“He’s a good man.”
I nod.
“How about you?” I ask.
“I never worked there. Baseball has been my whole life. But Austin did and I’m sure my dad did at some point.”
“My dad never worked a day in his life,” I say, a little surprised I even said it. I rarely speak of my parents. But Casey’s large arms comfort me and I want to share this piece of myself with him.
“How did…”
I smile. “He painted nature and the world around him; my mother sold his pieces to galleries for good money, but my father wanted to know nothing of it. He just loved to paint. That’s why he’d say he never worked a day in his life.”
Casey chuckles. “I like that. I guess I’ve never worked a day in my life, either.”
“You really love it, huh?”
“I do. It’s everything to me.”
Mentioning baseball reminds me that Casey can’t stay here with me forever. “When do you have to go back?”
“Monday.”
“So soon? That’s only two days away.”
A tiny feeling of not just sadness but anger hits me. When was he going to tell me that he’s leaving?
“I’ve missed a lot of games already and if I want to keep playing, I’ve got to go back.”
“How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s fine.” His voice is sharp. I’m sure he gets asked that a lot, but it also makes me wonder if he’s not being completely truthful.
“I bet your dad’s excited that he's coming home from the hospital.”
Casey seems relieved for the subject change. “He is,” he chuckles. “He nearly tried to escape this morning. My mother had to hide his shoes so he wouldn’t leave.”
I laugh.
“I think he likes you,” says Casey, dropping his chin onto my head. The movement makes me shudder and my body falls deeper into his embrace.
“I think so, too. Your mother on the other hand…”
We both laugh.
“I wouldn’t worry about her. No one's ever good enough for her boys.”
“She seems fine with Jane.”
“Now. But you should have seen her when they first started dating in high school. She nearly threw her out of the house when she caught them making out on the couch. You’d think Jane had shoved poison down her son’s throat instead of her tongue. My mother had a complete melt down.”
“She’s lucky she gets to watch her kids find their soulmate.”
He’s quiet and my mind wanders to thoughts of what else my parents will miss.
“You’re right. But sometimes we don’t know how good we have it until it’s gone.”
“That’s the truth.”
