by Lily Robins
Aden nodded. The boy seemed to be in a reflective mood, and Roman understood that mood well; he contemplated many possibilities and often allowed his mind to wander wherever it took him.
“The Atlantic smells different than the Pacific.”
“Good different?”
“Not bad different. Just different.”
“What do you want to do with your life, Aden?”
Aden’s mischievous eyes were bright and focused when he looked at Roman. “You mean—after I’m aged out of playing pro-ball with the Cubs?”
Roman’s own eyes became just as vividly intent as Aden’s. He grinned back as he said, “Yeah. After you retire, and on your own terms regarding that age thing.”
Aden paused for a moment to collect this thoughts and then he said, “I’d like to do something that helps people. That gives those who need it a way in.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I mean yes. Something really awesome.”
Roman’s grin turned into a warm smile. “Keep that thought, Aden. And don’t let anyone in the world make you ever forget it.”
*****
Between second and third appointments, Roman called Jack Lemming. They had a productive chat.
He also got a call from Jess, who was at Ruth’s, helping with the lunch crowd. In his mind, he could feel her lips on his. “I left dishes on the counter at your place.”
“Thank you for doing a wonderful job,” she said.
“How do you know I did? I forgot to make up your bed,” he said contritely.
“I just do.”
“You’ve got a lot of confidence, Lady.”
“Always,” she said.
*****
He managed to get to the high school’s baseball field by five. Ms. Wentworth and Molly were already sitting on the bleachers, and both ladies broke into smiles when they saw him. He reached down and hugged Jess, pecking her on the lips, paying no mind until he noticed Molly’s stark expression.
He put his arm around Jess’s shoulders and said, “She’s my girlfriend, Molly, and we kiss each other.”
Molly’s smile spread. He noticed that she still had her askew ponytail intact; it had survived the day with only a minor look of disarray. Roman reached and kissed her on one of her cheeks, then he faced forward, taking both mom and daughter’s cold hands in his, and feeling that all that was right with the world.
It looked as though Aden was warming up to pitch, and Jess asked, “What did you say to him?”
“Guy stuff.” He grinned at her.
Sure enough, Aden trotted to the pitcher’s mound, threw a round to his basemen and shortstop, while the first batter was donning his helmet and doing some practice swings. When the practice game began, Aden pitched with skill and authority. His first pitch was a fastball straight over home plate. The batter swung and tipped it, for strike one. On the next pitch, he threw another fastball right over the plate again, and the batter missed, swinging too high, and strike two was called. On the third pitch, Aden threw a blazing fast ball over the inside corner of the plate, the batter swung and missed, and one out was called.
Aden’s pitching went on for a while, some hitters made it to base, others struck out, and finally the coach called the end to the practice. The boys and assistants huddled for a minute or two, and then Danny and Aden, along with their teammates, ran toward the school’s locker rooms.
Eli had slipped up behind them, not saying a word until practice was over. He was dressed in civilian clothes, a blazer, dark pants and a loosened tie around his shirt’s collar. Surprise lit the faces of those he had given the slip to, and Eli slyly remarked, “Roman—is that you? I didn’t recognize you because of those two pretty ladies huddled beside you!”
Roman smiled at his brother-in-law, and began helping Jess down from the bleachers. Eli reached and made sure that Molly got down the last big step without a fall. She ran off, toward where the cars were parked, and Eli said, “You’re right. There’s somethin’ good goin’ on with that boy of yours.” He looked at Jess too. “Aden’s got the goods, and they haven’t even started playin’ yet!”
“He’s been playing since he was five,” Jess admitted. “Aden’s always wanted to pitch.”
Both Danny and Aden joined them with their backpacks in hand, and Aden said to Roman, “You called him.”
