Behind in the Count: A Portland Pioneers Novel

by Micah K. Chaplin

  When he reached the dugout, he was immediately greeted by his pitching coach.

  “After four innings like that, you should be smiling,” Rich Sterling said. “Good going, Beaman.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Derek said, nodding.

  He made his way to the end of the bench, accepting high fives and fist bumps from the teammates who were in there. Reid was among them, waiting for his turn in the outfield.

  “Something tells me that smile wasn’t about your pitching,” Reid whispered.

  “Sure it was,” Derek said, tucking his glove next to him.

  “Nah. I know your ‘I just pitched a good game’ smile, and that wasn’t it,” Reid said.

  “Whatever,” Derek said.

  “If you don’t want to talk about it right now, that’s fine. I’ll figure it out eventually,” Reid said.

  Derek glanced at him, and he could tell Reid already had his suspicions. Thankfully Carson Slater was still out behind home plate or he’d surely chime in and confirm exactly what Reid was thinking. Derek didn’t need both of them giving him a hard time about the GM’s executive assistant.

  When Zella booked her flight weeks earlier, she’d opted for the earliest time possible. She wanted to be sure she’d arrive in Arizona in time to catch the afternoon game. She hadn’t known Derek would be pitching on Tuesday until she looked at the slated rotation a few days earlier. But it had made her extra excited about her trip to spring training.

  As she sat in the stands next to Kate Marks, she saw why everyone was buzzing about him. With a few weeks left before Opening Day, Derek Beaman was in prime form. She was mesmerized from the first pitch. And not just because she had a fantastic seat – front row behind home plate – for watching her favorite pitcher. He was so locked in, she wondered if he realized it was a pre-season game and it didn’t count. Then again, she kind of liked that he treated it like it mattered. His intensity was attractive. Very attractive.

  When the manager pulled him, he looked disappointed. Zella immediately noticed that in his body language. She also noticed when he scanned the crowd, seemingly surprised at the applause. Her breath caught when his gaze landed on her and stayed there. She remembered their last exchange and wondered if he was still angry at her for overstepping. But she gave him a smile and a thumbs-up anyway, wanting to let him know that no matter what he thought of her, she appreciated his pitching performance. He’d immediately looked away, as though trying to pretend he didn’t see her gesture, but she saw him smile. As she leaned back in her seat, her smile widened. Maybe he wasn’t annoyed with her anymore.

  “Careful with that one.”

  Kate Marks’ voice was quiet and firm but held notes of understanding.

  “What do you mean?” Zella asked.

  “Your crush on Derek Beaman. I should have noticed it earlier,” Kate said.

  “That’s not … I don’t …,” Zella argued.

  “Relax. We don’t have any rules about that kind of thing,” Kate said. “I just urge you to be careful. Ballplayers only bring a world of hurt. Trust me on that.”

  Zella opened her mouth to protest again, but the look on her boss’ face advised that wasn’t necessary. That was just as well since Zella had no idea what to say. She wanted to argue more that she didn’t have a crush on Derek Beaman. She also wanted to know why it sounded like Kate Marks spoke from experience when it came to ballplayers and heartbreak. But she figured that was probably overstepping her bounds, so she sat back and stayed silent. The only sound she emitted was a long exhale.

  She turned her attention back to the game, trying to focus on Trey Hilton, a new acquisition who was auditioning for a bullpen role. She knew a lot about him, thanks to her job and she was rooting for him, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Derek’s smile or Kate’s words long enough to really enjoy what Trey was throwing.

  A crush on Derek Beaman? Sure, he was her favorite pitcher and she was interested in getting to know him better. But that was it.

  So then why did his smile make her feel so good?

  Why did that simple glance from Derek spark more excitement than the obvious flirting from Alex the bartender?

  She still hadn’t called the guy, despite Ashley’s constant inquiries. Zella repeatedly told Ashley she wasn’t interested. Fortunately, Ashley was too caught up in her whirlwind with Wes to dwell on Zella’s love life for too long.

  Alex was attractive enough and his attention had been flattering, but it didn’t thrill her. Not like a smile from Derek Beaman. She was holding out for that kind of feeling.

  Chapter Six

  After the Pioneers beat the Brewers by a score of 5-2, Zella followed Kate to the administrative building on the complex. Ms. Marks had a temporary office there, and she told Zella she had a few things to do before they could go to dinner. The temporary office was about half the size of Ms. Marks’ office back in Portland, but it didn’t seem to faze her. The GM sat down at her desk and opened the folder she’d been carrying all afternoon. Zella took one of the nearby chairs and looked around at the walls, which were sparsely decorated with Pioneers logos and photos of the home ballpark. Kate made a few notes and let out a few discernable sighs, drawing Zella’s attention.

  “Want to watch me deliver some news?” Kate asked.

  “Good news or bad news?” Zella asked.

  “A little of both. That’s part of baseball,” Kate said.

  Zella watched Kate type out a text message and press “send” on her phone.

  “Is that it?” she asked warily.

  “Nope. Wait …” Kate said.

