Chapter 64 Nate
SIXTY-FOUR
nate
“You’re being too quiet. What did you find?”
Olivia sighed. “Well, strangers are a lot nicer than the women I’ve worked with on fundraising committees. But only marginally.”
“Read it for me?”
“Does our new shortstop have a mommy complex?” @jillybilly
“Who does she think she is? That boy is half her age.” @candomom
“Oh, this is my personal favorite.”
“Did his mom sign a permission slip before she took him out to dinner?” @sullyboyboston
“Or—”
“Is he with her so he can drink? I’m sure most bars in the city will serve him.” @honeypot
“I heard she’s the neighborhood sleazebag.” @mbdpriv
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. That last one was Maddy’s private account. Like everyone doesn’t know it’s her.”
“Your mom texted. Do you want me to read it?” she asked.
“Please.” I doubted my mother had noticed anything on Instagram. But Coach Dobbs loved every form of social media. We had to occasionally pull him out of conspiracy rabbit holes. Fortunately, he still listened to us when the news was false.
Mom: Can you call me?
“Yup. She saw. Can you call her?”
The call connected through Bluetooth. “Nate.” Her voice was breathless, as if she’d run for the phone.”
“Hey, Mom. I’m in the car, Olivia too, and you’re on speaker.”
“Oh, good.” She let out an audible breath. “Donnie told me what they were saying online. Are you okay, Olivia?”
“Uh—” my voice shook, and I forced the rest out. “I’m trying to be. We’re heading to pick Cooper up from his father’s right now. I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
“Nate, you’re not letting her do this alone, right?”
“Never.”
“Good boy,” Donnie said in the background. “And as much as you’re gonna want to hit the fucker—think about how you would have felt if I knocked your dad out.”
“When I was ten years old? Or now?”
“You’re only asking that because you know that when you were ten, you still had hope your father could be the man you needed him to be. Now, you know he won’t ever be that.”
Fuck. Donnie was right. If Cooper still had hope for a relationship with his father, I wouldn’t be the one to get in the way of that.
I sucked in a long breath, letting it out, and hoped for a hint of relief that never came.
“Did you change your mind yet?” Olivia asked, wide-eyed.
“Never. That never even crossed my mind.”
“Oh no, no, no, Livvie.” My mom took the floor, and I was ready for it.
Olivia needed to hear the message I knew she was about to deliver.
“If I know one thing about my son, you’re it for him.
He loves you, and he loves your boy. This isn’t gonna scare him away—don’t mistake his choosing his next steps wisely with his commitment to taking those steps. He’s all in.
You didn’t get to join us for his birthday. But we talked about you enough that your damn ear should’ve rung right off that pretty head of yours. And Donnie and I, we can’t wait to watch your futures unfold together.”
My mother let out a breath, a sign that she still had more in her.
“Now, I didn’t get the pleasure of meeting that ex of yours.
But if my experience showed me anything, it’s that it’s a long game.
You’ve got to deal with him for the next eight years—if not more.
So whatever happens today, it’s gonna set the tone for the future.
Don’t let that man get a whiff of shame.
You have no reason to feel ashamed. Got that? ”
The traffic had gotten too thick for me to pay attention to Olivia’s reaction. But when I heard her crying softly, I took her hand in mine and squeezed it.
“Darla, I’m not sure how much you know about what happened to my mom, but I lost her when I was pregnant with Cooper.
I know she would have said the same things to me—and I needed to hear them.
Everything I’ve done with Coop—I’ve been operating blind.
Alone. My brother has helped me financially—but emotionally? ”
“I’m so sorry you lost your mom; it never gets easier, does it?” Her recognition that time doesn’t heal. There were moments I needed my mother, and there will still be moments in the future where I’m desperate for her input.
“No. Every time I feel like I’m okay living in the world without her, I get reminded.”
“You call me anytime, okay?”
I cleared my throat. “Hey Mom, we’re getting close to her ex’s house. You can’t see it, but Olivia’s got some tears. We’re gonna hang up so she can get it together. That bastard doesn’t get to see her tears, okay?”
“Of course. No shame, no tears. I love you both.”
A small cry tore out of Olivia’s throat, and I squeezed her hand again as I took the exit off the highway. “I love you, too.” Her response was almost inaudible.
Once we were safely off the highway, I pulled over to give her a minute. We were only five minutes from Jason’s, and Austin texted to let us know he would be waiting at the top of the street for us.
“You ready?” I asked.
“Yeah.”