Making a Comeback

by Kristina Mathews

  “Can Cooper sing to us when we have our jammies on?” Sophie asked.

  “Yeah, can he?” Olivia made the request unanimous.

  “Sure. I’ll run next door and get my guitar.” His smile told Annabelle he wasn’t in any way frightened off by the girls’ inquiry.

  Annabelle herded her daughters upstairs to the bathroom. She turned on the bathwater while the girls undressed.

  “So is he your boyfriend?” Sophie stood there half undressed, with her hands on her hips, demanding an answer.

  “I don’t know if ‘boyfriend’ is the right word.” Annabelle’s cheeks flushed. “We haven’t known each other long enough to get too worried about that kind of thing.”

  “But you do like him?” Olivia stepped cautiously into the tub.

  “Yeah, like, like him, like him?” Sophie followed her sister, but with a splash.

  “Yes. I like him.” Annabelle felt her blush spread from her cheeks to the rest of her body. “I really like him.”

  “Maybe you’ll marry him and he can be our new Daddy,” Olivia suggested.

  “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” How did they get to this point so quickly? “I don’t want to get married any time soon.”

  “Why not?” Sophie reached for the shampoo.

  “First of all, it’s not a good idea to get married right after getting divorced.” It wasn’t a good idea to get involved with someone when she wasn’t even divorced yet. “And you already have a Daddy. No one will ever replace him.”

  “Yeah, but we can have two daddies.” Sophie made it sound so simple. “Lots of kids do.”

  “Yeah, there are all kinds of families.” Olivia chimed in. “Some have a mommy and a daddy that live in the same house. Some have just a mommy or just a daddy. Some have two houses. Some even have two mommies or two daddies that live in the same house.”

  What were they teaching them at school? Tolerance, sure, but the puzzled look on Olivia’s face told Annabelle she couldn’t quite figure out what it all meant.

  “Well, the important thing to remember about families is that they love each other.” Annabelle tried to soothe her daughter’s concerns. She wasn’t sure if they were feeling a little insecure about their family situation. Maybe that’s why they were pushing for a romantic union between her and Cooper.

  “We love Cooper,” Sophie said and then she dunked her head under the water to rinse.

  “Yeah. We love Cooper.” Olivia looked at Annabelle with big, hopeful eyes.

  “Let’s finish your bath, get your pajamas on, and get your teeth brushed.” Annabelle worried that her daughters would be crushed when Cooper was no longer a part of their lives.

  “Okay.” Sophie was far too cooperative.

  “Then we can have our bedtime song.” And Olivia was far too attached.

  They all were.

  * * * *

  Sure enough, Cooper returned with his guitar just in time for bed. He sang silly songs, eliciting giggles and applause from the twins. He sang a mix of classic rock ballads and a few songs from the girls favorite princess movies. And then he plucked a now familiar melody, but he left out the words. Because she’d told him not to sing about her. Or maybe because he didn’t want the girls to get too excited about him singing a song just for her.

  Finally, both girls were barely able to keep their eyes open.

  “Goodnight, Cooper.” Sophie smiled at him, melting Annabelle’s heart.

  “Goodnight, Sophie.” His smile liquefied more than her heart.

  “’Night.” Olivia jumped out of bed and flung her arms around him.

  “Goodnight, Olivia.” He returned her hug and Annabelle had a feeling they were all setting themselves up for a huge fall when this cozy little arrangement fell apart.

  Cooper stood outside the door while she said her own goodnights. He pulled her into his arms the minute she stepped into the hallway and kissed her. Soft. Sweet. So damn sexy.

  “Cooper.” She tried to push him away, but they both had been waiting all night for this. For more. Her body was already anticipating taking a few more steps down the hall until they reached her bedroom, guitar and clothing optional. Well, the guitar was optional, clothing was definitely not necessary.

  But her brain kicked into gear. It was a sharp and painful blow.

  “Wait. We can’t…” Every nerve ending screamed in protest.

