Page 6 of Small Town CEO Grump

“We’re going to start learning about baseball! Mr. Hicks told us today. He said he was going to teach us all the rules and then we’re going to get to play it. I told him that I already play baseball and I know all the rules, and if he wants me to help him I can. He said that he would keep that in mind. Can you believe that? We get to do my favorite sport and he’s going to keep it in mind if he needs my help.”

“Oh, I love that!” I said. I loved the fact that Tyler was going to get to learn about his favorite sport, but I also liked the fact that his PE teacher had made him feel so important. I knew that there was no way that Tyler would be able to tell the PE teacher anything he didn’t already know, but I appreciated the fact he didn’t just dismiss Tyler’s enthusiasm.

“Did you have anything exciting in your day, Mama?”

“You know, I actually did," I said. “I got a phone call from the boss of our entire company and he said that he is going to be coming to work in my office four days a week.”

“Wait,” Tyler said, his voice full of confusion. “Why doesn’t he work there now? If he’s the big boss of your office, why doesn’t he work in your office?”

“Because he’s the big boss of all the offices, and his building, where he normally works, is in New York City.”

“Do you think he’s ever seen the Yankees play?”

I laughed. Tyler loved everything about baseball. His current favorite team was the Yankees, but that was just because that was what was on the TV last night. When the Red Sox are on, he loves the Red Sox, and the rare times we get the California games, he alternates between loving the Giants and the Dodgers. Whenever anyone asks him who his favorite team is he says he just can’t choose because there are too many good players he doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

“I think he has seen the Yankees play,” I said. I thought I had remembered hearing something about Ryan having played baseball when he was in college, but I couldn’t be certain. I didn’t want to misspeak and get my son’s hopes up. However, if I did find out that it was true, Tyler would be very excited to know that I worked for a baseball player.

“How much longer till my practice?

“Two hours,” I said. “Do you have any homework?”

“Nope.”

“Okay, good. Well, how about we head home and we’ll eat dinner real quick and then we can head down to the ballpark early. You and I can play catch until your practice starts. How does that sound?”

“Yay!” he said. “I’m glad you know how to play catch, Mama, and that you know how to play baseball even though you played softball when you were a kid.”

“Me too,” I said. I had grown up playing softball, and had even played when I was in college. Although it had been eight years since I hung up my cleats, I was so happy to be able to share my love of the game with my son.

We got home and rushed inside, both of us equally excited to eat a quick meal, and then get to the ballpark.

Chapter 3

Ryan

“Phew,” I said, sitting down in my chair and stretching my feet out. I could not believe how quickly the week had gone by, and that I was already settled into my Oceanview house. I was already enjoying the more relaxed atmosphere. Although, I wondered if I would be able to get to sleep without the noise of the city.

I had opened up the windows and I could hear the sound of cicadas and frogs outside. It was a far cry from the sirens and honking cars that I was used to, but I was pretty certain I would adjust quickly.

I started to yawn, and forced myself to stand up. I knew that if I didn’t get back to work I would not get everything done that I needed to get done. Although the house was put together, I still had to get my office set up. I knew that I could have taken care of it the following morning, but I wanted to go into work on Monday and be ready to hit the ground running. I took a deep breath, grabbed my keys, and headed out to my car.

I only had three boxes and a few pictures that I was going to bring into the office, and I figured it shouldn’t take me any longer than an hour or so to get everything organized. As much as I wanted to be done for the evening, I knew that I would be relieved to have everything truly settled.

I drove the short 10 minutes to the office, realizing how wonderful it was going to be to have such a short commute. In Manhattan it always took me at least 40 minutes to get to my office. Whether I took the subway, a taxi, an Uber, or tried to drive myself, it was always around 40 minutes.

Everyone was always surprised when they found out that I would still take the subway sometimes, but I didn’t see anything strange about it. It had always been one of my favorite parts about New York City when I was a kid, and I saw no reason to give it up once I was an adult.

However, the new 10 minute commute was going to be very nice.

I pulled up to the office building and was surprised to see a car in the parking lot and a light on inside. I had assumed that I would be alone, especially since it was 9 o’clock on a Sunday evening. However, I was wrong.

I got out of the car, grabbed one of the boxes, and went inside. I saw that the light was coming from an office on the far side of the building, and as I walked closer, I saw a petite, athletic blonde sitting at her desk, obviously engrossed in a project.

Not wanting to startle her, I cleared my throat and gently knocked on her door. She looked up, and I could instantly tell that she recognized me. I knew I had seen her before, but I couldn’t remember her name.

She got up from her desk and ran over to the door, hastily opening it with an embarrassed expression on her face.

“Oh my word, Mr. Jackson, I am so sorry. I had no idea you’d be here,” she said.