[Jason]

April 23, 2007, 1:45pm; Maria’s Coffee House, Detroit, MI
(Detroit is 12-5, 1 game ahead of Minnesota. Stats: .385, 5 HR, 12 RBI)

“You have to understand the kind of career he has,” Heather Merriweather said. “It’s not like he’s going to the office at nine and leaving at five.”

“I know,” Tammi said as she picked up her latte. She took a slow sip while her friend looked out the window at the Detroit skyline.

“This is a really nice place,” Heather said. “I’m glad you chose here because I never get downtown anymore.”

“That’s what happens when you get married!” Tammi said and the women laughed.

On the night that Tammi was brought to “My Sister’s Place”, a battered women’s shelter, Heather was the first person to take her and care for her. Tammi valued Heather’s friendship and wisdom more than anyone else on the planet including her mother. Heather came through the shelter and was now married with two super-charged young boys. Their chances to sit and talk became fewer and further apart.

“You’ll find that out when you get married,” Heather said. “Everything changes but it’s mostly for the better.”

”I thought I was on the fast track to that,” Tammi said quietly.

“What happened, hon?”

Tammi looked at her friend through the tears that started to fill her eyes. She picked up a napkin and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

“I think maybe he’s not the great guy I thought he was,” Tammi said. “I think maybe he’s like Eric and I was so blinded by the thought of being in love again I couldn’t see it.”

“OK,” Heather said as she put her hands on Tammi’s. “Let’s take a deep breath and think about things for a minute. Tell me what happened that makes you think this.”

“Well,” Tammi said through sobs, “You know how before the season and during the spring we spent our time together? How he would rush off to see me as soon as the practice or game was over?”

“Oh yeah,” Heather said. “I hadn’t seen you smile like that in … well, ever!”

Heather laughed and Tammi was able to manage a small smile at her friend’s attempt at humor.

“Well, right after the season started things started changing,” Tammi said. “He’s turned darker and more distant.”

“That’s not very specific,” Heather said. “Even Bob has times where he seems distant and moody and it can mean everything from a bad day at work to gas.”

Tammi just turned her head and gave Heather a sarcastic smile as a waitress came to refresh their drinks. The women made general small talk until they had a few sips of the fresh java.

“So what did he do?” Heather asked.

“Well, they got back from that road trip at the start of the year,” Tammi said. “I wanted to meet him at the airport but was busy at the shelter and lost track of time. He had to get a ride home from one of his teammates.”

“I could see where he’d be a little mad about that,” Heather said.

“I know,” Tammi said. “It was stupid of me.”

“So he yelled at you or something?”

“Worse.”

“Oh…” Heather said before taking a sip of her mocha cappuccino. “He was quiet about it.”

“I drove to his house and the guy at the gate just let me go in since he knew me,” Tammi said. “I saw his truck and parked behind it and walked in. I started calling his name but he didn’t answer me.”

“Where was he?”

“He had a room built onto the back of his house that had a batting tunnel in it,” Tammi said. “He was in there.”

“I assume he was doing more than hitting baseballs?” Heather asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No,” Tammi said. “That’s just it. He was just hitting ball after ball. I stood there for five minutes and he didn’t even acknowledge I was there.”

“Interesting.”

“It hurt.”

“Then what happened?” Heather asked as she picked up a scone and took a bite.

“He turned around and acted like he was just seeing me,” Tammi said. “But he didn’t run over to kiss me or anything. He just said ‘hi’ and turned around to keep swinging.”

“That’s cold.”

“He said that he was in the middle of a routine of swing reps and that he had to finish it before he could come out of the cage,” Tammi said. “So I sat and waited another ten minutes while he finished up.”

“At least you could watch his cute butt while he was swinging,” Heather said.

“Heather!” Tammi said with mock indignation.

“Well, he does have a cute butt,” Heather replied while talking another bite of scone.

“So he comes out of the cage and throws his bat across the room and starts mumbling things about not keeping his shoulder in during the swing,” Tammi said. “He really threw the bat hard and it slammed off the far wall and left a dent. It reminded me of the times Eric would throw things around the house when he was mad.”

“Well,” Heather said, “If he had been in there for a while he adrenaline had to be built up and if he wasn’t happy that was a way to get the anger out. You weren’t in the path of the bat, right?”

“No, he threw it away from me.”

“So you were just shaken by the violence of it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s understandable,” Heather said. “You were in a vulnerable position, alone in a semi-stranger’s house and he was lashing out in anger. I can see why your brain would start to scream at you.”

“But that’s not the worst of it,” Tammi said. “This entire homestand he’s hardly acknowledged me like he did before the season started.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know how the team had an off-day Thursday?” Tammi asked.

“Yeah,” Heather said. “We went to the day game on Wednesday with the kids.”

“I made reservations for dinner for the two of us,” Tammi said. “Nice and romantic and quiet. I thought we could have one of our deep conversations that are so nice. So I don’t hear from him all day. Finally I get him on the phone at six and he was at the ballpark with a few guys on the team playing in a mock game. He had forgotten all about dinner or so he said.”

“You think he was paying you back for the airport?”

“Eric would.”

“Dale’s not Eric,” Heather said. “And until you understand that you’re going to face these problems.”

“But I had everything lined up and it was all special and he just ignored it,” Tammi said.

“What did he do?”

“Had me to his house for Domino’s and a movie on his plasma TV.”

“So instead of blowing it completely off,” Heather said with a sly smile, “he brought you to his home, provided food and then snuggled on the couch with you during a movie?”

“I guess you could say it that way.”

“Did you pick the movie?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t worry about this,” Heather said. “It’s the start of a new season and he wasn’t doing well. My guess is he had to refocus and get back to some kind of pattern to his day that matched last year. He’s having trouble figuring out how to work you into it. And remember he’s only twenty years old.”

“I’m only twenty-two.”

“We’re smarter than they are,” Heather said as the women burst into laughter.

“He is playing better,” Tammi said. “But that should make him happy and not angry.”

“They’re leaving after tonight’s game on a road trip, right?” Heather asked.

“Yeah,” Tammi replied. “They get back a week from Wednesday.”

“I have an idea,” Heather said. “Why not rent a limo to pick him up from the airport and you be inside of it naked?”

“We haven’t done anything like that yet,” Tammi said.

“What?” Heather said. “You two haven’t done anything?”

“No,” Tammi said. “He said he wanted to go as slowly as I needed to go to be comfortable. He says he respects my need to go slowly.”

“Girl,” Heather said as she stood up and tossed her napkin on the table, “Marry this guy right now.”

“Could I wear a bikini?” Tammi asked as she stood to join her friend.

“I have a better idea,” Heather said. “Let’s go to the Tigers’ gift shop.”