Page 104 of The Art Of Starting Over

“They’d stop looking if you kissed me,” he said quietly. She wouldn’t, not with Maren in the vicinity. Knowing this, Hayden leaned toward her and acted like he was about to whisper in her ear, only to place his lips there instead.

The best she could do in public was hold his hand. She reached for it and set their conjoined hands on the armrests of their chairs.

True to his word, Lee stood up when Maren came up to bat. “Let’s go, Maren. Keep your eye on the ball,” he yelled as she stepped up to the plate.

“You know,” Hayden said so only Dev could hear him. “Christmas is going to be nuts.”

Devorah looked at him sharply and then directed her attention to Maren. “What do you know? Your mom mentioned something about the holidays earlier after she all but told me I had to be at dinner on Sunday.”

“Just that Lee’s been going on and on about a promise he made to your dad years ago.”

“Which I get, but I’m an adult now.” She gritted her teeth.

“I don’t think it matters to Lee,” Hayden said.

“Well, I ... let’s go, Maren!” Everyone stood as Maren smacked the ball toward center field. Devorah jumped and clapped as her daughter rounded first base and headed toward second, where she stopped.

Devy turned to Hayden, and they high-fived each other.

“That’s my granddaughter,” Lee said to anyone who would listen as he clapped loudly.

“Your dad is one of a kind,” Dev said as she sat back down. “I’ll never be able to thank him for filling the void Crow left.”

“He’d never accept it.”

After the game, in which the Oyster Bay squad won the championship thanks to a home run by Conor, everyone met at the Lazy Lamb, where Colt made every video game free. Parents clogged booths and tables, while some of the dads took turns showing they still had what it took to be the pinball wizard.

Devorah helped put food out, while Hayden assisted with drinks, and then everyone sat down to eat.

Dalton Noble stood and tapped his fork against his glass to get everyone’s attention. “I want to thank all the parents for a successful year. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what they really mean is it takes a village to raise an athlete. Every one of you stepped in when one of our players needed help. We all appreciate you.”

Everyone applauded.

“Like last year, I handed out three awards. These are not indicative of how I feel but how the team feels. The players voted. The best defensive player of the year goes to our catcher, Charlie Street.”

More applause.

“Our best offensive player goes to our first baseman, Conor McKenna.”

Hayden, Devorah, Lee, Darcy, and Colt cheered loudly for Conor, who looked embarrassed as he walked up to accept his award.

“And finally,” Dalton said and then inhaled. “When I asked the team to write down the player who exuded the best qualities when it came to sportsmanship, leadership, and all-around team play, each member wrote the same name. I’m happy to give the most valuable player award to Maren Campbell.”

Devorah was out of her seat instantly, cheering for her daughter. The others followed, but Dev and Maren needed this moment. They hugged tightly. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

When Maren reached Dalton, he stood there for a minute. “You are the first female baseball player I have ever coached. I’m thankful you joined our team this year and am looking forward to next year.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

Maren took her trophy back to where her family sat and then posed for an ungodly number of photos.

Later, when they got home, Maren put the trophy on her shelf.

“It’s funny, that’s where I put my first Pearl of the Ocean tiara,” Dev said from the doorway.

“Yeah, I figure I can move this one when I get my first tiara.”

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