  “Right. You’ve got company.” He gave her a wicked grin. “Maybe they’ll be turning in soon.”

  “No. That’s not the problem.” Now her heart started to scream in objection.

  “Annabelle, what’s wrong?” His voice held a note of concern that made this conversation even harder.

  “I just think that maybe we shouldn’t have gotten involved on a physical level.” Even as she said the words, she knew she didn’t mean them.

  “I see.” He took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets. “You regret what happened last night?”

  “No. That’s not it.” She hated the look on his face. She’d hurt him. “I just didn’t think things through. I didn’t realize how much our actions would affect my daughters.”

  “The whole boyfriend conversation?” He tried to sound like he wasn’t hurt. “I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure how you’d want to handle it.”

  “I think we should handle it by backing off.” Was it possible to have her heart ripped out of her chest and still be able to breathe? Apparently. She sucked in a breath and, to her surprise, it filled her lungs. “They’ve gotten too attached to you. Not to mention this crazy idea of theirs that we’re all going to be one big happy family.”

  “Annabelle.” His voice had less of a singing quality as he said her name, but it was still there. That little melodic sound that tugged her heartstrings “Look at me.”

  She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He cupped her cheek. “If you don’t want to sleep with me again, that’s fine.”

  She could hear the pain in his voice, but she couldn’t take the words back. Nor could she defend her decision.

  “Okay then. I’ll stay out of your bed. But I won’t stay out of your lives.” He raked a hand through his hair. “If you think not sleeping with me will keep things simpler, then fine. Just remember, I’m right next door. I’ll be around. Day after day. Night after night.”

  “Until you get a contract and have to leave for spring training.” She hated the sound of disappointment in her voice. “And then who knows where you’ll end up.”

  “So you think it will be easier if we stay away from each other?” He reached up to brush her hair back away from her face. He was always doing that. Making her feel so exposed. And so cherished. “I’m through looking for the easy way out.”

  Her resolve started to crumble.

  “Annabelle.” He caressed her cheek, lightly touching her scars. But instead of recoiling in disgust, he closed his eyes in reverence. “You are so beautiful. So damned beautiful. But you’re so much more than just a pretty face.”

  “Please, don’t say things like that. You’re not my boyfriend.” She took a deep breath. “And you’re not going to be their new daddy.”

  He looked like she’d just slapped him. He nodded slowly, finally getting what was happening here. “I’ll go. I’ll just walk out of your lives. I’ll keep my curtains closed. Only play my guitar when you’re not home. I’ll make sure we don’t cross paths at the mailbox. Is that what you want?”

  “No.” That’s not at all what she wanted. “You don’t have to hide from us. We can still be neighbors. You know, in case you need to borrow a cup of sugar.”

  “I don’t eat sugar.” He picked up his guitar and walked away.

  * * * *

  Three days later Cooper took his early morning run down the beach. He’d done as Annabelle asked and stayed away. He wasn’t going away, just giving her space. Her friends were still
there so he didn’t have to worry about her running out of milk. But damn. He missed her. Missed the girls, too.

  He was nearing the halfway point when a man came up alongside him. Marco Santiago.

  “Annabelle said I might find you out here. Guess she knows your routine.”

  “Yeah. I guess she does.”

  “Look, I need a favor”

  “Is Annabelle okay? The girls?”

  “They’re fine.” Marco’s face twisted into a grin. “It’s my wife...”

  “What’s the matter with your wife?”

  “She’s dying of curiosity.” Marco sounded like someone asking a huge favor. “She wants to know about your arm. If you can still pitch. She sent me to, um, scout you.”

  “To scout me?”

  “Yeah, she wants me to find a park where we could play a little catch.” He sounded like he was almost embarrassed to ask.

  “You got your glove?” Cooper asked. He couldn’t believe he was going to play catch with the man who’d taken his roster spot with the Goliaths.

