Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“No,” he agreed. “You can’t. Because she was the lighthouse. She was the way home for Cam and me. And without her, there’s just darkness.”
At that moment, I thought of Avery and what she had shared with me about Willow and her mother. If that was true for her, I was certain it was true for Cameron and his mother, too.
“But you still have that light of her in him, Adam. Cameron is a walking miracle of his mother. He is the living legacy of something you and her crafted. And you’re missing it. She’s in every piece of him, and you’re just too lost in grief to see how much of a miracle that is. She left you the greatest gift she could’ve ever given you…a son who loves you more than life itself. You might have lost your wife, but Cam…he lost his mother. Don’t let him lose his father, too.”
“Damn.” He sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’m messed up, man. I know I am, and I don’t know how to fix it. Cameron doesn’t deserve this. But I don’t know how to get better.”
“I think that’s the first step. Realizing that you’re not okay.” I cleared my throat and clasped my hands together. “The second step is getting help, which is why I’m here. Cam mentioned some money issues. I can help with that. You can get a position at my family farm. I’ll look after Cameron whenever you need an extra hand. All I need you to do is get help. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it. You can’t keep going like this. I need you to recognize that you need help. Then things can start to change.”
“Why, though?” Adam asked, looking back up at me. “Why would you do this for me?”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for a son who just wants his father back. He has already lost part of his heart. He doesn’t need to lose the other half, too.”
He sniffled some more and stood from his chair. “All right. I’ll do it.” He held a hand out toward me. I stood and shook his hand. “Thank you, Coach.”
“Anything for Cam.”
“You’re a good role model for those kids.”
“They’re better ones for me. We’ll figure out a game plan, but first…I got a call from Prest University, down in Georgia. A few scouts came out and want to have Cameron come down to explore their campus in a few weeks.”
“Prest University?” he asked. “They have one of the best baseball programs in the country.”
“Same one I went to before the big leagues. Those coaches take the game seriously. Cameron would excel at that.”
“Wow…” He shook his head as his eyes flashed with more emotions. “My son at Prest University, huh?”
“Yeah. I want to plan a trip where I take him down and show him around for a weekend. I’d love for you to come with us. It might be a great bonding opportunity for you both.”
“Oh, yeah. Okay. I’d be interested.”
I smiled. “Good. All right. We’ll be in touch soon.”
I turned to walk out of his house, and he called after me, making me turn back to face him.
“Can you tell my boy I love him?” Adam asked.
“He’ll be back tonight,” I said. “You tell him yourself.”
39
AVERY
Everything was going well.
I feared when life seemed good because I always seemed to wait for the other shoe to drop. So nothing could be too good for me. I lived in a constant state of pessimism, even though life seemed good. But lately, things have been good. Great, even.
The other day, the apartment complex in town told me they had an apartment coming available. I told them I wasn’t interested because I didn’t hate the idea of staying with Nathan on the farm. I felt like my best self at Honey Farms. Nathan and I were closer than ever. There wasn’t a night when I fell asleep without being in his arms.
The team was on a roll, too. We’d been winning game after game, and the crowds in the stands grew each week. With us being in the playoffs, a ton of eyes were on our team. I didn’t expect the season to take such a dramatic shift, but it had. I was not one to complain about it, seeing how my guys were all getting noticed by scouts. Their names were now entering rooms with higher-ups who could change their lives for the better.
Nathan, Cameron, Adam, and I were off to Prest University in two weeks to meet with their baseball team. Prest University! I couldn’t think of a better match for Cameron.
It was impossible for me not to admit all of this was due to Nathan. He was such an asset to the team, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for him joining us.