Chapter Nineteen
On Saturday morning, Patrick was up and dressed in his uniform before anyone in the house had stirred. He carried his baseball mitt with him everywhere he went; it was either attached to his hand like an extended appendage or tucked under his arm. Maisy was convinced he slept with it.
She wandered down the stairs at about eight and found Patrick at the kitchen table, arguing with their mother.
“Eat, Patrick. You’re going to need the energy breakfast gives you for the game.”
“Mom, I can’t. I’m too excited.”
“Try anyway,” their mother insisted.
“All right, all right,” he grumbled, none too happy to eat his oatmeal. His eyes widened when he noticed Maisy. “You’re coming to the game, aren’t you?”
“Morning, champ,” she said on the tail end of a yawn. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Grandma, too?”
“Yes,” their mother said, and pointed to the breakfast table, where a bowl of untouched oatmeal rested.
“You aren’t dressed,” he commented, as if she’d walked into the room stark naked.
“I’m wearing my robe,” she returned, gesturing with her hands to prove she was wearing clothing.
“I mean you aren’t dressed for the game. Hurry or we’ll be late.”
“Patrick, the game isn’t for hours yet,” their mother reminded him and scooted out of her chair, indicating that Patrick should sit.
“Coach said we needed to arrive early to warm up.”
“Not two hours early,” Maisy said, smiling despite the fact she hadn’t had a sip of coffee yet. She meandered to the kitchen counter, grabbed a mug from the cupboard, and poured herself a cup of java. Leaning her hip against the counter, cup in hand, she took her first invigorating sip.
“Patrick.” Their mother’s tone was enough for Maisy’s brother to sit and quickly shovel three spoonfuls of oatmeal into his mouth. He looked up to see if that was enough to satisfy her.
Amused, Maisy watched as her mom nodded. With a look of relief, Patrick carried his bowl to the sink.
“What’s the weather report?” Maisy asked.
Patrick’s attention was riveted on their mother.
“There’s rain predicted for the afternoon.”
Patrick groaned.
“The morning is clear, though,” she added.
Patrick looked up to the ceiling. “Thank You, God.”
The entire family had centered their day on Patrick’s first game of the season. If it rained, the game was likely to be called off or delayed. Maisy didn’t know how Patrick would survive the disappointment.
Ninety minutes later, Maisy, Patrick, and their mother headed to the local park. Sean would arrive later, and Grams would, too, along with Lloyd, who insisted on driving her.
The area had ten baseball diamonds, where the Little League games were played. The Tigers, Patrick’s team, were assigned to Field Three. As soon as their mother cut the engine, Patrick was out the door, racing toward his coach, who stood on the sidelines with a few of the other teammates.
Maisy shared a smile with her mother.
“I’m happy we could make this happen for him,” Sophie commented.
“Me, too.” They made their way around the baseball diamonds to the assigned field and took seats in the bleachers about halfway up. They didn’t want to go any higher, as climbing the stairs wouldn’t be easy for Grams. Several other parents had also arrived.
Maisy watched as Patrick slugged his baseball mitt several times, loosening up the leather before the game. Purchasing the glove had been a little thing to Chase, and yet it had made a world of difference to Patrick and his ability to play baseball.
Despite her determination to control the amount of time Chase occupied her thoughts, they often wandered to him.
She’d taken an important test and had scored in the top ten percent but was disappointed in herself because she hadn’t studied as hard as she should have, mainly because of all the time she spent each night talking to Chase.
She couldn’t seem to concentrate on her studies until she heard from Chase, which should be more concerning. Part of the problem was these were prerequisite classes, requirements she needed before the specialized courses that were required for her nursing degree.
Each night Maisy found herself patiently waiting for Chase’s call, with an eagerness that rivaled Patrick’s love of baseball. Talks she enjoyed far more than was prudent. Likely the day would come when Chase Furst realized she didn’t fit into his world and never would.
Sean arrived fifteen minutes before the game, and to everyone’s surprise, he had a woman with him. No doubt this was Katie, the electrician he’d met on the job.
Early on, Maisy tried to imagine what a female electrician would look like. Her assumption was that any woman who chose to work in a traditionally male field would have a body type capable of hauling heavy wiring.
So much for that stereotype.
Katie was tall, slender, and blond. Her hair was long and reached the middle of her back. She looked nothing like Maisy had expected. She was lovely; it was little wonder Sean had noticed her.
Sean joined them in the stands. “This is Katie” was all he said as he scooted past Maisy to claim the two seats on her far side.
Leaning forward, Maisy introduced herself. “I’m Maisy, Sean’s sister.”
Katie smiled. “I guessed as much. Sean has told me about you.”
Maisy could only imagine what her brother had to say. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
“You, too,” she returned. “I understand Patrick is excited for this game.”
Maisy grinned. “You have no idea. There’s plenty I can tell you about Sean if you’re interested.”
“She’s not,” Sean insisted.
Katie laughed. “Let’s not be hasty,” she teased.
Maisy laughed and Sean gave her the evil eye, suggesting that Maisy shut up.
Their grandmother was the last to arrive. Lloyd was with her and held on to her elbow as they carefully climbed up the bleachers to where the family sat. Her mom scooted down so there was plenty of room on the end for them to be comfortable and not need to climb over anyone.
The game was about to start when Maisy noticed a tall figure on the far side of the park, walking in their direction.
She looked again.
No, it couldn’t be.
“Maisy,” her mother said, touching her arm. “Is that Chase?”
“Chase?” Sean repeated. “What’s he doing here?”
