Chapter Twenty-Eight
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” Vickie settled beside Dawn on the hard metal bleachers. “I don’t think I’ve been to a baseball game since I was in college.”
“First of all, this is softball .” Dawn laughed. “If you’re going to be a super-fan, you’ve got to at least get the sport correct.” She propped her denim-encased legs on the bleacher seat in front of them. “Besides, I didn’t exactly have to hold a gun to your head to get you here.” She glanced over at Vickie. “Admit it. He intrigues you.”
“Don’t encourage it.” Vickie frowned. “He’s made it clear that he isn’t interested. Last night he even asked me if I had plans, but then when he found out I wasn’t busy, he told me to have a good night.” When Thatcher had asked her if she had big plans for the night, she’d assumed that when she said ‘no’ he would ask her to make some. Grab a quick bite, go see a movie—something like that. But he’d checked her calendar, seen that it was free and then gone home to do a project around the house. Any man who was interested in a woman would’ve tried to make plans upon finding out she was available. She let out a loud sigh. “I’m hopeless. Always falling for guys who aren’t that into me.”
“So now you’re a movie?”
Vickie laughed. “Let’s just say that movie could’ve been a biopic of my life.” She looked over at Dawn. “Things with Jason seem like they’re going really well.”
Dawn let out a contented sigh and leaned back against the row behind her. “Better than I ever expected. He’s home to me.” She smiled. “I’ve always heard of people finding that, you know? Someone who made them feel so safe and warm that it was like going home. He’s that person.”
“Wow.” She glanced over at Dawn. “So no bumps in the road?”
Dawn shrugged and pushed a strand of blonde hair from her eyes. “Not to speak of. At this point, we haven’t run into anything that’s a deal breaker.” She sighed.
“Do I sense a ‘but’ somewhere in there?”
“It’s probably nothing. It’s just that Jason always talks about his mom and how she’s such a great cook and keeps a spotless house. Sounds like she’s some kind of southern domestic diva.” She grinned. “Now, for you, it would be like you were a long lost daughter. But for me. . .” she trailed off. “I’m not sure I can ever measure up.”
“Has he ever said anything negative about you in that way?” Dawn ran a very successful event planning business and was sought after in the city whenever there was something special going on. But no one would ever accuse her of being domestic. To Vickie’s knowledge, she’d never even used her oven, and she hired someone to clean her apartment once a week.
Dawn shook her head. “Oh, no. He’d never say anything about it. But we’re flying to Alabama next weekend so I can meet his family. You know, once I arrived firmly in my thirties, I thought nerves were a thing of the past.” She glanced at Vickie. “Not so.”
“How firmly in your thirties are you?” Vickie clasped her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry. That just came out.” She felt a blush rising up her face. She’d spent her entire life trying not to be tacky and lately it seemed like that philosophy had just gone right out the window.
Dawn laughed. “It’s okay. It isn’t really a secret, just something I don’t go around publicizing.” She looked at Vickie. “I’m thirty-six.” She leaned over. “And if you want to know a little secret, I’m finding my thirties a lot better than my twenties were. Once you’ve dealt with having that three at the beginning of your age, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.”
“Let’s hope so.” She glanced over at Dawn. “So you’re nervous about meeting his family?”
“Just a little. I get the feeling his family is the kind that will think it highly unusual that I’ve never successfully baked a cake. Or a pie. Or a casserole.” She laughed. “But I make a mean bowl of popcorn.”
“That you do. But seriously, they’ll love you. Don’t worry.”
Dawn smiled. “I hope you’re right.” She pointed at the field. “There they go. Looks like your man is in the outfield.”
“He isn’t my man. Just to get that point across to myself, I’m actually going to go out with a new guy soon. We met at church.” She shrugged. “We’ll see. He’s sent a couple of texts so far, and the last one mentioned getting together in the near future.” She raised an eyebrow. “So there. I’m not under any kind of false delusions about Thatcher.”
Dawn was silent.
The umpire called the game into action and the first batter stepped up to the plate. His bat made contact on the second pitch and the ball careened to left field. Thatcher effortlessly held his gloved hand up and caught the ball.
Vickie leapt to her feet, clapping. She cast a sideways glance at Dawn, who stared at her with one eyebrow raised.
“No delusions, huh?”
Vickie quickly sat down. “None. Just cheering the team on.” But she remained glued to her seat for the rest of the game, careful not to clap again until Jason hit a home run that ended the game.
The two women left the bleachers and headed toward the home team’s dugout. Players streamed from the field. Jason jogged over and planted a kiss on Dawn’s cheek. “Thanks for the support.”
Dawn beamed. “I don’t know much about sports, but that was a great hit at the end.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “And here’s the star outfielder.”
Thatcher joined their circle. Wearing a baseball hat low over his eyes, he looked much younger than his thirty-eight years. He nodded at Vickie and gave her a slow grin. “I wouldn’t say star as much as I would say lucky.” He rubbed his right shoulder. “And I’m pretty sure tomorrow I’m going to be sore.”
Jason chuckled. “Old age will get you every time, man.” He turned to Dawn. “I’m starving. Anyone up for pizza?”
“Pizza would be great. How about We the Pizza?” asked Dawn.
Vickie turned her head toward Thatcher, who still clutched his shoulder. She had the sinking feeling that he was racking his brain to come up with another home improvement project that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. He locked eyes with her and opened his mouth to speak.