21. Heath
After Halloween, it feels like something has changed in our relationship, but I can’t figure out what. Things seem more comfortable—more steady. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I just hope that feeling stays.
Knox and Lacey have invited us to see the Ozark Legends minor league game today. They are playing the Show Me State Space Cadets. Gabby and Lacey look adorable in their oversized jerseys.
“I hope we can keep up with what’s going on,” Lacey says to Gabby. “Knox and I have been watching baseball with Matti and I think I’m finally starting to understand.”
Gabby grins. “I played softball growing up, remember?”
“That’s right!” Lacey grins. “If I get confused, I’m asking you for help. It’s embarrassing to ask your boyfriend sports questions.”
Knox leans forward in his seat. “You know you can ask me anything.”
Lacey grins, pops the hat off his head, and puts it on herself. “Oh, I know. Like, I could ask for your hat.”
Knox pretends to be hurt, but winks at me over her head. Those two are sweet together. Just goes to show that sometimes opposites do attract.
Lacey dyed her hair a burnt kind of red for today’s game since the Legends’ colors are burgundy and gold. It seems like every time I see her, she’s sporting a new hair color.
I reach over and run my fingers through Gabby’s loose blonde hair. She turns and plants a kiss on my lips. “What was that for?” I ask.
“For being you,” she says, before turning back to the game.
The score has been five to one since the bottom of the fourth inning. By the seventh inning stretch, the crowd has started thinning. “We’re not leaving until the final out,” Gabby says, flipping her hat upside down, the age-old tradition when your team is down. “Game’s not over yet. Bases are loaded. Anything could happen!”
I laugh. That’s my girl.
“How about Knox and I grab some hot dogs and popcorn for everyone?” I ask.
“Perfect,” Lacey says, before jumping up when the umpire calls a strike.
Laughing, Knox and I make our way to the concessions area and wait in the line. We’ve just gotten our food when cheering erupts from the home crowd. We turn in time to see the batter cross home plate. “GRAND SLAM!” the announcer shouts. “Score is tied!”
We grab our food and hurry back to our seats. Gabby was right—game’s not over yet!
The next two innings pass quickly. Both pitchers are doing their best to strike out the batters that step up to the plate. Finally, the Legends manage to get a huge hit to the outfield and win the scoring run.
Lacey and Gabby jump up and down in the aisle celebrating the win. “No wonder my brother-in-law loved baseball so much,” Knox says to me. “That was exciting!”
“It was,” I say, watching Gabby celebrate. “It really was.”
The following Wednesday, Mom, Gabby and I are headed to Dominic and Olivia’s for Thanksgiving. Mom was cleared to travel, and I’ve been missing Zade like crazy. I was hesitant to ask Gabby to join us. Not because I don’t want her there, but because I know that Olivia is a sore spot for her.
“Ready to go?” I ask, putting the last of the bags into the trunk of Mom’s car. We decided to take her car because we don’t all fit in the truck, and as much as Gabby loves her Jeep, I’m not convinced it could make the eight-hour drive.
“Ready when you are,” Gabby says from the front seat. Mom insisted she sit there, saying she needed the extra room in the back for her knitting supplies.
“All set,” Mom calls.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” I say, shutting the trunk.
The drive is long. Mom spends time knitting and napping. Her two favorite things these days.
“What are you thinking?” I ask. Gabby’s been singing along to the radio, but suddenly she’s gone quiet.
“What if they don’t like me?”
“Oh, Gabby.” How could anyone not like her? “I promise, they’ll love you.”
“But what if they don’t?” she asks, turning to face me. “Is that going to be a problem?”
I shake my head. “No. It won’t be a problem. I love you, so they will love you.” It’s really that simple.
“Okay.” Gabby turns to look out the window again.
“Gabby,” I say softly, so I don’t wake up Mom. “It’s going to be okay.” I had no idea she was nervous about them. Meanwhile, I’m nervous because, what if she doesn’t like them? Olivia and Zade, and now Dominic, have been such a big part of my life these last few years.
“You’re right,” she says, placing her hand on my knee. The feeling of her warm palm on my jeans settles me, too.
“Hey,” I say, gently shaking Gabby. “We’re here.”
She sits up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. “Already?”
I laugh. “You and Mom slept the last half of the trip.”
“Sorry,” she says, stretching. “I meant to stay awake and keep you company.”
I lean in and kiss her cheek. She’s too cute not to, all sleep-rumpled. “It’s okay, I’m glad you were able to rest, because I can guarantee Zade will have you busy in no time.”
