“You looked wonderful up there, son.”
The pride in his voice fills my heart. “Thanks, Dad. I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve sacrificed for me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you and Mom.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Jane tells me that Sage has a lot to do with you getting back up there. What are you going to do about keeping that good woman in your life?”
“Wow, Dad. I didn’t think we were going to pivot to the rest of my life so quickly.”
“Well, you better start thinking about it. Life goes by more quickly than you think. And a good woman, well, that is rarer than a World Series trophy, so don’t sleep on it, do you hear me?”
I inhale slowly and rub my forehead. “I love her, Dad, and she knows it, too. I want to be with her, but you know that my job makes this a little more complicated than other relationships.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I’m on the road most of the year. I dedicate all my free time to getting healthy and ready for the next time I pitch. I’m focused on getting that World Series right now. Maybe when I retire from baseball, we can find a place…”
“Son, that’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.”
“What?!”
“You heard me.” He sighs loudly. “If you think a beautiful, smart, loving woman like that will just wait around for you, then you’re either stupid or know nothing about women. And if you think I’d let you string along a good woman or lose her altogether, then that’s even dumber. Baseball isn’t life, Casey. Baseball is something you do while living. Finding someone that loves you the way that woman loves you is the reason you were put on this Earth.”
“I don’t know who I am without baseball.”
“When I lost my job, I thought I had let everybody down, including your mother. I got so low on myself, I didn’t shower for weeks.”
“I don’t remember this.”
“Well, it happened before you and your brother were born. I lost my job because I was too stubborn to admit I didn’t know how to do something and I almost paid for it with my life. Instead, my boss fired me. Well, I didn’t take too kindly to myerror and wish I had died that day. How stupid was that, huh? I never would have had you or your brother.”
“What happened?”
“Your mother happened. She threatened to leave me if I didn’t pick myself up. She said I was done feeling sorry for myself and that I needed to get into that bathroom, shower, and then go to those job interviews she circled in the newspaper.”
“And you did that?”
“Not at first. I ignored her, and you know what she did? That woman left the very next day. I couldn’t believe it. After I got over the shock, I called her mother’s house and demanded she come home. She didn’t, of course. A week went by, I hadn’t eaten, I hadn’t slept, hell, I don’t think I even got up from my bedroom floor. I realized, though, that my pride wasn’t worth losing everything. I had to do what I needed to do to get my wife back and my life together. Because I realized while I could live without work, I couldn’t live without her. Learn from my mistakes, son. Life isn’t worth living without a good woman by your side.”
I lived through the feeling of never playing baseball again. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I shut everyone and everything out because I was ashamed of being a nobody. It was my ego that couldn’t take the loss. But thinking of losing Sage? Nah, I don’t even want to imagine it.
“I’ve got to go, Dad. I’ve got some life plans to make.”
“I’m proud of you, Casey. And I’m not talking about any game.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I pull into my building with a renewed sense of urgency. I have to speak to Sage. I don’t want to wait anymore. I text her to see if she is free for a video chat.
‘Hey! Yeah, call me whenever you’re ready.’
I tap my thigh as the elevator moves slowly up to the penthouse suite, toss my keys on the counter and throw myself on the couch as I dial her number.
Her beautiful face with an incredibly big smile shows up on my screen a second later. “Ah!” she screams into the phone. “You were amazing, Casey. I’m so proud of you. Did you feel ok up there?”
“I felt great. It was an unbelievable feeling to walk across the field with my music playing in the background and take my place on the mound. I thought I’d never get that chance again.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“I’ve got you to thank for getting me back.”
