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Ellie and I chatted with Mariah for a fewher about her job with the White Sox “I’m in media relations,” she said, “which basically means I’m a liaison between the team and the press”

“Do you like it?” Ellie asked

“Yeah, I do I’ve always loved sports, and at one point, I thought about broadcast journalised “I could always try broadcasting in the future, but I guess it depends where Chip and I end up”

“Is he planning on staying in the game for a while?” I wondered

“I’ is really hard on the body Most pitchers retire before age thirty Chip is thirty-four, so he’s like a grandpa” She laughed

“You’ll keep hi,” I told her with a smile

“That’s what I always say!”

“How old are you?” Ellie asked

“I’rinned “People are always teasing hi the cradle”

“A ten-year gap isn’t too crazy,” Ellie said “That’s like your dad and stepht, Win?”

I nodded “Yep And they’ve been together for eighteen years”

Mariah smiled “Good to know”

“Maybe he’ll retire and you guys could move up here,” Ellie said

“We’ve actually talked about that” She lowered her voice “Although he doesn’t wantto anyone, because he hasn’t made a decision But ant kids pretty soon after we’re married, and I’d like to be closer to home once that happens Family is really important to me”

Even though I was happy for Mariah and Chip, I felt aa future together, and thinking about a fas off until they were closer to thirty or even older, but I’d always i wife and ive, and it ive it, so why keep it to ht person to share it with

After Christmas, of course

Chip approached with a beer in his hand but no Dex by his side

“Did you lose your friend?” Mariah asked

“I did He just texted ic to tree nuts and ate soave her a reaction”