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CADE

I watch the woman I stupidly walked away from two years ago sprint around the corner and down the snack aisle… away from me. Always was a natural beauty. Her mossy green eyes had flashed surprise followed by recrimination then hurt. That last one is a punch to my gut. Flushed cheeks… biting that full bottom lip like she always used to… so familiar yet untouchable now. Her embarrassed breathy laugh coupled with her Appalachian Kentucky drawl had sent a jolt down my spine. I desperately want to hear it again.

She looks the same yet different in subtle ways… more mature or womanly somehow… I don’t know… something I can’t quite put my finger on. I feel cheated, like I’ve missed out on something. I vividly recall how her long untamed hair felt against my bare chest as she leaned over me… her creamy soft skin. The best summer of my life. I’m standing here in the middle of the market, dumbstruck, holding spice bottles and looking like an idiot until the young clerk snaps me out of it.

“I’ll take those off your hands,” he says, reaching for the spices. In a daze, I turn them over. Shaking my head like a wet dog shaking off water, I smile. “Not sure what happened here.” That’s the understatement of the century.

“No problemo.” The kid shrugs. “Trust me I’ve seen a lot worse. I could tell you some stories. Geesh, pickle jars, ketchup, you name it, I’ve mopped it. This is nothing. I’ll take it from here, sir.” He rights the display and then begins picking up the remaining bottles.

“I’ll pay for any damages,” I offer. He waves me off and then gives me an odd look.

“You look an awful lot like Cade Jennings.”

I grin. “Do I?”

His face beams. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’re Cade, aren’t you?”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Dude! I am so glad the Kentucky Cutters picked you up! That home run the other night was epic, dude. And on your debut!”

“Thanks. Fingers crossed my luck continues,” I say.

“Wow, I can’t believe it. Cade Jennings! Can you do me a solid and sign this for my girl?” he asks, grabbing a pen tucked behind his ear and then handing me a scrap of paper from his pocket.

I look around as a few curious shoppers seem to have overheard our convo and are now openly staring. “Sure, and I’ll do you one better. I’ll see that you get a couple of tickets to Friday’s game.”

“Epic!”

“What’s your girl’s name?”

“Kelcey.” I scribble a note to Kelcey and sign my name.

“Wait till she sees this. You are literally her snack.”

I laugh out loud. “Snack huh? That’s a new one. Two tickets for Friday then. Write down your number.”

“Excellent!” he says, jotting down his info.

I take the paper from him. “Enjoy the game.”

“You’re gonna make the playoffs this year. I know it!” Whistling, he returns to restacking the spices on the cardboard shelf.

“That’s the plan.”

I replay the encounter with Georgia as I push my cart. Maybe I imagined that flare of heat I saw before the other emotions crashed the party. I was so shocked to see her that I’d tuned out everything else until that toddler broke the spell. Did he really call her mommy? Suddenly the spidey senses niggling the edge of my psyche break through my Georgia-addled brain. I ditch my cart and race for the exit. I run out the door in time to see her old Subaru wagon peel out of the lot.

I stand there raking my hands through my hair as I watch her disappear. I’d only caught a brief glimpse of a cherub face and curly dark hair but is it even possible that it could be a coincidence? I pull out my cell and call my big brother Quinn.

“Yo little brother, what’s up?”

“You’ll never guess who I just ran into.”

“I give.”

“Georgia.”

“Ouch!” After a long pause, he quietly says, “It’s been what… two years? Awkward.”

“I don’t know what it was. It was not so much awkward as it caught me off guard. I thought I was over her but I guess I was fooling myself. I feel like I just got nailed in the head by a fastball.”

“I’m sorry, that’s rough. I know how hard that break-up was on you. How did she act?” Quinn is the only one who knows how devastated I was after I ended things with Georgia. Mom and Dad had tunnel vision when it came to my career. Love would come later, back then my only focus should be on baseball. They were oblivious to how hard that choice was for me.

“Here’s the thing,” I say huffing out a breath. “I hate to even say this out loud but she had a kid in her grocery cart that called her Mama. I’m no kid expert but I’d put him a few months shy of two. Caught a quick glimpse of him before she literally ran away. Dark curly hair, same color as mine. The thing is, I might not have even noticed except for the way she reacted. Her panic is what caught my attention. When the kid yelled Mama, Georgia shot up and ran out of there like she couldn’t get away fast enough.”

“Well shit,” Quinn says. “That would certainly complicate things.”

“Ya think?” I say dryly.

“What are you going to do?”

I scratch my head. “I have no idea. What if the kid’s mine? If so, she’s been hiding him from me for two years! Basically, lying. I’ve missed out on all his firsts. How could she do that to me or the kid? I mean I kept the same number. No excuse for not telling me.”

