Page 92 of Home Safe

“You must be Jason. I’m David, Griffin’s dad. He’s told me a lot about how cool you are. I’ve been dying to hear some of those baseball stats you know so much about.”

Jason takes a step to the side, revealing his full self from behind me. “You like baseball too?”

“Of course! You have me to thank for getting Griffin to start playing. Of course, he flew well beyond my coaching abilities after a season or two, but watching baseball is my favorite hobby,” David says, tone warm and inviting. “It sounds like I might finally have a baseball buddy who likes to break down the plays as much as I do. Mrs. West here is all about the atmosphere, not so much the technical part of the game.”

The whole time David’s been talking, he’s stayed eye-level with Jason with his palm outstretched. I watch the guards slowly retract from Jason’s eyes, and he finally slaps David’s hand with a hearty high five.

“I’m most worried about the Crowns’ batting lineup. They might need to change the order from what they did in spring training,” Jason says.

“You think so?” David asks. “Tell me more about that. Well, tell me more about that after we get some snacks.” He stands to his full height and motions toward the food trays, and Jason happily scurries to check out the offerings.

Samantha has been quietly observing the exchange but suddenly shrieks, “What are you doing here?!” Her body is a blur as she launches herself at someone who just came out of the bathroom.

“Heya, sis,” a muffled voice says from underneath Samantha’s smothering.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were coming!” she says as she releases him. She looks over her shoulder at me and gestures toward the young man in front of her. “This is my baby brother, Ian.”

Ian rolls his eyes. “I am not a baby. I’m in college, Sam. A legal adult.”

Samantha playfully pinches his cheeks. “But you’ll always be my baby.”

“You’re worse than Mom,” Ian says with a sigh. From the looks of his expression, he’s used to this kind of behavior from Samantha. Despite his more stoic demeanor, he doesn’t seem upset by it at all.

“I’m Danae Collins,” I say, holding my hand out to Ian. “It’s great to meet you! What are you studying at college?”

“Right now I’m majoring in biology, but I’m debating if I should double major in environmental science as well,” Ian states matter-of-factly. “I was originally considering medical school, but now I’m intrigued by pursuing a career in research.”

My eyes grow as I say, “Wow, sounds ambitious!”

Ian shrugs as Cinda beams at him and Samantha’s smile turns forced. She twirls a finger through one of the pink lengths of her hair. Sparking brightness back into her expression, Samantha tells Ian, “I want to hear all about your semester. Tell me everything.”

There are other people milling around in the suite, but with Samantha occupied with Ian and Jason fully absorbed in baseball talk with David, that leaves Cinda and me to chat. Which feels much more approachable than a full-family inquisition.

After filling plates with food, we sit at one of the high-top tables in the suite, leaving the good seats for the avid baseball fans.

“So,” Cinda begins, “I want to hear about you and Griffin getting to know each other from your perspective. I’ve heard all about you from him, but I’m curious to hear about the relationship from your point of view.”

I take a long sip of water to buy time and hydrate my brain. “That’s quite the open-ended question!” I say, making her smile. “It’s been a roller coaster to say the least. A roller coaster I never expected to get on.”

Cinda smiles even bigger. “Yes, Griffin told me that you’re not exactly a baseball fan.”

“I assume he told you I didn’t know who he was the first time we met?” I ask sheepishly.

“Oh, Sammi told us that. It’s her favorite story to tell now!” Cinda says with a chuckle.

I fill Cinda in on the basics of our relationship thus far, toeing the line of guarded and honest. We pause our conversation to watch the opening of the game, cheering loudly when Griffin’s name is announced. Jason sits next to David, talking his ear off about the team. David is a much better partner for Jason than I am, though, because he seems to ask appropriate follow-up questions that keep Jason talking even more. I’m suddenly blinking back tears as I watch them.

“That little boy has David eating out of the palm of his hand already,” Cinda says, voice echoing my sentimentality. “He always connected so well with the boys who came into our home.”

“How many kids did you foster?” I ask quietly.

“Fourteen kids over the course of six years, not including Sammi and Ian,” she responds. “We closed our home for foster care after we decided to become their forever family.”

I shake my head slowly. “Goodness, I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I’m barely hanging on with one kid to focus on.”

“Well, that’s a totally different situation you have on your hands,” Cinda says as we sit back down. “Similarities, of course, but you dove right into forever all on your own. That took a lot of bravery. How much preparation time did you have?”

“It was a couple of months before Jason moved in that his paternal grandmother approached me about the possibility of adopting him. I took an expedited foster care class and had several weeks to read as many books as possible. As valuable as the books are, I’m not sure anything can prepare you for the in-the-moment emotions, though,” I say.

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