Page 42 of The Battery
Ilay inmy bed staring at the ceiling. My phone was in my hands and reels of possible things to say ran through my mind’s eye. Naturally, I wanted to default to demands. Something shifted, however, after today. Cody not only met my uncle, he also caught a glimpse of my vulnerability. I had shared it willingly and it terrified me.
So much so that I wanted to do it again, almost like it was a morbid curiosity I couldn’t look away from.
Me:Thanks for coming over today. What are you up to tomorrow?
Cody:Was thinking about working out at the stadium for a bit. You?
Me:Would you like to come to Boston with me?
Cody:Sure! When are you thinking?
Me:My uncle usually gets settled around 10am. So, after that? I’ll hire a driver. It’s easier.
Cody:That sounds perfect. What do you have in mind?
Me:Shopping. Then dinner?
Cody:Love it.
Me:Great. See you tomorrow.
Cody:See you then.
I lowered my phone, satisfied with my approach. Something nagged at the back of my mind, though. A new itch. I had to scratch it.
Me:Thank you for sitting with me afterward. It’s been tough.
Cody:Sometimes the least you can do is the best thing to do. I’m here. Whenever you need me.
That carried me to sleep.
*
My worst nightmare came true around 10am the next day. Uncle Andy, Cody, and Maribel were standing in my kitchen having a lively conversation with each other.
The driver waited for us in the driveway and I tried to give my strongest “let’s freakin’ go” vibe but all three rejected it like I wasn’t even there. I stifled a sigh when my uncle popped open a seltzer from the beverage fridge for Cody to sip on. He had both him and Maribel laughing at some silly story about me when I was a kid. Noticeably, he left out my brother, who was the instigator of my toddler rage.
His profound knowledge of my preference for privacy still rocked me. He could regale these two folks with stories providing depth to my character yet sequester precious aspects of those memories that exposed me. Who else but family could accomplish such a feat?
Why am I losing him?I thought as I watched him attempt to gesture, lose balance, then grab his walker for support. Maribel was there a heartbeat before me, gently guiding him to safety while he continued the story without breaking.
In time his energy waned. Lion yawning emphasized his need to rest, and it was Maribel who called an end to the fun before I could lose my temper. Uncle Andy demanded a hug from Cody before going back down the hallway. I had to turn away and pretend to fetch something from the cabinet. They’d only met twice but already I could see the forging of a relationship.
Maybe… because he sees it happening with me.
I thanked Maribel and said we’d be back late and that I’d text her when we were on our way. She insisted I not worry about it. I opened my home to her, and she had full access to everything at a professional athlete’s disposal who had enough connections to make a Hollywood actor blush. She had no idea of the bonus coming her way.
Finally, I got Cody out the door. Inwardly, I squealed like a child at watching his reaction. When we stepped outside onto the stoop, blasted by the July heat, his jaw fell open.
In the driveway waiting for us was a black Mercedes-Maybach GLS. The colossal SUV sat there like an onyx spaceship, unbelievably luxurious, and waiting to drive us into the city. A man climbed out from the driver’s side and pulled open the rear doors for us to climb in.
“Holy shit,” Cody said as we walked to the car.
“Mr. Papadopoulos. Mr. Hill,” the chauffer said with a friendly smile. I climbed in on the driver’s side, Cody on the other.
We sank into premium off-white leather. This particular model only had one row for two bucket seats, which would allow us to recline nearly all the way, should we choose. Cooling seats prevented us from getting too hot, as did what appeared to be eight separate vents, which were blasting cold air. We buckled in and off we went, floating down the backroads of Lexington, gliding like a skater on ice.
“This is probably the most luxurious thing I’ve ever experienced,” Cody finally said as we hit the highway. He had been fidgeting with controls, knobs, and electronic options for the seat for the past fifteen minutes. Watching him was…
