With them deciding to stay, we went to the hotel together after dinner, getting two different rooms. I sent a few texts out to those who needed to know about my whereabouts.

The manager called me as soon as he saw my text. Never mind that it was late and he should be going to sleep.

"What's going on Patterson? Are you coming back tomorrow or not?

"

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.

"I might need another day. I don't know. I should be done by noon and back by two, so theoretically I should make it to the game tomorrow, but I'll be honest Coach. I'm not in a good place.

"

"Take care of yourself, Patterson.

" He told me right away.

"Family first. Then baseball. I want you in your best mental state. You coming back to us and not having your head in the game will kill us and your chances at mvp. Just keep me in the know.

"

"I will.

" I felt a little better knowing that the manager was on my side.

After his call, I decided to call Rose. She wasn't someone I can just brush away with a text.

"Jeremy!

" She answered with a yelp.

"It's me.

" I confirmed.

"What the heck?

" She raised her voice again.

"Why would you just leave me hanging like that!? I was so worried about you! Going off the deep end.

" She got quiet before asking.

"Are you at the prison?

"

"I won't see her until tomorrow morning.

" I answered with a sigh.

"You don't have to do this. Come back.

" She told me lightly.

"I do, Rose. I couldn't face Jake without knowing for certain.

" I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Jake...might be the only one I have left.

"

"That's not true.

" She whispered.

"You have me. And no matter what your uncle did, you can't blame your cousins.

"

"He was paying her off, Rose.

" I blurted out for the first time.

"He took me and was paying her! When I got drafted, the payments went up! He had to know about Jake. I was-I was just some tool for him to make money. He saw me as his big payday since I was a child. I had picked him over Jake and this-this-this-

"

"Take a deep breath, Jeremy.

" Rose said calmly.

"You didn't have any part in this. Jake will understand.

"

She shared a few more words of comfort before convincing me that it was time to go to bed. I wasn't soothed that easily. I spent the rest of the night staring up at the ceiling. I was replaying my childhood. Growing up with Mom and Dad as Mom was going crazy. Dad's death. My uncle saving me from my mother and raised me like one of his own. The signs were there. The way he would push me to practice baseball. The way he would remind me that it was my dad's dream to make the majors. My life was planned out. Thoroughly.

I hated to think back to when I denied Jake being my brother. I didn't want him or our mother in our life. My uncle was telling me that he probably wanted money to help his new family out. Was he just projecting? Thinking that everyone wanted my money because he treated it like his own money?

Knocking at the door pulled me back to reality. I glanced at the clock. 7am. I rolled out of bed and opened the door to Wayne towering over me.

"You didn't sleep.

" He stated instead of asking.

"How could I?

" I rubbed my face to get some of the sleep out of my system.

"Are we leaving early?

" They said they didn't open for visitors until 9am.

"You need to eat something for breakfast.

" Wayne told me.

"I thought we should go back to the diner, eat on our own time, then we can go.

"

"Yea...okay. Give me a minute.

" I went to the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my hair, and brushed my teeth. With it being an unexpected stay, I was thankful for the complimentary toiletries from the hotel. Too bad I didn't have enough time to iron the wrinkles out of my shirt.

I was numb as we went to breakfast. Wayne and Zeke carried most of the conversation talking about Zeke's preparation for college. His fall classes had been picked out and he was about to move into the dorm with his friend in just a couple of weeks.

It reminds me when I was a senior in high school and colleges were reaching out to me. But...Uncle Jack had cut them all off and told me their offers wouldn't compare to going pro. Maybe he was right, maybe he wasn't. I'll never know now. I wasn't exactly good at school, but I'd still find a way to get by.

"You ready?

" Wayne asked me as we parked in the lot of the facility. He had driven me in my car while Zeke drove his.

I stretched as we got out of the car. I was starting to feel restless.

"Let's go.

" I glanced at Zeke staying in the car and nodded at him. Kind of like a small thank you for coming.

Wayne and I walked to the building and noticed a long line coming out.

Before we could ask if it was the line for visitors, a man in uniform approached us. I recognized him from last night.

"Hello.

"

He gave a polite smile.

"I let my superiors know last night about your visit today. They have a plan for a more private visit. Normally the visitation takes place in a giant room with others present.

"

A load was taken off my shoulders.

"Thank you. I didn't know.

"

He gave a small nod.

"Follow me.

" He led us to the front of the line and had us cut in front to go through security checks. Then a multitude of hallways until I lost my way. He opened the door to a small room with a table and four chairs.

"She'll be here in twenty minutes or so.

" He explained.

"She has to go through a similar process of security checks. A guard will be in the room at all times for protection.

"

I nodded.

"Thanks. Really. I appreciate it.

" I recalled him wanting an autograph.

"Do you have some paper? And a pen?

"

He hesitated for a second.

"I'll sign a few copies. For you and whoever else put this together.

" I told him.

"To show some appreciation.

"

He handed over a small notepad and a pen. I spent a few minutes, signing each page until my hand cramped up.

"That should be good. Thank you.

" He hurried to leave.

Wayne and I sat on the same side of the table. The room definitely belonged to the prison. No windows, no visible vents, and just one solid steel door.

I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, feeling more nervous. This was surreal. I haven't seen this woman in over a decade. God knows how fast my heart was beating and I haven't even seen her yet. Time passed by slowly as we waited.

"Any minute now.

" Wayne said after the twenty minute mark passed by.

The door opened and a woman was guided in. She wore the standard prison uniform, but in blood red. It gave me an eerie feeling. The guard locked her handcuffs to the table, then stepped back to stand behind her.