“But, Grandma, I already have my plane ticket.”
“We’re not discussing this now. I want you to think about everything. We’ll talk when I get home tonight.”
“Can’t you drop me off at practice?”
“No. You’ll have to find your own way.”
She drove off, her hands tight on the wheel. Tyler had always been so sensible. Oh, dear God, please help him learn from his mistakes, and help me make the right decision about Arizona.
“Why are you late, and where is your grandmother?” asked Leah, when Tyler called to ask for a ride to practice.
“I’m in trouble. Cody talked me into going to a party last night, and I drank too many beers. My grandma found out, and she’s taken away my car privileges. And she refused to take me to practice.”
“So, Cody made you go to the party? And did he make you drink beer, too? I thought you were smarter than that. I thought you were a leader.”
“Leah, can you just drive me, please? I’m late.”
“No. I’m not happy with you right now. I have to go, Tyler. Goodbye.”
Shade called Brent that afternoon before leaving the bakery.
“I’m disappointed to hear that,” said Brent, sighing. “Maybe having him here for a week would be a good thing. If he wants to play for the big leagues, he’ll need to understand the importance of character.”
“I’m so upset with him,” said Shade, her voice trembling. “You should have seen him this morning. He didn’t even seem remorseful.”
“Kids like to test the waters. I wouldn’t worry unless it becomes a pattern. This may shock you, but I wasn’t an angel at his age. I got caught drinking and smoking marijuana when I was fifteen.”
“You, Brent? Smoking marijuana? What other secrets are you hiding?”
He laughed. “I was a curious daredevil kid, but after learning from my mistakes, I got back on track. Let’s hope it’s an isolated incident. And I think it’ll do him good to come out here. I’ll whip him into shape.”
She sighed. “Maybe you’re right. I wish you were closer.”
“Me, too,” said Brent. “I’ll pick him up at the airport next week.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
“So, is Leah still upset?” asked Shade, as they drove to the airport.
“Yeah,” said Tyler. “She said we’d talk when I get back. Maybe she’ll miss me. Grandma, thanks for letting me go to Arizona. And I’m sorry for what I did. I don’t often tell you how much I love you, and I won’t put you through that again.”
“I love you, too, Tyler. Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. Just promise you’ll stay focused on doing the right thing. Being a good person. That’s all I want for you.”
“I promise. I’ll make you proud of me.”
“Hey, buddy,” said Brent, embracing Tyler at the airport terminal. “The last time I saw you, you were shorter than me. Now look at you. We’re the same height.”
“It’s good to see you,” said Tyler. “Thanks for having me out. I’m super excited about the tryout and baseball camp.”
“It’ll be like old times. Hey, I thought we’d drive to my condo first and get you settled and then grab something to eat. Pitching camp starts tomorrow. Maybe we can squeeze in some practice today.”
“Nice condo. Do you like living in Arizona?”
“It’s good. A little lonely, but I like my job—and the weather. Let’s talk about you. Your grandmother told me what happened. She almost didn’t let you come. What’s going on?”
Tyler looked away, running his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I made a stupid mistake.”
“I won’t lecture you. I think you feel bad enough. Getting into the Major Leagues is not only about being a good athlete. That’s a big part, but it doesn’t get you in the door. It takes self-discipline. On and off the field. Stay focused on your goals and don’t get distracted by meaningless pleasure. Understand?”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Good. Enough said. Let’s practice pitching.”
Brent’s eyes popped wide, astonished by Tyler’s progress. And he was still young. Still growing. Brent estimated his pitches were close to ninety miles-per-hour as the ball smacked into his mitt, his velocity consistent and controlled.
“What do you think your best pitches are?” asked Brent. “The ones you’re most comfortable with?”
“A four-seam fastball, a slider and a changeup. I’m working on my curveball.”
“Have they clocked the velocity of your fastball at Edelweiss?”
