The doorbell rang.
“Speaking of food and beer,” I said, heading for the door.
The delivery driver handed over my purchases and thanked me for the tip I added to the app, then waved and was gone.
“I’m starving,” Oscar said, right behind me to help bring everything to the kitchen.“Thanks for ordering.”
I nodded.“Thanks for coming over.”
We both looked at Christy.I’d never seen her look so broken.A failed marriage, a broken engagement, even a miscarriage a few years ago, and Christy always recovered faster than I would have.
But this time…
“We need to make sure she’s not alone.”Oscar’s words were quiet enough that Christy wouldn’t hear them.
I nodded, not wanting to speak and alert her to our talking about her.
“Did you get a pizza for each of us?”Oscar asked, his voice louder so Christy heard.
“I did.I know you’ll steal all of mine if I have to share with you.”
Oscar laughed and grabbed three plates.He took a plate with pizza and a beer over to Christy, setting it in front of her to eat.
Oscar and I carried our food to join Christy, everyone taking a bite before we spoke again.
“Coach is the one who encouraged me to go to trade school,” I told them.
“Really?”Christy asked.
“Yep.I was scared to tell my parents I didn’t want to go to college.I thought they’d be angry.”
“Your dad was a tradesman,” Oscar said.
“Which was why they wanted me to go to college.”
“What did my dad tell you?”Christy asked.
“He said everyone should have a chance to do something that makes them happy.And that if I really wanted to be a ferry mechanic, I had to fight for it.”
Christy smiled.“Sounds like him.”
“He was not one to pull any punches.But he helped me figure out what I would have to do to get my job.He didn’t just say go for your dreams, he asked what it would take for me to get there.”
“He was the one who told me to propose to Emily,” Oscar shared.
“He was?”I blurted.
Oscar chuckled.“He was.Her parents were so against us being together, but I loved her.Coach saw her waiting for me after practices and saw us out together.He told me he used to look at your mom the way I looked at Em.He knew we were meant to be together.”
“You never told me that,” Christy said.
Oscar shrugged.“A part of me felt guilty that I fought her parents so hard and didn’t think of it.A part of me worried they’d blame him if they knew.Eric was playing for your dad when Emily and I were trying to figure out what we were going to do, and I didn’t want her brother or parents giving Coach any trouble.”
“My dad loved his job, and he loved coaching, but he loved love more than anything else.We would watch rom-coms all the time.They were his favorites.He said love was what made the world a better place.”
“He’s right,” Oscar said.
“Absolutely.”
