She’s right, which doesn’t come as any surprise. Still, it’s hard sometimes especially when I look at my son with his children. He’s getting to experience all the firsts of life with them and that’s something I missed with Noah. Sure, I got those with Paige, but I also think those days hurt Noah more than he let on. That couldn’t have been easy to witness, knowing I wasn’t there for him.
“Come on, Rockstar. Let’s go to the bar.”
We walk to the truck, holding hands, and greeting anyone we pass. I grab the handle to the driver’s side of my truck and motion for her to get in.
“Oh yes, just like high school.” She laughs as she scoots to the middle.
“Some things don’t need to change,” I say as I start the truck, and then put my arm around her. I drive to Ralph’s using one hand, turning corners with some effort, because I refuse to remove my arm from her shoulder.
TWENTY
Beaumont High made the playoffs, which means the whole town has turned out to a high school field on a freezing night to lose its collective mind, and I’m one of them. I was told to arrive early by my daughter, with no other instructions. Of course, I do as she says, and it turns out she wants me to buy a red and gold foam finger as part of a fundraiser for the cheer squad.
“Hi, Mr. Page,” one of the girls says. The others giggle as I smile.
“Mr. Westbury,” I say only because Nick believes one of the girls on the squad is responsible for the spray-painted words. No one has come forward yet and the water tower remains closed. It breaks my heart, but I won’t stand for that type of shit being done on my property. Especially when it’s aimed at my daughter.
“Dad, if you buy a foam finger, others will see you in the stands and they’ll want one.”
She’s not wrong. I count how many people will be at the game. I buy ten and hope I haven’t missed anyone. Paige hands me the stack. They’re not easy to carry and I somehow have to finagle my ticket out of my pocket to give to the kid checking them at the stands. The little shit wouldn’t take my word for it orallow me to come back and show it to him. I seriously wanted to say, don’t you know who I am,but I held my tongue.
I pick our seats, fifty-yard line, three rows up. When Noah played, I stayed in the announcer booth out of an abundance of caution. I tried watching a game from the bleachers, but the fans wouldn’t leave me alone. It wasn’t the fine people of Beaumont—they literally don’t give a shit about who I am when I’m not home—it was the opposing team. It hadn’t taken long for word to spread that Liam Page had moved to Beaumont. Not many people knew I was from here to begin with. Add Harrison to the mix and the fans were relentless.
By the time Noah and Quinn were in middle and high school, Harrison and I couldn’t come to a school function without security.
Now, I look around and no one cares. Not even the opposing team. If that’s not a punch to the nuts I don’t know what is.
Like a fan, I set each foam finger on the seat. Five in front and five in back. It’s good thinking so we can all talk to each other. I doubt we’ll stay seated like this. My mother likes to be as close as she can so Nick and Noah can hear her opinions.
They love her.
Josie walks up the steps, stops and stares, and then laughs. “You know we paid for those, right?”
I shake my head. “Twice over apparently.”
She extends her hand. I take the thermos of coffee from her. “Is it special?”
Josie rolls her eyes. She sits next to me and spreads a blanket over our laps. “Why did you buy so many?”
“For our family.”
She looks them over. “Who do you think is coming?”
“Mom, Peyton, Talisa, Quinn, Justine, Ben, Elle, you, and me.”
My wife makes this face when she’s about to tell me I’ve been hit with the not so bright stick. She’s making that face now.
“Peyton and Elle have five babies, all under the age of one. Do you really think they’re coming to the game?”
“Peyton is,” I say as I point to Noah. “She’d never miss Noah’s game.”
“And who do you think is going to babysit the boys if Elle and Ben are here? Certainly not Michael. He can’t watch five babies.”
“Um . . .” Honestly, I haven’t paid attention to who has been watching the triplets during the other games. Earlier in the season, Peyton brought them because I remember giving Maverick the play-by-play.
“I’m willing to bet, Elle and Ben don’t come tonight. A duo needs to babysit.”
“Well, that sucks. I’ll just take their foam finger to them later,” I say. I bought one for everyone so I’m going to make sure they damn well get one.
