Maybe he needed to be considering what came next for him. Not the short-term, but the long-term. Where did he see himself in five years? Ten years? He was in good health now, and practiced good body mechanics, but the chances of him injuring his knees or hips within that time frame was high. It was how most catchers ended up going out of the league.
He could teach with his degree, but that wouldn’t be his first choice. He could coach, but that didn’t really appeal to him either. He came back to being a team owner over and over again, working within the business, but he didn’t have the cash or collateral to make it happen. Maybe he could find a partner or a silent investor to team up with.
But he wanted to be involved with the daily operations of his team, so if he planned to settle down in Oasis with Cami, he ideally needed the team to bethere, and there wasn’t one. The closest to the east or the west of Oasis were about three hours either way.
What would it take to start a team? Could he build one in Oasis? It wasn’t a populous area, but there was heavy traffic going by the town because of the old Route 66, which was a tourist draw year-round. How did the exhibition teams that existed get started? They didn’t just wave a magic wand for a stadium to appear.
Frustrated with his wandering thoughts again, he shut down his laptop.
CHAPTER 25
What’s the matter, kid?
– George Stovall, professional baseball first baseman & manager
Taking Lola shopping had been a treat for Camdyn. Her initial thought had been to take the girl to a shopping mall, but she’d thought better of it. Lola had been such a champ with everything, but Cam wanted to be cautious about pushing her too far too fast. Lola’s new world was overwhelming compared to where she’d come from, so Cam had stuck with a big box store and a discount retailer. Those had been sufficient for the basics and for new linens for Lola’s room.
“I love my room,” said Lola as she and Camdyn started unpacking the bags from their haul.
Camdyn looked around at the bare guest room, trying to see it from Lola’s perspective. The walls were eggshell white and the carpet a darker beige. Neutral colors that would look good with the lavender floral bedspread Lola had picked out.
“It’s going to look even better once we get the stuff we bought in here,” she responded.
She dumped a shopping bag on the full-size bed and then reached for another. “Let’s sort everything and then we’ll start putting it all away.”
They hung the clothes Lola had picked out on new white plastic hangers and folded some to place in the small dresser. They put away hair care and hygiene items in the bathroom. They stripped the bed of its current linens and redressed it with the new ones Lola had selected. Next, new drapes and a curtain of twinkly string lights went up.
When they were done, Lola had tears in her eyes. “It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen.”
Camdyn smiled at her. “I’ve got one more thing for your room,” she said.
“It doesn’t need anything else. Javi has already bought me too much,” Lola replied.
“I’ll be right back,” called Camdyn as she crossed the hall to Javier’s room. A moment later she returned holding a fancy silver picture frame. In it was a picture of Lola and her mother. She held it out to the girl.
Lola took it with a shaky hand and the tears she’d been fighting ran freely down her face.
“How did you get this?” she asked.
“Mother Superior emailed us a copy when we were working to build your file.”
Lola clutched the frame to her chest. “I remember the day this photo was taken. Thank you.”
Camdyn took the girl into her arms for a hug. “You are so welcome.”
For the next few days, they’d stayed at Javi’s so Lola could adjust to her new environment. They watched movies and went to the gym. Dipped their toes in the pool, because they’d forgotten to buy Lola a swimsuit on the first shopping adventure. They’d bonded over simple things, like food. And when Javi got back, they’d gotten Lola set up with her new online school.
Tonight, they were venturing out. They planned to go to a fancy dinner and then to a store to get Lola a swimsuit and grab some unexpected school needs.
Camdyn was applying mascara to her lashes when Javi came into the bathroom.
Their eyes met in the vanity mirror, and she called, “Don’t even think of using the toilet while I’m in here.”
He smirked and sauntered up behind her as she moved the wand away from her eye.
She was coming to understand that Javi didn’t like boundaries, and while she liked that sentiment, she felt strongly that some things should be private.
He slid his hand to her right hip and perched his chin on her left shoulder while looking at her in the mirror. Then he turned his head and nuzzled her neck, “Te ves muy guapa.”
