Page 27 of Love Her

Looking at the boys, she blinks quickly, clearly thrown off by either seeing me or the question. I’d assume the former. “Hmm . . . Huh? Yeah. I mean sure.”

Closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly, I watch as she takes a deep breath and exhales before turning her attention back to me. “Sorry. I’m so confused. What are you doing here?”

Turning, I point over my shoulder at my shirt. When I face her again, she doesn’t look anymore clued in. “I’m coaching. Well, assistant coaching. Is that your son?”

Her confusion morphs to maternal adoration as she glances his direction. The boys are laughing and watching another boy playing some sort of whack-a-critter game. “That’s Jacob.”

“Jacob Thorne. First year playing. I recall from the roster.”

With a grin on her face she looks around the room. Her hands are twisting in front of her while she nibbles on her bottom lip. That movement gives me some very adult thoughts that are far from family friendly like this pizzeria.

I reach for her wrist, calming her hands and pulling her attention to me. “He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not . . . I was looking around to see if there were any parents I knew here.”

“And?”

She shakes her head and looks where my hand is still holding her. When she looks up, something happens. It isn’t some dramatic moment like in a movie or a historical novel. There isn’t a bolt of lightning or an electric current that passes between us, but there’s something. A shift of energy. A moment of pause as the world slows. Leisurely, I release my hold and slip my hand in my pocket.

She speaks softly. As loud as it is in here, children running around, adults laughing, and games ringing with winners, I can hear her clear as a bell. “Just you.”

I see her too. Just her.

“You didn’t answer my question, Lis. What are you doing here? I thought you lived in Burlington.”

Tilting her head, eyes in a squint like she’s processing my question, her response comes slowly but the smile she offers makes the wait worth it. “Nope, I’m a Lexington girl. Born and raised. Why’d you think I lived in Burlington?”

“I just assumed since you work there, and I saw you and your daughter out shopping too.”

“Ah, that makes sense. It isn’t much of a commute for work. Besides, they have a Target.”

When a group of boys runs past us, hooting and hollering, I catch the eye of a few parents. It’s more of a glare. Guess it’s time to get this party started.

“I should get started. My head coach bailed on me with a work emergency.”

I shout to the crowd to get everyone’s attention, but my efforts go unnoticed. Too bad I don’t have that whistle Dakota mentioned. Trying once more, I get nowhere. I hate to do it but there’s not choice, I’m going to have to whistle. Sneaking a quick peek to Lis, I motion for her to cover her ears and then lift my fingers to my mouth and blow.

The room goes quiet, kids stop in their tracks and parents startle at the sound. Motioning for everyone to move closer, I welcome them all to the team and start my way down Owen’s list. The next time Minnie offers me a donut, I’m going to decline. Running a parent meeting requires a whole cake in payment.

Lis sits across from me, her attention on Jacob as he tells her about the basic rules of Little League and reminds her they still need to pick up his cup from the sporting goods store. She’s patient and listens although he’s repeated himself at least three times. Her pizza is untouched, not bothering to eat while he chatters away.

I add involved and attentive mother to a characteristic I had no idea was attractive. Perhaps that’s because I’ve never taken the time to be around many single moms or because I’ve never stopped to pay attention. Either way, it’s interesting to watch. When he finally runs out of steam and begins chugging his drink like a freshman at a frat party, I look to her and catch her staring at me.

“He knows more about the rules than I do. I may have to defer to him when I get stuck.”

Giggling, she takes a bite from her pizza. Looking around the table while dusting off her hands, I hand her a napkin from the stack.

“Thank you. And yes. Jacob knows a lot about the rules. Right, bud?”

Pulling his attention from his food, he nods his head in agreement. Just as quickly, he is back stuffing his face before asking to be excused.

“So, tell me about yourself.”

Lis exhales and leans forward on her elbows. “There’s not much to tell. I grew up here in Lexington and moved away for college. A few years ago, the kids and I moved back and are living with my parents. The end.”

“Come on, there is more to you. I know you like to dance and sometimes you’re a little sassy. Unless you often kiss random strangers.”

Her wadded up napkin hits me in the face, and I bark out a laugh. A few of the parents stop to say goodbye, not allowing me to respond right away. When it’s just us again, I take the napkin and toss it back.

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