The House on Sugar Plum Lane

by Judy Duarte

  The engine of an approaching vehicle sounded, and Maria turned her head in time to see a Jeep Wrangler pull into a parking space near the dugout.

  Kathy pointed to the Jeep. “Here comes Ramon now. He and his wife are in the process of adopting, too.”

  “Eddie mentioned something about his brother being a foster parent.” Maria watched the man and the kids climb from the Jeep.

  “Luis and Carlitos had been living with their great-grandmother, and when she got sick and couldn’t care for them, Ramon and his wife took them in. It’s worked out well for everyone involved, and they’ve got an attorney working on the paperwork now.”

  Ramon removed a duffel bag filled with baseball gear from the back of his vehicle, then handed it to the bigger kid. Next he pulled out three bases and gave them to the smaller boy.

  As Ramon strode out to the field, where Eddie and Danny were now playing catch, he called out to his brother, and the two men greeted each other.

  Maria noticed a strong resemblance, at least from a distance. Ramon wasn’t quite as tall as Eddie, but he appeared to be just as well built, just as nice looking.

  But she wasn’t about to let Kathy catch her gawking at the men, so she forced herself to look away.

  “How many other moms show up to watch practice?” she asked.

  “Not too many. It’s usually just me. Brent has abandonment issues, so I want him to know that I’m here for him. It’s been helping, too. He’s finally able to sleep through the night most of the time.”

  “I’m glad things are getting better,” Maria said, thinking that Danny’s issues no longer seemed so bad and hoping they’d soon be a thing of the past.

  As the other boys began to fill the field, Danny appeared to be easily accepted as part of the team. Before long, practice got under way, and the two women grew silent as they watched.

  Maria liked the way Eddie and Ramon related to the kids, especially those who’d messed up or the ones who’d shown signs of a temper or bad sportsmanship.

  Never once did they belittle a child, never once did they blow up. And long before practice was over, Maria decided to let Danny join the team.

  She also decided to let Eddie take her son to games and practices—if his offer was still on the table.

  While Eddie helped one of the boys repair a broken lace on his mitt, Danny and Luis picked up the bases and carried them to Ramon’s Jeep.

  Baseball practice had gone exceptionally well today, and he hoped Maria had liked what she’d seen. Danny might not have the talent or the experience that some of the other boys had, but his heart for the game and desire to excel more than made up for it.

  As Ramon headed toward the dugout, probably making a last-minute sweep to make sure the kids hadn’t made a mess with sunflower seeds or left anything behind, Eddie called out to him. “Hey, Ramon. Wait up.” When his brother turned around, Eddie nodded toward the bleachers. “I’d like to introduce you to Danny’s mom.”

  “Sure. Just a second.” Ramon instructed Carlitos, his youngest, to search the dugout. Then he joined Eddie, and they made their way toward Maria.

  As she spotted them coming, she stood and tugged on Roscoe’s leash, bringing the dog with her as she climbed from where she’d been sitting on the bleachers.

  “Hey, Coach Eddie,” Luis called from the pitcher’s mound, where he’d joined Danny. “Can we take Roscoe for a run?”

  “Yeah, he’d like that.”

  The boys dashed to Maria, and she handed them the leash. Then they took off for the playground, with Roscoe loping beside them.

  After Eddie had introduced his brother to Maria, she said, “Kathy Carrington was sure singing your praises. She told me that Brent is really doing well since joining the team.”

  “We’ve had quite a few success stories,” Eddie said.

  Ramon nudged his brother with an elbow. “It was actually Eddie’s idea. He was the one who first heard about the new league that was being established through a state grant, and then he told me about it. He also knew a couple of kids who were struggling at home and needed a positive role model, and he asked me to consider being the coach. And from there, the Fairbrook Falcons just took off.”

  Eddie hoped Ramon didn’t mention that he’d gotten wind of the league while in prison, and that the father of those kids had been his cellmate. Not that Eddie was keeping it a secret from Maria, but he figured it would be best if the news came from him first.

  “We’re only three-six in league standings,” Ramon added, “but as far as making a change in the boys’ lives, we’re undefeated.”

  “If you’ve got room for Danny,” Maria said, “and if Eddie doesn’t mind helping me get him to practices and games, I’d like for him to join the team.”

  “No problem. He’s a great kid.” Ramon shot a glance at Eddie, then at Maria and back again. His eyes twinkled in a way that suggested Eddie might have more than the boy’s best interests at heart, which meant there’d be a bit of an inquisition and maybe a little razzing when Maria wasn’t within earshot.

  “When’s the next practice?” she asked.

  “Wednesday at four-thirty. But there’s a game on Monday evening. My wife is the team mom. I’ll have her get you a schedule.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh,” Ramon said, “we’re also having a pool party a week from tomorrow. Things can get a bit wild, and Eddie and I usually get thrown into the water—clothes and all—but we have a good time.”

  Eddie studied Maria, saw her smile and nod in understanding. He and his brother had come to expect the dunking; it was a game the boys looked forward to.

  He was glad that she approved of what they were doing and that she was going to let Danny join the team. But he was even happier to know that he’d be able to continue seeing her at practice and games when his work on the Rucker job was done.

