Page 5 of Catching Her Heart
CHAPTER THREE
The Stars winseven to three, and I'm still trapped in the family section twenty minutes after the final out. Kathleen is packing up enough leftover food to feed a small country while Nana critiques the umpire's strike zone calls. Bridget keeps waving at players leaving the field, shouting "Great game!" at anyone in a uniform.
"There's our boy!" Kathleen announces as Ted emerges from the dugout, showered and in street clothes. His hair is still damp, and he's carrying his equipment bag over one shoulder.
He spots us immediately—probably because we're the only group still lingering in the stands—and climbs the steps toward our section. I notice he takes them two at a time, which seems either eager or desperate.
"Great game, honey!" Kathleen calls out, pulling him into a hug the moment he's within arm's reach.
"Thanks, Mom." Ted's eyes find mine over his mother's shoulder, and I see something that might be an apology mixed with mild panic. "How’d everyone enjoy the game?"
"Oh, it was wonderful!" Nana beams. "And Piper here was taking notes the whole time. She's so smart, writing everything down about what a good hitter you are."
I wince. Ted struck out twice and grounded out twice.
"Actually, Nana," Ted says gently, "I didn’t hit very well today, so I doubt Piper was writing that much about my at bats."
"Nonsense," Nana waves a dismissive hand. "You hit that ball right to the pitcher in the second inning. That takes skill!"
Ted looks at me with barely concealed amusement. "That's one way to look at it."
"So, what's the plan for dinner?" Kathleen asks, settling back into her seat like she's prepared to stay for hours. "Should we all go out? I know a lovely place that does family style?—"
"Actually, Mom," Ted interrupts, "don't you have that early morning doctor's appointment tomorrow?"
"Doctor's appointment?" Kathleen looks confused. "I don't have a?—"
"The dentist," Ted says quickly. "Remember? You said you needed to get to bed early?"
"Oh, honey, that's not until Thursday?—"
"And Bridget," Ted continues desperately, "didn't you say you had to get home to feed your cat?"
"I don't have a cat," Bridget says, looking at her brother like he's lost his mind. "You know that.”
Ted puts his hands on his hips and glares at his sister.
"And Nana, surely you want to get home to catch your shows?—"
"My shows don't start until nine," Nana says cheerfully. "Plenty of time! Besides, I want to hear more about Piper's job. Do you interview all the handsome players?"
I open my mouth to explain that I'm not actually Ted's girlfriend and this whole situation is a misunderstanding, but Nana's sharp blue eyes suddenly narrow as she studies her grandson.
"Are you trying to get rid of us?" she asks slowly.
Ted freezes like a deer in headlights. "What? No! I just thought?—"
"Oh!" Nana's face breaks into a delighted grin. "You want to court your girl properly! Why didn't you just say so, honey?"
"Court his girl?" Bridget squeals. "Oh my goodness, this is so romantic!"
"You kids have fun," Nana winks at me. "And remember, honey, never let him get to second base on the first date!"
"Nana!" Ted's face turns approximately the same color as the team's red jerseys.
"What?" Nana shrugs and turns away.
As the three women bustle around collecting purses and leftover sandwiches, I sit frozen in mortification. This cannot be happening. I'm a professional journalist, not some swooning fan who gets courted after baseball games.
