by B. D. Gates
"You knew them?"
"Oh, honey, sure. This is a small town, remember, and back then, it was even smaller. Rick was a popular young man, handsome, too. All the girls were crazy about him. He sacked groceries at his daddy's store, and the girls would go to the grocery with their mamas just to see him. Sweet, sweet boy. His parents raised him right and it showed.
"Tess's mama's family moved here just before her senior year in high school and Rick was assigned to give her a tour of the school on account of his bein' an ambassador. The ladies that worked in the high school office said it was 'love at first sight,' at least for Rick. Katie wasn't too happy with the situation, bein' moved to a new school at the start of her senior year, so she was not being very cooperative with the whole process. Rick, though, must have convinced her otherwise because, by the end of the day, they say she was smilin' and bein' just utterly charmin'.
"Rick was smitten, there's no doubt of that. He had dated a lot of the local girls, but after Katie got here, well, that was it for him. He pursued that girl with all he had, and Katie really made him work for it. They were sweet on each other, though, you could see it. After they graduated, Katie went on to UVA and Rick, well, he stayed here and kept working at his daddy's grocery store. When Katie was in her third year at school, Rick turned around and opened a store of his own, the one out there on 301. He put everything he had into it, and it showed. That store was clean as a whistle and he stocked it well. I could go out there and buy my week's groceries and not have to stop anywhere else.
"Anyways, Katie graduated the nursing program and came back to Tenley. Now, she could have gone anywhere, but she didn't. Came back here and worked on the surgical floor of the county hospital out there on Christmas Road. Everyone she took care of said that she was the kindest, sweetest, smartest nurse they'd ever had. She and Rick were a couple by then, and it wasn't too much longer that they got married. Everybody in town came to that wedding. They held the reception on the Town Commons there in the center of town, at the gazebo. It was a wonderful night.
"Bought the house out there off Henderson Road and about a year later, Katie was pregnant with Tess. Pregnancy suited Katie, she was even more beautiful. Rick was beside himself. Well, she had the baby and they became a family.
"They had about five good years together when Katie started losing weight. Now, back then, doctors weren't as knowledgeable about cancer, and womens' health in general, and it seems nobody really pursued why. Too many of them doctors attributed it to 'emotional issues.' Katie finally took matters into her own hands, and demanded they run some tests and scans. That's when they found the cancer on her ovaries. They took her to surgery, but it was too late, the cancer had spread. Katie was gone within six months.
"Rick was devastated. His mama and Katie's mama helped him with the little girl, but he still had a store to run. Things were shaky for him for a while, but he pulled it together. The store was back to normal, and that little girl was with Rick everywhere he went. Beautiful little Tess grew up surrounded by people who loved her and looked out for her.
"She was a very good student, near the top of her class, and was one of the reasons Tenley High won the regional track and field championship her senior year. There were all kinds of scouts there watching her and she sure gave them a show. She knew that if she was going to go to college, she'd have to get there on her own. UVA offered a full-ride scholarship and she took it, her mama having gone there.
"I suppose you heard what happened to her daddy."
I nodded. I knew all too well.
"Well, we did what we could to help that poor girl, but she just kinda disappeared. Went away from us. Stayed in her mama and daddy's house, kept to herself. I didn't find out until later just how much that little girl had lost. That house was all that she had left of her parents. She went to the courthouse every day during the trial. You could see how it was all affecting her. She was downright skinny by the time it was through. Those two fellas that work with her, well, I guess they'd been looking after her best they could, but she had the 'dwindles.' I don't know what they ended up doing, but they got her back on track, helped her get work down at the courthouse. She became a police officer after graduating from the community college over there in Whitmore. Became a detective after that."
I nodded.
"There," Miz Maggie said, as she dusted off my neck. "Well, now, that does look a sight better. Brings out those blue eyes of yours."
I ran my hand through my hair. It felt a hundred times better.
"Miz Maggie, thank you, I couldn't have done this well myself," I told her.
"Not with them fabric shears, you wouldn't've," she said, laughing.
"I've got some cash in the house, let me pay you," I said.
"Honey, you don't owe me nothin'," she replied. "But I tell you what. I've noticed that Tess has been spending some time with you and she seems to be enjoying it, and I'd like it if you'd keep on doin' whatever it is you're doin' that makes her happy."
"Yes ma'am." I was good at taking orders, especially if they involved making Tess happy.
"Good enough, then." Miz Maggie repacked her tools and closed the wooden box.
I got up from the chair and turned back to Miz Maggie.
"Are you and Jared coming to the game on Monday?"
"We sure are, honey, wouldn't miss the season opener for anything."
"Great, then I'll see you there."
Miz Maggie picked up her box and headed toward the back steps. She turned.
"Lisa," she called.
"Ma'am?"
"Just...take care of her, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
19
Tess arrived at five-thirty. I opened the door for her and stopped in my tracks. Her shoulder length hair was pulled back, she was wearing a white T, a grey hoodie over it, very nicely-fitting jeans, and white sneaks. Her nails were painted a very red red, and she smelled good. Gawd, she smelled good. She was just, well, gorgeous.
