I pull the baseball glove that they sprayed with gold paint out of the box.
I was passed over again for the Gold Glove, but it didn’t sting this year because I realized that I’ll take what I have under this roof over what happens on that field any day.
“I don’t even know what to say.” I pull Lake and Leighton into a hug and wave my hands so Lincoln and Monroe join us. “Thank you, guys.”
I kiss the tops of their heads, overcome with emotion.
Lake is only good with affection for a short time, so she wiggles out of our group hug. Then Monroe wants her donut, and Lincoln goes to watch television. Leaving Leighton and me in the kitchen alone.
I stare at the gold glove, and she leans her head on my shoulder. “They came to me right after you found out. I think they feel like they were a little to blame.” I start to protest, but she shakes her head. “I told them no, that we come first. Baseball is second. And yeah, you would’ve loved to get honored with it, but your priorities are different now.”
“You said it better than I could have.” I slide my arm around her again. “Amazing, isn’t it? How good your life can become in such a short amount of time.” I look at the room with our three kids in it.
Lincoln is trying to pry the remote out of Lake’s hands, and Monroe wants to get involved, so she sticks her hands in the fight. Eventually, the arguing turns into yelling, and someone gets hurt.
Leighton leaves me to sort it out.
I watch them all from the kitchen, my heart overflowing with joy. Funny how you can spend years chasing what you thought you wanted, and it turns out you weren’t even close.
Leighton turns around as she soothes Monroe, rocking her up and down. Our eyes catch, and our smiles match. This life is everything I ever wanted. I just didn’t know it.
Epilogue
Callie
Five months later
* * *
The season starts next week, so we’re at Peeper’s Alley, celebrating Decker and Foster’s birthday, which is weird since they don’t really talk to each other. Nonetheless, we forced them to be here and ordered them each their own cake.
As I look around the room, I want to give myself a pat on the back.
Hayes has his arms around Leighton’s waist, his head nuzzled into her neck, whispering things I’m sure I don’t want to hear. Both of them are clueless as to just how okay I was with them getting together.
Of course I want the credit for all my hard work, but it’s better if they think it’s fate or destiny or whatever. They’re believers that there’s one person out there for you, and they found each other. Fools if you ask me, but seeing them together, I can almost believe in kismet.
They really thought I had no idea how they’ve pined for one another for years, but I appreciate that they respected me enough not to pursue one another. That’s why when I saw them together the day of Sky’s funeral, I knew it was time. Leighton needed Hayes, and Hayes needed to know there was more to life than baseball. And it worked out beautifully if I do say so myself.
“What are you smiling about?” Lake asks me, going through my makeup in my purse and putting on my lipstick.
“That they have no idea. They’re only here because of me, you… well, us.”
She smiles and looks at Hayes and Leighton, who are admiring Monroe playing pinball with Decker. Lincoln is competing at darts with Foster and Easton.
Lake is a natural. I barely had to tell her what to say to Leighton that day to get her to finally realize she was pushing away the man she loved because of what happened to her when she was younger.
“Are you going to tell them?” Lake asks.
“Nah, let them think they did it all themselves. But jeez, are they stubborn.”
“Tell me about it, I live with them.” She rolls her eyes the way only a girl on the verge of teenager-dom can.
We both laugh, catching Leighton’s attention. She tilts her head at us. By the end of this party, I need to tell her about the predicament I’ve found myself in, but that can wait until later.
“Just always remember to use reverse psychology with Hayes. You tell him he can’t do something, and he’ll see it as a challenge.” I shrug. “He’s been that way since we were kids.”
Lake puckers her lips and stares at them in my compact mirror. “Figured that out already. Told him he wasn’t strong enough to take the garbage out the other day, and he proved me wrong by doing my chore for me.” She grins at her reflection.