Maisy glared at him and was about to comment when Patrick noticed how everyone was staring across to the other side of the field.
He broke away from his team and took off running in Chase’s direction.
When the two met Patrick practically threw himself into Chase’s arms. The two spoke for several moments, and then Patrick pointed to where Maisy sat.
“Did you know about this?” Sean asked.
Maisy shook her head. “I had no idea.” Chase hadn’t said a word when they’d spoken the night before.
Sean sighed, and under his breath added, “Be careful, little sister.”
“I know,” she whispered back.
Patrick escorted Chase to the stands and then returned to his team.
Everyone scooted down until there was space for Chase to sit beside Maisy.
It hadn’t been that long since she’d last seen him, and yet it felt as if their lunch date had happened months ago.
They’d grown close, closer than was advisable, and they both knew it, throwing caution to the wind.
“Sean,” Chase said, acknowledging her brother before entering the seating area. “Good to see you again.”
Sean frowned. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Sean!” It was Katie who jabbed him hard with her elbow. “That was rude.”
Her brother muttered an apology, and Chase accepted it with a quick nod. His focus fell on Maisy before greeting her grandmother and Lloyd. Ever the gentleman, Lloyd stood, and the two exchanged handshakes.
Her mother greeted Chase with a warm hug as he scooted past. “How thoughtful of you to come see Patrick play.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” Chase told her.
Chase settled in beside Maisy and automatically reached for her hand. “Are you surprised?”
“Yes. Pleasantly so.” She sounded breathless because she was.
Seeing him again sent her equilibrium into a tailspin.
He looked good. Better than she remembered.
Handsome. Cultured. Intelligent. Her heart raced at breakneck speed as she squeezed his hand to let him know how happy she was to have him join this family outing.
That he would make the effort and go to the expense meant the world to Patrick—and frankly to her, too.
“You should have told me you were coming,” she said, without any real censure.
“I wanted to surprise you and Patrick.”
“You certainly did.”
He leaned his head close to hers. “You have to know that I came for more than the game. I wanted to see you. I hope you don’t have any plans for the rest of the day.”
She did, but nothing was more important than spending time with Chase.
“Did you fly commercially?” she asked.
“No, Dad said I could take the company jet.”
“Thank him for me.” She loved that he held her hand, linking them together.
All too soon, the game started. The Raptors were up first. Patrick stood at first base, his feet spread apart, as he stared intently at the batter.
Sure enough, the batter hit the first pitch that went straight to the pitcher, who threw it to Patrick.
Swiftly catching the ball, Patrick touched the bag as the player ran to first base.
“Out,” the umpire shouted.
Maisy and her mother leaped to their feet, applauding wildly.
“Mom. Maisy,” Sean cried, motioning for them to reclaim their seats. “Stop. You’re going to embarrass Patrick.”
Properly chastised, Maisy sat back down to find Chase grinning like a Cheshire cat.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You,” he said, “and your mom. I think it’s great the way you can’t hide your excitement and pride for Patrick.”
That first out wasn’t the only time Maisy leaped to her feet. In the third inning, Patrick hit a home run. He rounded the bases, accepted the cheers and high fives from his teammates, and then paused and looked up to the stands.
Sean gave him a big nod of recognition.
Patrick’s eyes swiftly went from Sean to Chase. Chase shot him a smile and a big thumbs-up. Patrick beamed with joy.
In the end, the Raptors won 5 to 3, but no one seemed overly disappointed. As the Raptors and the Tigers exchanged handshakes, Lloyd leaned over and asked, “Isn’t it time for lunch? My treat.”
“Lloyd, you don’t need to do that,” Maisy’s mother fussed.
“Nonsense. It’s my pleasure.”
A discussion followed as to where to go, and they quickly decided on Willie’s Diner.
Patrick and Maisy rode with Chase in his rental car. Maisy sat in the front seat with him and gave him directions to the diner.
“You don’t mind, do you?” she asked.
“Mind?”
“It’s a diner, Chase. There’s no lobster on the menu.”
He laughed. “No worries. I’ve eaten at plenty of diners in my time.”
“They have the best burgers in town,” Patrick inserted, eager to share this vital information with Chase. “You should try their onion rings, too.”
“Then I will,” Chase promised.
Sean and Katie had arrived before anyone else and arranged for a couple of tables to be brought together to accommodate their party.
Before long they were seated and handed menus. Once again Patrick advised Chase on what to order when the server came, pad in hand.
“Their french fries are okay,” Patrick whispered, leaning close to Chase. The two sat side by side. “But the onion rings are better. They cost more than the fries. If you order them, will you save me one?”
“Patrick,” Maisy whispered, raising her eyebrows at her younger brother.
Chase leaned his head toward Patrick. “I only share onion rings with people who hit home runs.”
Patrick’s smile was so big, Maisy was sure it must have hurt his mouth.
Conversation flowed freely throughout the lunch. Both Chase and Sean offered to share the bill. Lloyd, however, would hear none of it and insisted on paying.
Maisy remembered her grandmother suggesting Lloyd had big money. Wealthy or not, he was generous to a fault.
After lunch they all went their separate ways.
Chase walked with Patrick and their mother. “Do you mind if I steal Maisy away for the afternoon?” he asked.
“I have no objection,” her mother assured him. “It’s up to Maisy.”
He looked away from the car to Maisy. “What do you say?”
“What was it you said earlier about attending Patrick’s game? Something about not wanting to miss it for the world, as I recall.”
“Something like that,” he said.
“Then ditto.”