Page 62 of From the Ground Up
“Harper had quite a bit to tell us last night. We’ll talk later?”
“Yeah, of course. It’ll never happen though, Mom,” she grumbles quietly, and if I’m not mistaken, there’s a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Grady freaked. So did Brandon. Cole will too. Not to mention Dad.”
“We’ll talk,” I promise her as I pat her on the arm
I turn around and see Grady is still talking to his dad. Barrett has his hand clamped on Grady’s team-jersey-clad shoulder, but when he sees me looking his way, he turns and walks straight into my arms.
“How are you, my sweet boy?” I ask him as he lifts me up and hugs me tightly.
“I’m good, Mom. Missed you,” he murmurs into my hair.
“Missed you, too, bud,” I tell him as I step back a little and look up into my handsome son’s face. I know he will need to be heading over to the field in a few minutes. I also know he’ll be anxious to not be late as he’s still trying to prove his worth to Coach Mac and the team, even though he needn’t do that. I’m sure they have full faith and trust in him, regardless of his flub a few weeks ago.
“How you feeling about tonight? You gonna make it?”
“Yeah. It sucks. I hate sitting there while the team is playing, but it’s my penance. I can take it. After tonight, I’m free.”
“Good attitude, kid. Love you.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Gotta go?”
He grins cheekily at me. “Kind of. Sorry, I told coach I wanted to see you guys, so he said to come as soon as I could.”
“No problem, bud. We’ll see you after the game.”
“Yeah. Oh, I have something I want to tell you and Dad, but it will have to wait until after the game. I’ll come straight home.”
“Everything alright?”
“Oh yeah. Everything’s great,” he says walking backward toward the garage. His smile fills his entire face, and I’m so glad that Barrett and I remembered to let him be the one to tell us about his date with Bri. His excitement is infectious, and I can’t wait for him to tell us in his own words. It makes me a little disappointed that James spilled the beans to us, but at the same time I’m happy.
Harper runs up with a black Sharpie in her hand and points to the spot she wants us both to sign. Her tiny cast is already covered in signatures, with Grady’s in the middle, followed by“My Favorite Person On Earth”scrolled in his handwriting.
Maggie and Harper tell us they’re going to get ready for the game tonight, still not willing to miss it, even though Grady isn’t playing. Apparently they’re completely over the excitement of seeing their parents who’ve been gone for almost a week. While this could make me sad, it actually makes me feel completely happy. Knowing that they’re growing up to be well-adjusted humans who can adapt and not break down when we’re not around makes me proud. It also makes me realize that we can spend more time focusing on each other without feeling guilty.
After we sign Harper’s cast, the girls trudge off to the hall closet and grab their coats for tonight.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Barrett launches in on James. “So-o-o… Ms. Hanson, huh?” Barrett says, teasing.
He punches him in the shoulder lightly and chuckles. “Shut up, man. She’s your daughter’s teacher,” he says like he’s repulsed, but the gleam in his eye says that he is not immune to the beauty that is Carly Hanson.
“True. But you can’t deny that she’s beautiful. Even I’d hit that.”
Two sets of wide eyes swing to me. “Tess!” James guffaws while Barrett raises his hand and says, “I’d watch,” then laughs like he’s the funniest person on the planet, like a total idiot. Good thing I know he was just being a complete goober and teasing.
I roll my eyes at his immaturity but still reach over and give James a tight hug. “Thank you, James, for staying with them. For helping everything here to stay rolling along, for keeping the kids happy. For taking care of my baby.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“I know. And I love you for it. Stay through the weekend?”
“Yeah. I was planning on it, anyway, and I really wanna see Grady’s panic attack tomorrow night. He’s so sure of himself now, but I can’t wait to see the nerves settle in,” he says, grinning widely.
“It’s killing me that he hasn’t told us yet!”
“I honestly can’t believe that you didn’t slip up and say something.”