Page 16 of Catching Dreams

“Tell her you won’t be able to go to lunch but to pack her bags and have her friend be ready to go, too. Have her come to the game, and then they can leave with us.”

I nodded and sent Molly a quick text.

Me: Some plans have changed. I’m not sure what all is going on, but I’ll explain when I know more. Pack your bags and have Pen pack her stuff, too. Come to the game like originally planned, but I won’t be able to make it to lunch before. But, Molly, don’t worry. This is all good stuff. There will be tickets for you guys at Will Call.

My everything: That’s a little vague, but I trust you. See you at the game.

“Hi. Can I get your name for your tickets?” the friendly worker at the Will Call asks.

“I’m Molly Green,” I said with a slight pang of sadness. I wish I could shout from the rooftops that I was married to Tyler and say my name was Molly Stone. I still hadn’t legally changed my name, but I definitely planned to before the babies were born. I wanted the same last name as my husband and my children.

“Oh, wow. Okay. Here are your VIP passes,” the woman said and handed me four badges along with four tickets. “The pre-game buffet for VIPs is open now near section 104. Enjoy the game!”

“VIP?” Pen asked as I handed her the badge. “Pre-game buffet?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“What’s a buffet?” Peyton asked as her mom pinned her badge onto her pink shirt.

“It’s where all different types of foods are served at once, and it’s all you can eat. We have pulled pork, nachos, hot dogs, fruit salad, a carving ham station, and even a dessert table,” the worker explained with a wink at the kids. “And it’s unlimited. So it’s all the soda and beer you want.”

“Let’s go!” Camden called out, pulling on his mom’s arm. “A dessert table!”

“Right behind you, kid. She had me at unlimited beer,” Pen said with a grin. “I guess you’re driving, Preggers.”

We found the buffet room, and we were let in with a nod at our badges. Penelope made the kids eat lunch food before they were allowed to hit the dessert table. I made myself a stack of pulled pork on top of nachos with a side of the fruit salad. The pineapple looked amazing.

Penelope noticed me eyeing the pineapple and said, “If you put that pineapple on top of your nachos, I will not sit with you.”

“There are plenty of tables,” I replied with a grin. I cut up the chunks of pineapple and sprinkled them all over the nachos. I took a big bite, and one of the babies seemed to kick with joy. It shouldn’t taste good, but it was amazing.

“Are you Molly Green?” a stadium employee asked.

“I am,” I replied after wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“A Mr. Tyler Stone requested that you be at your seats before The National Anthem. That is due to happen in 20 minutes.”

I looked at my plate and nodded. I could finish a lot of this in fifteen minutes and then find my seat. I looked over and saw both kids had plates piled high with cookies, brownies, and different desserts.

Camden took a big bite of a cookie, then looked at me and said with a mouthful, “These are not as good as your cookies, Molly.”

I felt a puff of pride in my chest and grinned at him, “Thanks, Cam. That means a lot to me.”

I told Pen what the employee said, so we finished our food and made our way down to our seats.

“Penelope?” a female voice asked behind us as we sat down. “Penelope Delilah Benton?”

Pen sat up in her seat and looked towards the voice. A beautiful young woman with shoulder length brown hair and a grin on her face was approaching us.

“Lita?” Pen asked and was suddenly out of her seat.

“Well, as I live and breathe! It really is you!” the woman exclaimed and rushed towards us. She enveloped Penelope in a huge hug. “I saw the thing on the news about the tornado, and it showed pictures of our special guests at the game. And heavens to Betsy, it was you!”

Penelope and I made eye contact, and we both had wide eyes. Special guests of the game? On the news? What was going on?

“Hold your horses! Is this Camden? He was just a wee little thing last time I saw him!”

“This is Camden. Wow, has it really been that long?” Penelope said as she motioned for her kids to come over by her. “Cam, Pey, this is my cousin, Melita. Lita, these are my kids Camden and Peyton Jane.”

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