Page 78 of Moonshot

As we begin to build a life together, I greet each day with thankfulness for having Ava by my side. We’ve been sharing her home, correction, our home, for a few months, and it’s been easier than expected.

Ava’s daily life has improved after seeing the new neuropsychiatrist. Kendall Kramer’s a godsend. Some new preventative therapy as well as more regimented yoga and meditation, have been easing her headaches tremendously. I still think it’s all the good loving that’s turned around her migraines, but I’ll give the pills their due.

The next few months are a blur. I bring Ava, and occasionally her mother, to my family’s home for Sunday dinner and have loved introducing her to Zach and Alex. Trevor’s moved to Sycamore Mountain, but I think that could be our next weekend trip away.

Ava’s my everything. How I was lucky enough to have her stick by me after the way I treated her, I’ll never know. But I’ll happily spend eternity showing her how much she means to me.

Baseball season remains in full swing, and my team has improved little by little. Ava comes to every game. It warms my heart to see her cheering my boys on from the stands. And they all think she’s the baseball fairy after delivering them uniforms and swag. Even though we don’t make it to see a major league game often, we’ve been able to attend quite a few Flying Squirrels games. Luckily, she hasn’t gotten too keen regarding the finer details of the sport as I text her regarding our after-work agenda.It’s going to be a great night.

3:35 p.m.

Mick: I’ll pick you up for the Squirrels game at 5:45.

Ava Kennedy

3:40 p.m.

Ava: See ya then! Kissing emoji.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

Ava

“Hi.” I greet my handsome man, decked out in our usual baseball attire. I’m wearing a Flying Squirrels T-shirt, tennis shoes, and a short denim skirt, and he’s sporting a Washington Nationals shirt and jeans. Who would’ve thought I would’ve developed such a love for baseball? Six months ago, I couldn’t tell you what the ultimate grand slam was, and now I feel like I’m living it.

“Hi, princess.” He scoops me into his arms, kissing me without batting an eye. “You ready?”

We head to his car, hand in hand, before he opens the passenger door and I climb in. It’s a Friday evening and the stadium will probably be packed. As we drive the distance to the field, I notice Mick has a tooth popping grin on his face.

“What has you smiling?” I ask, grinning back at him.

“I’ve got baseball and my best girl. What more could a guy want?” He winks, reaching for my hand again.

Looking out my window as we travel the distance from the office to the downtown minor league baseball stadium, I reflect on how my life has changed since taking a chance on this incredible man at my side. Sure, I had family and friends to spend time with on the weekends. But in hindsight, it feels as if I was just going through the motions. I merely participated in a few social outings here and there to pass the time between work and migraines. I wasn’t truly living.

This isn’t to say I feel like I need a man to truly live. Don’t get me wrong. But I was holding myself back out of fear. Fear of one more rejection. Fear of becoming isolated like my mother. Thank god this magical man in the driver’s seat was willing to face his demons as well. For my life has become all the richer.

We pull up to the Flying Squirrels stadium, and I look around, confused. There aren’t any cars here. We can’t possibly be that early.

“Where is everyone?”

“What do you mean?” Mick asks in total seriousness.

What do I mean?Before I can interrogate further, he’s hopped out of the car and come to my door. As it swings wide, I try again to ask where all the people are when I see a handsome man approach. He’s wearing a polo with the winged, squirrely visage of Nutzy, the team’s mascot, on the upper left portion of his shirt. There seems to be a look of familiarity as he walks toward us, a buoyant smile crossing his face.

“Hey, Mick. Good to see ya.”

I watch as the two shake hands and walk ahead of me as if I’m not even here. It’s so unlike Mick not to introduce me. He’s normally so thoughtful and polite. The three of us continue to walk through the desolate parking lot toward the stadium as if I’ve somehow missed part of the itinerary. This whole evening is becoming more and more baffling.

Turning to me, Mick says, “Jeremy, this is Ava. Thanks for doing this for us.”

“Sure, man, we go way back. I’d do anything for you. Just text me when you’re done, and I’ll lock up.”

I’m so confused that I just smile up at the tall, muscular man in front of me before he turns and leads us toward a side gate. Mystified by these events, I walk in silence beside Mick. Reaching for his hand, I hold it tighter than earlier in the evening. I have to admit, I’m feeling a little nervous about…

“Oh, Mick.” I gasp, looking across the ball field. Jeremy has let us in the side entrance to the stadium, and at the pitcher’s mound is a small table adorned in a white tablecloth with food and drinks set on it. As we get closer, Mick holds out my chair for me, and I sit in stunned silence that he’d do something so romantic for me. Not sure why after all of the things he’s already done. But I’m shocked all the same.

I look about the empty stadium and back to this sweet, handsome man. My handsome man. He may be a rugged, tattooed little league coach and traveling salesman to the rest of the world. But to me, this man is my fairytale prince come to life.

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