Page 32 of Passed Ball

Tenley:

Look at these amateurs. Who falls asleep

before the infamous "love fern" scene.

The image of Vivi and my daughter sleeping peacefully together is a little dark and grainy, but that doesn't stop me from saving it. I tell myself it's for no reason other than I miss my daughter, but that's a lie.

Xavier:

If you let my daughter watch

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days without

me we are going to have a problem.

Three dots appear and disappear several times before I put her out of her misery.

Xavier:

It was a joke, Tenley.

Tenley:

Sometimes it's hard to tell since

you're not usually funny.

Tenley:

Kidding.

Xavier:

No you're not.

Tenley:

Look, safe and sound in bed.

A second picture comes through this one of Holland in her crib, and I save that one too.

Xavier:

Thanks for all the pictures today. I'm sorry I gave you such a

hard time before I left.

Tenley:

I'd be more worried if you hadn't.

I don't sleep through the night, but it's not because I wake up with worry, it's because it's what my body is conditioned to do after weeks of doing this on my own.

Chapter 15

Xavier

I'm elbow deep in a diaper change before our night game at home against the Los Angeles Diablos. Holland's tiny feet kick the air, making my work more challenging. After last week's road trip, we've really hit our stride. The chaos that used to run my life has smoothed out into something calmer--or at least as close to it as you can get with a baby.

---