Page 49 of When We Were Young
“I mean... I went to bed yesterday afternoon and it was October.” He realized he sounded crazy. “I woke up today and it’s December. And it feels like... like entire years have disappeared. And there’s this small plastic Christmas tree in our living room.”
“Ourliving room?” She made a laughing sound, but it was more mean than funny. “Really, Noah?” Her patience was clearly gone. “You need to see a doctor. I’ve been saying that. Anyway... hurry. The game’s about to start.”
“Okay.” He walked toward Field Six. “See ya.” He hung up the phone. Even from the parking lot the boys looked far too old. Maybe Aiden was really good. Maybe he was playing up a few years. Yes, that had to be it.
Noah slid his hands into his pockets and kept walking. What was wrong with Emily? Was she mad at him? Maybe he’d done something to upset her. And what did she mean aboutourliving room? She had no patience for him, and he had no idea why. Whatever the reason, he was almost to the bleachers when he saw something that stopped him cold.
Emily was sitting next to another man.
From where Noah stood, Emily couldn’t see him. But he could easily see that his wife and the man shared something special.
They were talking, their faces close to each other. And every now and then Emily would laugh the way she used to laugh with him. Her head tipped back, hair spilling across her shoulders. That was something else. Her hair was shorter now.
Then he saw the thing that nearly killed him, nearly stopped his heart for good. The man took hold of Emily’s hand. Right there in front of all the parents and families and kids, his wife was holding hands with another man.
What could possibly be happening here? Was this part of his concussion, too? Was he hallucinating?
He walked to the front of the bleachers and marched straight up to her. As he did, Emily released the man’s hand. Guilt colored her face. Noah couldn’t believe this was happening. For a few seconds he only stared at her and then at the man. “Hey, buddy, get lost. Leave my wife alone.”
“Noah.” Emily was on her feet. Her eyes were wide, like she was shocked. “What are you doing?”
What washedoing? He took hold of her hand and led her to an empty spot in the bleachers a few rows up. He lowered his voice and spoke straight at her. “What am I doing?” His mind was racing; the wood planks beneath his feet felt like they were made of rubber. “How dare you ask that, Emily? When you’re openly flirting with another man right here. In front of everyone.”
“Flirting?” The guilt faded to concern, and almost at the same time to outright fear. “Something is very wrong with you, Noah. After the game I want you to drive to the hospital and get checked.” She jerked her hand free. “Maybe you have a brain tumor. Something.”
Why was she talking like this? So harsh and... disapproving. “I’ll go. But come with me. Please, Emily.”
“No.” She stood her ground. “Go by yourself.” A glance over her shoulder at the other guy, and her look hardened. “We have plans today.”
He wanted to kiss her in the worst way. Even now, when she was treating him like he’d done something wrong. So in a move as familiar as breathing he took her hands again and tried to pull her into his arms. But again she jerked back.
“Noah. Stop!” She was shaking now. “This is... it’s completely inappropriate. Especially in front of the other parents.”
She was worried about them seeing him hold his wife? Noah’s headache felt worse, the pounding louder. He had to collect himself, so he gave Emily a sad look and sat down. She scowled at him and returned to her spot next to the other guy. Of all things.
From where he sat, Emily looked nothing like the girl he’d married. Like she was only a ghost of the girl he used to love.
Maybe if he focused on Aiden, things would slip back to normal. His head would clear and he would see her sitting there by herself, looking for him. Of course she’d be looking for him. The two of them loved each other.
He squinted out at the soccer field and pulled his sunglasses from his sweatshirt pocket. Once they were on he could finally see the kids’ faces. It was a time-out, and the players stood huddled around the coach. He could see each of the boys clearly.
But where was Aiden?
This had to be his group of players. Emily wouldn’t have sat on this side if this wasn’t their son’s team. He searched from one boy to the next until finally his eyes landed on a tall kid at the end of the row. The boy’s eyes and face and hair looked familiar. But one thing was sure.
If it was Aiden, he wasn’t seven. More like ten.
Just then the boy noticed him and gave him a nod. Not a wave or a smile or a whispered hello. Only a nod. Noah’s heart ached in a way he’d never felt before. What was wrong with his son? He always smiled when he saw his daddy. Even yesterday, when it was fall and Noah was seven. Aiden had still run to him and grabbed hold of his legs.
But here... it was almost like... like Aiden was embarrassed by him.
Noah waved, but Aiden had already looked away. Noah looked down at his jeans and work boots. Was he dressed weird? He used his sunglasses to check his look. His hair was neat, nothing standing on end. So then what was the problem? How could Aiden be acting like this? Was his brain this messed up?
Noah was still sorting through all that when two girls ran up the bleachers. One of them was clearly Olivia. She looked at him and hesitated. Then—like she had become suddenly shy—she gave him a weak sort of wave and continued toward Emily.
Without hesitating, she cuddled up next to her mother. The other little girl found her spot between her parents a few rows in front of Emily.
Why was Olivia ignoring him? Noah felt like he was sinking, like the ground below had opened up and he was slowly but surely slipping into a river of quicksand. He wanted to talk to his daughter, ask her how she was doing. But maybe it was better to sit here and wait for his headache to let up. Aiden and Olivia were completely different kids than they’d been last time he’d seen them.
