Page 146 of Curveball

I walk their way and Quincy smiles at me before turninghis head back to the reporter. “The Anacondas’ season starts next week. They’re going for a second championship. Ripley is the one you should be speaking to, not me.”

The reporter eyeballs me curiously, toggling her eyes between the two of us before eventually speaking into her microphone. “Are the rumors that you two have recently started dating true? There have been pictures of you out and about.”

Quincy shakes his head. “No, we didn’t recently start dating.” He’s denying that there’s something between us. All my fears were warranted. Sadness immediately engulfs me.

I turn to walk away, not wanting to cry on camera, but he pulls me close to him and kisses me softly on the lips before admitting, “We’ve had an on-and-off relationship for years. This is our daughter, Kaya. And maybe if I stop being a bonehead, this beautiful woman will be mine again. For good.” He looks me in the eyes. “These two ladies are my world.”

The reporter looks stunned. She can’t possibly be more stunned than I am.

Momand I are on the way back to the house from the ballpark. Quincy has a few team obligations before he returns home, and I’m in a little bit of a rush because of my brother and sister coming over.

I think those comments from him were the final thing I needed to truly let him in.

“Mom, will you keep the monitor in your room tonight?”

She smiles. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

I bite my lip. “Maybe.”

“Use protection this time.”

I roll my eyes. “We used protection last time.”

“Use better protection.”

I choose not to inform her that Quincy came so long and hard that he overflowed the condom. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for my pregnancy.

“I had an IUD put back in at my six-week checkup. I should be fine.”

“Need me to put a box of condoms in your bathroom again?”

I let out a laugh. “That was so embarrassing. And then you handed one to Jack in front of everyone.”

She giggles. “I guess it was a bit much.”

“You think?”

We arrive home, and Mom takes Kaya upstairs for a bath and bed so I can quickly shower. I’m so nervous about meeting them.

At exactly the agreed-upon time, I get the signal that someone is at the front gate and press the button to open it for them.

Mom walks down the stairs. “They’re here?”

I nod.

“Kaya is asleep. I think the fresh air got to her. Do you want me to stay upstairs or join you?”

I hold my hand for her, and she takes it. “I need you here.”

The doorbell rings, and I swallow nervously. I take a breath and then open it. Mom takes one look at them and lets out an audible sob.

I rub her back. “Mom, are you okay?”

She turns her head. “I’m sorry.” She looks at the man I assume is my brother. “You look exactly like your father. Maybe a little smaller, but the resemblance is uncanny. I guess you’re about the age he was when I knew him.”

The man smiles and holds out his hand to me. In French-accented English, he says, “I’m Pierre. This is my…our sister, Colette.”

Pierre has red hair. It’s a darker shade of red like mine. I assumed my hair color was from my mother, who happens to be a shade lighter than Pierre and me. He also has blue eyes. He’s tall, maybe an inch or two taller than me. I still look more like my mom, but Pierre and I clearly resemble each other. It’s weird.

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