Chapter 12 - Asher
ASHER
I’m carrying a fucking poinsettia. That’s what my world has come to as I stand outside of Gracie’s parents’ house. It’s large, on a lake, and there is an overzealous number of Christmas lights on the house that could possibly overload the Illinois power grid.
“Okay, just let me do the talking. Now isn’t the time for the man-to-man crap.
Let me play into the daddy’s princess angle.
” Gracie is more nervous than me as she straightens her hair and exhales deeply.
“I’m an adult, yet I feel as though I might disappoint him, but then I remind myself that it’s ridiculous. Yet, here I am.”
I’m very familiar with the feeling.
Already, we are not starting on the right foot. She could have used her key or walked right into the home she grew up in, but she chose to ring the doorbell then realized her error.
She is bouncing on her feet, attempting to create warmth in her body, and I can see that she is visibly nervous. Looking forward, I see my breath in the air because it is freezing.
“Want to know a secret?” I say, trying to distract her.
“What?”
“I actually kind of like the holidays.”
She stops mid-bounce, and her eyes whip to the side. An angelic smile spreads on her rosy cheeks. “Really?” she coos.
“Let’s not make a big deal about this.” I’m trying to downplay it, but there is some truth in what I said.
“What is it that you like? Is it the songs, the cookies, or maybe a stocking full of coal? Did your parents do that?”
My eyes grow big. “No. Did yours?”
“Oh gosh no.” Phew.
“I guess it’s the atmosphere. Everybody is in a good mood and there’s special food. We always used to get little gifts for every night of Hanukkah. Socks or… well, more socks.”
She grabs my arm. “Yours too?” It’s working. She seems to be calming down and forgetting the hour ahead.
I can’t help it because it seems that I’ve unlocked a few memories that brighten my mood. “Ties too.”
“That sounds like something an old married couple would give to one another,” she remarks humorously.
“I would keep that thought to yourself. Not sure parents want to be reminded of age. Anyway, we would also have those donuts. The sufganiyot. My dad is always proud when he manages to remember how to say it. There is a great bakery in the north suburbs that makes the best. Then there is also the fact that we always had a train around the Christmas tree.”
“My dad does the same. Okay, so you kind of secretly might like the holidays.”
I roll a shoulder back. “Nah.”
Silence fills the air, and for a few beats, we are lost in one another’s eyes as our smiles fade. “Asher… the holidays are about family, and next year we will have a baby with us.”
“Yeah… yeah, we will.” The words are flooded with affection.
The door whooshes open which breaks our attention, and Piper Arrows opens the door, slightly perplexed. “What’s with the doorbell?”
Gracie is quick to walk into her mom’s arms for a hug. “Sorry, I’m out of sorts. Merry Chrismukkah.”
Her mom’s eyes meet mine as she wraps her arms around her daughter. She knows who I am, but now she has to see me through a different lens. The one where I’m the father of her grandchild… the guy who knocked her daughter up, but I prefer the classy option.
Gracie pulls away, and just like Gracie said, her mom is still smiling at me. “It’s good to see you. Crazy news but wonderful.”
My arms missile out with the flowers. “Here. These are for you. The Flower Jar had only a few left, so ignore the dying leaf in the back.”
She assesses the plant and shrugs. “It’s the thought that counts, and besides, nobody will be looking at the flowers once Hudson finds out about the news.”
“Joy,” I say dryly.
We enter the home, and it’s as meticulous as one would think. The interior reminds me of my parents’ house in Lincoln Park, except this place is modern and open. I’m also nearly blinded by a giant Christmas tree covered in gold and a train going around at the base.
“That is a monster of a tree,” I mutter to Gracie.
“If my mom asks, my great-grandmother’s menorah is the star of the show,” she says under her breath.
Walking further into the living room, my nerves are hitting me, and I’m on the hunt for any sight of Hudson Arrows.
“There you are. I was getting worried.” Right on cue, he walks into the living room with two glasses of sangria in his hand and an apron that says the Oy vey, it’s Santa’s day.
His sight lands on me, and my presence seems to throw him off balance.
“Coach Tate, I had no idea you were joining us. Welcome.”
His festive-cheer bubble is about to break.
Gracie intervenes. “He’s here. Now where is that hug?” She opens her arms and heads straight for her dad.
“There’s my princess. I’ve made the roast chicken with rosemary that you like. Did latkes on the side because your mother’s grandma will haunt me in my dreams tonight if I don’t cook her recipe.”
