My wife is sitting next to our daughter’s best friend’s dad, who is recently divorced. I can see the man giving Peggy more attention, and I get predatorial just watching him. Peggy is clueless to how beautiful she is. No matter how many times I’ve told her through the years, she thinks she’s too heavy or that her nose is too big. She doesn’t see what I—and evidently the man sitting next to her—see. My hands fist at my sides. Whether I fall flat on my face or not, I’m going to sit next to my wife. I want all her smiles. I want her everything. I know I have a hard time with stairs, but I’m determined to sit with my wife. Thankfully, she’s sitting in the second row.
The long hours of practicing and building strength in my thighs has paid off, and I’m able to climb the two small steps to sit down next to Peggy. When I lower myself next to her, she’s sitting with her hand on her heart and tears in her eyes. Pride is shining in her face. Then as I’m returning her smile, my eyes go to her mouth, and before I can think better of it, I kiss her. Her arms go around my neck, and I stay right where I’m at, offering the most heartfelt kiss I’ve ever felt. I try to put everything I’m feeling into that kiss because I don’t ever want her to doubt me again.
When I pull away, she’s so happy, she’s smiling ear to ear. I take her hand and hold it between both of mine.
A groan breaks out from the crowd, and when I look toward the game, our daughter is picking herself up from the floor. She goes to the line to take a foul shot. As the crowd begins to quiet, I call out to her, “Remember your follow-through.”
Josie looks up to the stands for me. The moment when she sees me her whole face lights up, and it makes tears well in my eyes just seeing how much it means to my daughter that I’m here. She waves to me and then impressively makes both shots.
“Hey, Dad!” Jaxon says as he comes toward us. He usually sits with his friends, but for tonight, he comes and sits with Peggy and me. Instead of the fist bump he usually gives me, he leans in for a hug, and my heart constricts in my chest. In this moment, I’m realizing how long it’s been since I’ve hugged my children. I give him a tight squeeze, and when he sets down next to me, I make a promise to myself that for now on, no matter what shit I’m feeling, I’m going to hug my children and my wife. For the rest of the game, I have one arm around Peggy. The divorcé next to her told me hi, but the rest of the evening, we enjoyed just being together as a family, cheering on Josie and her team.
8
Peggy
Having Jeremy at my side makes me realize just how alone I’ve felt. So many times I’ve been on my own, not fitting in with the single moms or the couples. Having him with me makes me feel like I’m complete. Jeremy’s arm stays around me for the whole game, and because I can’t resist, my hand is holding tightly to his thigh. I can feel his muscles under my palm twitch, but I don’t let go.
When the game is over, we sit and wait for the crowd to thin out, and then we walk out of the gymnasium hand in hand. We stand outside, waiting for Josie, while other parents come and talk to us. “Dad!” Josie screams, and we turn to see her weaving through the crowd of parents waiting for their kids. She runs toward us and slows down when she gets close. She doesn’t reach for him, but I can tell how excited she is. “You came! Thank you for coming. I made those two shots because of you.”
Jeremy laughs. “What about the other ten shots? I don’t get credit for those?”
Josie laughs, and the smile freezes on her face when her dad reaches for her and pulls her in for a hug. Finally, when she’s right against him, her arms go around his waist and they stand there for the longest time. I can’t hold back anymore, and a sob leaves my lips before I try to get myself under control.
Jeremy pulls back and sniffs, letting me know that it affected him too. “I’m proud of you, sweetie. I’m proud of you both.”
He pulls Jaxon into his side and holds his son and daughter before lifting his eyes to mine. I can see everything he’s feeling in that moment—joy, love, and relief—but the pain and sadness is still there too. But now, I know we’re going to be okay. I have no doubt in my mind we’re going to make it through this.