Page 21 of Love in the Outfield

“He’s going to be an athlete,” I say.

“Could be, but I don’t want my expectations to dictate how he lives his life. I want to expose him to everything, ya know?”

“Sure, I get that. I was noticing how balanced he is on the horse. His motor skills seem honed.”

“He is amazing. A bundle of perfection.” She throws her head back, laughing.

“That he is,” I agree.

Auggie looks at me and says, “Me down.”

I’m thrilled that he askedme. May seem like a small thing but to me it’s epic.

Georgia catches my eye and smiles. “Told ya.”

She gets it… she gets me. I set Augs back on the ground and he toddles over to the slide. Laughing over my shoulder I say, “I’m thinking we’re not going to get much talking in today.”

“You have no idea,” she says.

We play non-stop for the next hour. I feel like I’ve run a 5K which is about 45 laps around the baseball diamond. “No wonder you’re in such good shape,” I say. “Who needs a gym.” I live for her laugh. It carries across the summer breeze straight to my heart. It’s light, joyful and very sexy.

She flexes her arms to show off her biceps. I try not to snicker because her arms are so slim… but she is definitely toned.

I nod my head in mock seriousness. “Wow. Laila Ali has nothing on you.”

She shoves me then flexes again holding one arm out. “Feel it, go on, Mr. Smarty-pants.”

I wrap my hand around her upper arm, which completely encircles it. “Wow. Steel beneath the flesh,” I say a snicker escaping.

“Joke all you want. Lifting thirty pounds all the live long day builds muscle.”

“I can see that,” I say solemnly.

“Tease all ya like,” she snips.

“I give you all the accolades. This is a workout.”

Georgia grabs the cooler. “Let’s eat some lunch.”

“I’ll be right back. I have a little something for August.”

“Okay, I’ll pull things out.”

I run to my car and grab the bag of goods then hustle back to the picnic table. Georgia’s eyes go wide when she sees the size of the gift bag. “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble,” she says.

“No trouble. It was fun.”

Auggie is now eyeing the colorful bag plastered with dinosaurs. “Mine,” Auggie declares.

“You may as well go ahead and give it to him now or he’ll be havin’ a hissy fit.”

I feel like an overgrown kid. “You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I sit cross-legged on the blanket Georgia laid out and pull him onto my lap with the bag in front of us. “What do we have here?” I say as I pull out the plush horse. I mimic a horse and he giggles.

“Auggie, what does a horse say?” Georgia asks as she fusses with the lunch spread.

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