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FIRST YEAR IN THE LEAGUE
As the evening settles,my childhood home is filled with the rich, savory scents of Mom's cooking—baked chicken and homemade mashed potatoes, a comfort meal that has always signified more than just dinner. It's her way of setting the stage for heart-to-hearts, the kind we used to have when I was younger, especially after Dad died.
“You look beautiful, Mom," I say, leaning against the kitchen counter as she bustles about. Her hair is styled differently, and her face has an inner glow. “Are you excited about tomorrow?”
The very event responsible for keeping Kennedy and I apart is happening. Mom is finally getting married to Mr. Bing, and I don’t remember seeing her this happy in a long time, which means that I can only be happy too.
"Thanks, darling. Yes, I’m really happy.” She glances over her shoulder, smiling, but there's a hint of something serious in her expression. "Sit down for a moment. I feel like I haven't had a normal conversation with you in months."
"What are you talking about, Ma?” I say, pulling out a chair. “We talk all the time. I tell you everything."
“You used to tell me everything, but you’re growing into your own man now, Shane. I can see it. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
I sit, taking in the meticulously set table and the feast that's clearly been prepared with care. I add, "What's the special occasion?"
The curiosity must be evident in my voice, mingled with gratitude for the meal. She joins me at the table, serving the chicken and potatoes with a practiced hand.
“This is the last meal we’ll probably have together in this house. I wanted it to be special. Your father and I were so excited when we moved to Pineboro to start a family. We didn’t have a lot of money back then, but we loved the town, this house, and we loved you. You were baking in my belly at the time.” Her face lights up at the memory.
“You know you can keep the house, Ma. I make a shit ton of money now playing for the Vegas Heat. You don’t have to sell.”
“You’ve already done enough, baby. You paid for my wedding. Paid off my credit card debt. I can’t ask you for anything else.”
“But it’s our house.”
“And I built many beautiful memories here, but it’s time to let go, move on, and start new ones. Let’s maybe let another family buy it, and it becomes their starter home.”
“Okay, if that’s what you really want.” I feel a little melancholy about it, but I understand that there are both good and painful memories tied to this house. My father took his last breath in their bedroom.
“Why don’t you tell me more about the team? Do you like your teammates?”
"They're great. We're headed for the division championships, and it’s good to have Bass on the team with me.”
“And you still like Vegas?”
“I love Vegas. There’s always something to do if I’m not playing hockey. The weather’s great. The only issue is you have to be careful for scorpions and stuff.”
“Oh, would you please be quiet about all the critters in that town!”
I laugh, knowing that would give her the ick.
"I wish your father could see how much you've achieved, Shane... he'd be so proud." There's a wistfulness in her voice that catches me slightly off guard, a soft longing for the past.
"I hope so," I respond, digging into the meal, letting the familiar flavors wrap around me like a warm blanket.
“My wish for you is that you’ll find a nice girl to share all those wonderful achievements with one day. There’s no rush, of course. But sometimes I think your generation is filled with boys who want to live like Peter Pan and never grow up.”
“That’s not me.”
“You didn’t bring home a single girl to meet me while you were at VCU.”
“There were lots of girls, Ma,” I joke, but really, I’m thinking about the only girl for me–and Mom has already met her.
As we continue to eat, the conversation flows easily at first, filled with mundane updates and a rundown of the wedding. My mom seems genuinely excited and in love with Kennedy’s father, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She deserves it.
"You want to watch 'Wheel of Fortune' or 'Family Feud' after this?" I ask, trying to keep the mood light. I’m sure she’s also a little nervous about the big day, hoping everything goes off without a hitch.
