things that way. I think he even holds it against my kids, like it’s their fault.”
“That’s ridiculous. His grandbabies are beautiful. He should appreciate them.”
“I know. It breaks my heart. My kids are my life.” He paused, then went on, “He said the nastiest thing to me just last week.”
“What?”
“He said, ‘You gave everything up for that woman, and where is Patty now? Dead, that’s where.’ Can you believe that?”
“Gosh, that’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Foster.”
“Yeah, my father can be a spiteful, hurtful bastard sometimes. My mom is the polar opposite, so sweet. You’d love her. She supports me and loves the children, spoils them rotten.”
I smiled. “That’s what grandmas are for.”
He smiled. “Definitely.”
“Do you ever miss it?”
“What?”
“Football?”
“I try to stay around the game where I can. I coach Little League, referee football and softball at the high school, and volunteer to work in the concession stands. I love watching their games and supporting them. I also play on a coed, fast-pitch softball team, and that’s a lot of fun. So, yeah, I’m still getting a little dust in my cleats now and then.”
“That’s so sweet.”
A warm breeze blew across my hair. As I sat there, rocking in the porch swing with him, I felt like I was in high school all over again. I was so giddy, so happy, and I hadn’t felt that way in a long, long time.
“So...I know your favorite thing to do on a free Saturday is to spend time with your kids,” he said, “but what’s next on the list?”
“Well, I love to have a beer and watch a game. In person’s a lot better than on the tube.”
“A girl who digs beer and the Sunday game? Somebody please pinch me! I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”
We both laughed and began spewing sports stats at one another. I didn’t have a chance to go to sporting events very often, but when I could get my mother to watch the girls, I headed to the ballpark with my sister and our friends. We’d drink, eat hot dogs, and have a blast cheering on our favorite team.
“Next to sports, I’m also a bit of a beach bum,” Foster said. “I love watching a game, but I also love boating, swimming, and hopping on the jet-ski. It’s even better when I get the chance to enjoy it with my kids. We love to play ball, camp out at the lake, or just hang out.”
“Camping? Really? Gosh, I love that—all that fresh air, building a fire, hiking, pitching a tent, and hauling wood. There’s nothing like waking up at dawn in the great outdoors, right? Last year, we took a backpacking trip. My girls carried twelve pounds each on their backs and never once complained. There’s so much to discover, from bugs to pretty leaves or even shells by the lake.”
“Yet another thing in common,” he said.
I smiled. “Yes, and I also love cooking over a campfire, the absolute best way to cook anything. Whether we’re eating pancakes and eggs, hash browns, s’mores, or campfire stew, the food just tastes so darn good. Emma likes her hotdogs and marshmallows a little blacker than I do though.”
He smiled. “It’s great being outdoors, but it’s a lot of hard work. Really works up an appetite.”
Right on cue, Emma burst through the door. “Mom, can we have a snack?”
I smiled at Foster, who smiled back at me. “Honey, it’s getting late. Let’s head home, and I’ll find you something there.”
Foster walked us to the car and we all said our difficult goodbyes after the most wonderful Friday nights I’d had in a long, long time.
Chapter 16
J uliet came over the next day to get all the juicy details, even though there weren’t any. “Not even a goodnight kiss?” she asked.
“Not with my kids with me. Besides, we decided to take it slow. He’s a real gentleman, refuses to mess with a married woman, so I have to wait to be officially divorced.”
“Ah, the infamous friend zone, huh?”
“Just for now. It’s probably the
“That’s ridiculous. His grandbabies are beautiful. He should appreciate them.”
“I know. It breaks my heart. My kids are my life.” He paused, then went on, “He said the nastiest thing to me just last week.”
“What?”
“He said, ‘You gave everything up for that woman, and where is Patty now? Dead, that’s where.’ Can you believe that?”
“Gosh, that’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Foster.”
“Yeah, my father can be a spiteful, hurtful bastard sometimes. My mom is the polar opposite, so sweet. You’d love her. She supports me and loves the children, spoils them rotten.”
I smiled. “That’s what grandmas are for.”
He smiled. “Definitely.”
“Do you ever miss it?”
“What?”
“Football?”
“I try to stay around the game where I can. I coach Little League, referee football and softball at the high school, and volunteer to work in the concession stands. I love watching their games and supporting them. I also play on a coed, fast-pitch softball team, and that’s a lot of fun. So, yeah, I’m still getting a little dust in my cleats now and then.”
“That’s so sweet.”
A warm breeze blew across my hair. As I sat there, rocking in the porch swing with him, I felt like I was in high school all over again. I was so giddy, so happy, and I hadn’t felt that way in a long, long time.
“So...I know your favorite thing to do on a free Saturday is to spend time with your kids,” he said, “but what’s next on the list?”
“Well, I love to have a beer and watch a game. In person’s a lot better than on the tube.”
“A girl who digs beer and the Sunday game? Somebody please pinch me! I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”
We both laughed and began spewing sports stats at one another. I didn’t have a chance to go to sporting events very often, but when I could get my mother to watch the girls, I headed to the ballpark with my sister and our friends. We’d drink, eat hot dogs, and have a blast cheering on our favorite team.
“Next to sports, I’m also a bit of a beach bum,” Foster said. “I love watching a game, but I also love boating, swimming, and hopping on the jet-ski. It’s even better when I get the chance to enjoy it with my kids. We love to play ball, camp out at the lake, or just hang out.”
“Camping? Really? Gosh, I love that—all that fresh air, building a fire, hiking, pitching a tent, and hauling wood. There’s nothing like waking up at dawn in the great outdoors, right? Last year, we took a backpacking trip. My girls carried twelve pounds each on their backs and never once complained. There’s so much to discover, from bugs to pretty leaves or even shells by the lake.”
“Yet another thing in common,” he said.
I smiled. “Yes, and I also love cooking over a campfire, the absolute best way to cook anything. Whether we’re eating pancakes and eggs, hash browns, s’mores, or campfire stew, the food just tastes so darn good. Emma likes her hotdogs and marshmallows a little blacker than I do though.”
He smiled. “It’s great being outdoors, but it’s a lot of hard work. Really works up an appetite.”
Right on cue, Emma burst through the door. “Mom, can we have a snack?”
I smiled at Foster, who smiled back at me. “Honey, it’s getting late. Let’s head home, and I’ll find you something there.”
Foster walked us to the car and we all said our difficult goodbyes after the most wonderful Friday nights I’d had in a long, long time.
Chapter 16
J uliet came over the next day to get all the juicy details, even though there weren’t any. “Not even a goodnight kiss?” she asked.
“Not with my kids with me. Besides, we decided to take it slow. He’s a real gentleman, refuses to mess with a married woman, so I have to wait to be officially divorced.”
“Ah, the infamous friend zone, huh?”
“Just for now. It’s probably the
Similar Books
