“I’ve been thinking about you and Margaret—all you did for me back then. How you saved me.”
“You would’ve saved yourself.”
“I don’t know about that.” I picked a few notes on Georgia.
“You should send it to Ivy. The song.”
“She’ll be here next week.”
“I think she should hear it before then. Let’s record it for her.”
I nodded. “Okay, yeah. But I have something to go to at four this afternoon, so we better get on it.”
“What’s that?”
“Tyler’s baseball game,” I said, feeling sheepish. “It starts at five. He asked if I’d go.”
“All right then.”
“I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings,” I said.
“Good. The way to a mother’s heart is to love her child.”
I didn’t say anything, only smiled.
“I’ll see you in an hour. We’ll record it for Ivy.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I stayed on the porch as Wes walked across the lawn, head bowed as if he were thinking about something important. Still waters ran deep with my Wes. I could only imagine what he was thinking.
Wesand I managed to get a good recording of my new song, despite my voice. I sent it to Ivy before I could change my mind. When we went upstairs, the aroma of banana bread greeted us. Margaret was in the kitchen wrapping the loaf in a blue tea towel, tied with a piece of kitchen twine.
“I thought you might like to share this with whomever else was at the game,” Margaret said.
“You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.” I gave her shoulders a quick squeeze. “You’re the best.”
“I’m glad to hear you and Wes down there making magic like the old days.”
“It felt good to me too.”
“Don’t forget to put sunscreen on before the game.” Margaret handed me the loaf. “It’s a beautiful afternoon.”
“Thanks, Margaret. I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, off you go.” She shooed me out of the kitchen with a sweeping motion of her hands.
A few minutes later, I was on my way. The field was near the high school and, the moment I turned off my engine, I heard the crack of an aluminum bat and parents shouting encouragement. I came around the equipment shed with Margaret’s banana bread tucked under one arm. The bleachers were fuller than I’d expected, with teenagers and parents. There were also parents with thermoses and camp chairs along the fence line. Midway up on the home side I spotted Seraphina. I was surprised to see that most of her gang was also there.
She wore a Willet High School sweatshirt and a baseball cap over her bright hair and big sunglasses. I stood at the top of the steps up to the bleachers, hoping to catch someone’s eye before I descended upon them. Lila saw me first, standing and calling out to me. Vance was next to her, gesturing to come up.
“Hunter, over here,” Lila shouted.
I started up the bleachers.
Gillian sat next to Lila, holding an infant. Leo. He’d been born the night of Esme and Grady’s wedding. I’d have thought it was too soon to come out but Gillian seemed perfectly fine. Delphine was there too, wearing black slacks and pumps paired with a peach sweater. She must have come straight from her gallery. No Esme or Grady, as they were still on their honeymoon, but Robbie and Madison sat with the other kids. Vance had mentioned they were taking care of them while Esme was away. The other kids were all there too—Bella, Grace, Annie,Robbie, Margot and Mia. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not, but my presence seemed to have sparked conversation. Robbie had looked up from his book and Mia had stopped sketching on her pad to watch me.
Trevor, Esme’s golden lab, was also there, curled up into a ball at Madison’s feet.
