Page 103 of Forever Player

The next day I head to a car dealership in town. I want to get Willow a car. I decide on a Genesis SUV and I ask for it to be delivered to the apartment tonight with a red ribbon. After my purchase, I head to the arena.

My cell rings and Mom’s name lights up the screen.

“Hi,” I answer.

“Hi, darling,” she replies. “How is that ankle of yours?”

“Doing a lot better. I’ll be back to playing this weekend, I think. I’m just headed to the arena now.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear. How is my granddaughter?” she asks, her tone filled with so much love.

“Just as amazing as she was when you were here last week,” I chuckle.

“Smart-ass,” she deadpans. “I want to enjoy my grandkids. Don’t make fun of me.”

“My bad. You should enjoy them,” I agree. After putting up with my alcoholic father for so many years, she deserves an easy life.

“The reason I’m calling is we got an offer on the house,” she says cheerfully. “It’s a solid offer, but I just wanted to run the numbers by you,” she explains.

Mom goes over the offer and tells me she has a little mortgage to pay off.

“How is that possible? I paid off the mortgage eons ago,” I state.

“I needed a little money a while back. It’s no biggie. I didn’t want to bother you,” she says.

“You know it isn’t a bother.”

“So, what do you think? Should I take it?” she asks.

“It’ll be nice to have you in the city,” I note.

“You say that now because you need a babysitter,” she jokes.

“It’ll be good to have the family together. Now we just need Henry to find a job once he defends his dissertation,” I say.

“He loves Yale, and he isn’t too far away,” she exclaims.

“True,” I agree.

“Will also sold his house. He got a good offer. We’re going to put our money together and buy something. . .”

She pauses.

“Mom?”

“Ya, sorry, I hope you’ll be happy for us, Brett, but we’ve finally decided to get married,” she shares. I hear how happy she is. Dad took off on us all the time when we were younger. He’d disappear for years at a time and Mom had been so lonely. She never told us about Will. She kept that part of her life separate. Dad never divorced her and Will seemed content to be living separately all this time.

“I’m happy for you, Mom. You deserve to be happy. Let me know if I can help in any way,” I offer.

“You’re such a good son, Brett, and you’re turning out to be an amazing father too,” she praises.

“Thanks,” I sigh. “I’m doing my best.”

“That’s all we can do. I can see how much you love that little girl of yours, and Willow too.”

“I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t want to screw this thing up. I think Willow is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” I confess.

“I think so too,” Mom agrees.

---