“The exact opposite of my childhood. My mother was the one that kissed all my bruises and took me to school while Dad worked.” I couldn’t imagine life without her near her when I was young. I squeezed Georgie’s hand and said, “That’s hard.”
She shrugged. “In her way, she tried, but she honestly didn’t know how to live without my father.”
I pivoted closer to her. “You’ll never be like that.”
She sucked in her lower lip, as I'd noticed was her habit, then let it out as she asked, “How are you sure?”
“Because it’s not about loving someone.” I guided her toward the coffee she’d poured and took one as I said, “It’s about loving and trusting yourself, which you seem to do, Georgie.”
She held the cup closer to her face. “I tend to isolate myself, which is very much like my mother.”
That wasn’t quite true. Georgie took a moment to analyze, but I didn’t think she’d want to argue right now. I motioned toward our chairs to have our second cup as I said, “Not telling someone your business is not the same thing.”
“I hope you’re right.” She sipped when she sat.
She seemed quiet, but she just made me more sure that she was perfect for me. I winked and joked, “The marriage will work out better if you think I’m always right, Georgie.”
We both drank our coffees though she said, “Your house here in Tulsa is much bigger than my house.”
Good. The conversation was where I needed it. I put my cup down and laid my hands on the table as I said, “And the schools are excellent, if I stay with the Sooners.”
She sipped her coffee again and then once she finished said, “Having your address in chaos has to be hard.”
This conversation was important. I nodded. “Even if the Pirates come through on some amazing last-minute offer, I’d want to take Jeremy to whatever the best schools are and the nicest area to live.”
“I’m open to change.” She put her cup down. “I want what’s best for Jeremy.”
“That we’ll do.” I finished my own cup and then asked, “Even if we end up getting anything from Boston to LA or any city with a major league?”
She reached out and held my wrists as she said, “I said yes to our marriage, and if my sister Stephanie can pick up and live in London, I can be open as long as we keep Jeremy’s life and education stable.”
I stood and held out my hands for her as I said, “Good, now let’s celebrate naked before my parents get back with Jeremy.”
Her face grew warmer as she joined me, leaving our cups as they were. This time, I held her as we walked upstairs as I could pretend to be a gentleman with her. On the steps, she asked, “Michael?”
“Yeah?” I asked and hoped she didn’t change anything now.
She bumped into me and said, “I’m happy with you.”
Life was exactly right, then. We made it to the top step and I said, “Good because I’m happy I get to have you, forever, now.”
As we neared the bedroom door, I kissed her. I didn’t want this to ever end. Georgie here gave me everything I'd ever wanted in life.
Chapter 11
Georgie
Michael and I had a perfect plan. If we stayed as we were and never fell in love, then I wasn’t in danger. I’d figure out how to bring peace back in my life. We worked as a team, where we talked about our wants and desires and figured out how to support each other.
This was for the best.
I cleaned myself up and flounced down the stairs when I heard the doorbell.
Jeremy was probably back now, but as I neared the door in my jeans and red t-shirt, I saw Michael open the door to a slicked back, grey-haired man. Michael shook his hand and said, “Phil.”
I walked over, happy I knew it was his agent, and nothing was changing as Phil said, “Michael, I hope it’s okay I came over?”
“Come in,” he said but then the garage door opened, and Jeremy was in the backseat of the rented minivan. We walked inside and Michael told them as they joined us, “Mom, Dad, Jeremy, Georgie this is my agent, Phil. We’re gonna talk about my offers.”
His mother headed into the kitchen immediately. Did I go with her? I stilled as his father asked, “Do you want us to go somewhere?”
Michael shook his head and said, “No. Dad you got me my shot. Georgie and Jeremy have a stake in the future too. I’d like for us to all talk about this.”
His mother popped her head in from the kitchen and said, “I’ll change our tickets to later in the day if you want our opinion.”
Seriously? She didn’t want to be part of the conversation over her son’s future? My pulse raced as that was often what my own mother did as Michael asked me, “Would that be okay, Georgie?”
Sarah stared at me. My skin had pins and needles. This was exactly how my family had worked, where my mom just left the important discussions, but I smiled at her and said, “I’d love for you to stay. We’ve not had enough time to talk.”
Sarah tapped the wall and headed out of the room. “I’ll change them then.”
Her leaving the room was exactly what my mom would have done.
My spine tingled. She had tickets to change so I wasn’t being rational. Michael led the rest of us to his formal dining room. The room had a table for twelve and the oak was polished and the white cushioned seats were spotless.
Did he use this room often? My skin had cold spikes over it. It’s not like I'd known Michael for long. We all took seats and Phil took out papers from his briefcase as Michael asked,
