Page 64 of A Little Twist

“Look at me, P!” Adam calls, breaking up the scuffle. “Ready? Keep your eye on the ball.”

She nods, pushing her helmet up her forehead, and my brother pulls back for another easy pitch. Pinky’s elbows rise, and she winds up, lifting her little leg as she swings with all her might. Her lips push out, and the bat makes contact with a loud crack.

“Holy shit!” My jaw drops, and the ball shoots past Adam, almost hitting him in a line drive.

He’s not wearing a glove, and he dodges just in time. Pinky’s running hard, rounding first base on her way to second. Owen is chasing the ball into center field, and Ryan’s on third yelling for him to throw it. When he does, it goes past Ryan’s glove. My daughter keeps going, pumping her little legs as fast as she can, and now I’m yelling.

“Run, Pinky, run!” Cass is screaming the same thing as me, and jumping up and down beside me as she grips the fence.

“Throw it, Ryan!” the catcher yells from home, and Adam is behind him now.

My throat is tight, and I’m gripping the fence in both hands as my daughter drops to one leg.

“Holy shit!” I say again as her little body slides between the kid’s legs seconds before the ball hits his glove.

“Safe!” Adam yells, and I launch over the fence, running to where she’s jumping up and down, pumping her fists over her head as she cheers.

Scooping her up in my arms, I put her on my shoulder, holding her hand as we jump around home plate. “You hit a home run, P!”

“I did!” she yells, smiling so big.

“She hit a homer!” Cass cries as she dashes through the opening in the fence to where we’re cheering.

Adam, Julia, and Crimson are with us, dancing all around, and Owen, Ryan, and their friend are standing with their arms crossed watching us.

“Come on, boys.” Adam motions to them. “That was a great play.”

Owen shakes his head, but he walks to where we’re standing. “Good job, P.”

Pinky wiggles on my shoulder, and I set her on her feet. She immediately runs to Owen, throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him.

“Thanks, Bubba! I couldn’t have done it without you!”

Cass and I exchange a worried glance, and Cass quickly kneels beside the two. “You did show her how to lift her leg to get more force. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” Owen nods, patting her little arms half-heartedly. “You learn fast.”

My daughter turns to Cass and hugs her. “I love baseball! I love you, Cass!”

Sliding my hand over the ache in my stomach, I can’t help but agree.

CHAPTER18

CASS

Pinky’s tummy is full of hot dogs, and she’s in the tub learning to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with me while I wash her hair. She’s as enthusiastic about singing as she is about everything, and I especially enjoy it because I know Alex loves to hear us.

“What are cracker jacks?” Her little nose wrinkles as she slides her hands over the soap suds.

“Caramel-coated popcorn.” I take the spray nozzle off the side of the tub and use it to rinse the shampoo out of her strawberry curls.

“Why do they call it cracker jacks?”

“That was the brand. It came in a box with a little prize in it.”

“I want a little prize!” Her blue eyes are round as she looks up at me.

Standing, I lift the towel off the rack and hold it out for her to jump. “I’ll try to find you some. I’m not sure they even make it anymore.”

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