Chapter 29

Richard invited me to a Los Angeles Angels baseball game this morning, and as much as I didn't want to go, I knew it would make my mother happy, so I'd said yes. If Richard was willing to make an effort, as he was doing, then I figured the least I could do was to return the favor.

Fans were packed into every inch of the stadium when I arrived, the roar of the crowd loud even though the game hadn't started yet. Anticipation buzzed through the air, so palpable and electric that it made the hairs on my arms rise as I made my way to the seats Richard had gotten us.

It wasn't even noon yet but already the beers were flowing and the scent of hot dogs and pretzels wafted to my nose. I breathed in deep, grinning when Richard arrived just after I had and pressed a beer into my hand.

"You won," he said cheerfully after greeting me. "To be fair, if it'd been a race, I would've been here first, but I stopped for libations."

I chuckled. "I'm willing to concede my win to you in exchange for the drink. It looks like I'm going to need it. Everyone around here seems pretty fired up for the game."

"Oh, they are," he assured me as we sat down in our seats in the second row, right behind home plate. "This is a big one. It's Danny England's first game back and he's got a lot riding on it to prove that the injury didn't slow him down."

I nodded, but the truth was that I only had a vague idea who Danny England was. I remembered him as an up-and-comer at the last game I'd watched with my dad, but after he'd passed, I'd avoided baseball almost as much as golf.

Richard and I got settled, and the game got underway less than five minutes later. To my utter surprise, Richard turned out to be a loud, enthusiastic fan, and it startled me at first.

I'd gotten to know him as a relatively reserved, quiet guy, but he got more and more animated as the game progressed and eventually all I could do was laugh. Occasionally, I joined in with the leaping to our feet and cussing at people's decisions bit, but mostly, I just enjoyed watching Richard and others like him do their thing.

The beer kept flowing, but I stopped after my second one. I could've called the car service so as not to have to drive, but I was cognizant of the fact that I had to get some work done later, and besides, the fans were giving me way more of a buzz than the beer.

"What are you doing?" Richard yelled beside me, hurtling to his feet once more with his fist in the air and a plastic cup of beer in the other. "Run, you idiot. Go! Go!"

I chuckled, reminded in that moment of my father, who'd also had a tendency to nearly give himself a damn heart attack about sports. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt to realize the similarity between the two men. If anything, it was strangely comforting to know that there were things about my father that my mother clearly saw in Richard.

The game was over too fast for my liking, but I was glad I'd come. Richard turned to me as we made our way out of the stadium afterward. "I'm sorry, Dash. I think I had one too many in the name of team spirit."

"That's okay. Let me drive you to Mom's place. I was going to check with her today anyway."

He nodded, scrubbed his hands over his face, and squinted into the bright sunshine as we walked out into the parking lot. Chuckling under my breath, I guided him to my car and chatted easily to him all the way home.

When we got there, Mom was waiting on the steps and I hung back for a moment when he went to her, enveloping her in a bear hug and keeping her under his arm as they walked into the house. A rare, fond smile lifted the corners of my lips.

I'd never really noticed before how attentive he was to her, but despite all the beer, he took her to the kitchen and made her a cup of tea, fixing some coffee for me and himself while telling her all about the game. I didn't say much, choosing to watch him dote on her instead.

Mom giggled and flushed, listening to him with that same tilt of her head I'd seen so many times with my dad. For the first time, I felt that not only had Richard and I connected, but that he was genuinely right for my mother.

When he ducked out to go to the bathroom, she turned to smile at me. "Did you have a good time, baby?"

"Unexpectedly, yes. I really did. He's quite a fan."

She chuckled, pushing her hair off the side of her neck and letting her palm rest there as she stared into the middle distance. "Lord knows, that man loves baseball almost as much as he loves me. Or perhaps it's the other way around."

I laughed, shaking my head at her. "I don't think it's the other way around. I think baseball still comes second to you, Mom."

"Thank you, darling." She winked at me. "I knew you'd have my back. How are things going with Serenity?"

"Fine," I said, not elaborating as Richard walked back in.

He yawned, covering his mouth as he shot my mom an apologetic look. "I think I should get going. Grab a nap at home before the Guild Dinner tonight, but I don't think I should get behind a wheel right now."

She grinned back at him, clearly amused by his afternoon buzz. "Dash will drive you. Be sure to take a shower before the dinner." He wrinkled his nose at her and she laughed. "Yes, you do smell that bad."

I chuckled too but plucked my keys out of my pocket. "I'd be happy to give you a ride. I need to get over to the estate anyway."

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you before you head to work, darling," Mom said. "Would you mind stopping back here before you go to the estate?"