  “Well,” Ramon said, “the boys and I have to get out of here. It’s my wife’s birthday, and we’re having a party and barbecue for her at her parents’ house this afternoon.”

  Maria blessed him with a smile. “It was nice meeting you.”

  “Same here.” Before taking off, Ramon flashed Eddie a knowing grin, which meant that there’d definitely be a few questions coming about his assumptions and observations. Then he went to round up his sons.

  That left Eddie and Maria alone, and while he felt a bit awkward and at a loss for words, he wasn’t ready to end their time together, either.

  “I think what you guys are doing for the boys is great,” she said.

  Eddie wasn’t all that comfortable with her praise. Helping the team was a way to ease the last bit of guilt he still carried, a ragged remnant that seemed to dog him in spite of the time spent in prison. Even a few years of maturity and a great deal of retrospect hadn’t been able to shake it.

  “It’s not that big a deal,” he said. “My brother and I were lucky. We had a good family and great role models, so we’re just paying it forward.”

  Yet it was more than that. When Eddie had been locked away, he’d seen how the families, particularly the children, struggled with the separations that would last year upon year, the shame, the inability to control or change a tragic web of circumstances they’d been caught up in. So when he’d heard about the intercity league that was starting up to help kids at risk, he’d encouraged Ramon to get involved. Then, once he was paroled, he’d volunteered to help coach whenever he could.

  “I’m a little embarrassed to admit this,” Maria said, “but when you first suggested that Danny play on this team, I really didn’t want him involved with the children of other prisoners. I’d rather have him forget his father completely. It’s tough living in the dark shadow of the man. And I’m tired of the notoriety.”

  Eddie glanced at his feet, wondering if she’d balk at going out with him if she knew he’d had a dark shadow and a bit of notoriety, too.

  “All I’ve ever wanted was a happy home,” she added, “a family who stayed out of troub
le and off the front page of the newspaper.”

  That’s all Eddie wanted, too.

  Maybe that’s what he liked about Maria. That she and the kids provided a sense of home and family. Not that he didn’t get that from his parents or from Ramon, Shana, and the boys. But it wasn’t the same as having a family of his own.

  His life had taken a tragic and unexpected turn, but he’d paid his debt to society, even if he still blamed himself for the grief he’d caused Cecelia’s family, for the guilt he still struggled with at times. And he hoped that Maria would be able to get past all that.

  If so, then maybe he could, too.

  Chapter 14

  Amy sat on the sofa in Maria’s living room with one leg tucked under her as she thumbed through a children’s library book she’d found on the coffee table. She would have chosen something else to read if there’d been any options.

  When a vehicle pulled up outside, she set aside The Trouble with Penguins and got to her feet. It was time for Maria to return, but after Barbara’s surprise visit earlier, Amy didn’t want to make any assumptions. So she went to the window and peered out into the street, where Eddie’s SUV was idling at the curb.

  Danny was the first one to open the door and enter the house. A broad grin stretched across his dirt-smudged face, suggesting he’d had a good time.

  “My mom’s coming in a minute,” he said. “She’s just saying good-bye to Eddie—I mean, to Coach.”

  Before Amy could respond, he blurted out, “I get to join the team. Isn’t that cool?” Then he dashed off before she had a chance to agree.

  Minutes later, Maria swept into the room, her mood bright and a smile dancing on her lips.

  “I take it that everything went well,” Amy said.

  “It was great. You can’t believe how nice it is to see my son happy again, even if it’s just for today.” Maria placed her purse on the bottom step of the stairway. “Thanks for holding down the fort.”

  “No problem. It’s been pretty quiet. The kids are having a make-believe tea party in Sara’s room, and Ellie’s napping.”

  “What about Captain?”

  “He took a book out into the backyard to read in the shade.”

  “I’m glad it was quiet for you.”

  Amy was glad, too. “By the way, Barbara stopped by to see Ellie.”

  “No kidding? She was just here a couple of days ago.”

  “I was surprised to see her, too. And the odd thing is, she was only here a minute or so. I didn’t understand why she even bothered to come.”

  Maria scrunched her face. “She usually stays at least an hour.”

  “I got the feeling that she wasn’t comfortable with me being here,” Amy said. “I introduced myself as her tenant, so maybe that’s why she took off.”

  “Did you tell her who you really are, who your mom was?”

  “I actually considered it, but just the thought was daunting.” As badly as her mother had wanted to meet Barbara, Amy should have jumped at the chance. “I’m not sure why that was. I guess because I was so caught off guard by her arrival that I couldn’t figure out how to broach the subject. And even if I’d gotten up my nerve and had been able to come up with the right words, she wasn’t here long enough for me to do anything other than to steal a glance at her every now and then to see if I could spot a resemblance to my mother.”

  “Maybe she caught you staring at her. Or maybe she’s the one who noticed the resemblance.”

  “I doubt it. But either way, she took off out of here like a rat with its tail in a trap.” And Amy had been relieved when she did. So what was with that?

