“So, you’re saying your subconscious insulted me.”
Her eyebrows came together. “It would seem so.” She gripped the check tighter. Up to this point, she’d thought Jane’s activity would be nice, a fun way to some self-improvement that was on the lighter side. But now, she wondered if deep down inside of her there was darkness that leaked out.
The photographer sighed heavily as if taking their picture was harder than capturing three-year-old triplets on film. Brush girl took the check out of their hands. Jane hurried to talk to a small family huddled near the front door. The children were wide-eyed, and not the excited kind.
Clover pressed her palms together. She didn’t want to be angry at Dustin anymore—didn’t want to feed the bad feelings he seemed to inspire. In the spirit of making amends and inviting good karma, she looked directly into his eyes and said the first thing that came to mind. “You’re not a horrible person.”
Dustin huffed like a bison. “Thanks. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go juggle.” He made the motion of tossing three balls into the air.
Clover hooked his elbow to stop him from leaving. She was trying to be nice. Apparently, it was more difficult than she first thought. “I didn’t say you were a clown.”
He tipped his head. “Then what am I? A trapeze artist? Because I feel like I’m walking a thin wire when I’m around you.”
She shook her head quickly.
“Lion tamer? Sword swallower? Human cannonball?” His neck was turning red.
Clover waved her arms, indicating all the craziness around them as the crew packed up and headed outside, where the press conference would be held in front of the building. “You’re a ringmaster.”
Dustin put his hand on top of hers, where it still rested on his arm. Her breath caught as a current sprinted from his hand to her hand to her lungs. His eyes danced. “Ringmaster is better than elephant pooper scooper.”
“And it’s way better than the bearded lady.”
He laughed. “Don’t disrespect that beard. My brother called it the noble fleece. He was devastated when I shaved it off.”
“Noble fleece? More like hobo fleece,” she snapped.Aw crap! That came out mean.She looked down. For one not-nice thing, she had to give an honest compliment. Dustin’s white athletic shoes didn’t have a scuff on them. “What I meant to say was, I like your shoes.”
He looked down to see what she was pointing at, and Clover took the opportunity to slip her hand out from under his and move away. She wasn’t sure, but staying away from Dustin might make it easier to say and think nice things about people. She wanted to try it out, but she really had to finish dinner.
“Where are you going?” Dustin asked.
“I have a job to do.” She pointed to the front window, where a portable podium with multiple microphones could be seen. “And so do you.”
An hour later, when the rolls were baking in the oven and filling the kitchen with the most amazing scent of fresh-baked bread with butter on top, Jane came through the swinging doors. A large section of hair had fallen out of her bun and was tucked behind her right ear. “I’m glad that’s over.” She sagged against the sink.
“Do you think it’s worth it?” Clover began loading the pots and pans into the industrial dishwasher.
“Way worth it. Oh—” She patted her pockets. “Here.” She held out a pair of tickets.
“What are those?” Clover wiped her hands on her apron and reached for them.
“Tickets to tonight’s game.”
“What?” Clover snatched them and held them too close to her face. She squealed. “I’ve been watching the Redrocks for weeks.” She jumped up and down again. All the time she’d spent glued to the television, falling in love with baseball, had finally paid off! She was going to a game. A real game where they sold hot dogs and lemonades, and little kids with baseball mitts hoped to catch fly balls.
Jane laughed. “Have fun.”
Clover paused in her celebration. “Don’t you and Pastor Paul want to go?”
Jane waved her off. “I’ve had enough excitement for one day.” Her eyes softened. “Besides, we have a friend in the hospital we planned on visiting tonight.”
Clover hugged her. “Thank you so much. I can’t wait.” She tucked the tickets safely in her back pocket. This was going to be the best night ever.
Chapter Fourteen
Dustin stepped into the dugout and took a deep, satisfying breath, drawing in joy from the scent of freshly mowed grass and dirt and leather and a clean uniform. Hopefully it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
He pivoted. The stadium lights brought out the deepest green in each blade of grass, and the night was full of possibilities. The start of a game was a chance to win. It didn’t matter that the Redrocks had the second-worst season in the division. What mattered wasthisgame. The first pitch. A clean slate. Baseball was all about the stats, but when Dustin stepped onto the field, that all took a seat in the nosebleeds.