I hear a scoffing sound. “Seriously? Do you have selective amnesia or something? I seem to recall you breaking up with her by text message when you got traded.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I nod. “Yeah, I know. Total dick move. I did try calling her after I got settled and it always went straight to voicemail. It was too late.”

“Yeah, not your finest moment. I’m sure every girl wants to hear about her boyfriend’s trade on social media.”

“But you know what she meant to me and how hard it was. I was head over heels in love with Georgia.”

“I remember,” he says soberly. “Still, little bro, you copped out, could have handled it better.”

“I couldn’t deal with the goodbye. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to go through with it and you know I’ve worked my entire life for an opportunity to play in the major league. Mom and Dad pressuring me… I didn’t think I could juggle a long-distance relationship and my career.”

“I get it, but you owed her an explanation. I told you the same thing back then too.”

“But we’d only been dating for five months.”

“Still,” Quinn says.

“We’d talked, we knew there was a chance I’d be traded. It’s not like I’d made any promises.”

“Thinking and actually happening are two different things,” Quinn says. “Put yourself in her place.”

“I know but I needed to focus all my energy on baseball. It felt like a miracle to get called up from Triple-A. That’s a one-in-a-million shot.”

“I hear ya, but I gotta be honest, no excuse for not saying that in person. That’s all I have to say about it.”

I grit my teeth. Sometimes the truth hurts. “There’s nothing you can throw at me that I haven’t said to myself. But I had a week to find a place, settle in and hit the ballfield. In the big leagues.” Even I hear the whine in my voice as I defend the indefensible.

“Just sayin’ your anger at Georgia now is misplaced.”

“Is it really though? What if that kid is mine? I mean the quick look I got… the timing, pretty big coincidence, don’t you think?”

“It’s possible, little brother. You’d better call your lawyer and find out your rights before you track down Georgia.”

“No way, man. I’m not waiting. Plus, I’m not trying to start any battles here. I only want a relationship with my son... if he is my son.”

“She probably doesn’t want you anywhere near her or the kid,” my brother says, further twisting the knife.

My jaw tightens. “Too bad. Non-negotiable. I’ll take a paternity test and if he’s my kid I want to be a part of his life. I’ll take full financial responsibility.”

“Easy now, it won’t be that simple. There’s still a big chance he’s not your kid. Plus, you can’t push your way in and expect her to trust you and hand her kid off when you’re basically a stranger.”

“Quinn, seriously, I think he’s mine,” I insist.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Even if he is, it’s going to take time. You’re going to have to go slow. Your competitive nature works well on the field but not so much in a situation like this.”

I blow out a breath. “How should I approach this then?”

“Find out where Georgia lives and drop by.”

“Without warning?”

“If he’s your kid, my guess is she’ll be expecting you. She’s probably freakin’ out bout now.”

“I suspect you’re right. I have that charity banquet tonight but I’ll get on it first thing tomorrow.”

“I’ll do a search and get Kennedy to help. She loves sleuthing,” he says, referring to my sister-in-law.

“Georgia’s parents used to live on Prairie Road, outside the city. They’re probably still living there. Maybe a good place to start. Let me know if you find out anything.”

“Will do. And relax, it’s all good. In the end, if he’s yours, I think Georgia will see that having a mother and father is best for the kid. If she gives you grief, you have legal rights to rely on. I know one thing for sure, you’ll make a hell of a good dad.”

“You truly think so?” I hear the doubt in my voice.

“My kids are obsessed with Uncle Cade. You’re a natural. Listen, being a dad is the best thing that ever happened to me. Changed my life. It puts all the other bullshit into perspective.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now that the shock is wearing off, I’m kind of stoked at the thought of being a father.” I’ve always wanted a family but thought it was way off in the future. I glance at my watch. “Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you in the morning. I have to finish shopping and then head over to the gym. Meeting a couple of teammates for some weight training. Home game tomorrow night.”

“I know, that’s all Grayson and Emma have talked about this week. Uncle Cade, blah blah blah.”

“Aww. Guess they’re happy to have me back. You’re coming with Mom and Dad to Friday’s game, right?”

“Dawg, we’re counting on another homer.”

“No pressure,” I say. “I hope my luck continues.”

“Yeah, maybe your energy will rub off on the rest of the offense.”

“Hey, they’re picking up. We all have hitting slumps.”

“But why do they all happen at the same time?”

I laugh. “Biggest mystery, man.”

“Talk to ya later.”

“And Quinn, thanks. It’s good to be home.”

“Keep me posted… and hang in there. There’s a reason you and Georgia were at that store at the exact same time. That’s destiny.”

“A weird coincidence at the very least,” I say.

I stuff my phone back in my pocket and return inside to find my cart parked right where I’d left it.