to know his daughter, but the truth is, he is too good for this place. Not because it’s a trailer park or he had aspirations that were outside the norm, but because he's too good for you. You don’t deserve his love, but he gives it anyway. He owes you nothing, and yet you continue to take pieces of him with your vitriol.”

She doesn’t bat an eyelid. Linc was right, this was a mistake. My hands ball into fists at my side, the fighter in me ready to knock her the fuck out.

“Our door will always be open to you, Ms. Nash, simply because you gave birth to the love of my life. It’s up to you if you chose to walk through it or fester here in your resentment and hate. Linc is a fucking legend, lady!” I turn on my heels and walk away, Linc following close behind.

“Wow. You unleashed Dee Lex on her. I’m impressed.”

“I’m sorry. I just don’t understand why she’s so horrible to you. You’re amazing.”

“And as long as you think that, I’m a happy man. You and Lilah are what matter. As long as I’m being the guy you both need me to be, then I’m a success.”

“I shouldn’t have gone off on her like that.”

“Five-year-old me was jumping for joy that she got a taste of her own medicine. I particularly liked how eloquent you were until the very end. Shouting ‘he’s a fucking legend, lady’ was epic. I thought you were about to throw down.”

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