“Yeah. Kyle said I’m averaging around eighty-nine to ninety-one miles per hour.”
“That’s impressive. And you have good control. I can tell you’ve been working hard. Do you think you’ll be nervous with talent scouts watching you?”
“Nah. I think it’ll make me more competitive.”
“That’s good. You have a lot of confidence. Let’s wrap up for today. I’ll make dinner. I’m grilling steaks. By the looks of you, I hope I bought enough. Your grandma said you eat like a horse.”
Tyler’s stomach was on the offensive, watching Brent flipping two enormous New York strip steaks. The smell of charcoal clung to the patio.
“How do you like your steak?” asked Brent.
“Big. And a little pink. Do you like to cook?”
“No. I can grill, make a baked potato and a salad. That’s what you’re getting tonight.”
“Fine by me. So, do you have a woman in your life that cooks for you?”
“Nothing serious.”
“Can I ask you something?” asked Tyler, when they had finished eating. “And I hope I’m not being too nosey.”
“Ask away. You were never one to hold back. It’ll feel like old times.”
“So, what was up with you and my grandma? You always seemed close. Not like friends, but more. Especially in Hawaii. And I saw you kissing her once. You look at her the way I look at Leah. I always dreamed—well, prayed—you’d marry her, but then you were with Adrianna. And to be honest, I wasn’t happy about that.”
Tyler’s brashness brought a smile to his face. “That’s a weighty question.” He focused in on Tyler. “I care deeply for your grandmother, but she isn’t interested in a relationship. She’s concerned with raising you. She doesn’t want anything to get in the way.”
“Don’t you think that’s weird? She’s never dated anyone. Ever. It’s not like she’s ugly or anything. Guys hit on her all the time—like during my games—and she blows them off. I worry about her. That she’ll be alone after Leah and I get married.”
Brent poured himself a glass of wine. “How about a Coke? And aren’t you too young to talk about marriage?”
“I’m not getting married now, but I know I’ll marry Leah. Just like I know I’ll be a Major League pitcher. And no Coke for me. Water’s fine. So, don’t you think it’s weird—about my grandmother?”
“Your grandmother keeps things inside. She’s not as open as you are. I’m sure she has her reasons, but I don’t understand them. I wish I did.”
“Is that why you moved? Because you wanted to be with her and couldn’t? Because I get it. Sometimes I need to get away from Leah because I wanna be with her and I can’t. She said we had to wait until we’re married. And I want to wait, too, but it drives me crazy. Is that what happened to you?”
Brent laughed. He missed his conversations with Tyler—where nothing was off-limits—an open hand. “I needed a change. It was hard leaving both of you. It’s still hard. But I’ve moved on, and things are going okay for me.”
“Well, if you ask me, I think she’s in love with you. When you call, she glows like a wildfire. I’m afraid she’ll burn the house down. And when you moved, she wasn’t herself for months. It’s the craziest thing.”
“Hey, let’s tal
k about you and baseball.”
“Okay. Do you have any snacks?”
“You just ate.”
“That was an hour ago. I’m starving.”
Brent scrutinized Tyler, whose attention remained fixated on the pitching instructor. He assessed Tyler’s passion for the game—to see if he had the whole package—athleticism, coach-ability, and competitiveness. Tyler was hungry, consuming every crumb of information tossed his way.
“I hope you learned a lot this week,” said Brent. “The MLB tryout camp is tomorrow, and afterwards I’ll show you where I work.”
“I can’t wait. I did learn a lot. Things I didn’t know,” said Tyler. “Like doing the right exercises to keep my arm healthy. And using the weighted balls to practice pitching.”
“When I asked you to come out, I wanted to see how serious you were. I’m impressed with what I’m seeing. You have the qualities scouts look for, both on and off the field. Tomorrow will be a big day. MLB scouts will be looking for talent that hasn’t been discovered. If they like what they see, they’ll track you and try to sign you when you graduate.”
