Page 72 of Sometimes You Fall

“Yeah, Mom. We, uh, reconnected back in December, and then she moved back to Carrington Cove last month. She found out she was pregnant just after she moved back, and now…”

“You’ve known this long and you didn’t tell me?” she says, placing her purse on the floor beside her chair and giving me that motherly scowl of disappointment.

“Well, I’ve only known a couple weeks, but…yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew you’d have questions, and I didn’t have any answers to give you.”

“And now?”

I blow out a breath, suddenly feeling like a kid who just got in trouble. But I’m not. I’m a full-fledged adult who’s about to have a kid of his own. So, I lay it all out there. “Now, I’m still figuring things out. I’m nervous about all of this change. I’m excited to be a dad but alsoscared I’ll fuck up. And I’m frustrated because I want a relationship with Scottie, but she’s made it clear she doesn’t even want to try. I don’t know if we’re going to be living together, if she’s going to keep working and we’ll need daycare, or anything about what our life is going to look like—because the only life I see is the one where she’s my wife.”

My mother’s hand flies to her chest as I continue. “Her son is on the baseball team too, which makes our situation even more complicated, but he’s finally starting to come around. And I just…”

She stands from her chair and walks over to me. “Breathe, Grady,” she says gently, and I do, since I’m nearly out of breath after my word vomit. “Now, do you think she feels the same about you?”

“I do, Mom. I can fucking feel it.”

Smiling, she pats me on the shoulder. “Then do what you’ve always done and keep working for what you want. Put in the effort, even when it’s difficult.” She shakes her head as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I have to say, I always thought you had a thing for her back in high school.”

I rub the back of my neck. “I did, but…”

“Baseball was your focus.” She nods. “I know. And now?”

“She’s my focus, Mom. Her, her son, and our kid. I want a family, and today she’s coming over with hers so we can all get to know each other better. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard. I don’t want her to choose me because I’ve pressured her to. And her ex did a number on her. But this girl…” I look across the room and it all becomes so clear. “She’s always seen me for me, not my skills on a pitching mound or how much money I have. We’ve had a connection since we were kids, and seeing her again just made me realize that my feelings were real—arereal.” I take in a deep breath. “She’s the one, Mom.” Lowering my voice, I admit, “I think she always has been.”

“If there’s one person in the world who deserves this, it’s you, Grady. It’s time for you to live your life for yourself and your happiness—not just for baseball.” She smiles up at me with tears in her eyes. “I was always afraid that you would end up resenting the game when you realized what it could cost you.”

“Like a family?”

“Yes.” She nods softly. “Part of me always wondered if you’d ever have this, and now… Well, I can selfishly say I’m grateful to be welcoming another grandchild into our lives, but mostly…” She cups my face, making me feel like a boy again who needed her comfort in times when I doubted myself. “I’m so happy for you, Grady. You’re going to be an amazing father.”

“Even though mine wasn’t around?” I whisper, voicing one of my biggest doubts.

“Especially because of that. You know what it felt like not to have that type of presence in your life, so be the man you wish you had to look up to.” I nod, choking down the lump forming in my throat, knowing that she’s right. “And since you’ve told me your news, I guess it’s time to tell you mine.”

“You have news?”

Fighting to contain her smile, she says, “Yes. I met someone. His name is John. We’ve been talking online, and he lives in Castle, about an hour away. We’ve discussed him moving here. He works remotely, and I don’t want to leave Astrid without my help, and now you might need my babysitting services as well, so...”

“I want you here for more than just watching my kid, Mom.”

She chuckles. “Good to know.”

“Does he treat you well?”

“Yes, he does.” The blush that graces her cheeks tells me that I probably don’t want to know all of the reasons for that answer.

“Then I can’t wait to meet him.”

“And I can’t wait to see Scottie again and welcome her into the family.”

I pull her in for a hug, inhaling deeply, grateful that even though I only had one parent growing up, she was the one I had. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, Grady. And I can’t wait to watch you be the dad you never had.”

I follow my mom back to the main part of the house, and I see Astrid chewing on her thumbnail as we enter the kitchen.

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