Page 76 of Love By The Falls

“You’re making this awkward,” I whisper. She lets go immediately, but ushers me to the side.

“I’m sorry, Char. But this is a lot right now.”

“I know, Jane. I’m just as shocked as you are.”

“You don’t look like it.”

Despite my stomach feeling queasy, she’s right, I’m not nervous. My body feels at ease. “I guess I’m happy I found him and can finally tell him.”

Jane squeezes my hand. “He’s coming.”

“Is everything okay?”

I turn and smile at him. “Yes. It was Charlie’s birthday two days ago and we’re just discussing when the best time is to bring out the cupcakes.”

“His birthday,” Caleb looks over at him again, and his eyes lock with Charlie’s. My heart beats faster and suddenly there’s a strange tension in the room.

“Come. I’ll introduce you to him.”

Caleb follows me down the aisle, down two steps to the seats where Charlie and Anthony are sitting. “Charlie, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Caleb. Caleb, this is Charlie.”

The two of them stare at each other and my heart kicks up again. I can’t explain the feeling, can only compare it to the feelings before writing an exam—nervous, excited, unsure which questions will be on the test or, in this case, how Charlie or even Caleb will react. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. A lot.

I hold my breath when Charlie doesn’t say anything. Finally, Caleb speaks first. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Charlie.” He sticks out his hand, and Charlie slowly leans forward to shake it.

“And this is Anthony,” I continue.

“Pleasure, Anthony.”

Both boys stare at Caleb, but the man doesn’t seem uncomfortable with the attention.

“I hear it’s your birthday week.”

“Yes. I’m eleven now.”

“I would have guessed thirteen,” says Caleb, and Charlie sits a little taller.

The crowd around us jumps to their feet as the ball soars into the outfield. A Lions player throws his bat down and we all hold our breath, watching if the ball will make it over the wall.

“It’s a home run!” shouts Charlie and jumps up and down. “A two-run homer!”

Caleb smiles at the boys as they hug each other and when they stop celebrating, he asks, “Do you want to meet Paul Cafferty after the game?”

“Are you serious?” asks Charlie.

“I am.”

“Mom,” his eyes plead. “Can I go?”

Caleb turns to me. “I can take him to the locker rooms when the game is over.”

“Ah…”

“Please, Mom!” Charlie folds his hands as though in prayer. I’m sure he’d drop to his knees if he could.

“That’s fine, but I’ve got to go with him.”

“Of course,” says Caleb. “We can all go. Your friends, too.”

---