  “Always.” They both slowed their pace. “So you okay with this? I mean, I could tell my wife…”

  “Yeah, right.” Cooper laughed. “I have a feeling the only thing you’ll be telling your wife is ‘yes, dear.’”

  “What are you suggesting? That I’m whipped?” Marco came to a dead stop. “Because I’m not. I only go along with her when she’s right. She just happens to be right most of the time.”

  “Sure. Whatever, man.” Cooper took advantage of the pause to roll his shoulders. It was one thing to play catch with a kid. But an All-star, World Series champion?

  “Hey, I’m not a pitcher, but I do know you won’t be satisfied until you’ve given it your all.”

  “A philosopher, too? You’re quite the well-rounded guy.”

  “I guess I’ll tell Hunter you’re not ready. That there’s a reason you turned down the offers that came your way.” Marco tossed that out there as if it was no big deal. “I’m sure she won’t say anything to Annabelle.”

  Cooper knew he was screwed.

  “Let’s grab our gloves and head out to my buddy’s training facility.” Might as well get this over with.

  “I knew you’d come through.” Marco smiled at him with genuine solidarity.

  They took Cooper’s Escalade. Bruce Sanders was waiting for them with a big grin on his face. When Cooper introduced Marco, Sanders took a long look at Marco’s right hand.

  “Where’s the ring?”

  Marco held up his left hand, a shiny gold band graced his finger.

  “Not that one. The World Series ring.” Sanders extended his hand.

  “Don’t have it yet. Won’t get it until the first home stand.” Marco shook hands with the man.

  “Oh man, I was hoping to see one up close.” Sanders gave a hearty chuckle.

  “I guess you’ll just have to come up to San Francisco in a couple of months.” Marco gave a little shrug.

  “Yeah, this guy’s never going to bring me the bling.” He clapped Cooper on the shoulder. “Especially when he won’t really push himself.”

  “That’s what we’re here for.” Cooper had had enough of the small talk. Get on with it already.

  “Good. Let’s get you in a bullpen to warm up and then you can throw some batting practice.” Sanders led them into the facility. “Bet you’re itching to take a few swings, huh?”

  “Spring training will be here before we know it.” Marco followed Sanders, with Cooper bringing up the rear.

  Batting practice? He hadn’t thrown a pitch in almost six months. And he was going to throw batting practice? He could refuse. But then they would know he was scared. And it would get back to Hunter. It would get back to Annabelle. Oh, and the rest of the league, too.

  Cooper did his warm up stretches, rotating his shoulders, rolling his neck from side to side, and taking a few calming breaths.

  They started with a few warm-up tosses, getting into the rhythm of two ballplayers playing catch. Forget that one of them was sitting on the top of his game and the other one had fallen about as low as he could fall. Forget that one of them had a fat new contract, a pretty new wife, and a World Series ring on the way. And Cooper was without a contract, without his pride, and without the woman of his dreams.

  Once they were both warm, Marco strapped on the catcher’s gear and crouched behind the plate.

  “Hey, maybe I can fill in as emergency catcher,” Marco joked as he tried to get his long limbs into a squat. “I’ll let Javier know I’ve got experience.”

  Juan Javier was the Goliaths’ manager. Someone else Cooper had failed.

  Sanders stood on the sidelines, chuckling to himself as if this was just the most fun he’d had in a long time.

  “Hey Coop, wasn’t he the guy they traded you for?”

  “Yeah.” Was Sanders trying to get his goat? Get him all worked up so he would throw harder? Back in the minors, sometimes a little pregame trash talk helped him get his velocity up. Getting a little bit pissed off helped him channel all that energy into his pitching.

  Cooper had to shake off the thought that he could have gone a lot farther if he’d had his battery mate in the big leagues.

  He stepped up to the pitching mound, toed the rubber, and hoped like hell he wouldn’t make a fool of himself.

  His first pitch was a little high and outside. But at least Marco grabbed it before it went to the backstop.

  Ball one.