“But what about college?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
After signing in at the MLB tryout camp, the scout hosting the event, Hunter Patton, gathered the players and went over his expectations before separating pitchers from position players.
“Okay, pitchers, listen up,” shouted Hunter. “I’m only interested in guys throwing eighty-nine miles-per-hour and above, unless you’re a left-hander. The average fastball speed in the Majors is around ninety so that’s what I want to see. College guys throwing in the eighties won’t be considered. Those under eighteen will get more leeway. You get fifteen pitches to show us your stuff. When I call your name, get out here quickly and dazzle us.”
“How are you feeling?” asked Brent, waiting near the bullpen for Tyler’s number to be called.
“I feel good. It’s in God’s hands. Like I told you, I know I’ll be a Major League pitcher, even if things don’t work out today.”
Brent wrapped his arm around Tyler’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you. I’m proud of who you are. Just do your best. That’s all we can ask.”
“Hey, they’ll be calling your number soon,” said Brent. “Start throwing in the bullpen to loosen your arm, but don’t overdo it. You just wanna get slack.”
“Number seventy-five.”
Brent’s stomach churned, as Tyler sprinted to the mound. The scout recording the pitch speed asked Tyler to begin with six fastballs. Tyler wound up and fired six straight pitches down the middle.
Brent tried to get a read on the scout’s face but couldn’t. From Brent’s view it was the fastest he’d seen Tyler throw. The scout asked for three changeup pitches. Tyler threw three that broke perfectly. Next, he requested three breaking balls. Tyler went with the slider. The ball hooked sharply outside the strike zone, a perfect pitch. Finally, he asked Tyler to throw three pitches of his own choosing. Tyler went with a curveball. The ball hurled forward and dipped before reaching the plate. Textbook pitches.
“Thank you. Number seventy-six.”
Tyler walked over to Brent. “Now what?”
“We wait until everybody is finished then they’ll bring the group together to let them know if they’re interested. Tyler, you were spot on. You showed more promise than many of the older guys.”
“I felt comfortable. Baseball camp helped me stay focused. I’m happy with my performance, even if nothing happens.”
Brent noticed a scout walking toward them. “Hi. My name is Connor. You were impressive out there, son.” He asked Brent, “Are you his father?”
“No, but I’m representing him. I’m Brent Meyers, and this is Tyler Lane.”
Tyler extended his hand, remembering Brent’s advice—squeeze firmly and make eye contact. “Good to meet you, Connor,” said Tyler.
“How old are you, Tyler?”
“Sixteen, sir. I’ll be a senior in high school.”
“Here’s my card. I’d like to stay in touch until you graduate. You have a lot of talent. I clocked your fastball at ninety-one. That’s extraordinary for a guy your age.”
Brent took the card. “It was nice meeting you. We’ll keep in touch.”
Hunter Patton, the head scout, announced the names of the players who would be entered into the MLB tracking database, along with a scouting report. Tyler’s name was called.
“Brent, they liked me!”
“What happens now?” asked Tyler, as they drove.
“They’ll track you, waiting for you to graduate. If they’re interested, they’ll try to sign you to an MLB Minor League team. You’ll have to decide if you want to try for a college baseball scholarship or sign out of high school. It’s a gamble. If you forego college and you get hurt, or you don’t make it to the Majors, you’ll have nothing to fall back on. On the flip side, if you’re successful, the years spent in the Minors would be about the time you’d spend in college. So, you’d have a jumpstart on your baseball career. It’s something we need to discuss with your grandmother.”
“How do I get a baseball scholarship?”
“Contact colleges now. Many don’t have the resources to reach out to players. They look for players to come to them.”
“My head is spinning.”
“Yeah, but it’s exciting. Too bad your grandma’s not here. She will be so proud of you. As I am.”
Tyler’s expression grew serious as he considered Brent’s influence on his life. “It’s because of you I made it this far. The time you spent with me in Michigan—you’ve been more like a father than most kids have with their real father. Look at Cody. His dad hardly spends time with him. But you—you treat me like your son.”