She laughs and unbuckles her seatbelt. I get out and pop the trunk to get our stuff. Opening her door, she steps out of the car. Mom’s already at the door with Zade in her arms. “I see someone is already in Grandma mode.”
I hesitate, watching her face for any signs of distress.
As I drop the last bag at her feet, she turns to me and smiles. “It makes me wonder how she’ll be when we have kids one day.”
Just like that, my heart turns to a molten ball of gooey love and adoration for the woman standing in front of me. “She’ll be like this, but worse,” I say, smiling. I wish now that I’d brought the ring I’ve been storing in my nightstand since the weekend after the Fall Festival. I’d love nothing more than to drop to one knee and propose right here—in the driveway, with our luggage all around our feet. Okay, so maybe that’s not the most romantic idea.
Olivia and Dominic step around the giggling duo on the front porch and come to help us with our bags. “It’s good to meet you,” Olivia says, pulling Gabby into a hug. “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Gabby smiles. “It’s good to finally meet you, too.”
“Heath talked about you so much, I feel like we are already best friends.” She grabs Gabby’s hand and pulls her toward the house. “Come on. I’ll give you a tour and we can gossip about our guys.”
“Great idea.” Gabby smiles at me as they walk off hand in hand.
“So,” Dominic says. “Finally got the girl?”
I grin. “That’s up to her.”
He laughs. “Good man!”
After getting all the bags inside and into the guest room that Mom and Gabby will share, we head out to the backyard where Zade’s convinced Mom to push him on the swing.
“We sure are glad you guys could make it,” Olivia says. “I was worried, with your mom’s health, you wouldn’t be able to come.”
Heath nods. “Me too.”
“How is she?” Dominic asks, handing us each a cold bottle of water.
“She’s good. Still weak and tired a lot, but much better than she was. The last set of scans was still clear, so the doctors are hopeful she’s in remission.”
Gabby leans in and takes my hand, immediately making the tension in my body release.
“I know it was hard on you not to be home with her. I was so glad when you took that weekend to visit her last Christmas,” Olivia says, resting her head on Dominic’s shoulder.
“You were home last Christmas?” Gabby asks. “I thought I saw you downtown, but you were gone before I could be sure.”
Olivia chuckles. “He hid around the corner of the building when he spotted you.”
I throw a pillow at her. “I didn’t hide.”
She laughs. “Okay, then what do you call it?”
“I realized I dropped something and needed to find it,” I argue.
“Yeah—your backbone,” Dominic says before bursting out in laughter.
Gabby squeezes my hand. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t have known what to say then, either.”
I lean in and kiss her. “Thanks.”
“Well, we’ll let you guys get some rest,” Olivia says. “Zade, time to get ready for bed.”
“I’m not sleepy,” Zade says, grabbing onto Mom’s hand.
“I am, and I have to share a room with you tonight, remember? You better go get ready like your mom asked so I can read you a bedtime story before I fall asleep.” I yawn and stretch like I’m ready for bed. “I’m so tired, I could fall asleep any minute.”
“Wait for me!” Zade calls, running into the house.
Dominic laughs. “I swear he’d do anything you say.”
I shrug. “Probably because I don’t see him as much these days.”
Mom giggles and shakes her head. “Kids always listen to others better than their parents. He’s a good kid.”
Dominic nods. “That he is.” He shares a look with Olivia who shakes her head slightly.
“Okay . . .” I say, confused by whatever that was. “What’s going on? Is something wrong with Zade?”
“No, nothing like that,” Olivia says. “We have some news, but we are waiting until tomorrow when everyone is here to share.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Good news?”
Olivia nods and Dominic pulls her close. “Great news.”
I nod. “Okay, then, I can wait.”
Gabby gasps. “You can wait? I can’t wait!” She giggles. “I hate surprises.”
Olivia laughs. “Noted. Help yourselves to anything you need,” she says, yawning for real. “I’m exhausted. See you in the morning.”
After a round of goodnights, everyone splits off to their rooms. Zade is sitting up in his twin bed, his animal sheets spread across his lap, and a book on zoo animals laid out in front of him.
“Can you read me this one?” he says, picking up the book and handing it to me.
“You got it,” I say, ruffling his hair. I’m three pages in when I hear him snoring softly. I lay the book down and settle into the air mattress on the floor. I wonder how it will feel to read bedtime stories to my own kids one day. Zade rolls over and sighs.
If it feels anything like this, I can’t wait.