Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Bennett
We pull into the softball field’s parking lot, and I realize I’m a little nervous about playing in front of Delaney. I want to impress her, but I’m not a home-run hitter like Ben or a scrappy double hitter like Brooks. I’m a solid player, but if I play shitty, I don’t take it home with me.
“Yay, we’re here!” Wren screeches from the back seat.
I park and cut the engine. Wren’s going on and on to Leia about the games and how fun they are to watch, and she hopes their cousins Colter and Daisy are here.
I shift in my seat to face Delaney. “You sure you don’t mind watching Wren?”
She gives me an annoyed look and rolls her eyes. “No, for the millionth time.”
“It’s just—”
She cuts me off with her hand on mine, then climbs out of the truck. She opens the back door and tells the girls to unbuckle. Since we’re in the first parking spot next to the field, she asks them to go say hi to Aunt Lottie and Uncle Brooks and to stick with them until she gets there.
Once they’re gone, she climbs back in the cab of the truck and shuts the door.
“Listen, because I’m only going to say this once.
Yes, Leia is my daughter, I share blood with her, but I’m hoping Wren will be my daughter one day too.
That is, if she’ll welcome me as another mother to her.
With us comes them. There is no yours or mine, it’s us, so I’d much rather you didn’t ask me if I’m good with watching her.
She is part of us, and I don’t want it any other way. ”
Fuck, how did I get so lucky with this woman? I push back the nugget of guilt that hits me every time I think about letting her go all those years ago.
Instead, I grip the back of her head, pulling her toward me and smashing my lips to hers. She moans, and I take it as an invitation to slide my tongue through the seam of her lips.
She inches forward. I really wish we weren’t in a parking lot with trucks pulling in and people walking by. Otherwise, I’d pull her onto my lap and get her off with my fingers.
A loud bang on the window interrupts us. “You’re parents, for Christ’s sake.”
I close the kiss and rest my forehead on hers, both of us catching our breaths. “Emmett,” I whisper.
“He’d be the one.”
I give her one more quick kiss, and we leave the truck, me rounding the back to grab my bag.
“So, are those, like, speciality items?” Delaney asks.
I glance over my shoulder to see Briar wearing an “Emmett’s girl” T-shirt.
“You want a ‘Bennett’s girl’ shirt?” I swear my chest puffs out on its own.
She shrugs and flutters her eyelashes a little. “I mean, I’d wear it, I suppose.”
“Then I’ll talk to Jude and get you one.”
She leans up on her toes and kisses my cheek.
I hold out my hand, and she slides hers in it. God, this feels so good.
Leia runs up to us, tucking her hand in Delaney’s free one. She’s still hesitant with my family since they’re so big and overwhelming. She can take all the time she needs. I’ll never rush her into accepting them as her own.
“Check out this new Willowbrook couple,” Sadie says, holding Daisy to her chest. “It looks good on both of you.”
Gillain sidles up to her sister-in-law, with a smile so big you’d think she was as happy as us. Not a chance in hell she is.
“Finally, Owens gets some.” Walker Matthews comes from around the fence line by the other team’s dugout. “Delaney, heard you were back.”
My back goes up. If he thinks he’s going to say anything shitty to Delaney, we’re going to have a problem.
“You should come visit Wild Bull Ranch sometime,” Walker says.
“Why are you even here?” Briar asks him. “We’re not playing your team.”
“We have the next game, and since it’s winding down to championship time, I figured I’d see if you guys have improved.” Walker looks out at the parking lot. “Looks like you might be down a player.”
We all turn to see Romy walking up on crutches and her ankle wrapped. My mom is wearing her Plain Daisy Ranch team shirt.
“What happened?” Delaney asks.
Wren runs up to Romy, asking her a million questions.
Mom raises her hands. “I’ve been waiting for my chance to show you kids how the game is played.”
“What’s going on?” Jude comes out of the dugout. “Why is Aunt Darla wearing Romy’s shirt?”
“I could’ve gotten Nash to be our tenth,” Poppy says.
“I’m sure you’d like that.” Scarlett eyes her, and Poppy ignores the look.
“Oh, Jude, get that look off your face. I’m a good player, just ask Brad,” my mom says. She thumbs behind her, and my dad emerges, having parked the truck.
“Sorry, guys, we flipped a coin.” My dad shrugs.
Mom narrows her eyes at him.
Everyone laughs, and I turn to Leia next to Delaney.
It’s a lot of noise and chaos, and Delaney told me the other night that Leia’s just not used to it after growing up as an only child with very few extended family members.