“You’re like a son to me, Tyler. Did you know I had a son? Luke.”
“Yes. Grandma told me. I’m sorry about what happened and how you must have felt losing him. I know God put me in your life because I needed a dad and you needed a son.”
“I think you’re right,” said Brent, the weight of his words sitting on him. “Do you know much about your real father?”
“No. His name was Scott. Grandma met him a few times before he died in an accident. He wasn’t married to my mom. I wish I could have met him. And I don’t remember much of my mom, but she had this boyfriend, Jaime and I remember how much l liked spending time with him. And then there was my grandfather, but he died when I was young.” Tyler looked off, pondering his unusual life. “But my grandmother certainly loves me—to raise me like I was her own son. Her whole life is dedicated to me. I wish she would—oh, never mind. You know what I wish.”
“Hey,” said Brent, trying to lighten the conversation. “Where do you want to eat tonight? To celebrate?”
“I’d like a gargantuan steak.”
“Maybe we can find a cattle farm.”
Tyler laughed. “Sounds good. Hey, I wanna call Grandma tonight, and Leah, if she’ll talk to me.”
Tyler handed the phone to Brent. “She wants to talk to you. I’m gonna take a shower.”
“Hi, Brent. Tyler told me everything. It sounds exciting, and scary.”
“Yeah, I wish you could have been here. I was so impressed with how he handled himself. He has so much potential. Everything they’re looking for. If he stays on track, I’m confident he’ll make it to the Major Leagues.”
She sighed heavily. “He talked about possibly not going to college. I’m not sure I agree. What do you think?”
“Let’s wait and see. There’s a lot to consider. I’ll be in Michigan in October—for two weeks. My renters are moving, and I want to look over the house—figure out if I should hang on to it or put it up for sale. We can talk then.”
“It’ll be good seeing you, Brent. It’s been awhile.”
“Yeah, it has.”
“Has Tyler been behaving?”
“He’s a good kid. You’ve done well raising him. I’ll miss
not having him around.”
“It’s quiet here. Just me and Scone.”
“Well, at least you’re saving money on the grocery bill.”
She laughed. “Thanks for everything, Brent. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
“Is Leah still mad?” asked Brent, when Tyler emerged from the bedroom.
“No. She said she misses me, and she was pumped when I told her about the MLB tryouts. I can’t wait to see her.” Tyler paused long. “Hey, can I talk to you about something personal?”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Well, me and Leah, we’ve never been together—in that way. And I want to wait until we’re married. And Leah wants to wait. But I’m not sure I can. When I’m with her, sometimes I feel like I won’t be able to stop. How old were you—you know—the first time?”
Brent grinned. “Well, too young. You need to be careful, Tyler. Don’t do something that’ll mess up your future. If you love Leah, wait. Honor her wishes.”
“I wonder when we get married,” he chewed his thumbnail, “will I know what to do?”
“You’ll figure it out. Trust me.”
“Can I call you on my wedding night? In case I have a question?” Tyler grinned. “Kidding. Thanks for listening. Hey, I’m starving. Where’s that cattle farm?”
Brent took Tyler to the Phoenix Municipal Stadium where he worked as Director of Minor League Operations. Standing behind home plate, they gazed out toward the scenic red rock formations of Papago Park, palm trees dotting the landscape.
“Wow,” said Tyler. “What do you do for your job?”
“I manage baseball related matters in Arizona, Minor League Affiliates, and the Dominican Republic. Things like budgeting, facilities, staffing, merchandise, and special events.”
Brent turned to say hello to the Minor League pitching coach, Buzz Ripley. “Hey, Buzz, I’d like you to meet Tyler Lane, the young man I told you about. He’s visiting from Michigan. Tyler went to the MLB tryout camp yesterday.”
The Essence of Shade Page 25