Danny, towering over his father, was bursting with an animated look of informative joy. “Coach chewed a new one on everybody before practice. He said, ‘Which ones of you have been runnin’ like diarrhea on your Twitter accounts and other social messaging services, spewing filthy, rotten garbage about a fellow teammate? Don’t answer that, ‘cause I know who you are! And you’re wusses who don’t have the courage to say what you’ve got to say face-to-face. You hide behind your devices and type your BS, hopin’ those lies you’re typing will make you look tough! But you aren’t tough at all, and you aren’t honorable. Those of you doing that stuff are two-bit, lowlife cowards! I’ll be watchin’ every single one of you now, because I’ve got my devices too.’ Coach held up his phone and his I-Pad. And then he said, ‘The next one of you who types somethin’ nasty about anyone on this team, or anyone in this entire school-- is OFF THIS TEAM! And you’re NOT COMIN’ BACK!’”
Eli Randall had a grin on his face, Jess looked at her son, and Roman was looking at Aden too. He said, “I did call him, I felt the necessity of doing it was too important not to.”
Aden stood with a pensive look on his face, and he finally muttered, “Thanks.” And then, he and Danny walked toward the parked vehicles. Eli said, “Back in the old days, we woulda duked it out behind the gym.”
Agreeing with that, Roman said, “Back in our day, we might have gotten a black eye or even a broken tooth, with a black eye.” He touched one of his own teeth, one that Julia and Herman Mayer had paid to have capped with a crown. “Now, it involves electronic warfare that spreads, and that can cause a whole lot more damage.”
Eli clapped Roman on the back. “You did the right thing, Bro.”
Jess’s eyes glittered with moisture. “You did, Roman. Thank you.”
“I knew Jack would take care of it, so I’ll thank him when I see him.”
When everyone got close to their vehicles, Roman did a very impromptu thing: he lifted Jess up a bit and kissed her in front of Aden, Molly, Danny, Eli, and anybody else who might be watching, not caring one whit what anyone was going to think. His mind was made up. He and Jess were going to let everyone know that their relationship was a serious one.
Danny let out a loud whistle, and Eli shouted out, “I’m tellin’ Cheryl!”
*****
He was in bed, watching the basketball play-offs, when she called.
“I’ve got new curtains up at my windows. I think they’re called drapes, but I’ve never figured out why. Rene bought them for me, and also a rod to hang them on.”
“Going the civilized route?”
“Going the privacy route. This way, I can walk into the living room in my altogether, and no one will be able to see me when I get a book, or whatever. I sleep without anything on in the summer months.”
“I’m noting that.”
“I’m hot-natured.”
“Me too, when I’m near you.”
“Noting that,” he rumbled out.
“Molly was all excited about that kiss. Aden kept saying, ‘No big deal.’”
“Is he all right about my chat with the coach?”
“He said that he’s cancelled his Twitter account and is now focusing all of his attention on school work and baseball until further notice.”
“Good boy. That’s all they’ve got time for anyway.”
“Amen to that!”
“Go out with me on Saturday night. Can you get a sitter?”
“I’ll ask Ruth if the kids can stay with her.”
“All night?”
She paused to consider that and said, “It’s Aden. He’ll guess what we could be doing. He’s almo
st fifteen, and Molly knows some things too. They hear everything from their friends these days.”
“You’re right about that. So, I’ll take you out to a movie?”
“That’ll be nice.”
CHAPTER 27
On Friday, Roman had a few minutes of extra time to visit with his mother before he and Mona made the trip across to the mainland. Mona was wearing a bright yellow sweater that Julia had made for her, and was prancing around, allowing Julia to make hay over her own handiwork and the dog who was modeling it.
Roman poured himself a second cup of coffee from Julia’s coffee carafe, and sat down by the window. He announced, “I’m going to ask Jess and Molly to go on a camping trip with us guys over spring break.”
“Not my cup of tea, but then—I’m too old to be lying on the ground in a sleeping bag,” Julia said, laughing at the thought of such an absurdity.
“I thought we’d go up to Baxter State Park, and have our setup not too far from the bathrooms.”
“That’s a sensitive and considerate idea, Dear.”
“I remember Erin and how she was always ready to do anything with me. The only exception was that she had to be near enough to the bathrooms when we went camping.”
Julia smiled. “You’ve got lots of good memories of her that will always be true.”
