Like a Good Neighbor

“What the fuck?” Jennifer screamed, turning around.

“Jennifer, please, the language.” I said in a reprimanding tone.

“What happened?” Jennifer said, devastated.

“Nothing bad happened, Jennifer. She simply fell in love with someone else. It happens, sweet pea.” I responded.

“With whom?” Jen answered, crying.

“Another doctor she works with.” I responded.

“Wait, aren’t all the doctors that work with her women?”, Jen asked, surprised.

“Yes, they are. The lady’s name is Sarah. Kate will call you, and the two of you can talk.” I offered.

“How are you doing?” Jen asked, walking over to me and putting her arms around me.

“Not too good, but I’ll get better...” I promised.

Sacred Heart finished the season with a record of 35-1 and the number one seed in the state in the AAA classification. Jennifer had been untouchable pretty much all season and set a record for most strikeouts in one season. They were prepping for the first playoff game, which we would host because of the best record in our classification. As long as we won, we would continue to host as the home team. Jennifer had been extremely kind and considerate to me, knowing the situation I was in. In fact, a few times I had to be careful not to pull away and offend her.

I had not heard from Kate for a couple of weeks when her mother called me out of the blue. I debated whether or not to answer the phone, but I figured sooner or later this would happen.

“Jace, this is Laura McKinney. What the hell is going on with you two?” she asked.

“Nothing, Laura. Kate has decided to move on. She fell in love with someone else.” I answered.

“What happened?” she inquired.

“Nothing really... We never fought or argued. She just spent a lot of time with Sarah, and I guess it happened.” I responded.

“Jace, I am so sorry... I just don’t know what to say.” Laura said.

“I know the feeling...” I replied.

On Friday night, I got to the field about ninety minutes prior to game time and spent a few minutes with Jennifer before her warm-up. Apparently, word must have gotten around about my breakup because every girl on the team was around me and cutting up. I knew Jennifer was worried about me after all I had been in two failed relationships in a short time. With everything going on, I don’t really think losing Kate had sunk in yet. Jennifer, with college only months away, and me with the gym being really busy, was a distraction to say the least.

I returned to the bleachers and sat down on the Scared Heart side, waving to a few of the other girls’ families. One dad remarked that this team was really good and they would need Jennifer in a big way today. Jen had become a celebrity, and she very seldom ever disappointed.

Jennifer took the mound and warmed up as usual. She looked good, and she was snapping the catcher’s glove. She drove through the first three batters with a total of eleven pitches for the first three outs. The home plate umpire had a large strike zone, and Jen immediately took advantage of it.

Jennifer pitched an amazing game, striking out fifteen of the twenty-one batters she faced. I think she might have approached sixty-eight or sixty-nine miles an hour on several of the fastballs she threw. Working in the gym on her legs had definitely given her more velocity on the pitch. She was two for four at the plate with a single and a triple on the night. They posted a 6-0 victory and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

After the game, Jennifer asked me if she could invite several girls over to spend the night at home. I told her that was no problem as long as their parents understood that Kate was no longer there. The last thing I needed at this time was a disgruntled parent on my hands.

I drove straight home, but it was about ten thirty when Jennifer arrived with three other girls. Jen had brought Katy Wills, Becky Thompson, and Rylie Hendricks with her. They were all starters and had played together since they were young girls. I offered them the entire house, including the pool, which they jumped at the offer. In less than an hour, they had taken over the backyard. I ordered three large pizzas for them and one large for myself.

I went to bed around midnight with all the girls huddled in blankets in the theatre room, binge-watching movies. They were very quiet and did not disturb me at all. I was up at six the next morning to knock out my early workout. I was back lifting heavy, trying to put on about ten to fifteen pounds. I finished my workout and went home around noon. The girls were just getting up after a long night watching movies.

All four of them were in the kitchen warming up pizza from the night before when I walked in. Of course, like young girls do, they all had to giggle, presuming I had heard what they were talking about, which I did not.

“Hey, Jennifer’s dad. How are you?” Rylie laughed.

“I’m good, Rylie, and you?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m really good...” she replied, laughing hard.

“Do you know you have been voted the hottest dad in the school?” Becky giggled.

“No, I did not. Why didn’t you tell me, Jen?” I asked, trying to be serious.

“Uh, maybe because I don’t want to tell you what they say about you.” Jen replied cautiously.

“Makes no difference to me, sweet pea.” I stated, heading for the bedroom.

About two hours later, Jennifer brought the girls home and then returned to the house, crashing in her room. She had not gotten much sleep the night before, so she was extremely tired, and they had practice Sunday morning.

I decided to go on another cycle to gain some size this time, using testosterone, HGH, Winstrol, and Anavar. I went on beast mode in the gym, training sometimes eight to ten hours a day. When I wasn’t lifting, I was training with the Muay Thai instructor or in Krav Maga. I blocked everything out of my life other than Jennifer. In just months, I was back up to two hundred sixty-five pounds and was as big as ever. I just pushed through it, determined to get myself into the best shape of my life.

Jennifer had an incredible senior season, and Sacred Heart won their second straight AAA State Championship. She was named to the first All-State Softball team as a pitcher and second team as an infielder. She was named Best Senior in the state and was ranked the fourth best pitcher in the country. Jennifer’s room looked like a college trophy room with all the awards sitting around.

Jennifer graduated with a 3.98 grade point average and accepted a full scholarship from Clemson. She had put her medical school dreams on hold to concentrate purely on softball. She left for Clemson in late July to get situated, and I took the trip with her. We set her up in the athletic women’s dorm, and I met all her coaches. Everything was provided to Jennifer, including three meals a day in the athletic complex. I did get Jen a credit card for any other expenses and told her I would pay the bill.

Once Jen left, the idea of losing Kate finally hit me. The house was so quiet at night, and sometimes I had trouble sleeping. Jen called almost every night, and we would talk for maybe ten minutes or so. She would tell me everything going on, but in part, I knew she was worried about me being alone. She did admit that her training and practice were beyond anything that she had ever been through. She lifted weights every day, hit hundreds of balls, and pitched hundreds of pitches. By the time she was finished, she was exhausted.

Several weeks later, I received a text from Kate. She asked me if I would feel uncomfortable with her and Sarah working out at the gym. I thought about it for a while and then replied that I had no problem with it. I was not a person to hold grudges or ill will against someone. Most of the world didn’t care about it, and most times, the only person who felt bad was you. Hating took a lot of emotions, and most of them were negative.

The following morning at around six in the morning, Kate and Sarah did show up. I was working legs and under the squat rack when they showed up. I had just finished a set when the two of them walked over. Sarah appeared to be extremely nervous.

“My god, Jace ... how much weight have you put on?” Kate stated, kissing me on the cheek.

“I’m pushing two seventy right now,” I replied.

“How is Jennifer?” Kate inquired.

“She’s great. She is at Clemson, but they are working her butt off. She’s trying to adjust,” I answered.

“OK, we’ll let you get back to your workout. Thanks for letting us use the gym,” she said.