Page 58 of The Yips

“Hmm, wonder where you get it.”

Kelsey ignored me and started to settle into the suite. She had brought the bassinet because it was portable, and we’d realized that the hotel's crib option was another large playpen. Her father had offered to keep Crew overnight, so even though we were only a room away, Kelsey would have her first night off since his birth.

“He’s not going to last much longer in this. It makes me sad; time seems to crawl some days, but when I look back, I realize it passed like warp speed.”

I had pulled him out of the car seat and realized he needed a diaper change. I took care of that while Kelsey finished unpacking their stuff. I was continually surprised atthe ease with which we worked together. If you’d told me a few months ago that I would be excited about a night in a while traveling to New York, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I hope you brought comfortable shoes. I plan to walk you all over town before I leave for the stadium tomorrow.”

“I know you won’t eat it, but I’m looking forward to some pizza.”

“Ugh? You’re going to make me watch you eat my favorite food.”

“Oh, come on. You can have one cheat meal.”

“Not on game day, but if you wait until Sunday, I’ll join the fun.”

“Fine. I’ll starve until then.

CHAPTER 51

Kelsey

My dad was more excited than I expected to go to the game. He’d never been to a game in New York before, and the rivalry between Boston and the Bronx was one of the biggest in baseball. Sam had already left for the stadium when Dad arrived at the hotel. We had checked in for him in advance, and his room was ready.

“Hey guys,” Dad said as Crew and I greeted him. He took the baby from my arms, and Crew giggled and nuzzled into his arms.

“How was the train?”

“Uneventful. This place is fantastic. You’ll get used to living like this, won’t you?”

“What are you asking, Dad?” My father never asked direct questions, but I always understood when there was a more significant motive behind his questions or statements.

“Are you two together?” he asked as we made our way through the hotel to the large glass elevators, which offered a prime view of the cityskyline.

“We are.”

Dad sighed, “I figured that would happen. I won’t say I don’t have reservations, but it’s not because of anything I’ve seen in him. It’s this guy I worry about,” he said with a nod towards Crew and a kiss on the top of his head.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened to the correct floor. I led my father to his room, explaining that our rooms connected and that I had already set Crew’s bassinet up for him.

“We have late dinner reservations, and Sam wanted to go out for drinks afterward.”

“Are you planning to have a drink?”

“Probably. But I doubt I’ll have more than one. I left you plenty of breast milk in the refrigerator. I’ll pump when I get home and dump it out.”

My mother had breastfed all three of us, and Dad was not at all squeamish about talking about pumping or breast milk. I was lucky to have such a supportive and involved father; he had been disappointed with my surprise pregnancy for less than twenty-four hours before he jumped head-first into being a grandfather.

“I picked up a new book to read to him tonight, though, with my luck, he’ll go right to sleep.” Dad had been buying a new book every week and made it a point to read to Crew every night he watched him. He swore that his reading to me when I was a baby was key to my love of reading. “Whatever happened with work the other night? How come you didn’t need me to babysit?”

I looked down at my feet, “I got fired when I asked for more time off.”

“Shit, what are you going to do?” Concern was etched on his face, along with judgment, as we headed toward our luxuryhotel suites.

“Whelp, I’ve got a meeting with the higher-ups in the Minutemen organization. I’ve been working on a plan for a local non-profit with one of the other team wives.”

“Is that an income?” His concern was evident as he squeezed Crew just a little tighter.

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