“You guys must be so proud of Evan,” I say.
She turns to grin at me. “We really are. He’s worked so hard to get here. I remember going to his games in Little League, then him constantly asking me to throw the ball with him or load the tee so it didn’t mess up his flow by him having to do it himself.” She says the last part with a deeper voice, acting like she’s him.
“When our mom passed, our dad was always gone at work, so it was just the two of us alone a lot. I used to bitch about having to play with him, but I never really minded.” She nudges me playfully.
“What’s the age difference between you two?”
“Five years.”
“So, you really did take on that mom role then, didn’t you?”
She inhales with a sigh. “I did. And when I graduated high school, I couldn’t leave him alone while he was still in junior high, so I stayed local and didn’t go off to college. That’s when I met the boys’ dad.” She raises her eyebrows at me with a tilt to her head. “That’s a whole other story, but it got me my boys, and it got Evan here, so I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“And your dad? I haven’t heard about him,” I ask.
“He should be here shortly. The stubborn ole mule hates to fly”—she leans in—“especially on Evan’s dime, so he drove here in his old-ass truck.” She laughs. “He won’t take anything from Evan, no matter how many times Evan has offered.”
“That’s sweet though. Where is home?” I ask.
“Texas. We live near the Arkansas border, so it’s really not that far of a drive.”
My phone rings in my purse so I reach in and grab it, seeing Evan’s name flashing across my screen. “Well, speak of the devil.” I swipe it and put it on speaker. “Hey, I’m sitting here with your family.”
Samantha leans over to speak into the call. “Hello!”
“Hey, everyone. Glad you all made it. Is Dad here yet?” Evan asks.
“Last I spoke to him, he was arriving around six fifteen,” Samantha answers.
“Sorry I can’t come out to say hi. I forgot how much tighter security is at these games,” he says.
“You’ve come a long way from your Single-A days, little bro,” she teases.
He laughs. “Yeah, no more rolling down the hills with the kids after the games for sure. I’m going to finish getting things ready here. I just wanted to call and make sure you’d gotten in okay.”
“I did. Thank you again. Nolan is so excited,” I say.
“Glad to hear it,” Evan responds.
Samantha wraps her arm around my shoulders. “We got her from here. You go be you.”
“I will. Love you sis,” he says.
Out of pure habit with my family, I almost repeat it back to him and am thankful when Samantha says it over me.
“Love you.” Then she motions to her sons. “Boys, come say good luck to Uncle Evan.”
They come rushing over. “Good luck, Uncky,” they say in unison.
“Love you guys!” he says.
“Love you too!” they both respond, then rush back to what they were doing.
CHAPTER TEN
Christy
We all cheer as the national anthem finishes when an older gentleman—dressed in jeans, a plaid shirt, and suspenders wrapped around his round belly—comes walking through the door.
