Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Leighton
“Hi,” Monroe says to a group of strangers on our way to find the seats Hayes got us for tonight’s Colts game. “Hi.” She waves to another group. “Hi.” Yet another group.
I inhale, trying to channel a Zen state. Lincoln is practically bouncing off the walls, Monroe hasn’t stopped saying hi to everyone we pass, and Lake’s been in a sour mood since we left the house.
“And then she made me do my homework at the kitchen table and said I couldn’t have dessert until she checked it over. Does she even know I have straight A’s, and I’m in honors classes?”
Lake has been going on and on about how horrible her time at Art and Julianna’s was. Although I didn’t love that they were with them, they are still her family, and my time with Hayes was enjoyable.
“She took away Monroe’s Play-Doh, and Uncle Art wouldn’t play with Lincoln outside. He said he was tired from work. Why do they want us if they’re not going to spend time with us?” Lake asks.
“Hi.” Monroe waves at a guy also wearing a Carlisle jersey, and he tries to high-five her. “No, just hi today.”
He laughs and nods. I offer him a soft smile, and he continues on his way.
“You can high-five him.” Lake groans then turns to me. “I’m not going again, so you can tell the judge that.”
“They want you because they love you. You’re family.” I’m not sure what’s appropriate to say, and I probably shouldn’t be secretly happy she doesn’t want to go back.
“They don’t love us!” Her voice gets louder.
Lately I’ve been thinking that it may be a good idea to get the kids into some kind of therapy to talk about everything going on in their lives, and this outburst from Lake tells me I was right. I make a mental note to look up some good options tomorrow when I have time.
“Hi.” Monroe waves to the guy selling beer.
“Can you tell her to stop saying hi to everyone?” Lake snipes.
“What do you want me to do? It’s National Say Hi Day.” I roll my eyes.
This is so much worse than National High Five Day.
“I don’t know, but she’s drawing attention to us.” She looks around at a bunch of people who probably think Monroe is a cute little girl wearing a Hayes Carlisle jersey.
A group of fans wearing Milwaukee jerseys walks by.
“No hi for you,” Monroe says. A group of Colts fans walks by next. “Hi.”
Lake growls, and her hands clench into fists.
“Monroe, sweetie, is there a maximum number of people you can say hi to today?” I ask.
She stops, and her forehead scrunches.
“Never mind. Let’s just get to our seats.” I turn to Lake. “And then she’ll already have said hi to everyone around us, and we’ll be done for a while.”
We’re at the top of the stairs in our section when Lincoln sees Easton and Decker come out of the dugout and bolts toward the field. “Easton!”
“Oh boy, okay, let’s get going.” I scramble to get us down the stairs, but Monroe is taking one at a time, stopping and doing the Miss America wave while she says hi to every row of fans.
I urge Monroe forward with my hand on her back. I’m carrying a bag full of activities in case she gets bored, along with my purse. My shoulders will be sore by the end of the day.
“Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.” Monroe says it to everyone we pass.
Lake huffs. “We look so stupid, all wearing his jersey.”
I turn to look at her, while making sure Monroe doesn’t trip and fall down the stairs since she’s so hell-bent on saying hello to every person in this damn stadium. “We’re supporting him. Just like he supports us.”
Easton comes over to the railing, and I catch a few people getting up to join Lincoln there.
Monroe sees Decker. “Hi, Decker!” She lifts her hand and runs down the steps before I can grab her. “It’s National Say Hi Day today!”
She gets swallowed up in the group of people wanting to talk to the two players.
I rush down the stairs. “I’m sorry, I just need…” I slide my hand between a group of kids, getting a hold of Monroe. “She’s mine.”
I guide her out, but she continues saying hi to everyone who’s ready to trample her to get an autograph. I lift her, and she swings her legs around my middle.
“Sorry, Hayes is in the bullpen.” Decker points in that direction, but I can’t see him.
The new manager is a guy with the last name Ripley. He was an assistant in Seattle, so Hayes has been nervous the entire week, but he said the guy doesn’t seem to be holding anything against him.
“That’s okay.” I reach for Lincoln, tugging on his arm. “You guys go get ready for the game. Good luck.”
Lincoln doesn’t come willingly, continuing to talk to them the entire time I pull him back to me.
Once I have both kids, I take a breath and see Lake sitting in our seats, her feet propped up on the empty seat in front of her, phone in her hand.
“Let’s get to our seats.” I hold on to Lincoln and keep Monroe in my arms.
“Hi,” Monroe says to a couple behind us. “Hi.” She waves to the next group of people.
They all smile and say it back, but I swear I never want to hear the word hi again in my life.
I set Monroe down and sandwich the two of them between Lake and me. “Now let’s all just sit and get our bearings for a minute, okay?”
“Your face is really red,” Lake says.
I narrow my eyes at her. She has no idea how exhausted I already am, and the game hasn’t even started.
“I think next time I come to a game, it might have to be alone,” I mumble.
I pull my phone from my purse to take a few pictures of us and send them to Callie and Viv, since she said I need to show I’m doing family things with the kids. I guess that doesn’t include dinner and bath time because she wasn’t too interested in those.
“Smile,” I say, and right as I press on the screen to take the picture, a text comes in. I snap the picture and, surprisingly, Lake has her smile back.
Did you find the seats okay?
I look toward the field, knowing he’s out there somewhere. I’m so excited to see him play.
Yes, I’ll have a perfect view of your ass the entire game.
Why do you think I chose them?
I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself.
Good, then you’ll already be halfway there when I see you after the game.
I send him a picture of all three kids.
I think you forgot about these guys.
They go to bed eventually. I have to go, but I wanted to make sure you made it to your seats okay. I can’t wait to see you after.
We haven’t done a sleepover yet, mostly because I don’t want to confuse the kids and the thought of it makes me feel irresponsible.
Good luck today. You have your own little cheering section.
I tuck my phone into my bag.
“Why are you staring at your phone like that?” Lake asks.
A half hour later, after Monroe has personally greeted everyone in our section, we’re all asked to stand for the national anthem.
Hayes comes out onto the field with his shin guards and chest protector on. He searches us out, and Monroe screams hi to him. I make Lincoln swap seats with her before Lake covers Monroe’s mouth with her hand.
After the national anthem, Hayes waves to us.
“Turn around, guys,” I say.
“Seriously?” Lake whines, but she does it.
We show him all of us wearing his jersey, and when I turn around, Hayes has his hand over his heart. I blow him a kiss, and his smile only grows wider.
Then he disappears into the dugout, and we sit back down. When it’s the Colts’ turn to be on the field, he jogs out with his helmet resting on top of his head. He slows and eyes us. He checks to see the pitcher is still walking to the mound, so he runs over and presses his hands on the netting.
“Hi,” he says directly to Monroe.
She giggles. “It’s National Say Hi Day.” She jumps up and claps her hands.
“I know. That’s why I said hi.” He looks at me, and I really hope the netting prohibits him from seeing the tears filling my eyes. “See you guys after.”
He winks, then he’s squatting behind home plate.
“That was embarrassing,” Lake mumbles.
I ignore her because I’m right in the middle of feeling very, very smitten with Hayes Carlisle.