Page 28 of Soft
The response came quickly.
Grizzly:I am. Enjoy Bellport. It's a good city.
I smiled at my phone like an idiot before putting it back in my pocket.
"Good news?” Pops tried and failed to sound casual.
"He texted back."
"I saw your whole demeanor shift. You lit up like the fourth of July. What'd he say?"
His observation made me laugh. I relayed Grizzly’s well wishes about our trip.
Pops nodded once, all slow and thoughtful. "He's thinking about you being here. That's a good sign."
"I know."
"It's also not a marriage proposal so let's keep both feet on the ground."
"Nobody said anything about a marriage proposal," I groaned.
"I'm just managing expectations. Your face is telling me you’re dangerously close to heading to a jeweler."
"You keep saying that like it's a bad thing. Can’t a man be eager sometimes?"
His gaze quickly reminded me who was the parent in this situation. "It's not a bad thing. It just means you care. Most of the time this is great. BUT you have to let the manbreathe. He'll come around. They always come around when the right person is patient enough to wait them out." He patted my knee once, then stood up. "Now. You said baseball at two. We’ve got more time to kill. What else are we doing?"
I stood and stretched. "Whatever you want, old man."
He perked up immediately, which told me he'd already had something in mind. I’d given him the perfect opening. "There was a fishing supply store three blocks back. I saw rods in the window."
"You don't have a fishing license for Louisiana."
"I can get one," he said, excitement brewing with every word.
"We're here for less than a week."
"So I'll use it next time. Or I’ll buy a new one once we’re all settled in our place." He’d started walking again, assuming I’d follow. "Come on, you can tell me more about Grizzly while I look at lures."
I shook my head. There was no stopping him now. Once fishing was an option, Pops locked in.
The sun was fully up, bringing its heat to wash away the final cool air of the morning. Pops had to be in heaven. No snow. No bitter cold. This was definitely paradise for him.
After an afternoon of catch and release fishing, we got to the game with five minutes to spare, claimed two seats along the third-base line because Pops refused to sit anywhere else regardless of the sport, and spent two and a half hours watchinga genuinely solid college program work through a tight game that went to extra innings.
Pops heckled the umpire twice. It was embarrassing up until the guy next to us started doing it louder. Obviously, they became fast friends.
I watched the pitcher and the infield closely, noticing the way the center fielder tracked the ball. I thought about what it would feel like to play here, in this city. Some of the people in the stands here probably went to the Bellport Blue Jays games too.
And I bet Grizzly would be in the crowd. I didn't know if he even liked baseball beyond the professional necessity of it. That was something I'd have to find out.
There was actually a lot I'd have to find out. I needed to know everything about my boy.
Later, on the walk back to the hotel, Pops kept quiet for a good bit of the way. Usually that meant he was building up to share some words of wisdom.
"You're going to be happy here," he said finally.
"Yeah. I really think I am."
