The stream of cars gradually thinned as Eric got further from downtown and into the neighborhoods housing the area’s more affluent residents. Sydney still lived in the high-rise condo they shared when they were married. Thanks to Eric and her half of the prize money, she didn’t have to work. How she spent her time he didn’t know or care.
When she’d sent him a message asking him to call, he ignored it for several days. With the advent of his father, he was in no mood to deal with his ex-wife. Sydney had taken matters into her own hands and called him. It seemed she’d come across some items of his. If he wanted them, he had exactly a week to come claim them before she threw them out. She wasn’t going to bother trying to mail them. This uncooperative attitude was nothing new.
If it had been anything else, Eric would have been tempted to let her do her worst. But this was the baseball card collection he’d inherited from his grandfather. It wasn’t their monetary worth so much as their sentimental value that made him willing to return to a place where he’d been so unhappy.
It was funny that the collection should turn up just now. The box the cards had been stored in made it to St. Marys, but they had not. At the time, Sydney denied all knowledge of their whereabouts. Eric assumed she sold the collection, not an unlikely scenario given her dislike of anything related to baseball. That in itself was ironic since most of what she received in the divorce came from the considerable salary he’d earned while playing.
As the elevator sped up to the eighteenth floor, Eric wondered why he felt so strangely detached. He’d expected old memories and hidden hurts to resurface, perhaps even a measure of regret, but there was nothing. He knocked on the door, astonished but grateful for this lack of emotion. A few months ago he would have had to adopt an attitude of indifference; today it came naturally. Had his growing feelings for Julie cut the final strings binding him to Sydney?
The door swung open and there she stood. The woman who held the dubious honor of first stealing and then breaking his heart.
“Hi, Eric.” She stood aside to let him come inside.
His eyes swept over the familiar features. Again, he felt nothing. “Well? Where are they?”
“Don’t I even get a hello?”
“Sure. Hello.”
“Do you want a drink?”
“No. I just want the cards. I’ve got a five hour drive back home.”
Sydney smiled faintly. “You’re got plenty of time. What’s the rush?”
“I want to get home before midnight.”
“Are the rumors true? I heard you’re seeing someone.”
He had no intention of discussing Julie with Sydney. “Quit stalling. Did you sell the cards?”
She reached for his hand. “Who is she, Eric?”
He evaded her and crossed his arms. “Where did you sell them? Somewhere local?”
“Does she know how insecure and possessive you are?”
Eric held on to his temper with difficulty. “I just need a name, Sydney. Can you at least do that?”
“I didn’t sell them. They’re in the kitchen.”
He brushed past her. A faded brown shoebox rested on the counter. He picked it up and went back to where she stood. “Thanks for not throwing them away.”
She shrugged that off. “I knew they must be worth something. I figured if you wouldn’t sell them, I would.” She hesitated, and her glance fell from his. “But in the end, I couldn’t do it.”
Eric couldn’t hide his surprise at this admission. “So the hard-as-nails Sydney has a heart after all.”
“I have a few moments of weakness. You were one of them.”
“I was a very lucrative means to an end.”
Sydney laughed. “That’s one way of putting it.” She looked at him intently and then she nodded. “You’re in love, Eric. I can see it in your eyes.”
He hadn’t thought she was that perceptive, but then again, she knew firsthand what he looked like when he was in love. He turned and walked to the door. “Goodbye, Sydney.”
******
Julie was stepping out of the shower when she heard her phone vibrating against the bathroom counter. Grabbing a towel, she padded over to look at the screen.
Just got back from Atlanta. Meeting went well. Can you talk?
As soon as I get dressed.
Wrong thing to say.
Sorry. Stay tuned.
Like I can do anything else now.
She finished drying, ran a comb hurriedly through her wet, tangled hair, and put on pajamas. Then she called him. It barely rang before he answered.
“I know it’s late, but I needed to hear your voice.”
Julie laughed softly. “It’s nice to hear yours, too.”
“We never settled on the details about tomorrow. What time do you need to leave for the baby shower?”
“Six-thirty. I should be home around nine.”
“I’ll pick up Jordan at six and take him to get something to eat. Practice ends at eight-thirty, but by the time I answer all the questions from the parents, it will be close to nine anyway, so that will work out perfect.”
“Don’t let him do too much.”
“I won’t.”
“I forgot to ask you. Is your father still with you?”
“They’re going to a hotel tomorrow. I can’t say that I’m sorry about it.”
“That’s understandable. Just being father and son doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to get along.”
“I know, but it’s an unnatural situation to have with a parent. We’re basically strangers with little in common.”
“I feel for you. I can’t imagine thinking of my father in those terms.”
“It’s the only way I know to think of him. He was never a father, and he isn’t a friend. It took me a long time to realize that he prefers things that way.”
“How do you feel about him coming back?”
“I’m indifferent. He never stays anywhere very long.”
“Some people are like that. They can’t seem to settle.”
“My mother called him a restless soul. That’s the closest she ever got to actually criticizing him.”
“Your mother sounds like a special person. I wish I could have met her.”