  “Barbara’s not easy to read,” Maria said. “Sometimes she comes across as cold and insensitive, then at other times, I almost feel sorry for her.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. On the outside, she’s got it made—a fancy house, wealth, a husband who’s respected in the community…. But something tells me she isn’t really happy.”

  “There’s more to happiness than having possessions,” Amy said, repeating the words she’d often told Brandon.

  “That’s true.”

  Footsteps sounded in the doorway, and both women turned to see Captain hobble into the room with a book in his hand.

  “I think I have an idea what’s bothering Barbara,” he said, leaning against the doorjamb.

  Amy turned to the elderly man, wanting answers, no matter where they came from. “What’s that?”

  “She and her mother had a falling-out years ago.”

  “Over what?”

  “Ellie never said. She just told me that it broke her heart, and that her daughter was one of the most stubborn women the good Lord had ever made.”

  “Are you saying that they were never able to work through their problem?”

  “Maybe they did on the outside,” Captain said. “Barbara is a dutiful daughter in some ways, but it always seemed to be an obligation on her part. I’m afraid that on the inside, she never forgave Ellie.”

  “Never forgave her for what?” Amy asked.

  “Like I said, Ellie didn’t go into detail. She just let me know that something happened, and they both held each other responsible. Ellie might have had a stubborn streak, too. Who knows? But either way, it’s a real shame. With her mental state what it is now, they’ll never be able to completely bury the hatchet.”

  Amy was glad that she and her mom had never had any bad blood between them. She would have been devastated to think that their last memories had been strained or painful.

  “Ellie would have been open to finding some kind of resolution or middle ground.” Captain straightened, stepped away from the door frame, and eased farther into the room. “But from what she told me, Barbara hadn’t been ready for that. And now Ellie’s been spared from memories of the rift, and Barbara’s got to deal with them on her own, knowing it can’t ever be fixed.”

  How sad, Amy thought. With Ellie’s inability to communicate, time had run out.

  And speaking of time…She glanced at her watch. “I probably ought to get Callie.”

  “The kids are playing so well,” Maria said. “Why don’t you leave her here? I’ll bring her home in a little while.”

  Amy didn’t see any reason to correct Maria for referring to Ellie’s house as “home.” Not that Amy had any desire to ever move in. But she’d found a maternal presence there, a comfort that was impossible to explain.

  She would have given anything to have had a chance to meet the real Ellie. But it seemed that time had run out for her, too.

  After Amy left and the front door clicked shut, Maria watched Captain make his way toward the easy chair.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked. “I’m going to open a can of turkey vegetable soup and make grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.”

  “Soup sounds good, but I’ll probably pass on anything else. I’ve been having a lot of indigestion lately and don’t want to overload my stomach.”

  For a man who was nearing ninety, Captain had always been healthy and alert. His biggest problem seemed to be mobility, although at his age, any number of things could go wrong.

  “Do you want me to make a doctor’s appointment for you?” she asked.

  “Thanks, but that’s not necessary.” He lowered himself into the overstuffed chair, wincing as he did so. “How did baseball practice go?”

  “Super. The coaches are great, and the boys really look up to them.” She probably ought to head into the kitchen and start lunch, but something was weighing on her mind—and on her heart.

  Ellie would have been her first choice of confidants, but she’d grown comfortable with Captain since he’d moved in.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, apparently picking up on her worries before she even opened her mouth.

  “Nothing. It’s just that…” She took a seat at the edge of the sofa and released a weary sigh. “Well, I really like Eddie—maybe a little too much.”

  He chuckled. “How can you l
ike someone too much?”

  “It’s not that, exactly. It’s just that he’s younger than I am. At least, I think he is. And he doesn’t have any kids, so getting involved with me would probably cramp his style.”

  “So you’re only looking out for his best interests?” Captain’s eyes twinkled. “Seems to me that ought to be his decision to make.”

  “I know. You’re right.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “I’m really dragging my feet because I don’t want to get involved with anyone again. I’ve made one heartbreaking mistake, and I don’t want to make another.”

  “Not all men are like that ex-husband of yours.” Captain leaned back in the comfort of the chair and stroked his left arm. “I doubt that you’d let yourself get involved with a playboy like Ray again.”

  “So you think Eddie’s different?”

  “I don’t know him all that well, but he seems like a decent sort and worth the risk.”

  “I’m not a gambler, especially since any decision I make affects my kids.”

  “When it comes to love, sometimes you have to take a chance.”

  “Who said anything about love?”

  Captain chuckled. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other, and while you might not be in love, you both seem to be tiptoeing around it.”

  Was that what was happening?

  She wanted to deny it, yet something was going on between them. That’s what left her so uneasy.

  Her relationship with Ray had been pure chemistry at first, and she’d mistaken it for love. And look where that had gotten her.

  “Eddie and I just met,” she said. “It’s too soon for romance.”

  “Sometimes the heart has a mind of its own, Maria.” He tossed her a paternal smile. “Just take things one day at a time. There isn’t any rush.”

  Of course there wasn’t, but the more she saw Eddie, the faster her heart raced, and the more she feared she was getting caught up in a romantic whirlwind again.

  “If it’s meant to be, it’ll all work out.” Something in his words, in his gentle tone, rang true.