Page 7 of Love in the Outfield

7

GEORGIA

S unshine, blue summer sky and it’s a blistering hot August day in Kentucky. I park in the shade under a tall white cedar tree and keep my car running with the air conditioning blasting while I work up the nerve to go inside. Like a dumbbell, I arrived fifteen minutes early, now I’m sitting here as anxious as a Chihuahua during Fourth of July fireworks. I wonder what kind of car he drives. Probably some Porsche or something fancy like that. Seconds later a car pulls in beside me and I glance over at a black Porsche convertible. I roll my eyes. Did I call it or what? We lock eyes and I wave my fingers at him then shut down the engine and climb out.

“Nice ride,” I say insincerely as he gets out, not liking the judgy way I sound. He’s looking cool as a cucumber in his cargo shorts and tee shirt, while I feel like a sticky mess in my sundress and flip-flops.

He shrugs. “It is pretty sweet. My dream car. Never thought I’d own one. My first big purchase.” A breeze ruffles his hair and I swear he looks like something from an ad.

“You mean you didn’t buy your mama a vacation home in Italy or somethin’?” I say. I am such a brat!

His lips tightening is the only indication he’s annoyed. “Let’s go inside before you melt,” he says before lightly grasping my arm. I jerk it away and march briskly past the beautifully landscaped garden walkway of bright perennials and head straight toward the entrance. Cade steps in front of me to hold the door and my short cotton dress swishes around my thighs as I flounce around him. The aroma of bacon and fresh pastries cuts straight from my nose to my tummy. The noisy sounds of conversations and cutlery clacking and clattering against dishes are at once comforting and normal. I’ve got this .

The restaurant has high ceilings with lazily swirling fans and a whiteboard announcing the specials. I immediately nix the idea of sitting at the horseshoe counter with an eclectic group of diners … not enough privacy for us. Spying the last empty booth towards the back I make a beeline for it. I pass the counter and smile at a man who glances up from reading his newspaper; a tempting cream cheese Danish sits on a small plate next to his steaming cup of coffee.

I scooch into the booth next to a window and Cade slides in across from me. The diner has a relaxed ambience, warm and homey with cozy blond wood booths, red and white checkered floors, and lots of windows. We barely have enough time to blink before our young server arrives with our menus, a pitcher of ice water and two glasses.

As she pours, she says, “Our breakfast specials today are Eggs Benedict and Asparagus and Parmesan Scramble. Along with our freshly squeezed orange juice, today we have fresh grapefruit and tomato juice as well. I’ll give you time to look at the menu. Coffee?”

“Yes, with lots of cream. Please and thank you,” I say. I glance around the restaurant and notice some people gawking. Cade has his nose buried in his menu and doesn’t seem to notice the attention he’s attracting.

I lean towards him and whisper, “People are staring.”

He lifts his eyes. “And? Just ignore them.”

“Does this happen often?”

“Some. We’re in the height of the season and I’m on home turf. Lots of hubbub around the trade. There are tons of Cutter baseball fans around here. You’ll get used to it.”

I sniff then swivel, angling my back to the room. “So, what’s tickling your fancy?” I ask perusing the menu.

He chuckles. “I’ve missed your sayings.”

I look up. Holy crap, his smile! “My sayings? What do you mean by my sayings ?”

“The way you talk. It’s adorable.”

I feel my cheeks heat. “I’m going to have the French toast with fresh fruit. And lots of coffee.”

“I see how this is going. Alright, I get the hint. I’m going for pre-game carbs and protein. Whole grain griddle cakes and cheesy scrambled eggs.”

“Big game tonight?”

“Yeah, we need to win this series to keep on point for the playoffs. It’s a pretty tight race.”

“You mean you have a shot at the World Series this year?”

The corner of his lip tilts up. “You used to know the stats better than I did. I guess you gave up on baseball. Yeah, a decent chance if we don’t blow it. We’ve been riddled with injuries, which is one of the reasons they picked me up at the trade deadline.”

I never even noticed I was wringing my hands until he reaches across the table and covers them with his.

“Settle down, Georgia. I told you we’re taking this at your pace.” I jerk my hands away as the server interrupts, pours coffee, puts a small stainless carafe of creamer on the table then takes our orders. She collects our menus and hurries away.

I add a heavy dose of cream to my mug and take a sip. “You said you want to meet Auggie before you go on the road. So that’s Monday, right?”

“Yeah. If that works for you?” He raises thick dark brows that crown his gorgeous midnight-blue eyes and when we lock eyes over my coffee cup, my belly swoops.

“I suppose we can meet at the playground up the road from Mama’s house.”

“I could pick you both up.”

“No,” I say sounding panicked. “I think we should meet there. Plus, your fancy car is hardly going to fit a car seat.”

“Wrong again. I already checked into it. I ordered a Porsche car seat. Top of the line in safety, babe.”

My jaw drops and he laughs. “Don’t look so shocked. I may be new at fatherhood but I do have a niece and nephew.”

