I ignored how my skin prickled on my arms and asked her instead, “Where have you been?”
We went to the vegetables and found the corn on the cob as she said, “Pittsburgh, Orlando once, and the Bahamas.”
I’d seen all fifty states at this point in my life and half of Europe on vacations. We grabbed the potatoes next as I asked, “That’s it?”
She shrugged and said, “I’ve not been to London to see my sister. I've never really traveled, but she’s expecting us at the wedding.”
If our lives didn’t mesh, we were both in trouble. “Are you against travel?”
“No,” she said as we headed to the butcher section. “I want Jeremy to see more of the world, but I’ve been worried about spending the money. And the holiday season is usually expensive.”
I picked up six prime cuts and tossed them in the basket. “We’ll get passports and go to your sister’s wedding as a family.”
Her face brightened like I’d thrown her a lifeline. “That would be great.”
I pushed the cart forward and tried to match her glee. “Christmas in London, sounds like a movie title.”
She gently pushed into my side and said, “And thank you for listening to me about New York.”
Only if they weren’t the best offer. Otherwise, we’d have our first serious argument. We paid at the self-checkout. “If they up their offer and it’s the most after taxes though, we’ll need to talk about it again.”
She crossed her arms and stared at me as I paid with my card. As we finished and I grabbed the bags, she asked, “Just talk? Or are you going to sign and ask me later?”
I knew she had more to say. My own face heated. Maybe that had been my plan. I hadn’t visualized it. “You said you were okay with me going after the money.”
“I am.” She walked with me as she then said, “I’m just not okay with how close everyone lives in New York. My two-story house, with three bedrooms and a basement and attic sometimes feels small for me, and it's just two people.”
Score one for Georgie. Space wasn’t known in Manhattan, and I hadn’t researched commute options with bigger homes. If that was the best option in the end, we’d figure something out. Cramped wasn’t an image I saw as optimal either for raising our son. “I promise to talk to you before signing anything.”
I opened her door and she hopped in the passenger seat as she said, “That’s good.”
I packed our purchases behind me and then joined her. I held the key in my hand but didn’t turn it on yet as I said, “One more thing.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at me. “Yeah?”
I’d never push Jeremy the way I was to the point of exhaustion, though now I had the benefits of those nights in the palm of my hand. “My parents-”
“Your mom and dad are great,” she interrupted.
For now. My father was intense. She had no idea, but I pressed the button for ignition and started our drive home. “They are when they want to make an impression and they want Jeremy to like them.”
She fixed her seat belt. “It’s helping with our son wanting to move.”
“I can have them fly out more often,” I said then, especially if New York was the answer. They’d stay in Florida but visit and help with my son when I couldn’t be there.
She turned on the radio and bobbed her head to the music. “Jeremy likes them, but I can’t promise to ever be like your mom and not voice my opinion.”
I turned off the radio as my gut said this was important. “Like how?”
She pressed her lips together and then finally said, “She was serving while her family discussed.”
“She said what she wanted and talked to the airline. Besides, my contract doesn’t change her life much,” I said as an immediate defense of her running to the kitchen. I’d learned as a boy not to question her and then added, “She’s a retired teacher. If I ever needed help figuring out what to do for almost anything other than baseball, she’d be my go-to call.”
Georgie jerked her head and her eyes went cold as she yelled like I’d said something important. “She was a teacher?”
This wasn’t about my mom. My skin was prickly as I couldn’t make the connection and said, “Yeah, like your sister.”
“I didn’t know that.” She pushed her hands together like in prayer and slumped her head down. “My mom didn’t work. She just stayed home and cooked six or more different meals, always giving us whatever we wanted.”
A tear raced down her cheek. She didn’t wipe at it and stayed absolutely still.
I reached out my hand and said, “It’s okay. We don’t know everything about each other yet.”
She took it and squeezed it as we made our way back to our home. “But I can’t sit by while you make a decision for all three of us.”
I let her go and pressed the button for the garage. “I won’t ask you to. I need you and baseball to make my life complete.”
She smiled and unbuttoned herself. “And you have that.”
I turned off the engine and reached for my door. “Then let’s get back inside.”
She got out, but as we went to unload everything she reached for the bags. “I’ll have white wine with your mom as that’s often my favorite. It’s why I didn’t ask for anything.”
The more I knew her, the better we’d all be. I’d also ensure none of us ever stressed about money again, and the contract secured our future.
I said quickly, “Next time, make your decision faster?”
She didn’t move and lowered her lashes as she said, “I’m still getting used to speaking up. I haven’t had to talk to anyone about my choices since I've grown up. Give me time.”
If that was all this was, we had everything we needed. I swallowed and said, “You have all the time in the world, Georgie. I’m seriously
