“Come on over, son, and have a seat. But grab us some beers on your way,” Walter said, patting the back of the empty chair next to him. “You too, Carrie.” Walter’s warm eyes, knowing smile, and gentle nature made it feel like he always knew the outcome of every argument, he was just waiting for everyone else to figure it out.
Adam grabbed three beers and set one in front of Carrie. He hadn’t asked if she wanted one, but she was glad for the gesture, because after what she’d just been through with Adam, it would certainly relax her a bit. She was pleased to see Adam was sitting down, a Salty Shockoe in his hand, because, secretly, she wanted to know what it felt like to be with him when he wasn’t pulled away by work, when she wasn’t demanding that he interact with his children. Their moment in the fort had brought them closer, she felt. She hadn’t forgotten the fact that he hadn’t bought a single present for his kids and Christmas was around the corner, but tonight, she just wanted to enjoy being with him. Perhaps he would enjoy himself as well.
“This snow is nice,” Walter said, “but I wish it would clear up so we could see Adam at his best. It’s been a long time since you’ve been in the yard with me.”
Carrie looked over at Adam for clarification, but he just took a swig of his beer, a smile playing on his lips.
“Adam chose to go away to a big, fancy university instead of one around home, but if he had stayed, he’d have played football. He was offered a scholarship to play, and he was a damn fine quarterback in high school. He could hit a target from the next town over with a football. You’d better have a ball somewhere in this fancy house, young man.”
“There’s one in the garage,” he said, playfulness in his eyes.
“I’d better not let go of my walker. You might be in trouble.”
Adam laughed. It was a big, loud, “Haha!” Carrie watched him, her heart beating like a snare drum. His laugh had dissipated into those adorable breathy chuckles that he did whenever something struck him funny. Amusement seeped out as he looked at his grandfather, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off him.
“You see, Carrie,” Walter said. Only her rules on social etiquette could make her gaze leave Adam, but she turned to acknowledge Walter. “I chose the school near home. I chose the scholarship. I was a quarterback. I only wish I could have been at my peak when Adam was at his. I would have loved to see who was quicker on his feet. I’m sure Adam begs to differ, but it would have been me.”
“You’re right, Gramps. Good thing we couldn’t have had that competition,” Adam said, his lips still set in a grin as he took another swig off his bottle of beer. “Where would my ego be today if you had outrun me?”
“I loved to play catch with my dad,” Carrie said, and both men turned to look at her, Walter’s eyebrows going up in surprise. She took a sip off her bottle. “He always said I could put a mean spin on the ball.”
“Really?” Adam said. Just as obvious as it had been when she’d hit a nerve in their previous conversations, it was clear that she’d tapped into something good just now.
“I loved watching football with my dad. I was an only child; he never had a little boy to play with, so he taught me. After every game, I’d be inspired by the players and want to go out back and throw balls with him. I can still remember how he’d say, ‘Get your fingers on the laces.’”
Just like it had said to do in her book—find something familiar—this was the most relaxed she’d been in a long time. And in that moment, she realized that she didn’t need the book to teach her how to be happy as long as she was around people with whom she could relate.
She made eye contact with Adam again, and when she did, he was smiling at her, his eyes unstill, that curiosity showing behind them, but this time, it was directed at her and not something she’d said about the kids, which caused a plume of excitement inside her. Without even trying, she’d found familiar ground. It made her wonder what more they might share in common. What else did he like? What did he want to do most when he wasn’t working? What could they do together? Looking at him now, the way he smiled at her, the friendliness in his eyes, she felt like she was seeing the real him, and suddenly—unexpectedly—she wondered about Andy. Could he be with someone like Andy? He seemed to talk a lot with her, going out for drinks and things, but did she have the same interests as him? Could she make him smile like that? He’d made her laugh; she’d seen it that day when she came over, but could she do the same for him?