Page 42 of On the Line
“You know…” she said, and Mitch grinned.
“I knew you were cooking something up in that mind of yours,” he said.
She laughed and pulled up a chair next to his bed. “It’s just…I live in Ann Arbor.”
“I’m aware,” Mitch said drily.
“Don’t sass your mama,” she scolded him. “But Ann Arbor is home to one of the best medical systems in the country.”
She had a point. The University of Michigan medical systemwasworld-renowned.
“I’m assuming they have some sort of in-patient rehab facility?”
“Of course they do,” his mother said, bending down to withdraw a sheaf of papers from her bag. “I printed out all sorts of literature on it before I flew out here. I figured something like this would be necessary and…I was hoping I could convince you to come home.”
Home.
Mitch had assumed it would be a good long while before he called Michigan home again, but he couldn’t deny the prospect of returning to the Mitten excited him. He’d be close to his mom again—only a phone call away if need be—and…well, he could work on repairing his friendships. He missed his former Warriors teammates.
And he missed Lexie.
Despite the painful way it happened, he couldn’t pass this opportunity up when it had fallen right in his lap.
Maybe this was exactly what he needed. Maybe being back in Michigan would provide insight into what the fuck he was supposed to do next.
“I would love to come home,” he told his mom, and she gave him a wide smile as a tear trailed down her cheek.
“It’s going to be so good to have you back.”
“I think I’d still like to do in-patient, though,” he said. “It makes the most sense.”
“I agree,” his mom said. “As much as I’d love to have you living under my roof again, our house is only so big, and adding your giant self plus in-home care to the mix wouldn’t work out well for any of us.”
“Then it’s settled,” Mitch said. “I’m moving back to Michigan.”
“Should I get the doctor back in here to clear it with him?”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s a good idea,” Mitch said, and his mother exited the room, returning a few minutes later with Dr. Rogers in tow.
“I understand you’ve made a decision,” the doctor said. “That was fast.”
“Well yes, and no. I guess we need to clear this with you first. My mom lives in Ann Arbor, and we were wondering…would it be possible for me to move back to Michigan? The University of Michigan medical system is one of the best in the country, and I think it makes the most sense to be close to my mom and stepdad while I rehab.”
The doctor considered him for a second, then said, “I think that should work fine. Had I known you had ties to the area, I would’ve suggested it myself. We’ll have to figure out logistics for getting you there, of course. Although I would prefer it if you didn’t fly, that many hours in a car would be a major setback so I believe it’s our only option.”
“I’ll fly first class,” Mitch assured him. “Make it as comfortable as possible for myself.”
The doctor nodded. “Then yes, I see absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be able to return to Michigan with your mother. As I mentioned before, we want you to remain here for a few more days. But I think Friday we can get you discharged and on your way, as long as we don’t have any setbacks between now and then.”
Two more days until Mitch was heading home to Michigan.
Two days in which he needed to get his apartment packed up, wrap up any loose ends in LA, and sit down with the Knights.
That last one wasn’t going to be easy, but he owed them a face to face conversation before he left the city.
After all, it’s not like he would ever be returning to their roster.
His mother, who had always known him better than anyone and could always read his mind, squeezed his hand again and said, “What do you need me to do?”
