This story is the companion of my previous story, Soccer Practice. It tells of the same encounter but from the perspective of the other partner. I encourage you to read that one first if you haven't already.
It had been a brutal shift at the hospital where I work, and I was looking forward to getting home and taking off my shoes and scrubs and relaxing in a long hot shower followed by a nice glass of wine before dinner. As I was just finishing up the last of my charting, I felt my phone buzzing in my back pocket. The best part of being a nurse is scrubs; not only are they comfortable but they have ample pockets, something most of my outside-of-work outfits sorely lacked.
Finishing up, I reached for my phone and saw a text from John, my husband.
<Can you take Parker to soccer???>
<stuck in meeting with Simon ☹>
Fuck, I thought. I just wanted to go home and be done. Simon was John's manager and they'd been sweating some big project and usually John would never ask me because he knows how stressed I get.
<OK> I Texted back
<heading out now, make sure he's ready>
John usually worked from home and I hoped he could at least take a couple of minutes to get our son off the couch and ready for soccer. At nine, he was already somewhere between the sweet little boy he'd been and a tween terror.
Said a quick goodbye to everyone and headed out. I got home as quick as I could but still later than I'd hoped and Parker was there ready and antsy because he knew he'd be late to practice.
I peaked into John's office and gave a little wave, he looked up and smiled and a gave a little off-screen side wave and then I was out the door again.
We got to the school and the rest of the boys were already going through the routines and Parker hopped out of the car, water bottle in hand, to go join them. I stepped out of the car and it just then hit me how hot it was today. It's always freezing in the hospital, and I gave some thought to going home, but I was just wanted to stop moving for a bit and the thought of driving home and changing and rushing back wasn't appealing at all.
Usually, there's a little group of parents who gather and chat, mostly neighbors who we ran into regularly at the school and through the various other activities of our kids that brought us together.
But today, I didn't see anyone. They probably all decided it was too hot. I began to reconsider my decision to not go home when I Ethan's dad on the edge of the field in the shade by the tree line all alone.
Allan? Fuck, I couldn't remember his name! Aaron? No, Alex; it was Alex who is married to Steph. He's always been nice, if quiet, so I didn't hesitate to grab the folding chair from the back of the SUV and head over.
"Mind if I join you," I asked?
"Not at all" He replied, "I was beginning to think I might be the only one foolish enough to sit through this."
"Well, I'm glad you're here, otherwise I'd be thinking I'm the foolish one," I said trying to sound cheery
So I unfolded my chair and sat down.
"Where's Steph?" I asked
"Oh, she's stuck in a meeting that seems like it will never end and couldn't get away." He replied.
Thinking of John in his meeting and how I'd really not wanted to be here this afternoon, I wondered if he felt the same. He wasn't usually the one to do the kids sport practice thing. "Lucky you," I said.
"At least the company is good" He said, shrugging his shoulders and smiling.
Oh my god! Was someone actually flirting with me? I think I'm holding up pretty well for a forty-ish lady with two kids, but I was wearing scrubs with pretty minimal makeup and I'd been on my feet for hours! Not to mention that Alex was a good-looking man and usually so reserved that it kind of took me by surprise and I giggled in spite of myself and I think I even blushed a bit.
I have got to get out more I thought to myself, this guy is just being nice - no need to read anything into it.
So we both watched the boys practice for a few minutes and I relaxed a bit. It was nice to be here in the shade on a warm day. The sound of the boys mingled with the birds and bugs in the trees above and behind us and I suddenly just felt very peaceful.
In my reverie I kind of offhandedly said, "I'm actually kind of glad to be out in the sun, its freezing at work and my feet are killing me."
He turned to me with a look of curiosity and replied "What do you do at the hospital? I mean, I know you're a nurse, but I don't really know anything else."
"Oh, I work in the NICU," I breezily answered, "that's intensive care for babies, mostly preemies. I love it but there's a lot to be done and never a moment to just sit and collect yourself or get off your feet. It's go, go, go the whole time."