Rick reaches for her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Your daughter is wonderful.”
“Its good to meet you, too,” Mom is unsure about Rick. “You didn’t have to go to this trouble for me, sweetie. This place is too nice,” as she looks at me.
“Rick said to pick some place you’d like and he covered everything,” I look at him and smile proudly.
“Ladies, please allow me to take you out to lunch,” he gestures to his car. I climb in the front seat and scoot to the middle, leaving room for Mom. Rick holds the door until we are both set before he walks around and climbs into the driver’s seat. He pulls out of the Brighton and drives down Harbor, passing the Maritime Museum and turning toward the airport on the way to Shelter Island. We park at a Polynesian building and he walks around to open the car door for Mom and I. He chose another tropical themed restaurant with a view. He grasps my hand and entwines our fingers as we walk to the restaurant. “I think you ladies will like this place. They have a great salad menu and a mini buffet. It’s all Hawaiian inspired.” He smiles at me as he says Hawaiian. We walk into the restaurant and they seat us immediately at the table with the best view of the bay. Rick sitting next to me as always.
“This is a nice view. I’ve never been here,” Mom trying to make small talk and not successfully, but I appreciate the attempt.
We order and I comment, “I love the Hawaiian thing they have going on here and the buffet looks so tropical. I want to try everything.” Rick gives me a squeeze.
“I appreciate you driving down, ma’am. It means a lot to me that you’re willing to go to my game tonight. I know you’re not a Seals fan and I’d like to eventually convert you to the Seals from LA,” Rick hopes to get Mom talking.
“I always take advantage of time with Sherry and if she’s spending time with you, then I need to meet you,” Mom lays it out there. She’s been negative about men for as long as I can remember. I’ve always assumed it’s because my dad ditched us, but she’s never said anything about it.
“Mom, I love Rick and he’s moving in with me. He’s not like the other guys and he’s not what you think when you think baseball player. He’s a fabulous catcher on the field and only my man off the field.”
Mom stops and looks at me, then at Rick. “You both look happy. I’m happy if my daughter is happy. I don’t want Sherry hurt. What do you mean when you say you’re not letting her go?” Mom says glaring at Rick.
Rick gets a big grin and says, “I mean that I want to be with her always, I hope someday she’ll allow me the privilege of making her mine. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy and keep her that way. I never want to be away from her again.” He looks to Mom for her reaction to his honesty.
“This all seems so fast to me and I know Sherry needed time. I’m not sure what to think,” Mom shows her concern.
“I was wrong and shouldn’t have left him in LA. I freaked out…” and Rick cuts me off.
“We both handled the situation poorly and the time we were apart taught both of us how much we want to be together,” Rick refuses for it to be my fault.
“True,” I chime in.
“Rick, please call me Shar. My daughter can be difficult. I’ll be happy to go to your game tonight and we’ll see from there.”
“Thank you, Shar,” Rick keeps a positive conversation going.
We eat and overall I’m maintaining myself, no freak-outs. Though I was in my own world there for a bit when Rick was telling Mom what he meant by not letting me go. I’m not complaining in any way, shape or form, but what a time to be smacked in the face with a huge reality check. Does he really want us to be permanent? Partners? …Married? He’s moving in with me and we’re sharing a closet and an address, not just a bed. Is this my life? How did this happen? I don’t chase baseball players! Then again, he didn’t want to be a baseball player with me and I made it okay for him to be a baseball player. Talk about fucking confusing! People think women are crazy and mixed up, they should try a big league baseball player sometime. Warrior on the field of battle. Calling the shots on the field. Doesn’t want to be that person unless he’s on the field. Needs me. (Okay, rant within a rant... He needs me? It makes me so happy that he needs me, but really? He needs me? I’m seven years older than him. I’m not always easy to deal with. I’m independent. He wants to pay my way for everything, he doesn’t think its necessary for me to work, and I can’t imagine allowing anyone to pay my way and not being in control of my own everything, well except sex maybe. Yes, definitely sex. He is the king, that’s not just a cute pet name. And, he needs me! More than that, he loves me.) With me, he wants to be that person. For me, he wants to be that person. My personal warrior. My professional baseball player. My king. Focus Sherry!
“I need to get to work, ladies.” He pays and we take his car to the stadium. He pulls into the player’s garage and parks the car. Rick gets out of the car and pulls me out the driver side with him, handing me his car keys and pressing his lips to mine, lightly sucking on my lower lip