Tess was staring at me as well.
"What?" I asked.
"What?" I asked again.
She shook her head, as if to say "Nothing."
"Got a haircut," I said.
Tess nodded. "It suits you," she said, as I let her through the door.
"Miz Maggie did it."
"She did a good job."
"Thank you, I'll tell her. Just give me a minute to put on my shoes and we'll go."
Tess sat in the living room while I finished getting dressed. The girls were on their best behavior, with no jumping or begging for attention.
I tied my shoes and joined her. She stood up and brushed the front of her jeans. I watched, mesmerized. She had beautiful hands, well-proportioned and elegant. I knew from experience that they were warm and soft, but could be firm and sure when needed to be. I had a very brief, but very intense need for her to touch me. I took a deep breath and let it out. Tess heard me exhale.
"Nervous?"
"No." Well, okay, yes.
We headed out.
"Want to take the Jeep?"
Tess paused for a minute. I could see her debating separating herself from her rolling office.
"You know, I am off-duty, really off-duty, for the first time in...like...ever. Yes, let's take the Jeep."
We climbed in. I cranked the engine, but before I put it in first, I took off my cap and handed it to Tess.
"To keep your hair from getting too blown," I said.
Tess smiled and put the cap on, pulling her ponytail through the hole in the back. It only added to her attractiveness. And I just love a girl in a ball cap. In my ball cap.
I put the Jeep in gear and we headed for the park. When we hit Main Street, Tess put her arms up like she was in a roller coaster. I glanced over and grinned. She looked happy. I was doing what Miz Maggie had ordered. One happy Tess, delivered.
We pulled into the ballpark a few minutes later and were amazed at what we saw. Coach Biggs had gone all out. There were small fair rides, g
ame booths, a food truck with ice cream and cotton candy, and two very large cast iron grills with one for hot dogs and hamburgers, the other with roasting pigs manned by several fellas from one of the local barbecue joints.
I pulled the Jeep on around and we parked, walked on up to the gate. Tess turned, took off my cap and placed it on my head, brushing the loose hair off my forehead. She smiled.
I smiled back.
"Good luck tonight," she said.
"Thanks."
She headed on to her seat behind home plate, joining Coach Biggs, who was positively beaming on seeing Tess. On the other side of Coach was an attractive brunette, who smiled and shook Tess's hand as introductions were made. Did Coach have someone special in her life? I had not even considered it.
I went into the dugout. Chessie was calling out positions.
"Baxter, right field."
Stacey was pitching. Harry was at short, Glennie was on first, Emily was at second, and Mary was at third. June and Tracey were at left and center and Bernie was catching. We made our way onto the field. Cheers erupted in the stands, which were packed with family and friends. I looked over at Tess, who was clapping and cheering as she smiled back at me.
My team, consisting of the Owl and Badger squads, stood on the first base line while the Cubs and Tigers stood opposite us on the third base line. The "Star-spangled Banner" was sung by a group of elementary school students standing in the circle. Once the field was cleared of children, Janice, as Umpire, shouted, "Play ball!"
It was on.
Stacey's pitching was amazing. You could practically hear the ball as she fired away. The Cubs & Tigers were scoreless, and seemingly a little awestruck, at the three-up/three down at bat. The two teams swapped places in under ten minutes.
Unless we got something started, I wouldn't be up to bat until our second inning.
Jacks was pitching. She was a little nervous, and her first two pitches were 'wild,' causing their catcher to have to leap for the first one and dive for the second. She settled down on the third pitch, burning one in for a strike, leaving the batter looking. Two more pitches, two more strikes and our lead-off batter was out.
Bernie was up next. Maybe it was her training as a catcher that helped her keep an eye on Jacks' blazing fastball, and she caught a piece of it, a shot into center field that was caught by the fielder.
Two down.
Tracey was up. The catcher called 'time' and went to the circle for a little meeting with her pitcher. They conversed briefly and then we were back in it.
Jacks bore down on Tracey, who took a swing and missed. Strike one.
The next pitch was just outside, off-speed and a little south. Tracey teed off on it and it rocketed out to center field, over the head of the fielder, dropping just shy of the fence. Tracey was crazy fast, and made it to second, for a stand-up double.
Harry was batting clean-up.
Jacks got ahead in the count with one ball, two strikes by the third pitch. Harry connected with the next pitch, low and just inside, dropping it in the gap at center and right field. Stacey took off for third, and Harry beat the throw to first by a whisker.
My turn.
My hands were sweating and my mouth was dry. It was up to me to get them in or, as they say, go down swinging.
The first pitch was a fast ball, straight down the middle. I let it go by. Strike one.
Second pitch, high and inside, really close, making me jump back. Ball.
The next pitch was another fastball, this time waist-high and just towards the outside. I swung, connected, and took off towards first. The ball stayed down, line drive, past the pitcher and into right center field. Tracey crossed home plate, Harry was on second, and I was on base.
The cheers were loud and long as we went one-up in the bottom of the first.