  A few moments later, Levi Seeley appeared in the doorway to the small office. Kate greeted him and then informed the young outfielder that he’d be joining the AAA squad the following day. Zella’s heart went out to Levi as he looked at the floor, trying to conceal his disappointment and any other emotion that might be going through him. He sat there in silence for several moments before quietly thanking Ms. Marks and leaving the office, immediately taking the door that led to outside.

  “That never gets easier,” Kate said softly to Zella. “He has a lot of promise, but he has a few things to work on. And the other two just looked more ready.”

  Next in was Drew Jackson, who was thrilled to find out he’d made the Opening Day roster. He thanked Ms. Marks profusely and he was grinning as he followed the same path Levi had taken only moments earlier.

  Finally, after a longer wait, Reid Benjamin took his turn in the chair. He looked really nervous. It was an odd look for the usually confident and imposing man. Kate must have noticed it too, as she quickly put him out of his misery.

  “Congratulations, Reid. You’ll be in Portland on Opening Day,” she said.

  “Really Katie?” he asked. “I made it?”

  Kate gave him a look. “What did I tell you about calling me Katie?”

  “Sorry,” he murmured. “I hope it doesn’t make you change your mind.”

  “Not this time,” she said, giving him a small smile. “You earned this, Reid. Your hard work this winter really paid off. Welcome back to baseball.”

  “I never left it,” he pointed out.

  “No, but now you’re back in it the way you want to be, and I’m happy for you,” she said.

  “Thanks Kate,” he said. “For everything. Really.”

  “Don’t thank me, Reid,” she said. “Just show me I made the right decision.”

  Reid nodded and stood, leaving in a hurry. Instead of going outside, he turned the other way, presumably to go back to the locker room. There was lightness to his steps now that hadn’t been there when he first showed up. It made Zella smile.

  Zella looked at her boss and found Kate Marks was smiling too. And still staring at the door Reid had just walked through.

  “Are we waiting for anyone else?” she asked after a few moments.

  That seemed to bring Ms. Marks out of her thoughts and she shook her head.

  “Nope. That’s it for today,” Ka
te said. “I’ll finish with pitching decisions tonight and talk to those players tomorrow. You don’t have to be there for those meetings, but I wanted you to see a little more of what I do.”

  “Thank you,” Zella said. “It was … bittersweet.”

  “That’s a good way to describe it,” Kate said. “That’s generally how these baseball decisions go. It’s always business, but it can still have an effect on a personal level.”

  “Especially with Reid, right?” Zella asked.

  Kate wore a look of shock as she turned to Zella.

  “I mean, I know you two have a past, so that probably made the decision especially tough,” Zella clarified.

  Zella remembered the pictures that had surfaced the previous season of Reid leaving Kate’s house late at night. They were all over the Internet and the local talk shows. Kate and Reid revealed they’d gone to high school together and were long-time friends. There’d been some discussion of impropriety in Kate’s hiring of Reid, but the whole story blew over in less than two weeks.

  “That’s right. We used to be friends, so it was tougher,” Kate said. “I’ve always believed in Reid, but I also had to make sure he earned his spot so no one accused me of favoring him. But he was up for the challenge. Overwhelmingly so.”

  “That’s awesome. I loved watching him with the Mets,” Zella said. “He’ll look good in a Pioneers uniform.”

  “Indeed he will,” Kate said. “Should we go get dinner?”

  On the way to the restaurant, Kate told Zella stories about her first spring training as a general manager. It was surprising and reassuring to hear Kate wasn’t always sure of her decisions. It was a huge responsibility, and Zella often wondered if there were doubts and regrets. She voiced her question while the women sipped the red wine Ms. Marks had ordered and insisted Zella share.

  “First of all, you really can start calling me Kate instead of Ms. Marks,” Kate said. “Secondly, I absolutely have some regrets. I think that’s natural. You just make the best decision you can with the information you have. These players are humans who can improve or decline without any indication or reason. Sometimes you gamble and win. Other times you lose. But you can’t be afraid of that. You can’t be afraid of taking chances either.”

  Kate discussed specific trades and roster moves she’d made over the years and shared some of her thought process going into those decisions. Zella nodded, taking it all in. These were the kind of conversations she wanted to remember and carry with her as she continued her career in baseball.

  The next day, Zella woke early – even before her alarm – and eagerly headed out to the training complex. Kate told her she was mostly off-duty for her few days in Arizona. She just wanted Zella to enjoy her time there, and take it all in. Coffee in hand, she walked among the practice fields. At each one, she paused for a few moments at each one to watch players of all levels competing in fielding drills, taking batting practice, and cycling through pitches under the watchful eye of a coach. It was amazing to see this part of the baseball process. It was like watching dress rehearsal before a big show. Everyone was full of hope for the new season ahead.

  She spent each morning like this. Afternoons, she settled in for a game. In the evenings, she had dinner with Kate.

  On her last evening in Arizona, Zella tried not to dwell on the fact that she’d be leaving the next day. Instead, she tried to focus on Kate’s stories about her work with other organizations before she joined the Pioneers. Zella was so caught up in the discussion, she didn’t notice the familiar men approaching their table until they were standing next to it and one of them cleared his throat.

  “Good evening, ladies,” Reid said, smiling as he looked between the two women. “Is there room at your table for us?”