“Um… well that’s sweet that you thought of it but I don’t want you racing around with our child in the back.”

His voice thick with emotion he says, “Our child. I can’t wrap my mind around it. I have a son.”

I fight down my panic. That boyish vulnerability is pulling at my heartstrings. I’m still insanely attracted to him but who wouldn’t be? Especially when he’s being so open and sweet. I have to keep in the forefront of my brain that this is the same guy who abandoned me without a second thought. I’ll just bet he’s got beautiful women lined up all the way from San Diego to Kentucky. Which is none of my business.

“What’s he like?” he asks, eyes dancing with excitement. His eagerness makes me feel like a horrible person. Who am I to steal this joy from him? He’s missed so much already. I feel terrible. I’m sorry for him. But I can’t let my guard down. Yes, we can co-parent but that’s it.

“He’s wonderful, incredible, brilliant, funny, stubborn, cuddly, smells like a little bit of heaven… should I go on?” I ask, laughing.

“Sounds like his mom,” he says, his eyes crinkling like they do when he smiles.

There’s an awkward silence and I’m relieved to see our food arrive.

I watch surreptitiously as he tucks into his food like he’s half-starved. He always was a good eater. I pick at my fruit and French toast. It’s hard to eat when my stomach is tied up in knots. He looks up suddenly and catches me staring and his eyes practically scorch me.

He wipes his mouth with his napkin and grins. “Do I look like a starving man?”

I bite my lip on a smile. He is just too… too… too everything, dammit. Too beautiful, too charming, too sweet. Ugg!

“What are you thinking?” he asks.

“I’m thinking you are a snake charmer and I’ll be doing myself a favor to remember that.” The look of hurt surprises me.

“I suppose I deserve that. I haven’t given you much of a reason to trust me. But Georgia, I promise you, I intend to earn it.”

“All I need to know is that my baby will be safe and well cared for when you eventually, in sixteen years or so, get to take him on your own.”

He sputters. “You mean I have to wait sixteen years to have a one-on-one with my son? Well, Georgia Mae, that’s leading me to believe you must want to spend an awful lot of time together.”

I roll my eyes. “Dream on. I’m not one of your cleat chasers.”

He shields his eyes with his hand, peering out the window as if looking for something. “Those pesky bench babes must be hiding in the bushes out there. It’s getting to be a nuisance.”

I kick him under the table. “Ha ha. You know what I mean.”

His expression turns serious. “Back to the plan. What are the ground rules for Monday?” he asks.

“No rules. Be yourself. He’s a very social little guy. He’ll probably take to you right away.”

“I hope so. I’m having nightmares that he’ll be scared of me.”

“We’ll be at the playground. He’ll be happy as a pig in mud.”

“You’ll help me, right?” The emotion behind the softly spoken words touches me. Suddenly I realize I’m the one in control and how overwhelming this must be for him.

I reach across and touch his forearm. “Of course I will. I want this for Auggie. He deserves the love of his father. I know you’ll be a good dad. I will do everything I can to make this go well. I’ve thought a lot about this, and I’m going to tell him that you’re his daddy.”

He sits back, eyes widening. “For real? Do you think that’s okay? I mean I don’t want to scar him for life or anything.”

“Considerin’ his age, it will be fine.”

“That’s great! I mean I was afraid to hope for it. It’s one hundred percent your call, but I’d like that.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” I say.

“Georgia, I… I’m so sorry that I left like I did. You have to know how special you were… are… to me… I…”

I hold up my hand for him to stop. “I want to make this very clear. That is the past. I’m over it. This is a new chapter. We can’t go back. There is no us. We are co-parenting. We can be friends but that’s it. That’s all it can ever be.”

He nods. “I understand. I can’t say I don’t wish it were different but I’ll do my best to try and remember that.” He flashes a wolfish grin. “No promises though.”

I slap his arm. “I’ll just have to be strong for the both of us.”

“Ah, so you admit that it is going to take strength and sheer willpower to resist me. Good to know.”

We finish our meals in comfortable silence then he settles up the bill while I visit the lady’s room. As we walk to our cars, he casually slings an arm across my shoulders and I quickly wiggle out from under him.

My car chirps as I hit the key fob to unlock. Cade opens my door and I slide in. He leans down towering over me and says, “This wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“I reckon we survived.”

“You going to watch the game tonight?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” I lie.

He tilts my chin. “Liar.” I slap his hand away and feel myself blush.

“Don’t be so full of yourself, and keep your hands to yourself,” I say through gritted teeth. He laughs. Laughs! The nerve. “Whatever, Cade. Break a leg or whatever you say before a ballgame.”

“How about I’ll be watching and rooting for you? Has a nice ring.”

“Goodbye, Cade. Hope you win. Now close the door please.”

“Do I have to?” I glare and he chuckles. “See you Monday. If you watch the game tonight, I promise to hit a home run just for you.”

“Git!” I say, waving my hand like I’m swatting at a fly while pretending his flirting isn’t getting under my skin. He does not need to know I was planning on watching it anyway.