“I’ll never forget her,” Roman said with certainty. “I think if Erin could choose someone for me, and she met Jess, I believe she’d tell me that Jess is the one for me.”
“What’s not to like? And her children?”
“Aden and Molly are wonderful kids.”
Nodding in agreement, Julia said, “They’re being raised right. Both are very polite, and they’ve got good values.”
“That’s all Jess’s doing. She’s been a single parent for years and has had the full load of being the only parent, even when her former husband was alive.”
“Which brings me to Saturday,” Julia declared. “I was talking with Cheryl last evening…”
Holding his breath suddenly, Roman was afraid to let it out, and his mother sensed that and said, “Relax, Dear. Cheryl and I have things planned so that you can spend some time alone with Jess.” His saintly mother had a sly look on her face. “Cheryl’s got Aden covered, and I’ve got Molly wrapped up. She’ll spend the night with me, and she and I should have a grand time together. We’ll make sourdough bread and a three-layer chocolate cake, and she can sing the whole time, if she wishes…”
*****
Typically, Roman wasn’t a praying man, but, as he and Mona boarded and then parked on the Westbound Ferry into the city, he closed his eyes and thanked God for his family, and, in particular, his mother. His chest felt brimming-full with gratefulness and with love for her, and her perceptive nature and boundless generosity. Plus, she absolutely read his needs like a book, just as she always had. And Cheryl and Eli? How could any couple be greater than they?
He fished his phone out, called Jess, and she said she was waiting for the ferry.
“I’m about to send it right over,” he said, “with Mona and me manning the oars.”
She chuckled. When he told her that the childcare issue had been solved by his family members, she asked, “Did you just ask them?”
“Not at all. Cheryl and Mom are two devious women who you’re going to learn to love.”
“I already do,” Jess said. “And they happen to be a part of you too. That whole package deal thing we talked about? What’s not to love about your family?”
*****
When he got to the office, Rene asked him how the new drapes looked.
“Perfect,” Roman replied while Mona went right to Rene for her hugs. “And thank you again for doing that.”
“And how’s my girl doin’? You look so gosh darn cute in yellow, Mona Dear.” Mona was luxuriating in Rene’s caresses of her floppy ears.
Tess showed up at the front door, said bright good mornings to everyone, and stopped to pet Mona. Roman sometimes thought that Mona was actually a person who had been mistakenly cast into a dog’s body. Her eyelashes actually fluttered with the praises she received from everyone, and she had a way of holding her mouth in a smile that was too real, and far more human that most canines displayed.
Standing up again, Tess remarked, “Will you look at how this dog smiles? I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life!”
Roman was agreeing with her when Gloria Schiller walked in. And right behind her, Iris Gilbert appeared, carrying an elongated tote on her arm. Gloria was telling everyone good morning and smiling, and Iris did likewise before showing everyone what was down in her tote. Mona had already gone to Iris’s side, nosing the bag. Inside was the tiniest Chihuahua Roman had ever seen.
“May I?” he asked.
“Of course,” Iris replied, lifting the tiny dog up, cupping her hands beneath its body. Carefully, Roman accepted the miniscule creature, his large hands nearly obscuring it from view. Tess and Rene began softly cooing over it as Roman carefully cupped it in his hands to show the nervous, shaking little canine to Mona. Noses went into overdrive, but Mona wasn’t sure what else to do with the tiny creature, other than profusely smell it. The chihuahua squirmed in Roman’s hands rather pitifully, and then—warm liquid began escaping from beneath it.
Unflappably, Roman announced, “It’s urinating,” holding the dog out a little more, but continuing to cup it steadily.
“Woopsie Daisy,” Iris replied, taking a wad of tissues from her purse and beginning to catch the drips and mop up the small puddle that had run through Roman’s hands onto the floor. “Geneviève, you’ve just wet on the doctor and the floor. Oh my!”
