Page 275 of Out of Left Field

“It sucks, you know.”

We stopped halfway down the concrete tunnel. “What sucks?”

“Regret.”

“Oh, I’m well aware. I have my own.”

Patrick nodded slowly. “Yeah. Okay.” His eyes unfocused in thought. “I want so much to wish I never met Beth. That I never fell for her act. Just purge that whole bad part of my life and pretend it never happened. But then I wouldn’t have Willa.”

“And Willa is more than worth all the shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you ever remarry?” Patrick was a good-looking guy, nice, and financially stable. I saw women flirting with him many times over the years. Never like Hannah though.

Maybe he simply hadn’t met the one.

He ran his hand through his hair. “I wasn’t exactly a trusting man after Beth split. I didn’t let myself get close to anyone.”

I bit out a laugh that echoed off the concrete. “Oh, how I relate to that. I know it looks like I ran off the same way Beth did, but it wasn’t the same, Patrick. I still spoke to Willa, just not like I used to. I didn’t let her get close because I didn’t let anyone get close to me. I think, deep down, I knew I was in love with her, but I’d be terrible for her. I stayed away for her sake, not mine.”

Patrick deflated like a popped balloon. “I believe you. I think it’s why I never encouraged her to chase after you. Either you’d get yourself together or you wouldn’t. Either way, you wouldn’t take Willa down with you.”

It would take time to fully win over Willa’s dad, but this was a start. “I just want to make her happy. Making her happy is the most addictive drug I’ve ever taken. I promise you that I’ll love her for the rest of our lives.”

“I know you will, son.” He sighed. “Look, Everett. I was hard on you, and maybe you deserved some of it, but the bottom line is you’re a good guy. I’ve known you a long time and even when you were a cocky college ballplayer, you took care of Willa and respected her. You’re going to screw things up. But you’ll fix them. As long as you keep making each other happy and are honest with each other you’ll do just fine. I know it.”

“With your help.” I hadn’t realized until Willa brought it up in the elevator. Patrick and Willa had always been on their own. Beth left him. He followed where Willa went. Of course he was afraid of losing her, too. And I refused to let him worry about that on top of everything else. “I will never come between you and your daughter. That’s not what family does. We’re both here, loving her, in the best ways we can.”

He gave me a firm nod. Then thrust his chin towards the field. “Let’s watch some batting practice before you get me any more emotional. I’m supposed to be mad at Beth, remember?”

I clapped Mr. Cooper on the shoulder, following him up the ramp. “Trust me, I have not forgotten.”

24

WILLA

Ifelt tired as I stared at the woman who gave birth to me. That smile on her lips, that gleam in her eye, it had to be exhausting to always chase attention, constantly trying to fill an empty void in her soul.

Because looking at her now, it was easy to see her for who she truly was: an unhappy woman with terribly low self-esteem. And the only emotion I could pull on was pity.

I didn’t hate her. I didn’t need her. I simply felt sorry for her. She had never been happy. She had a man who loved her, a daughter who adored her, she was comfortable and healthy. But it wasn’t enough. I could ask her what demons made her this way, but I honestly didn’t care. Maybe if she’d tried to face them and be a better person I could find some grace for her, but since she seemed to have no intention of changing, I refused to allow her to suck me dry ever again.

“Are you going to ask me anything?” she finally said.

“No.”

“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?”

“I know why you’re here.” Maybe not specifically, but that part didn’t matter. I was sure she’d tell me anyway.

Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. “You’re quite talented. And now I can see you’re also very smart. I should have expected nothing less from my daughter.”

I didn’t want to react but since my face was going to anyway, I decided to mirror hers.

The corner of her lip twitched up. “Fine, I’ll cut to the chase. I need you to come to Atlanta for a weekend and shoot something for me.”

That was rich. “You want free labor. You do know cell phones can do most of what you need these days, right?”