“She would have liked you. You’re genuine and honest; she valued those qualities above everything else. That you’re also beautiful and enjoyable to kiss wouldn’t have impressed her as much, but those things have definitely caught my attention.”
Julie laughed. “I noticed.”
“This is fun. Maybe we should do this every night before we go to bed.”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“You won’t think I’m being possessive or insecure?”
“Where did that come from?”
“I was just wondering.”
“You’re not either of those things. You’re affectionate and caring.”
“Not a difficult thing to be with you for a girlfriend.”
“Am I your girlfriend?”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t share my swing with just anyone. I’m going to let you go. You sound tired.”
“I am a little tired. Goodnight, Eric.”
“Goodnight, Julie.”
******
Julie parked next to Matt’s truck when she arrived at Eric’s house Friday evening. When she and Jordan reached the front door, it opened and Sarah appeared.
“Hello! Come on in. Eric and Matt are still upstairs. One of their jobs ran late so they’re running a little behind.”
Julie followed her inside. “How have you been, Sarah?”
The other woman led the way to the kitchen. “Pretty good. Work is crazy. We’re so understaffed right now.” She turned to Jordan. “I hear you’re going to get to play tomorrow. Are you excited?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Matt came strolling into the room, shirtless and shoeless. “Oops. Didn’t know we had company.”
Sarah shook her head. “It wouldn’t have mattered.”
/>
“You’re right.” Matt grabbed an apple from a bowl on the counter. “Sarah and I are going to try out that new miniature golf course. We were wondering if Jordan would like to come with us.”
Jordan’s eyes got big. “The one with the volcano?” At Matt’s amused nod, the boy looked at Julie. “Can I?”
Julie laughed. “If you want to.”
“Of course he wants to,” echoed Matt. “I’ll go put on a shirt. We don’t want all those girls at the golf course getting too excited.”
“Shoes wouldn’t hurt, either,” Sarah added.
Matt had only been gone a few minutes when Eric appeared.
“Sorry I wasn’t ready when you got here. It’s been one of those days.” He bent to kiss Julie’s cheek before turning to Jordan. “Did Matt tell you about mini-golf?”
“Yes, sir. I’m going with them.”
“You better keep the scorecard with you at all times. Matt cheats.” Eric pointed at Sarah. “She’ll tell you.”
Sarah grinned. “He has been known to alter his score. He doesn’t like to lose.”
Delilah came running into the kitchen carrying a chew bone in her mouth. She planted herself at Eric’s feet and looked up at him expectantly. “I suppose you want to bury that thing. My flowers are never going to be the same.” He opened the door and let her go outside.
Matt reappeared suitably dressed. “I’m giving you two fair warning. I feel like I could take on Tiger Woods tonight.”
Sarah grabbed her purse off the counter. “Jordan and I aren’t worried.” She glanced at Julie, a knowing smile on her face. “We’ll see you guys later.”
Eric and Julie followed them outside and stood on the porch until the white truck disappeared. With Jordan gone, they were alone. Really alone. The butterflies in Julie’s stomach started working overtime. She had to calm down. There was nothing to be nervous about. She was so lost in thought that she actually jumped when Eric put his arm around her shoulders.
“Have you had dinner?”
Had she? For a second, she couldn’t remember. This was ridiculous. “Yes, I have.”
“Do you mind if I fix something? Matt and I were so late getting home I didn’t have a chance to eat.”
“Of course not! Go right ahead.”
He reached behind her to open the door. “I’m glad it’s Friday, aren’t you? I’m ready for some down time.”
Julie could have hugged him. It was as if he knew she was tense and was giving her time to relax. She’d never met anyone so sensitive to the feelings of others. Sending him a grateful smile, she preceded him into the house. “Me, too. Between baseball, the baby shower and Jordan’s science project, I feel like I’ve been going nonstop.”
******
Back in the kitchen, Eric went to the refrigerator. He removed a square baking dish and put it in the microwave. “Mrs. Parsons made chicken parmesan yesterday. I know you already ate, but you should have some. It’s as good as any you’d find in a restaurant.”
“I’ll try a small portion. I love chicken parmesan.”
He retrieved two plates from the cabinet. “She also makes great sweet tea. Want some?”
“That would be nice.”
Eric smiled as he fixed two glasses and walked hers over to her. “Here you go.”
She took a few sips. “Wow, this is sweet.”
“I know. If you need a pick-me-up, this will do it. Of course, there’s the inevitable sugar crash an hour later.” The microwave beeped. “If you want to go into the breakfast room, I’ll bring our food.”
A few minutes later, he set a plate in front of her. “Thank you,” she said, looking up at him.
He bent down and kissed her lightly. “You’re welcome,” he said softly and sat down next to her. “We lost our chaperone, didn’t we?”
Julie picked up her fork. “Was that luck or good planning?”
Eric arranged a napkin on his lap. “A little of both. When Matt told me what he and Sarah were doing tonight, my first thought was that Jordan might enjoy it. My second thought was purely selfish. I knew if he went with them, I would have you all to myself for a few hours. That was too tempting to pass up. Now, I just have to pace myself so I don’t scare you to death.”