Tess was clapping and smiling. I smiled in return.
June was up. She went down swinging and that was the end of the first inning.
The rest of the game went by quickly, except for one little hitch. Stacey found herself in a pitching battle against Penny, who schooled her once again on patience, literally reminding Stacey of the last at-bat of last year's championship game. I swear, Penny was amazing. She took her time, staying alive on foul balls, until she connected with one that got her on base. She was as comfortable at bat as she was in bed and why memories of her in bed with me were swirling through my brain during a game, this game in particular, was beyond me.
Penny's team left her stranded and my team won the game.
20
The final out was a signal of sorts and that's when the fun started. Coach Biggs took to the field with a wireless mic given to her by one of the stadium workers. She tapped it to see if it was 'hot'. The thumping was broadcast by the stadium speakers. She raised it to her mouth.
"Hello and welcome to the third Annual Cook-out for the Tenley Pride!"
The crowd stamped and cheered. That was the cue to the assistant coaches, who began firing t-shirts into the stands from t-shirt cannons. That really set off the crowd, as they tried to catch the incoming goodies.
Coach Biggs shifted to crowd control.
"T-shirts will be available on your way out of the gates, so please be sure to get one as you exit the stadium."
That settled down the rowdies.
"The Tenley Pride counts on your support to help us win, and we could not do it without you, so I want to thank all of the families and friends and significant others for supporting us in seasons' past and for their continued support this year as we win our way to the championship!"
The crowd roared in turn.
By this time, the assistant coaches had put away the t-shirt cannons and had joined Coach in the circle.
"This cookout is to show our appreciation, so eat, play, and have a good time!"
The crowd shouted, clapped and whistled, but more than a few began heading quickly for the exits. Coach Biggs handed off the mic to the worker, then headed for her company waiting for her in the stands.
I saw Tess still seated behind home plate, waiting for the crowd to thin. I turned and went back into the dugout for my glove. It was empty, except for Penny leaning against the wall, apparently waiting for me.
"Nice hit," she acknowledged.
"Same to you," I replied.
"I just wanted to let you know that we'll all head to my place at about eleven o-clock or so," she said.
"Ok, thanks for the heads-up."
"Baxter."
"Penny," I said in turn.
She stepped to me, pressed herself against me, and looked up into my eyes.
"Come alone," she said, running her fingertips up the outer part of my thigh. I stood stock still, not sure if she had felt me shiver.
Penny's eyes closed briefly and a faint smile appeared on her lips. She backed away from me, still smiling.
"See you, Baxter?" she asked.
"Yes."
She left me standing there.
I started breathing again, took a second or two to pull myself together. Bounding up the dugout steps, I looked towards home plate for Tess, but she was gone. I turned and headed toward the gate and saw her standing there, waiting for me. I suspect she saw Penny leave the dugout ahead of me, considering the thoughtful look on her face. It quickly disappeared though, and she was smiling as I made my way to her. We walked out to the Jeep so that I could put away my glove.
"Good game," she said, "nice hit."
"Why, thank you, ma'am. So, you enjoyed yourself?"
"I did. Now, what do you want to do first, play or eat?" she asked as we walked through the parking lot. I looked at the line of people waiting to fill their plates, then over at the various booths.
"Want to play a bit, first?"
"Sure," she said, wrapping her arm playfully through mine, as she turned us toward the booths. I laughed. But I was very aware that Tess was touching me, leaning against me as we headed towards the booths. We walked up to the first arcade game and asses
sed it. It was one with basketball hoops. Make two hoops, win a prize.
Tess shook her head and we walked on, Tess's arm still laced through mine. To be honest, I liked it. It felt...comfortable.
"How about this one?" I asked. It was a shooting gallery.
"Yes!"
I laughed. Tess let go of my arm and walked up to the counter.
"Okay," I said, "you first."
Tess picked up the BB gun and took aim, squeezing off shots systematically, hitting most, but not all, of the targets.
"I think the sight's a little off," she whispered to me as she laid the gun down. The carny worker handed her a squirt gun as her winnings. "Think I should show him my badge?"
"Really?" I picked up the gun and sighted down the barrel. It was off by the tiniest bit, drawing to the left. "Tess, is that what you really want to do?" I whispered back. "I mean, yeah, it is, but do you really want to do this now, before we even eat?" I grinned at her, looking into her eyes. "Look, all these booths are free to us. It's not like you paid for anything, like you lost any money. No harm, no foul. If you think they're ripping people off, you could follow it up on Monday, find out where they're headed next and go from there, contact the local PD," I whispered back.
She was looking at me with great consideration, her head slightly cocked, eyes narrowed as she listened. After a few seconds, she nodded in agreement and smiled. "Yeah, okay, you're right. Let's just have fun tonight."
I turned back and nodded to the attendant, letting him know that I was going to play as I picked up the gun. He nodded back.
I slowly squeezed off the first few rounds, taking time to re-sight between the shots. It did pull a little to the left. I then shot my way through the targets, taking them out, one-by-one. Reaching the end, I laid the gun down and saw Tess with an odd look on her face.
