Page 88 of Double Play

Quincy has a look of shock on his face. “You two coach a team together?”

Arizona nods. “Yes, it’s a team of both boys and girls of mixed ages, but all under ten years old.” She pretends to dust off her shoulders. “We’re undefeated since I joined the coaching staff.”

Quincy looks between the two of us. “I didn’t know that. Why mixed ages? They should play with their own age group. Why don’t the girls play softball?”

Arizona gives me an,I told you so, look before turning back to Quincy. “I agree, but it’s a numbers game. The kids live in a group home. Layton and I discussed figuring something out in the off-season to help them find age, skill, and gender appropriate teams.”

Quincy’s face softens. “Group home? So they don’t have parents?”

I nod. “Correct.”

He pinches his lips together. “I’d be happy to help after our season is over.”

I smile, filled with affection for my friend. “Thank you. That would be incredible. They would love to have a professional pitcher stop by.”

Arizona lets out a laugh. “Randy will flip his shit if you show up, Q. He’s a riot. He’s our pitcher and is crazy competitive. The kid throws out old-school baseballterminology like it’s his second language. I get the biggest kick out of him.”

I look at Paul and Pamela. “We have a female catcher, Lucinda, on the team who idolizes your daughter. Arizona taught Lucinda how to throw from her knees and now she guns them down on the regular.”

Paul smiles with pride. “Arizona has such a fantastic arm.” He turns to her. “Though you need to tuck your glove when you throw. You’re getting a little lazy with that.”

Arizona pinches her eyebrows together. “Do you watch my games?”

Paul nods. “Of course we watch your games. I haven’t missed one all season. We installed a big screen in the showroom so we can watch both of your games when they’re on during the day.”

Pamela smiles. “Dad started finishing up in the shop a little early so he can be home in time for us to watch your night games together at home.”

Arizona and Quincy exchange bewildered glances. I’m not sure they realize how fortunate they are. Maybe their parents aren’t physically around very much, but they clearly care. A lot. I would give anything to have that.

Pamela rubs Quincy’s arm. “Are you dating at all?”

He smirks. “I see plenty of women.”

“Anyone special?”

Arizona interrupts. “Nope. Since I arrived in town, he’s been nothing but a watchdog for Ripley and me. Cockblocking is the only thing he does besides baseball and hair coiffing.”

Pamela sighs. “Quincy, find yourself a nice girl and settle down.”

Quincy frowns. “Notinterested.”

I turn to him. “Ever?”

He shrugs. “I don’t see it happening for me. Drop it.”

Recognizing a conversation topic change is needed, I ask, “Where did you all come up with the name Arizona? It’s so unusual. I love it. I’ve never known anyone else with that name.”

They smile at each other, and Pamela blushes a bit. “Paul and I were traveling to get some rare wood he wanted. We…well…we were in Arizona.”

Arizona’s eyes widen, and I let out a small laugh. It turns out I was right from the beginning.

I can’t help myself. “And what about Quincy?”

They smile at each other again. “You remember that your father played a year of minor league baseball before deciding to take over grandpa’s custom furniture business?”

Quincy nods. “Yes. In Florida, right?”

“Yes. It was a team out ofQuincy, Florida. Things…happened there. We didn’t want to name you Florida, so we went with Quincy.”

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