Page 4

“Yes, but you can always do it after he signs up if that helps.”

Picking up Beckham’s backpack off the ground, I sling it over my shoulder. “Thank you. We need to get going, so say goodbye to Mrs. Black.”

Beckham looks from me to the baseball field with sad eyes. I hate to make him leave, but we need to get back to the shelter so I can help with dinner. Tonight is my night and I can’t be late for two things in one day.

“I know you two are new to town and I’d like to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night. My son will be there, and he can tell you more about the baseball program.”

Taking a step back, I take Beck’s hand in mine. While his teacher seems nice, I feel like she’s taking pity on us. How often does she invite her student’s over for dinner?

“That’s a very kind offer, but I would hate to impose.” The weight of Beck’s hand in mine makes me look down at him. His blue eyes are brimming with tears. I can’t say no if it’s going to cause him such sadness. The change in our lives has already been too hard on him. He went from living in a house most would consider a mansion to now sharing one room with me where we have to share a tiny bed. If something as small as having dinner with his teacher will make him happy, I’ll do it.

“We’d love to come to dinner,” I finally agree.

“Perfect.” December smiles brightly. “I’ll put a note in Beckham’s backpack tomorrow with our address and the time.”

I smile weakly at her. I know proper etiquette would be to bring something for dinner, but I only have a small amount of money for us to get by on until I get a job. What little money I do have, I want to use it for rent on a place for us and I’ll need every last dollar I have for the baby. I didn’t have time to get any money out of the bank before we left. Never once did I think I’d be afraid for my life when I met Bradley, but after I saw the monstrous look on his face before he attacked me, I knew we were no longer safe. He knows I now know the secret he’s kept from me all this time.

Hopefully December and her family will understand I don’t have the resources after moving to a new town to bring a bottle of wine or a dish because there is no way in hell I’m telling them why we’re really in Murfreesboro.

2

Delilah

Beckham smileshappily as we walk up the driveway of Mrs. Black’s house. He’s been bouncing with excitement the whole way over here, to have dinner with his teacher and meet the man who runs the after-school baseball program at his new school.

“Are you excited?” I ask as I ring the doorbell. It feels all kinds of wrong to be on his teacher’s doorstep, but the sad look in his eyes yesterday broke my heart and there’s no way I’m going back on my word.

The door swings open and December stands there in a pair of tight jeans and a t-shirt. It makes me happy I decided not to dress up for the occasion.

“Hello.” She draws out the word with a bright smile on her face. “I’m so glad you two could come to dinner.”

“Thank you for having us. It smells wonderful.” Even from the doorway, the aroma of tomatoes and garlic fills the air.

She steps back holding the door open for us. “Please come in. I hope you like lasagna.”

“We love it,” I answer truthfully as we step inside the house. Bradley had me on a strict diet and Italian was out. He said if I ate all the carbs I wanted to, I’d be a fat ass. My fat ass sure didn’t seem to bother him when we first started dating, but the second we moved into his house, he quickly had a set of rules I needed to follow. That should have been my first indication Bradley wasn’t the man he seemed, but I was in denial and realized too late what an asshole and a bad person he really is.

“I’m just finishing up in the kitchen, but dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Please relax and have a seat,” December chirps as she moves through the house.

I try to follow her but have to stop when Beckham comes to an abrupt halt in the middle of the living room. “Beck, what’s the matter with you?” I whisper a moment before my eyes land on an extremely attractive man sitting on the couch. His blondish-brown hair is cut close on the sides and a little longer on the top, but it’s his piercing blue eyes that have me captivated.

He stands and comes to stand in front of us. “You must be Beckham and Delilah. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Max.” Leaning down, he holds his hand out for Beck to shake.

Beck lifts his hand in a daze and pulls it to his chest when he gets it back. “You’re Max Black,” he says in awe.

“I am.” Max almost blinds us with his brilliant smile. “Are you a fan?”

Am I missing something here? How does my son know who this man is?

“I’m Beckham, your biggest fan in the whole wide world.” Beckham looks at him with an emotion I’ve never seen on his face.

Is this the Max Black who plays for the Yankees? Even though I know next to nothing about baseball, I do know my son’s favorite player and team. Could the man before me be the same Max Black?

“Well, then, it’s a good thing we finally got to meet. I’m always happy to meet my fans.”

The front door opens causing me to turn around and a man who has to be Max’s father walks into the house. They look almost exactly alike with the same muscular build, hair, and eye color with the exception of a few wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. Max is going to one damn fine man as he ages if his father is anything to go by.

Why am I thinking of how fine he’s going to be? I just got out of an extremely horrible relationship and to top it all off, I’m pregnant with that asshole’s child. The last thing I need to think about is getting involved with a man, not that he’d be interested once he finds out I’m pregnant. Not that I’m interested in any man. I don’t need any more hassle in my life.