Their first meeting took place at a public baseball field.
Lucas chose it.
His father was already there.
In his hand was the same worn leather glove from the photograph.
Lucas stopped when he saw it.
“That’s the glove.”
His father looked down.
“Yeah.”
“You kept it all this time?”
“I kept more things than I had a right to.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“I’m Lucas.”
Then he pointed toward the field.
“Are you any good?”
His father gave a nervous smile.
“Not really.”
“You owned a glove.”
“Having a glove and being good are two completely different things.”
Lucas smiled.
They started throwing the ball.
At first, it was awkward.
One throw went too high.
Lucas missed it.
“Sorry,” his father said. “That one was my fault.”
“I should’ve caught it.”
“No. I threw it badly.”
I stood several yards away.
After a while, Lucas asked him something I couldn’t hear.
His father crouched beside him.
My body automatically moved one step forward.
Then I stopped.
Lucas looked at him.
The man answered.
I stayed where I was.
