What if he didn’t want to be spared? What did that even mean?
“Lee, I?—”
“I’m ready!”
Bennie’s excited voice wafted down the stairs.
“I have my new Nate shirt on. Why don’t I go with you to practice, Daddy? I still have my whistle.”
I collapsed in relief against the sink, Bennie breaking the spell that had rushed over us and almost made us do something stupid.
I wasn’t sure what we would have done, but I feared it would have been something we couldn’t come back from or reason away.
“Not today, Ben. I have to work on the guys all morning, so I’m heading up early. But you get to come with Stella later, and Silas told me Rachel and Taylor will be there today.”
Bennie let out a gasp, her long lashes grazing her brows as she widened her eyes.
“Taylor is the best.” Bennie’s head whipped toward me. “She plays baseball too.”
“Softball,” Lee corrected. “Taylor has been Bennie’s idol since she babysat for her a couple of times last year. Well, until you came along.” Lee smiled, picking up his coffee and sauntering into the living room as if nothing had happened.
“Could I have a muffin for breakfast? That way, I can eat faster and we can get ready.”
“The game doesn’t start until two, kiddo,” I told Bennie. “Enjoy the muffin, and we can relax a little bit.”
Bennie bounced back and forth on her feet as I handed her the blueberry muffin on a plate. She rushed into the living room, taking a spot next to her father, and I was sure she’d try one more time to convince Lee to take her with him.
“But I’m too excited to calm down,” I heard her say.
That made two of us.
EIGHTEEN
STELLA
“Look, it’s Taylor!”
I grabbed Bennie just as she was about to take off up the aisle.
“Our seats are right next to theirs,” I told her, stepping in front of her to slow her down. “You don’t have to run, kiddo. You can talk to Taylor the entire game.”
She nodded but still pulled me so hard toward our row for today’s home game, I almost tripped as we approached.
“Hey, Bennie,” Rachel said, stepping in front of her teenage sister with her arms stretched out. “Before you run up to Taylor, I need a hug first.”
Bennie giggled as she gave Rachel a quick hug.
“Stella, this is my sister, Taylor.” Rachel nodded to the beautiful girl behind her as Bennie tackled her with a hug. “Tay, this is the Stella I was telling you about.”
“I didn’t know I was so popular,” I joked. “Very nice to meet you, Taylor.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Taylor said, smoothing her long, raven ponytail off her shoulder. I could see theresemblance between her and Rachel, even though they looked different enough at first glance not to seem like sisters at all.
Taylor was tall and lean, a head taller than her older and curvier sister, with fair skin and eyes almost as dark as her hair. Rachel’s features were more golden, her chestnut hair almost matching her brown eyes.
“I love your hair,” Taylor said, taking Bennie’s hand. “You have to show me how to do that.”
“Stella did it! She knows all kinds of braids.” Bennie gave me a quick smile over her shoulder before settling in a seat next to Taylor.