"Of course, I'll be back in a few, then," I said, puzzled but not too concerned about why she wanted me to come back. I was sure it was wedding related.

Richard said goodbye to her as if he'd never see her again, and she squealed with laughter as she tried to break free of his grasp. "You should go, darling. Or else I might keep you here and you won't make it to the dinner at all."

I groaned. "I'll just wait in the car."

Thankfully, Richard joined me not a minute later, suddenly quiet until we'd left my parents' property. He turned to me slowly then, a contemplative gleam in his eyes. "I wish I'd had the opportunity to meet your father for myself. From what I've heard, he was a wonderful man."

"He was." I cleared my throat, a little uncomfortable but willing to hear him out. He was tipsy, but not belligerent, and he was clearly going somewhere with this since he was still looking right at me. "He would've liked you."

Richard let out a soft chuckle. "Thanks for that. I'm not so sure, but what I'm trying to say is that I wish that you, your brothers, and your sweet mother didn't have to lose him. I know how much he meant to you and how empty your hearts have been without him. I lost my own father when I was around your age, and to this day, I miss the heck out of the man."

I blinked hard, not sure what to say to this kind of vulnerability. "I'd like to hear more about your father sometime."

He nodded. "Perhaps one holiday, I'll overindulge again and regale you all with tales I'm sure will bore you to tears, but for now, I want you to know that I'll never try to replace your dad. I'm grateful to him that he created your beautiful family and I just hope he thinks I'm worthy."

My mouth dried up. I had no idea what to say, but I felt weirdly emotional as I nodded at him. "Thanks for taking me out today, Richard. I had a really good time and I appreciated the opportunity to get to know you a little bit better."

"You're welcome, Dash. Thanks for giving me a chance."

I pulled onto his property, an equally sprawling piece of land as my mother's and not too far away. Vaguely wondering what he was going to do with it after the wedding, or if he and my mom would move here, I parked outside his front doors and waited until he'd gone inside before I took off.

Back at Mom's house, she was still more than a little amused that Richard had to go sleep off the game. As I walked through the door, she chuckled and waved for me to join her for another cup of coffee.

"Thanks for getting him home, honey. Ballgames sure seem to get to the men in my life, don't they? I remember so many times when your daddy got back needing a good nap. It always tickles me that sports can get to them so much. Are you sure you had fun?"

"I really did," I assured her. "He reminded me a little bit of Dad today, too. I'm glad you can see things like that in him without getting sad."

She shrugged one shoulder. "I'm always going to be a little bit sad, but there's nothing for it. Life goes on and we can choose to either live it or to let the grief kill us in turn. I, for one, am not done with this life just yet."

"Good," I said, pulling her in for a side hug. "I'm glad. I'm not done with it yet either."

As she waited for the coffee, she turned to look up at me and patted my chest before she stepped out from under my arm. "Speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about the wedding."

"I figured," I said. "What's up?"

"Well, I've been thinking about who's going to give me away at the wedding. I could walk in by myself, of course, but I'd prefer not to."

"Right," I said. "Of course."

"I was thinking Zachary might be best," she said hesitantly. "What do you think? Do you think he'd say yes if I asked?"

"I'm sure he will, but why not me?" I knew it was juvenile, but I couldn't help but be hurt that I wasn't in the running. "I've only been helping you plan the entire thing. I see you all the time, but you want to ask Zach instead?"

Mom frowned, her eyes soft and gentle on mine. "I didn't think you'd want to, darling. Today was the first time you spent any time alone with Richard and…"

She trailed off and I frowned right back at her. "Why wouldn't I want to? I've been there for you every step of the way with all this. Of course, I want to see it through to the end."

Staring at me for another beat, a slow smile finally started spreading on her lips. "I'd love it if you would do it, honey. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't want to expect any more of you than I already have."

"I'd be honored," I said genuinely, though I didn't like that she thought I wouldn't want to. "You don't have to pick me, though. Choose whoever you want."

Had I really been so terrible to her that she hadn't wanted to ask me? Even though I was the only one of my brothers helping with the wedding? Did she think I was only doing it because I was in the industry or did she know I was doing it for her?

All those thoughts raced through my head as she smiled at me. I returned the smile, but I didn't really feel it. I'd thought I was closer to her than any of my brothers. I'd taken care of her more than anyone after my father had died and I'd thought she knew I was doing it because I loved her, but as I sipped my coffee, I wondered if I'd been shutting her out too.

Without even realizing it, had I been almost as closed off with her as I had with everyone else? And if all that was true, how did I make it up to her? Also, how the hell was I only realizing it now?