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The waiter slowly backed away. She left him hanging for a few seconds before she picked her glass up again.
“To forgiveness, and new beginnings,” Chris said.
Corra chuckled. “To new beginnings. You have to work for forgiveness.”
Chris held his glass up higher and smiled. “That I can do.”
Over dinner they discussed Chris’s company and their new line of software. Corra stated she was proud of him and all of his accomplishments. The conversation moved from work to family as Corra bragged about her babies.
“Katie’s my little soft-spoken princess. She’s so sensitive for an eight-year-old, and I have no idea where she gets that from. Jamie, he’s ten, and playing baseball this year. He’s actually pretty good. If only I could stop him from losing his gloves. We’re on the third one.”
Chris laughed. “I’m surprised you don’t have him in peewee football. The skill might run in the family.”
“Oh, no. Not my son. I don’t want him to play football. It’s such a dangerous sport.”
“Like he can’t get hit with a baseball?”
Corra shrugged. “I know. But with all the controversy about concussions and football players I’m playing it safe. Besides, he doesn’t have an interest.”
“Then he takes after his father. Eric was good at baseball too. He just wasn’t disciplined enough to play on the team.”
That was the first time Chris had ever made reference to her ex-husband, and his high school nemesis.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go there.”
Corra’s face grew solemn. “Yes, let’s not go there.”
* * *
“Woo-hoo! Come on, Jamie!” Corra cheered, then bit her bottom lip as her baby stepped up to bat.
“Attaboy, Jamie!” Rollin’s deep throaty cheer could be heard above all the parents in attendance. He stood and clapped so hard it hurt Corra’s hands.
She held her breath as Jamie swung at the ball.
“Strike.”
Rollin continued to clap. “That’s okay, we’ll get the next one. Focus on the ball. Come on.”
“Strike two.”
Oh, no. Corra crossed her legs and glanced over at Tayler and Katie who sat on the edge of their seats as they cheered Jamie on. His Sunday afternoon games had become a family affair, and Rollin hadn’t missed one yet.
Jamie tapped his bat against the base before getting into his squat, serious about the next pitch. Corra crossed her fingers.
The crack of the bat sent Corra to her feet screaming with joy as her baby took off running for first base. The sight of his little legs moving so fast brought tears to her eyes.
“Run, Jamie, run!” Rollin yelled at the top of his lungs.
“Run!” everyone screamed.
When Jamie slid in for a home run Corra just about lost her mind. Being the proud mama she was, she yelled out. “That’s my baby right there.” Before the game was over Jamie scored two more home runs.
After they won the game, the coach pulled all the boys and their fathers together for a photo. Rollin quickly ran down the benches to take a picture with Jamie. Not every boy on the field had his father at the game, but most of them did. Jamie and Rollin looked like a proud father and son, but they weren’t, and that hurt Corra a little.
On the way to their usual hot dog stand after every game, Jamie came up to Corra and hugged her.
“Baby, you were phenomenal today.” Corra stroked his back.
“Mom, is my daddy ever coming back?” Jamie asked, with a quiver in his voice.
A lump formed in Corra’s throat, big enough to choke a horse. How long would she keep telling her children their father was working in California, and had to stay for a few years? They coped with the divorce pretty well because they were so young. But what was she doing to Jamie?
Corra kneeled down to Jamie and smiled. “Honey, you know your daddy’s working in California, but I promise you he’ll be home soon.”
“Why doesn’t he call us?”
The sad look in his eyes tore Corra’s heart apart. A few months ago he asked for his daddy, and cried himself to sleep.
She lowered her head. “Baby—”
“Your dad asked me to take care of you until he gets back,” Rollin said as he walked up. “Is it okay if Uncle Rollin pitches in for a while?”
Jamie nodded and stepped back from Corra. She stood up with tears so big she could hardly see her baby.
“Hey, Jamie, why don’t you go see if your sister wants an ice cream cone. My treat.” Rollin pulled a few bills from his pocket and gave them to Jamie.
“Okay, thanks.” Wide-eyed, Jamie took off in the direction of his sister and Tayler who were sitting on a bench still eating.
Corra dug into her purse for a tissue and wiped her eyes. Eric’s absence was getting harder to cover up.
“Why do you keep telling him that?” Rollin asked.
“Because one day he’ll be back.”
“Do you want him back?” Rollin looked a little stunned by her answer.
She stopped wiping her eyes. “Hell no, I don’t want him back. But right now Jamie needs him in his life. As long as Eric’s parents are here he’ll eventually come back.”
“You truly don’t know where he is, do you?” Rollin asked.
“No I don’t.”
“Well, maybe you should find out for the kids’ sake.”
She nodded. “I was thinking the same thing when I watched all the fathers and sons gather for pictures. Jamie barely smiled for the picture.”
“Why don’t you bite the bullet and contact his sister, Cookie? I heard she’s a changed woman now that she’s found religion. I bet she knows how to reach him. He needs to be a father to his children.”
The tears started again and Corra blotted her eyes. She didn’t like to let the kids see her cry. Rollin was right. She needed a plan to do something she dreaded, but knew she had to do. Find Eric.