  Derek stood beside him, looking slightly uncomfortable. Since the game on her first day, Zella had only caught a few glimpses of him. Usually, he was running with the other pitchers or leaving the complex with Reid. There was always plenty of distance between them, which she decided was by his design and probably for the best.

  She was torn over Reid’s request to join them. On one hand, she was happy to see Derek, and a small part of her wanted more time with him. On the other hand, she feared spending more time around Derek could be awkward. And give Kate more food for her theory about Zella having a crush on him.

  “Of course there is,” Kate said.

  She moved her purse to open the chair at a right angle to hers, which was opposite Zella. Reid claimed the seat, and Derek took the other one. She noticed Derek moved his chair a few inches closer to Reid – and away from Zella – as he sat down. She wondered if Kate or Reid caught it, but when she looked in their direction, they were busy talking. She heard Kate mention one of her sisters, so Zella and Derek sat there in silence for a few moments while Kate and Reid swapped family updates.

  “So what do you think of spring training?” Derek asked finally.

  “I’ve really enjoyed it,” Zella said, relieved he had broken the silence first. “It’s interesting to see all the players working and gearing up for the season. And there’s so much optimism.”

  “Yeah. A new season always feels pretty good,” Derek said. “We’re not ready yet, but we’re getting there.”

  “You seem more than ready,” Zella said. “You looked great the other day.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  She could have sworn he was blushing, but it was hard to tell with his beard and the restaurant lighting. Plus, she was only seeing him in short glimpses, afraid to look at him directly for fear of staring.

  Kate and Reid had apparently finished catching up, because now they were watching Derek and Zella. The attention made Zella a little uncomfortable.

  “I keep forgetting you two know each other’s families,” she said, hoping to stave off any awkward comments.

  “Yeah, we went to high school together,” Reid said.

  “Were you friends back then?” Zella asked.

  Kate and Reid exchanged a glance, and Zella wasn’t sure what it meant.

  The waiter chose that moment to bring over the bottle of wine and glasses Kate and Zella had ordered. Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat and stopped the waiter before he uncorked the cabernet sauvignon.

  “Oh, um … we’ve changed our mind about that,” Kate said. “We’ll stick with water.”

  Zella was confused for a moment but then remembered their new companions. Two guys whose rocky pasts included trouble with alcohol.

  “Kate, you don’t have to do that,” Reid said.

  “Yes, I do. You and Derek …,” Kate started.

  “Are grown men who can handle being around people who drink even if we don’t,” Reid said.

  “No, it’s fine,” Zella said, speaking up. “We’ve had wine every night I’ve been here, and I haven’t worked out once. I should probably take a break.”

  “Really, we’re fine with it,” Derek said.

  “And we’ll be fine without it,” Zella said.

  Kate nodded at the waiter, who had been hovering just in case the group decided to opt for the wine after all. He returned the nod and retreated, taking the wine and glasses with him.

  “You didn’t have to do that, Ms. Marks,” Derek said. “But it was very nice of you.”

  “Zella made a good point,” Kate said, shrugging. “I mean, I care about you and Reid, but I also care about fitting into my clothes.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Reid said.

  Zella looked over at him, surprised by his comment. Or rather by the way he said it. His tone was slightly flirty, and almost suggestive. She shifted her gaze to Kate, who seemed flustered by Reid’s words.

  “You can run with us tomorrow morning if you want, Ms. Marks,” Derek said, clearly attempting to diffuse the tension.

  Kate laughed. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Derek.”

  The waiter returned then, and the foursome quickly placed their food order. This restaurant w
as close to where the guys stayed, so they’d been here frequently and hadn’t even glanced at the menu.

  With the mood lightened, the four of them discussed baseball and Phoenix traffic until their food arrived. Then the conversation turned to different restaurants the guys had eaten at during their time in Arizona.

  “Do you get tired of going out to eat every night?” Zella asked.

  “A little, but even if we had a decent kitchen, I’m not a good cook,” Reid said.

  “Me neither,” Derek said. “Eggs, grilled cheese, and anything on the grill is about the limit of my kitchen skills.”

  “As an athlete, you should probably learn to cook so you can eat better,” Kate said.

  “I know, and I’ve thought about it … I just haven’t had time,” Derek said.

  “He eats just fine,” Reid said. “You should see him on game day.”

  “Really?” Zella asked.

  “Yeah, he eats the same things and sticks to a rigid schedule,” Reid said.

  “A lot of ballplayers are superstitious,” Kate said. “I’m not that surprised.”

  “It’s not superstition. I just like routine,” Derek said, shrugging.

  “Sure, whatever,” Reid said, smirking at Derek.

  Zella could tell there was a tight bond between the two athletes. They were so familiar with each other, and Reid had clearly enjoyed ribbing Derek all evening. It was almost brotherly.

  After the checks had been delivered and paid, Kate announced she was ready to call it a night. The four of them walked out to the parking lot, and Reid asked if Zella was going to the A-squad or B-squad game the following day.

  “Neither actually,” Zella said. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  “You’re leaving? Already?” Reid asked. “It doesn’t seem like you’ve been here very long.”