Rene, Tess and Gloria were well into fits of laughter, but Gloria recovered enough to say, “Iris wanted a very small one, so I think Genevieve fits the bill.” She took the tiny, scared creature from Roman, Iris pulled out another wad a tissues, Rene offered an entire box that was on her desk, and Roman said, “A little pee never hurts a thing. Genevieve is adorable, Iris. Excuse me while I go wash up.”
*****
Evan Ferguson was new to The Group. He was someone who appeared to be about Roman’s age, and was dressed casually in high-end clothing and shined shoes. Roman welcomed Evan to The Group, and said, “We’ll need to do an introduction from everyone.”
As soon as all were settled in their seats, Mona bizarrely made a switch in where she sat, this time plopping her hind quarters beside Wyatt. Iris left a relieved and now asleep Genevieve inside her cozy tote. Before that, those who hadn’t met the tiny Chihuahua did so with oohs and aahs galore. Ben Housman said, “Blow on her and she might go airborne across the room!”
Gloria led off in introducing herself to Evan, and from there, others followed. When Wyatt Wainwright’s turn came, he introduced himself and said “I’m strugglin, Doc.’”
When the man had first walked in, Roman had noticed Wyatt’s abnormally sullen face and hunkered shoulders. As soon as he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down, his hand holding the cup began quivering. That, by itself, was a tell-tale sign of relapse, but when Mona had made the switch from Ben Girard to Wyatt, Roman knew for sure that something was afoot.
Those in the room had silenced themselves and Roman said, “Let’s talk about it, Wyatt.”
The man looked up with a thousand-yard-stare in his eyes. Roman could see that Wyatt’s focus was a bit off-center and he was hesitant to speak. Everyone in the room continued to remain silent. Wyatt shifted in his seat and finally spoke.
“I live…in my daddy’s old place, in the middle of nowhere. There’s no runnin’ water, and no electric anything. And there’s no neighbors close around. I try to clean myself up with water left in an old well when I go to classes…or when I come here. I’m never gonna make it, Doc. The classes you got me in—they are for smart people with somethin’ to look forward to.” Wyatt drew his face into a grimaced look, screwing up his mouth as though he couldn’t stand to reveal anything else, but he looked at
Roman and struggled on. “I got some money from sellin’ a bunch of aluminum cans and I bought me a fifth of cheap whiskey. I drank what was left last evenin.’” Shame claimed the man’s face, forcing him to close his eyes.
Determined to frame Wyatt’s admission in an optimistic manner, Roman said, “But you came here this morning—to The Group. You came to Alcoholic Anonymous, and that means that today, you’re still a recovering addict. You didn’t give up, or give in. You’re still one of The Group, Wyatt, just the same as you were last week when you came.”
Further diminishing the static silence, Ben Housman moved in his chair, preparing to speak. His elongated face was pronounced, his jowls his most prominent feature. “I’ve been thinkin,’” he began. “I been thinkin’ that you and me, Wyatt, we hit it off as soon as you brought Minnie to me. And I’ve got this house with two spare bedrooms, and nobody ever sleeps in ‘em. So, if you want to move into town and be closer to people, you’re welcome to come live at my place.”
Reacting to one of her tics by hitting her chest with her fist, Iris actually hiccupped before she said, “You’d be welcome to stay with me…” A look bordering on shock appeared on the woman’s face as she realized what she’d just said. “Of course, my neighbors might think…I’ve taken a lover,” and Iris flashed a miniscule grin.
Wyatt had placed his forearms on his knees and was staring at the floor. “I ain’t…I have not got no money to pay for that.” He glanced at Ben Housman before turning his eyes downward to the floor again.
“I wouldn’t charge you nothing,” Ben replied in his gravelly voice. “Same for board. I get a state pension that keeps me goin,’ and my house is paid off.”
Before Roman could say anything, Wyatt eyed Ben Housman again. “My old truck broke down halfway here this mornin,’ and I walked the rest of the way. There’s no more parts to be had for it, so I’m leavin’ it by the side of the road.”
Ben Garard spoke up. “What make and model is it?”
“It’s a 67 Datsun.”
“I can order after-market parts for it. They still make ‘em.”