  His next two pitches were right over the plate. Sophie or Olivia could have crushed either pitch. But at least he didn’t bounce it two feet in front of the plate.

  Which he did on his next throw.

  He was in his head. Thinking too much. He stepped off, picked up the rosin bag, and took a few deep breaths to regain his focus.

  Chapter 18

  “So do you think I was wrong to break things off with Cooper?” Annabelle was nervous about going back to the doctor. What if she didn’t pass the cognitive test? Would they take her license? She felt better each day. More aware, alert, and the only confusion she had was about Cooper.

  “Do you think you were wrong?” Hunter slipped behind the wheel of Marco’s classic Mustang and pulled her hair back into a quick ponytail. “Because it doesn’t really matter what I think.”

  “I don’t know.” Annabelle tied a scarf around her hair. She tucked the loose strands beneath the silk fabric. “I think we rushed into things too quickly. And the girls have this fantasy that we’ll end up one big happy family.”

  “They’re six.” Hunter reminded her. “They believe that first comes love, then comes marriage, not to mention the baby in the carriage.”

  “I know. They watch way too many princess movies.” Annabelle wondered if she’d overreacted. “They think that it’s perfectly reasonable to fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after, after only a few days.”

  “It’s kind of scary when it happens that way.” Hunter turned to Annabelle. “You try to convince yourself you must be crazy. That there is no way you can meet someone and just know, you know?”

  “Is that how it happened between you and Marco?” Annabelle wondered. “Was it love at first sight?”

  “In a way. I knew the moment he stepped into that limo, everything would change. I wanted to believe it was only about the team. But there was definitely something happening between the two of us. Something beyond all logic.” Hunter’s face lit up as she described their first meeting. “I didn’t want to call it love, though. Way too scary.”

  “Yeah. Way too scary.” Annabelle just knew that the moment Cooper had walked into her hospital room, she’d felt a click. Like it was a moment that should be captured for all time. Only since that moment, her world had been turned upside down.

  “What if I blew it?” Annabelle wondered aloud. “What if he decides I’m just crazy? I threw myself at him, even when he didn’t want to get involved because I’
m technically still married. Then after he finally gives in, I kick him out of my life?”

  Yeah, she was definitely crazy.

  “I wish I knew what to tell you. I only know that you have to decide for yourself if he’s worth fighting for.”

  “It would be a whole lot easier if it was just me who had to deal with the consequences.” Annabelle pulled the seatbelt across her lap. “But I can’t let Sophie and Olivia get hurt.”

  “They adore him.”

  “Yeah. I know. And they miss him.” Annabelle missed him, too. “They think it’s somehow their fault he hasn’t been around these last few days.”

  “Would you still be seeing him if you weren’t worried about them?”

  “That’s not a fair question.” Especially since the answer would be a definite yes.

  “Whoever told you all is fair in love and war hasn’t experienced either.” Hunter jabbed the key into the ignition and started the engine.

  They drove to the doctor’s office and Annabelle tried to concentrate on the road. She focused on how she would navigate the streets if she were cleared to drive. She mentally weaved her way through traffic, watching for distractions, obstructions, and frustrations.

  She wanted to get back on the road. To get back to freedom. She didn’t want to have to go crawling back to Cooper when she needed a ride somewhere.

  If she was going to go crawling back to him, she wanted it to be for something much more satisfying than a gallon of milk.

  When she got to the doctor’s office, she tried to avoid the magazines, but front and center was the latest on the FITNatural scandal. The magazine promised the most in-depth coverage from the first suspensions to the current hearings.

  Annabelle and Hunter exchanged a look as they both reached for the magazine.

  Tears clouded Annabelle’s vision. She handed the magazine to Hunter. The scandal had touched both their lives. Maybe if Annabelle hadn’t been so wrapped up in her own little world, pretending to be too busy with the twins to pay attention to her husband’s affairs, she might have seen it coming. Or maybe she would have been able to warn Hunter.