Page 73 of Pure Abandon

Crack!

This one is for Malory and her perfect body and evil words!

Crack!

This one is for me being such a chicken shit all the time!

Crack!

“I thought I’d find you here”

I should have known she’d follow me.

Crack!

This one is for nosey mothers who can’t stop meddling!

“You always did run to the batting cage whenever you got angry.” Gwen is standing behind the fence as I take my next hit.

Crack!

“Leave it alone, Mom. I just need some time to think.”

Crack!

“I remember the day of your father’s funeral. You didn’t think we knew where you were, but I followed you to the cages. You hit balls for hours. I was afraid you’d sprain your wrist.”

Crack!

I step back from the batter’s box.

“I didn’t know you followed me.” I remember that day. After the burial, everyone went to a local restaurant to toast my father’s demise. At least that’s the way I saw it. I couldn’t bear to hear happy stories of my dad’s life. I was too sad. I wanted to go somewhere I could connect with him. Where I could connect a bat to a ball. It’s how Gabriel feels about sailing; it connects him to his home.

This must be how Asher feels about music. Why he pours himself into it. It connects him to his mother.

“You are your father’s daughter, Kathryn.” Gwen steps around the side of the fence. “But you’ll always be your mother’s daughter. And that means you want it all.”

I look away from her.

“That’s not what this is about, Mom. You don’t understand…”

“A husband’s neglect. Oh, honey, if you don’t think a woman who was married to a man who was always on the road doesn’t understand neglect, then you know nothing about me.”

“At least Dad had an excuse.” She has no idea what I’m going through. Keeping my eyes forward, I take swing after swing. She’s still standing there, watching.

“Are you going home tonight?” My words come off snarkier than I intended. I hear her shuffle her feet from side to side, deciding what to do.

“Yes, Kathryn,” she says with a pause. “I was just stopping by to let you know I’m heading back tonight.”

I take a few more swings and wait for the sound of her car driving out of the parking lot. I know she means well, in her own way, but I just can’t deal with her tonight.

“A week!”

I’m pacing the hallway outside our bedroom. Is he kidding me? Chicago? Now? We were supposed to talk.

“I have no choice, Kat. I told you. If I’m going to get this guy a good deal, it will take a lot of work.” Gabriel pulls his suitcase from under the bed and starts to pack.

“I don’t give a shit about your work. What about my work? The concert and gala are in three weeks!” I throw my arms up in a dramatic gesture.