Page 20 of Mom Ball

“Yeah, but I’m trying to stay in shape when I’m not on the field.”

Mission accomplished.

“So you decided to manually dig a ditch?”

He laughs. “I’ll probably regret that later.”

I smile, and he smiles back. My nerves tingle. This is too familiar and awkward all at once.

“Timothy, let’s go home and let Mr. Nate finish his work.”

“What I was getting at, Brooke . . .”

Whatever he says next sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Hearing him say my name creates a lump in my throat.

“Is that good, Mama?”

“Hmm?” I turn to Timothy tugging at my shirt.

“Can Mr. Nate work with me tomorrow afternoon?”

My mouth parts to give an excuse, but I honestly have none. “If that’s all right with Nate.”

They both laugh.

“What?” I look at Timothy, then Nate, then back at Timothy.

“He just suggested it, Mama.”

“Oh yeah. I need to go home and drink water or something.”

They laugh again.

“I’ll see y’all tomorrow, then. Just come by sometime after lunch.”

“Yes, sir.” Timothy extends a hand toward Nate.

He removes a work glove and shakes Timothy’s hand. “Firm shake, I like it.”

Timothy smiles. I nod and give Nate a smile that I hope doesn’t look forced or cheesy, or forcefully cheesy. Then I escape to the comfort of my Corolla.

CHAPTER 5

Brooke

I’m really glad Nate wasn’t at church this morning.

That’s a horrible thing for me to think. I want everyone to go to church, really. It’s just ironic that with so many Baptist churches in our county, he has to attend mine.

Well, his mom is a member there and he did go there growing up. So yes, it’s my personal problem.

“I think that one’s good, sweetie.” Mama steps beside me and takes the dish from my hand. The same Pyrex I’ve been scrubbing for so long that my hands are now wrinkled from the running water. She turns off the sink and starts drying the dish. “You seem stressed.”

I shake my head.

“You didn’t say much during lunch, and you didn’t eat much either.”

“I wasn’t that hungry.” Not totally true, since I could go for a snack about now.

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