Breaking Through the Past (Espen Jetties #3)

2. Stephen

2

STEPHEN

The stadium was filled to capacity. People milled around the concourse looking for food or drinks. I, on the other hand, was looking for Jansen. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking when I invited him to the game. He’d looked so lonely and lost when I saw him staring at the shelf of yogurt, I couldn’t help but approach him.

When Serilda ended her relationship with Jansen, I knew she was making a huge mistake. He’d been so good to her, treated her the way any father would want someone to treat their daughter. Not that my daughter cared much for my opinion. I did my best to give her all the love and support I could, but a father’s love could only go so far when their daughter constantly kept him at arm’s length away.

I tried talking to her a few times after she left Jansen, attempting to figure out if something had happened or why she would let go of a man who cared for her like he did. Not that I expected her to stay with a man she didn’t love, but it seemed more like my daughter was interested in being on the arm of a different celebrity every few weeks. She’d always been more like her mother than me. Indecisive and unsure. I’d been a good way for Gisela to pass the time until Serilda tied our lives together forever, something I still thought Gisela blamed me for.

Tonight was not the time to worry about Serilda and Gisela. This was the first time I’d been to a game in months. Once Peter left, I decided not to use my season tickets. Sometimes I’d give them to one of the professors at the college, while others I let the seats sit empty. If I was going to sit by myself and watch the game, I’d rather do it in the comfort of my own home than surrounded by strangers in a stadium.

Being here was an experience. One I missed when I stopped coming, and one I was happy to have tonight. The sounds of the crowd, the chants, the cheers, and the smells. I was glad to be back.

I saw the moment Jansen walked up to the gate. It was hard to miss the six-foot three-inch man who stood above most of the crowd. He held out the ticket I’d sent him the night before so the woman could scan it. His eyes darted around the area when he stepped through the gate, until they landed on me. The corner of his mouth kicked up. It seemed like he needed to get out of the house as much as I did.

I offered my hand to him as he approached. “Jansen, I’m so glad you could make it.”

He took my hand and shook. “It’s nice to get out of the house for something besides training.”

“Did you want to get something to eat before we head to the seats?”

Jansen rubbed a hand over his stomach. “I could eat.”

I knew Jansen tried to eat healthy most of the time. Whenever he had dinner with Serilda and me, he was conscious about his choices. “There’s plenty of junk food, but there’s also a green eating place on the second level. I’ve never had their food before. It’s the healthiest option I can think of in the ballpark.”

“I don’t need to eat healthy tonight. I’m out, having fun. Greasy food goes with that. Show me your favorite place to eat.”

I smiled. “That’s easy.”

I led Jansen to the Emperor’s Grill. It was simple, but they had one of the best bacon cheeseburgers in the city. After having theirs, I’d never been able to order it anywhere else. We placed our orders and waited for the food and drinks before heading to our seats.

The season tickets had been a luxury purchase when I first got tenure as a professor at Espen University. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being the dean. Since then, I’d upgraded my seats to behind home plate.

“These seats are great,” he said. “I haven’t been here before.”

“More into winter sports?”

He chuckled. “You could say that.”

It wasn’t long before a few of the people surrounding us noticed who sat next to me. The fervor increased until fans got up enough nerve to ask for pictures and autographs. Jansen smiled and gave them what they wanted. He was so down-to-earth, which had probably doomed his and Serilda’s relationship from the start. She only loved the attention of being a model when people kept their distance. She wasn’t interested in appeasing fans or trying to win their support, while Jansen was the exact opposite.

The Emperors took the field and the excitement about my guest died down. He sat again and looked at me apologetically. “Sorry. I can’t tell them no.”

“It’s all right, Jansen. I understand you want to make your fans smile. It doesn’t hurt me if you take a few pictures with them. I’m just happy to be back in the stadium to watch the games.”

He grabbed a couple of fries from the cup and lifted them to his mouth. “You really haven’t been to a game since Peter left?”

“No. It isn’t the same when you’re sitting here alone. No one to talk about bad calls and missed plays with.”

“My baseball knowledge is limited.” He grinned. “I only know enough to talk about the best players, not what they do on the field.”

I pulled the foil back on my burger. “Well, I guess I’ll have to teach you.”

