Forced Out by Stephen Frey Page B

Cheryl announced cheerfully, moving to the room's other window. "It's after seven-thirty, and it's a beautiful day. The calendar in the kitchen says you've got to be at work by eight. We both need to get going," she said as she raised the blind.
    He sneaked a peek from beneath the covers, and he was instantly sorry he had. Now it was like two suns shining directly on him. He groaned. His head was killing him. He'd stayed at the Dugout last night until closing--until two in the morning--trying to get information about the kid out of the bartender. The guy hadn't said much, and when it was obvious he wasn't going to say any more and that he was getting suspicious, Jack turned his attention to a scotch bottle. Regaling the bartender with his Yankee glory days as he drank.
    He cursed under his breath, realizing how pathetic he must have sounded going on and on about how he'd personally discovered some of the team's big names. It was true, but there was no need to brag about it.
    God, he hated how alcohol did that to him. How it made him feel like he could spout off about himself to people he didn't even know and that they were actually interested. He was like that more and more the older he got, too. Like he was some flea-bitten old lion who still needed to hear himself roar every once in a while to convince himself he was still worth something. And people let him do it only because they felt sorry for him--or they wanted a good tip.
    "I'm gonna call in sick today," he muttered, pulling the covers down slowly, squinting to let his eyes grow accustomed to the brightness. About the only thing happening for him at the store today was getting fired. He could face the music, all right; he had no problem with that. But he didn't want to do it with a migraine. He might go off on Ned, the store manager, and that wouldn't be pretty. No; he'd go in tomorrow to get the bad news. Besides, he was going to try for a new job today anyway. The hell with bagging groceries. "My throat's sore. I'm coming down with something."
    "You're hung over, Daddy. That's all. You never get sick. You never missed a day in thirty-four years with the Yankees. Now get up. Come on."
    "Please don't do this to me," he begged.
    Cheryl sat down on the edge of the bed. "Where'd you go last night?"
    "I told you. I met some guys at the store last week. We all went out to--"
    "You didn't go out to dinner with anybody last night, Daddy. Don't lie to me." She knew him so well. "Okay, I went back out to the stadium to watch the kid," he admitted.
    "I knew it," she said triumphantly "Why didn't you just tell me that was where you were going?"
    "I didn't want your boyfriend tagging along. I didn't want to have to act all fake and play that stupid pitch speed game with him again." He reached for a glass of water on the nightstand. Cheryl must have brought it in because he couldn't remember getting it. Of course, he couldn't remember a whole lot about last night after leaving the bar.
    "Speaking of my favorite person, is he still here?" Bobby's SUV had been parked in front of the house when he got home. At least he remembered that much. He chuckled, remembering something else, too. Old habits died hard.
    "No; he's gone."
    "How late did he stay?"
    Cheryl set her jaw defiantly. "All night. He left about a half hour ago." Jack rose up on one elbow. "I don't remember giving you permission for him to stay over."
    "I don't remember needing permission."
    "Yeah, well, I make the rules around here," Jack grumbled. "You want to live under my roof, you abide by them."
    "You may have made most of the down payment by selling your rings, Daddy, but I've paid most of the mortgage since we moved in."
    "Still."
    "And besides, who says I really want to live under the same roof with you anyway?" she snapped.
    "Fine, then leave."
    "Fine, maybe I will."
    They gazed at each other intently for a few moments, neither one blinking. Finally, Jack put the glass down on the nightstand and eased off his elbow