“Pace yourself?” she asked with a grin. “How are you going to do that?”
“I made a plan while I was in the shower. I can only kiss you once every half hour. That should keep things from getting out of hand.” He glanced at his watch. “I have twenty-eight minutes to go. It will take us at least ten more minutes to eat and another five minutes to load the dishwasher.”
“That still leaves thirteen minutes.”
“I’m going to use that time to show you something upstairs.”
She tilted her head to the side. “More of your mother’s paintings? I love the ones in the living room.”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” He gestured to her plate. “Was I right about the chicken parmesan?”
“Yes, you were. If I weren’t so stuffed, I’d have a second helping. I need to hire Mrs. Parsons to cook for me.”
She wouldn’t have to do that if she was living here. Eric reached for his glass, a little shaken by how much he wanted Julie here all the time. He hadn’t even worked up the nerve to tell her he loved her. The idea of asking her to marry him was enough to cause him to break out in a cold sweat. “We need to start making plans for Teresa and Thomas’ wedding. It’s three weeks from now.”
“I wasn’t planning on going. That’s five hours up and back with a wedding and a reception in between.”
“Would you find it more doable if I did the driving?”
“Don’t you have to be there for the rehearsal dinner the night before?”
“Yes, but I’m allowed to bring a guest. I was hoping I could talk you into going with me.”
Julie swirled the last of the tea and ice in her glass. “That would involve spending the night up there, wouldn’t it? That creates several problems: where to stay and who to leave Jordan with.”
“I already reserved a room at the hotel where they’re holding the reception. You can stay there, and I’ll stay at Thomas’ apartment. With the wedding being so early, we won’t be that late getting back. As for Jordan, he can stay here with Matt.”
“I love how you assume Matt won’t mind having his weekend planned for him.”
Eric chuckled. “Matt is so happy to see me dating that he’s willing to do anything to make things run smoothly.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Has it been a while since you had a girlfriend?”
His glance fell away. “I married my last girlfriend. We both know how that turned out.”
******
Julie knew her mouth dropped open at this admission. He hadn’t dated anyone since Sydney? That sounded like someone trying to get over a broken heart. As she watched his fingers mangling the napkin in his lap, another more startling explanation presented itself. Why had she not seen it? She’d been aware of the disconnect between his behavior on that show and the character of the man she knew.
“You fell in love with her, didn’t you?” she asked. “You weren’t faking. For you, everything was real.”
A sad smile tugged at his mouth. “That’s not the worst part. I thought she loved me, too. I didn’t find out until after we were married that I’d been put on a short list of possible winners by the producers. From there it was up to Sydney to pick which one of us she could stand to live with. I made it easy on everyone. I was the ideal candidate: a pawn that didn’t have to be coached how to play his role.”
Julie reached over and clasped his hand. “Eric, I’m so sorry. I’ve been as bad as everyone else, doubting your motives and believing those awful things about you. Can you forgive me?”
He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “You couldn’t have believed all of them or you wouldn’t be here right now. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
She looked at their linked hands. “T
he more I was around you, the more I knew something wasn’t right. You aren’t the type of man to take part in something less than honest. I knew there had to be more to it, and I hoped that one day you would feel comfortable enough with me to talk about it.”
“I created this problem by not speaking out when it happened, but I was shocked and humiliated. I never dreamed Sydney would go to the press. When she did, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. By keeping silent, I saved myself the embarrassment of admitting I’d been taken in. My reputation paid the price for my wounded pride.”
“You were hurting. It’s understandable that you didn’t want to talk about something so personal. How soon after you married did Sydney tell you?”
“About three months. She had to fake it in public; she got tired of faking it at home.”
“Why did you stay with her?”
He bit his lip. “It wasn’t because of the prize money, but few people believe that. I was in the middle of one my best seasons. My team was going to make the playoffs. I couldn’t afford the distraction of a divorce at that time.”
“I can’t imagine how hard it must have been.”
“It humbled me as nothing else could have. Love has a way of doing that. I was silly enough to think I could make her love me. I tried to change myself into what I thought she wanted. That didn’t work either.”
“No wonder you didn’t want to get involved with anyone.”
“I didn’t until I met a curly-haired woman with freckles and a sweet smile that rocked me all the way to my shoes.”
“Who was that? Do I know her?”
Eric laughed as he grazed his lips across her knuckles. “That, by the way, doesn’t count as a real kiss.” Pushing away from the table, he picked up their plates and carried them into the kitchen.
******
Eric stopped outside the door at the end of a long hallway. “My mother’s dream was to have her own studio. I remember her trying to paint in the garage and then later in the dining room. There was never enough light. I promised her that one day I would build her a place where she could paint.”
He opened the door and flipped on the light. Julie’s first impression was of space. The room was large with two skylights built into its vaulted ceiling. Wide windows located above normal height provided the room with an abundance of light during the day. At this point in the evening, the view was of a darkening sky and the hint of stars waiting to make their appearance.
Team Mom: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 1) Page 17