“Works for me.”

“I assume you know who’s behind the plate.” The catcher happened to be the husband of the man who signed Jansen’s paycheck.

He chuckled again and relaxed into his seat, almost like the weight of the world had come off his shoulders. “Yeah, I’ve met Marcus plenty of times.”

“With Ayden pitching tonight, it should be a great game.”

“I’ve met Ayden too, but not as many times as Marcus. Adyen’s come to some of the Jetties’ functions with his husband.”

“Yes, I remember they got married last year.” I took a bite out of my burger as the first pitch slid over the plate. The crowd cheered. There was nothing like starting a game with a strike.

I watched Jansen out of the corner of my eye. Hopefully, he enjoyed the game. It was nice to see him smiling again. Something I’d seen him do plenty of times when he had dinner with Serilda and me, but it was also something I noticed was missing after she’d left. He didn’t have the same bright, fun spirit when he was on the ice.

He groaned. “Damn, this burger is good.”

Jansen’s excitement pulled me away from thoughts of my daughter. With all the difficulties we’d had of late, I didn’t need to bring my mood down. For tonight, I’d enjoy the company and the game.

“They really are the best. I haven’t found anyone who can make a burger like this outside of the stadium.” I took another bite and washed it down with some water. “How’s training going? Are you still working with Jagger?”

“Yeah, I saw him yesterday. He’s tough as hell on me, but at least I’ll be ready when September comes.”

“Let’s not wish away the summer.”

“Not looking forward to the new semester?”

I sighed. “August and September always bring their own set of problems. Once the school year starts, things settle down a bit.”

“You used to be a history professor, right?”

“Yes. Some days, I miss my time in the classroom. Less problems to solve.”

Jansen smiled. “I’m sure you’re good at solving anything that comes your way.”

“That’s what I’m told. Some of it, I wish weren't problems in the first place.”

The crack of a bat sounded, and my gaze snapped in the direction of the plate. The Redwoods were still at bat.

“Come on, Devlin!” I shouted as Vander Devlin, the Emperors’ left fielder, ran toward the wall, leaping into the air for the ball. It wasn’t easy to see from where we sat, but his giant smile filled the screen of the Jumbotron as he landed with the ball in his glove. “Yes.” I set my burger down and clapped. Those were the kind of plays it was better to be in the stadium for.

“That’s an amazing feeling,” Jansen said, his eyes on the field.

“What is?” That had been the last out in the top of the first, so the teams were switching places.

“When you make a play that not many others would have been able to. Sometimes it’s luck, sometimes it’s skill, but it’s always a burst of adrenaline like no other.”

“I’ve seen you make plenty of plays like that on the ice, as you snatch the puck away from the other team’s center when they’re about to make an impossible shot.”

“And it feels amazing every single time.”

Vander happened to be the first in the lineup who started a hitting spree for the Emperors. By the time the third out was called, four runs had scored. Jansen had finished his burger and was on his feet cheering as each player came across the plate. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself jumping up and down next to him. He high-fived the people sitting near us when Callen Teague, the team’s star, hit a line drive triple into left field. Eventually, the inning came to an end.

We sat down after the last out was called, grabbing a drink, and catching our breath from all the excitement. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“It’s way better than sitting home alone.”

I watched him closely for a moment. “You’re still young. What are you doing sitting at home? There are so many things you could be doing rather than hanging out with an old man at a baseball game.”

He turned toward me. “First, you’re not old by a long shot. The last time I checked forty was the new thirty.”

“I’m forty-three.”

“Thirty-three then. Second, the game is great and I’m enjoying your company.” A smile pulled up the corners of his lips.

“I’m glad you’re having fun.”

When I’d invited Jansen the other day, he seemed like he needed a pick-me-up. And maybe it had been a little selfish of me. I missed having someone to talk to who wasn’t an employee at the college. I had friends, but most of them were in the history circles. Their interests didn’t extend to professional sports. Peter had been the opposite. He didn’t enjoy my interest in history or documentaries, something I’d built my entire life and career on.

Tonight was a nice change of pace. Together we watched the game with no more talk about being old or going out. We focused on the plays and the antics of the Emperors’ mascot.

It had been one of the most relaxing and fun nights I’d had at a baseball game in a long time.