Page 12 of Love On Deck
A large net bag sits on the chair next to her, and she sets her Kindle on the table. Blue eyes sparkle at him from behind wire-rimmed glasses, and she reminds him a little bit of Mrs. Clause, only she’s wearing denim overalls rather than a red velvet dress. “We are, but Wanda needed some quiet time, so I came down here for a bit. Neither of us is used to living with another person and those cabins aren’t all that roomy. Why don’t you have a seat, young man?”
“Oh. I, uh—” He turns his nose toward an armpit and sniffs. Okay, maybe he doesn’t smell horrible, but still. “—probably smell from working out.”
“Nonsense. Come on, humor an old woman, would you?” she says and winks.
Another vague memory flickers in the back of his mind, a not-quite-there vision of… He’s not sure really, but it’s filled with pleasure and contentment. How can he refuse Ms. Marva’s request? He smiles and drops into a chair. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“No, I won’t.” She takes up her coffee and peers at him over the rim.
“What about you? Are you getting off the ship?”
“No, I have to work out and do physical therapy,” he says, preparing his food for eating.
“Gotta stay in shape for when you return to the active duty roster, huh?”
“You know who I am?” He looks up, surprised.
“Connor Kulyk, short stop for the Ardmore Armadillos?”
“That’s right. How’d you know? Us Triple A ballplayers really aren’t that famous except in Triple A host cities. And sometimes not even then.”
“Wanda recognized you, actually. She loves the Armadillos and travels up to watch ‘em play several times every summer.”
“Why didn’t she say anything?” Him being recognized somewhere outside of Ardmore— Huh. Warm fuzzies ripple in his chest.
“Because we know you’re on a vacation and she didn’t want to bother you.”
“Shit—oh, um—sorry. I meant shoot?” His face heats up a couple of degrees.
Marva laughs. “That isn’t anything I’ve never heard before or said a time or two myself.”
“Maybe so, but Baba and Casey did teach me some manners. Anyway, I was going to say that I’m happy to sign her an autograph. And I’ll give you my email addy. Next time Wanda wants to come see a game, have her shoot me an email and I’ll get her all fixed up. You too, of course.”
“You just made her whole year, Cracker Jack.”
Pleasure unfurls in Connor’s chest at the name. It’s silly and childish, but he likes it more than he can say. Marva’s kindness and genuineness warms his soul, and meeting her and her sister has been a bright spot during a trip that has become more stressful than he’d anticipated. Casey’s always tiresome to deal with, much as he loves her, but add on his secrets and his anxiety has tripled.
“Cracker Jack?”
“Sure.” She shrugs and winks again. “Ballpark, peanuts, Cracker Jack.”
Connor chuckles. “No, I get it, but why?”
The hearty cheeriness fades from Marva’s face, leaving compassion and tenderness. Her smile gentles as she leans forward and places a soft hand on his forearm. “I only give nicknames to the special people in my life, young man. And if anyone deserves a special nickname all his own, it’s you.”
Connor swallows around the sudden lump in his throat. The concept of soul mates usually applies to people in love, doesn’t it? He thinks right now this silver-haired woman, old enough to be his mother, is his. It’s as if she knows exactly what he needs. He’s touched and grateful. There’s a sting at the corners of his eyes, and he lets her see his reaction.
“I don’t… I… Thank you?”
“Anytime, Cracker Jack, anytime.” She pats his arm and sits back.
He eats in silence for a few minutes to compose himself while Marva’s gaze roves the room at large before settling on him once again.
“Can I ask you something?” she says.
He pauses in doctoring his coffee. “Um, sure.”
“Your sister…she doesn’t know you’re gay, does she?”