She says that Leia enjoys them all, but back in California, there were a lot of times it was just the two of them.
I hate thinking they didn’t have the support of any family out there, and from what I’ve gathered, most of Delaney’s friends ditched her after Sean’s arrest.
Delaney bends and scoops Leia up in her arms. “Good luck.”
I kiss her briefly on the lips. Something we started last week and neither of the girls have said anything. “Don’t expect a home run or anything,” I murmur.
I hold out my hand to Leia, and she smacks it with a smile.
“Good luck,” Leia says, mimicking Delaney. Then she holds out her arm that’s not wrapped around Delaney’s neck.
Delaney’s eyes shine as I lean in, giving her a half hug. I’ll take whatever she offers.
Wren runs over and attaches herself to my legs. “Good luck, Daddy.”
We’re all entwined, and this feels really fucking good. I never want this to go away.
I head to the dugout where Emmett is relaxing on the bench, his feet out and his hands laced behind his head. “I’m disappointed, Danson. I talk you down from the ledge, and I gotta hear from your mom about you and Delaney?”
Since school’s been out, we haven’t been going to The Getaway Lodge for breakfast. Mom watches Wren and Leia most days, splitting the time with Delaney’s parents.
“We’re together,” I say, sitting down to change my shoes.
“I got that when your tongue was shoved down her throat in the truck. I guess you’re not being discreet?”
“Nah, damn the consequences.” I tie my shoes.
“This town isn’t going to give you shit. They’ve wanted you happy forever.”
“But with Leia being mine—”
“Again, they’re not going to care, and if they do, who gives a shit? You’re happy, she’s happy, I know the girls are happy. Fuck the rest of ’em.”
Having my family on my side means a lot to me. I’m not sure why I ever felt as though I had to make my marriage appear perfect.
Jude rounds us all up, and of course there’s an argument about the batting lineup and position play.
“Hey, I want one of those shirts for Delaney. Where do I get one?” I ask Jude.
“He’s not going to tell you,” Emmett says.
“You should get one that says, ‘Lottie’s guy,’” Lottie says to Brooks, who looks none too thrilled with the idea.
“How about you get ‘Brooks’s girl’?”
“It’s a family thing, and we’re the family.” She circles her hand around the group.
“So I’m not part of the family?” Brooks crosses his arms and widens his stance.
“Of course you are, I just meant… oh shit, that’s on me.” She throws herself on him, practically climbing him.
Brooks shoots a victorious grin at all of us over her shoulder.
“Man, that’s come full circle,” Poppy says.
“Can we please focus?” Jude says.
“It’s not like we’re playing Wild Bull.” Ben shrugs, and we all go down the line with the same reaction.
“And that’s how we don’t make it to the finals.” Jude narrows his gaze. “We have to win this one to get there.”
We all give him our attention because if we don’t, he’ll get pissy.
Eventually, Jude goes out to talk to the umpire and the coach for Safe Haven.
Finally, we start playing. The game is more competitive than I thought it would be, and I’m worried we might lose. If we do, Jude will lose his shit. Did we all come in too confident?
It’s the final inning, and Jude is on third.
If I don’t bring him in, it will be left to my mom.
Even though she talks a good game, her skills are rusty, and she’s struck out at every bat.
All my cousins give me pats on the back as I make my way to the plate, as if it’s over, and we’ve already lost, and they’re silently saying sorry I’ll get the wrath of Jude.
“Go, Daddy!” Wren shouts.
“Go, go, go!” Leia chimes in.
Their faces are plastered to the fence, and Delaney gives me a big smile and claps as if she thinks I’ve got this.
I so do not. Baseball was never my sport. I played football like the rest of my family. I can catch a ball and run, but hitting a softball is harder than it looks.
I get set up as the girls continue screaming for me.
I take a strike, two balls, and foul off the other one.
Jude’s clapping and trying to be encouraging, but I can see his face from over here, like he’s saying, hit the damn ball and get me in for the winning run.
Another ball, and I’m even more anxious than when I first walked up to bat.
I foul another one, and everyone is chanting, mostly my girls.
The next pitch comes in, and there’s a huge lump in my throat. I swing, and the ball sails high and long. I’m running to first, legs and arms pumping. Jude runs home as everyone rushes out of the dugout.
I fear it’s going to be caught, but the ball sails over the fence, and someone shouts home run.
Holy shit, I did it.
I run the bases, and my family comes out to congratulate me, but it’s the two little faces in the mix that make my heart pinch.
I touch home plate and grab each of them, swinging them around.
The home run was great, but holding both of my girls is the real win.