Piper’s humorous glare is shot his way. “Cute. Why don’t we all sit down.”
“Sure. Let me grab some more glasses of sangria,” he suggests.
“No!” Gracie is a little overzealous with her interruption. “I mean, I just don’t feel like sangria for now. Let’s just have a seat. Oh, great, snacks.” She motions to the coffee table and already beelines to it.
“Uh, thanks for having me.” That’s my only line right now.
We all join Gracie who is now stuffing her mouth with crackers, and I’m not sure if it’s due to nausea or simply avoidance.
Hudson hands Piper a drink, and she sits on the armrest of the sofa. “The more the merrier. My son and the grandkids only come tomorrow for brunch.”
We all sit for a few seconds as her parents sip a drink, and Gracie grabs more crackers. It only draws attention from her father.
“Go easy there. Are you hungry? I can probably speed up the bird.” He hitches a thumb over his shoulder.
“Probably just a little carsick,” I lie.
Piper places her hand on Hudson’s leg, and she gawks her eyes at Gracie and me. Her sign that there shall be no stalling.
“Oh, wait…” His eyes swims between his daughter and me. “Why did you two show up together? Actually, Asher, why are you here?” The man is now purely baffled.
“Storytime,” Gracie says, muffled through her cracker chewing, as our announcement entry point.
Suddenly, Hudson’s face hardens as he does his best to understand.
“Gracie is pregnant,” I burst out. This time I get the point for letting words flow out of my mouth without thought.
One tick. Two ticks. Three. Because he just knows that we are not playing a game.
“Marry her,” he firmly states.
Piper’s head falls into her hand as though she was expecting this.
“Are you kidding me?” Gracie nearly shouts.
I touch her thigh to calm her. “I’m sorry, it just came out,” I explain to her.
“Not you,” she clarifies. “My brother actually won the bet that it was three seconds before my dad went all traditional on me.”
Hudson stands, clearly agitated. “You.” He points his finger at me.
I stand, ready to be the man who directs a team. No fear of opinions. “I need you to relax. We’re having a baby and that’s that. Gracie is healthy, and we’re happy about this.”
“A Chrismukkah gift.” Piper pulls on Hudson’s arm to rein him in.
He looks back at his wife. “No. A proper gift would be my daughter first introducing us to her older beau and then one day he will ask me for her hand in marriage then have a wedding. Then somewhere between the Easter egg hunt and downing ridiculously sweet grape wine at the Seder, they would surprise us with a little onesie in a wrapped box.”
Gracie throws her arms into the air. “Well, it’s not like that. Deal with it.”
Her dad spears his gaze at me. “Yes, it’s not like that, so please now do the right thing and marry her.”
Piper rolls her eyes and looks frustrated at her husband’s level of crazy.
“This isn’t the stone age. We don’t need to be married.” Gracie stands, clearly annoyed.
Straightening my spine and feeling confident with our situation, I’m ready to challenge him. “She’s right. But I have no intention of leaving her side. I’m going to take care of her and the baby. In July, you’ll have another grandchild, and hopefully, you will be happy along with us.”
He lifts his chin, appearing to calm a smidgen.
“Of course, I’ll be happy that we have a grandchild to add to the Arrows brood.
But you two…” He grabs his glass of sangria from the side table next to the sofa and takes the world’s longest sip before setting it down.
“I didn’t even know you two are together. ”
“Eeeh,” Gracie peeps out then tugs my arm. “Just go with it,” she informs me under her breath. “We’re new. Going slow because of messy schedules and his public life, you know how it goes.”
Hudson’s eyes grow. “Having a baby isn’t slow,” he deadpans.
“Well, you better catch up really quick because we’re happening,” I reiterate.
My brazen attitude takes him by surprise. “You know, I’m excellent at throwing things. That’s the whole point of football. Then I have my son who I can borrow things from the farm to throw. Axes would be my tool of choice.”
I don’t blink once. “And? You’re not going to do anything to the father of your grandchild. Especially when he wants to step up.”
Gracie walks to the middle of the room and raises her arms on each side as if she needs to keep us apart. “Will you two calm it down a notch? If I need to lie down from exhaustion, I can promise you both that it’s from you two and not the baby.”
Hudson and I both pin our eyes on Gracie before we square off with hardened stares. I’m on board with Gracie’s request. Is her dad?
His jaw stretches to the side, and he is contemplating. “You’re right, princess… and… I’m confident that Asher will take care of you and the baby.”
A smile emerges on her face. “See? Was that so hard?”