Chapter 4: Only While the Ball Is in Play

My mother's taxi left on Monday morning at six, and by seven Gabriel had moved into the guest room.

He carried his pillow past me in the hall and did not say a word.

I stood in the kitchen with my coffee and listened to the door close.

He avoided me for two days.

He left for the academy before I woke up and came home after dark, and he ate standing at the counter with his back to me.

On Tuesday night I came downstairs at eight and found him on the leather couch in the den.

A match was on. The red shirts were playing the blue shirts, and the volume was low.

He had his ring on again, and I noticed it right away.

"Lainey," he said without turning around. "Go to bed."

"It's eight o'clock."

"Then go for a walk."

I walked around the couch and stood in front of the TV.

He looked up at me, and I watched him decide not to look at my legs.

I was wearing his old jersey from his last season, with the number nine on the back.

It came to the middle of my thighs.

I had nothing on under it but my underwear.

"We need to talk about Saturday," he said.

"Okay."

"It can't happen again."

"Okay," I said. "Then why are you still wearing your ring?"

His mouth went flat.

"Because I'm married to your mother."

"You didn't wear it Saturday. It was in the dish by the door."

"It was in the dish because a lot of stupid things happened Saturday."

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