Chapter 6 (#u3295ed9f-f471-5a93-9fcd-7d158345ce4a)
Chris tackled Monday morning with a vengeance. The usual 9:00 a.m. webinar with his direct reports went off without a hitch. Afterward, he attended a meeting at the Boyle County Chamber of Commerce. He even managed to squeeze in a conference call on his way back to the office. Terry was still conducting interviews for customer support representatives. By the end of next week, the business would be fully staffed, and Chris could relax a little.
He spent the afternoon responding to emails and thinking about Corra. Opposite of his desk was a framed poster that he liked to live by. “Truth builds trust.” He hadn’t been totally truthful with Corra about why he hadn’t contacted her.
It was true, his workload had increased in Philly, but he knew as well as she did that he could have made an effort to see her. He flew back whenever his parents needed him, and she knew that much about him. But the accident had shaken him and made him second-guess his decisions.
Plus, he’d never been involved with a woman who had children. Corra was the only woman who’d made him want to reconsider his position when it came to children. But, he couldn’t exactly tell her that, so instead he’d stayed away.
He leaned back in his seat thinking for a minute. If he truly wanted to start a relationship with her he’d have to overcome his apprehension. And he had to end it now.
He picked up the phone and called Corra on her cell phone.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Corra. It’s Chris, were you busy?”
“I’m closing shop and going over to the house to talk to Tayler. The Color of Success has an event this week that we need to discuss.”
“How long do you think that’s going to take? Because I’d like to see you this evening. I thought we could take a ride and talk.”
Silence came from her end. Was she trying to decide if she’d give him a chance or not?
“A ride where to?” she finally asked.
“Nowhere in particular. I just want to spend some time with you.”
“Really?” Corra asked, sounding surprised.
Chris laughed. “Yes. What time do you think you’ll be finished? I can pick you up.”
“Don’t bother coming out here. I’ll call the babysitter and you can pick me up at the house. Do you remember where I live?”
He smiled. “I know exactly where you live. How does seven or seven thirty sound?”
“Make it seven thirty.”
“Okay, see you then.” Chris hung up hoping his plan would bring Corra around. She’d seemed rather cool on the phone just now. He wanted to bring fun-loving, laugh-out-loud Corra back. The rest of Chris’s workday was a blur. He ran through everything in anticipation of picking Corra up after work. He didn’t even go home to eat; instead, he grabbed some fast food that would no doubt give him heartburn later.
At seven thirty on the nose he pulled up in front of Corra’s modest split-level, two-car-garage home. The house had great curb appeal in a family-friendly neighborhood, and conjured up thoughts of a gingerbread house. Several of her neighbors were sitting on their front porches taking in the evening breeze. His hometown had a certain charm that he never found in Philly.
He turned off the engine and jumped out of the car. To his surprise Corra was already walking down the steps. She waved to her neighbors.
He walked over to open the door for her. She looked beautiful in a long sundress with a short jacket. Her toes were painted hot pink in some flat sandals; her purse was slung across her body like the college kids wore theirs.
“As usual, you look great.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before she could protest.
“Thank you very much, sir.” She swiveled into the passenger seat.
“You’re welcome, my lady.” He waited until she had gathered her dress before he closed the door, then walked around to the driver’s side.
“You ready?” he asked, as he started the car.
She shrugged. “I don’t know where I’m going, but I trust you won’t take me too far. So, I guess I’m ready.”
Chris pulled off. He wanted to take Corra to the first place he’d realized he had feelings for her all those years ago. He thought they had an unspoken past that neither of them could have acted on at the time, but he needed confirmation that it wasn’t all in his head.
“How are things at the bed-and-breakfast?” he asked.
“Busy,” she replied.
“The code to download your new software should arrive this week. Of course, I’ll come over to walk you through the setup. I think you’ll be very happy with it.”
“I hope so.”
When Chris drove up to their old high school Corra looked over at him. “We’re going to school?”
“We’re going to practice.” He eased the vehicle to the edge of the parking lot across from the football field and parked. “Come on, let’s watch them practice.”
After exiting the car, he took hold of Corra’s hand as they walked across the grass to the bleachers. Then he helped her climb the steps before taking a seat. Just watching the team brought back memories of being on the field himself and seeing Corra and her friends in the stands watching them.
“When’s the last time you played football?” Corra asked.
Chris leaned back on his elbows. “Whew, it’s been a while. Maybe five years or more. I used to volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club in Philly so I played around with them a bit. But that’s about it. All I do now is watch football.”
“I bet you could still play!”
“Oh, I can run the ball, as long as I don’t get tackled. One good hit and I’m out of commission.”
“Well, I can tell you still work out.”
Was that a compliment? Maybe she was coming around. “Almost every day. That’s part of my effort to stay in shape. Football or not, I have a business to run.”
A play on the field caught their attention and Chris stood and applauded. “Nice move.”
“I remember watching you make moves like that. You were good. I had such a crush on you in high school.” Corra pressed a palm to her forehead and laughed.
“I’m flattered.” Chris was happy the feeling was mutual. “And I remember looking up in the stands at you and your friends.”
“But you were watching Josleen. You had a thing for her.”
Chris sat up. “I wasn’t looking at Josleen, I was looking at you. A couple of times I wanted to take you to a movie or something after the game.”
Corra grew silent again and looked around before responding. “Then why didn’t you ask?”
“Come on. You know Rollin would have broken my legs.” Chris leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I wanted to ask you to my senior prom too, but I valued my life too much for that.”
