Page 76 of Batter Up!

“Cooper!” I cried out and ran around the counter to give him a huge hug. If the guys were in town, at least one of them would stop by just to see how I was doing. I really loved these guys!

“How’s my favorite short girl?” he asked as he lifted me up in the air and twirled me around. When he set me down, I could see he was looking around. “Where’s Penelope?”

“Oh. She’s running late because she couldn’t find a babysitter. Pen'll be here soon with her kids.”

“She has kids?” Cooper asked.

“You didn’t know? I thought you knew she was a single mom.”

Cooper looked at me with a twist of his lips. “You know, now that you mention it, I guess I knew that, but it didn’t even register with me. I’ve been hit too many times in the head with baseballs.”

I shook my head and patted his shoulder. “What can I get for you? The usual coffee and unhealthy cinnamon roll, or do you want something healthy? I’ve started making some protein bars since Hayden and some of the guys requested them.”

“How old are they?” Cooper asked.

“Huh?” I asked as I reached for the coffee pot to pour him a cup. “I made the protein bars fresh last night.”

“No, no, not that. How old are Penelope’s kids?”

“Oh,” I replied, “Camden is around 6, and Peyton is 3 or 4.”

“Got it.” Then, Cooper walked out the door without his cup of coffee or breakfast.

Another customer walked in, and I didn’t have time to wonder what was going on with him as I began serving people their morning coffee and treats.

Not long after 7:30, Penelope walked in with a canvas bag over her shoulder, holding the cutest little girl with two brown braids and the same beautiful brown eyes as her mom. Next to her stood a little boy with disheveled brown hair. His eyes were the same shape as his moms, but instead of brown, they were bright blue.

“Hi, Camden!” I called out. “Do you remember me?”

He nodded. “You’re my mom's boss.”

“And you make the best cookies,” Peyton blurted out.

“Do you guys want some of your mom’s favorite blueberry scones, or would you rather have donuts with sprinkles?” I asked as I grabbed two orange juice boxes and set them in the corner booth.

“Sprinkles!” they both exclaimed at the same time, and I had to laugh while I walked over and grabbed their donuts.

“Thank you so much,” Penelope said. “Shiloh feels so bad.”

“It happens. No worries at all. And if you can’t come to the ultrasound with me today, I totally understand.”

“Oh my gosh! I totally forgot that it was today, too!” Penelope said with her hand to her forehead. “Shit, Moll, I’m sorry. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go.”

“Mom! You said shit. That’s a dollar in the swear jar,” Camden said as he sat down and took a big bite of his donut.

“Now, you know why I’m always broke,” Penelope said with a shake of her head. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll try to do better.”

“Shit, this donut is good!” Peyton said with a huge grin.

“Peyton Jane!” Penelope scolded.

“Mommy, you said it. I put money in jar later.”

“Monopoly junior money,” Camden said with a roll of his eyes, and that made all of us laugh.

These kids were awesome, and I hoped my baby would turn out to be just as great.

I felt my phone vibrate in my hands and smiled as I looked at the text message I just received.

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