Page 50 of Keep

Izzy tossed her red hair and began following her cousins in a huff. “Quit acting like a mama bear. I’m walking and I plan to be at Esposito’s stuffing my face with pizza by the time you retrieve the car.”

“That’s your daughter,” Deck grumbled to his wife.

Jenny Gentry only laughed. “No, she’s every inch her father’s daughter. Rebellious to the core.”

Deck scowled but he allowed his wife to lead him away.

Even in the blistering heat it was a treat to take a walk while holding my wife’s hand.

“Who are you looking for?” Cami asked as I craned my neck around.

“Let’s hang back a second,” I said and slowed the pace until we were next to Chase’s family. Thomas was walking next to Derek and he seemed startled when I sidled up to him.

“We miss you down at the field,” I said. “I really wish you’d start coming around again.”

Thomas gave me a sheepish look. “My dad says there’s no reason why I should stay away.”

“There isn’t.” I nudged him. “So how about starting today? After the reception, that is. The batting cages will be open until eight and you can tell Mick I gave you a pass to keep a stall to yourself and hit all you want until closing.”

He was pleased. “I could use a little time to work on my swing.”

“Take all the time you want. Just promise me you’ll keep coming back.”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

Derek had been listening to the conversation. He looked my way and I gave him an encouraging smile. I didn’t know what his fate would be. That was at least partly up to him. But I wanted him to know I didn’t bear him any grudge.

“Maybe you could come down to the field sometime too,” I suggested. “Twice a week we have sessions for all ages.”

Derek seemed to be considering the idea. His smile was a little bashful. “My kid brother’s skills would put me to shame.”

“Well, you’re always welcome, Derek.” I held his eye. “I mean it. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.” He threw me a grateful look. “Thank you, Dalton.”

“Anytime.”

Cami squeezed my arm. “You’re a good guy,” she whispered to me.

“Yeah, you were smart to marry me.”

She smiled up at me. “I know that.”

Esposito’s Pizzeria might not have been ready for the raucous throng of wedding celebrants that crashed through their doors on a weekday afternoon. They took the invasion in stride though, setting us up in a private room with an unending supply of pizza and appetizers. The owner had even gone to the trouble to bake a special cake once he learned what we were celebrating.

Since everyone was just grabbing food and sitting wherever they pleased Cami and I did the same, ending up across from two of her young teenage cousins, Ethan and Rider. Those two were never very far apart at any family gathering and one might have mistaken them for brothers. Right now they were shoving pizza slices into their hungry mouths and cackling obnoxiously over something playing on an iPhone until Rider’s dad, Stone, leaned across the table and demanded they put an end to their electronic entertainment.

“You know what, Dalton?” said Cami after swallowing a bite, “I believe if I hadn’t married you I would have married this pizza.”

“I’m glad I won that contest.” I put my pizza down and just sat there appreciating the way my wife looked. She wore a summery floor length dress in a shade of deep blue and like Cassie she’d chosen to wear her hair loose with little jewelry except her wedding rings. If she wasn’t already mine I would be intensely jealous of the man who was lucky enough to keep her.

“What?” she asked, wiping her mouth when she noticed how hard I was staring. “Do I have sauce on my face?”

“No. I was trying to remember if I told you something today.”

“What?”

“You take my breath away, Camille.”

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