Page 69 of Love in the Outfield

I’m beginning to squirm a little thinking just maybe I didn’t report things factually. I might have misrepresented the conversation a wee bit.

I clear my throat. “He didn’t exactly use those words. He said he’d contacted a lawyer to spell things out to protect Auggie and me. He said especially if something were to happen to either of us that the financial piece is important for Auggie’s security.”

“He’s right, you know,” Darla says.

“But he promised to tell me before he made any decisions about us. I feel betrayed,” I say sounding pitiful.

“He did tell you.”

“After the damn fact,” Ava says.

Darla counters, “If I’m not mistaken, he is pretty busy right now. He probably has to squeeze everything in.”

Mama says, “Quit being so damn logical. This is your sister’s rights he’s trampling all over!”

“Everyone, calm down. You’re letting your emotions override logic. He’s not trampling over anyone’s rights. As the father, he has rights too… or did we forget that inconvenient fact?”

“Whose side are you on?” Ava says.

“Georgia’s of course. Why wouldn’t you want to secure Auggies future? Sounds like that is all he’s trying to do.”

Mama snorts. “Your memory seems to have failed you. This is the same man that ran out on Georgia two years ago. Left her heartbroken. Now he swoops in and wants to be a father?”

Darla sighs. “Mama, trust me, this is in Auggie and Georgia’s best interest. Georgia will have a say in how custodyarrangements are divided. Cade is not wrong here. Surely you saw this coming? Neither he nor Georgia can rely on a handshake forever. That would be foolish.”

Mama frowns. “You’ll represent your sister, right?”

“You know I will. And you’ll butt out and quit stirring the pot, right?” Darla says sweetly.

Mama sputters. “Why, I never!”

“Good to hear,” she says humorously. “Georgia, call me when you get the papers. You have nothing to worry about, hear me?”

“If you say so.”

“I do. Now drop the subject for now and quit your worrying.”

Ava says, “Thanks, sis. We’ll talk later and I promise I’ll try to be good and I’ll make Mama toe the line.”

“I’ve got a client waiting so I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Welcome. Bye-e-e.” After we disconnect, the three of us stare at each other.

“We may not trust Cade, but we do trust Darla,” I finally say.

“I reckon we’ll wait and see how it all comes out in the wash,” Mama says.

“Maybe I was a little too hard on Cade,” Ava says.

Mama sniffs. “Now let’s not go overboard. We’ll see whose interests he’s tryin’ to protect, all in due time.”

I say, “Ya know, he could’ve left the grocery store pretending like he never saw August, but he didn’t. I can tell he loves him. I still think it’s shady that he did all this right before leavin’ town without warning me but maybe I’m looking at it wrong.”

“You aren’t,” Mama says.

“We don’t know yet. I reckon once the dust settles, you’ll hear him out,” Ava says.

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