by Kathryn Shay
“I hope I’m not early.” Evvie stood. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“No, we’re finished for now.” Parker held out his hand and shook Evvie’s. “Nice meeting you, Evangelina.” He turned to her sister. “R.M., I’ll be in touch.”
As the two of them left the gallery together, Evvie moved in close and asked, “Did you get the show?”
“He wants my work, but his board of directors has the final approval.”
“Isn’t he related to a founder?”
“His great-grandfather started the gallery.”
“He’s attractive. And those eyes...”
“Their color doesn’t exist in nature. It makes me not trust him.” The quip was so much like Raven. She linked their arms. “Now, catch me up on Evvie’s life.”
Moisture welled in her eyes.
“What the hell?” Raven commented when she saw them. “Let’s sit.” Shaded by a perimeter of trees, benches lined the street in front of the museum. They dropped down on one.
Evvie shook herself. “Geez. I can’t believe...” The tears fell. Raven’s arm felt good when it circled her shoulders.
Finally, she calmed, and Raven took her hand. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
“It’s so stupid.”
“Sweetie, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen you cry. Spill.”
“You know I got hit by that baseball six weeks ago. You called to see if I needed help.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’ve been dating the player who knocked that ball into the stands.”
“Seriously? He wasn’t from the Lions’ team, was he?”
“No, from their rivals.”
“That’s news, but nothing to cry about.”
“It’s, um, more than dating. We’ve been sleeping together for a couple of weeks.”
“Good for you. People need casual sex.”
“That’s what I thought, too. But I’m afraid my feelings have become more than casual. I’ve been playing down the seriousness of our relationship, but last night, something happened.” She explained about her reactions to the women.
Raven sighed.
“What?”
“I’m not an expert, but aren’t major league ball players known for playing the field, so to speak?”
“I suppose. How could this happen to me?”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.” She tipped Evvie’s chin. “My advice?”
“Of course.”
“You’re going back to Casarina at the end of the year. Just enjoy a casual relationship with him.”
“I’m not sure I can do that.”
“Then you’ll have to stop seeing him.”
“Maybe.” But in truth, Evvie wasn’t sure she could do that either.
* * *
Where the fuck can she be? It was bad enough that she didn’t answer his calls last night. Instead of demeaning himself with more attempts to contact her, he got up after ten, showered and left the house. Now, around noon, he sat on the stoop of her home in Baltimore, in the hot sun, waiting for her like some stupid teenager stalking the head cheerleader.
He’d called Brie, and her sister said as far as she knew Evvie was fine. No one had alerted her otherwise. She also wanted to know what the hell he’d done to her.
He hadn’t done anything! But just in case, he replayed last night in his mind. At some point after Evvie left, Luke’s date, Carrie, had told him about one of his ex-girlfriend’s remark during the game. Evvie had seemed bothered when he met her outside the locker room. During the night, some girls had flocked around him. Come to think of it, he’d spent little time with Evvie at the party. Could she have mistaken that for his lack of...interest? Caring?
Finally, a cab pulled to the curb and Evvie got out. Head down, she walked halfway up her driveway before she saw him. She stopped short. Slowly, she came the rest of the way and stood in front of him. He’d planned to rail at her for running out on him, but when he saw her ragged face, he kept his mouth shut.
She said, “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Want to come in?”
“Sure.” They went inside through the front door and sat in her living room with fresh air coming through all the open windows and fans circulating it. Every time he’d been here, the house was filled with a pleasing scent. Today, the smell came from a huge bouquet of white and pink carnations perched on the coffee table.
“Can I get you something?”
Because he could tell she was hurting, he pretended to be comfortable, and intentionally moderated his tone. “How about some answers?”
“Yes, I guess you deserve some.” Tossing back her hair, she told him pretty much what he figured out on the stoop.
“If I ignored you, I’m sorry. That wasn’t intentional.” He gave her a half smile. “I guess I’m not used to taking care of a date at a party.”
She nodded. He patted the cushion next to him. When she sat there, he took her hand. “Do you remember our conversation that day we met your pilot friend at the batting cages?”
“Yes.”
“We talked about exclusivity and decided to go that route.”
“I remember. Which makes my reaction even more foolish.”
“I don’t think it was foolish, honey. It was human. But in case you didn’t get the message, I’m committed.”
She shook her head. “Be careful what you wish for.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I can’t be committed.”
That was the last thing he expected. “I don’t understand. You said you cared about me. You wouldn’t see anyone else.”
“Actually, my reaction last night revealed to me how much I do care. And Mike, that can’t happen.”
“What can’t happen?”
She bit her lip, and he noticed mauve smudges beneath her eyes. “Tell me where you see this between us heading.”
“I don’t know. Frankly, I’ve never felt this way before.”
“Me, either. I realized it last night. And that’s bad. Very bad.”
“Why?”
“Because, like I told you over breakfast that morning, I’m going to Casarina in January. I’m leaving you then.”
* * *
“Don’t go.”
“What?”
“I said, don’t go. Stay here and see what happens with us.”
“I can’t. I’m scheduled for meetings in Casarina in January.”
“You don’t have to do that, do you? Did you make legal commitments to your country?”
“No. Papá and I are sitting down when I get back to decide the best course of action to set up the clinics. Then I’ll put that in motion. This isn’t a pipe dream, Mike. It’s a well-thought-out goal of mine. It has been for a long time.”
“Goals change.”
That irritated her. She wanted to ask him if he’d give up playing ball for her, but she’d never do that. “Not this goal. Not for me.”
“I see.” His gaze narrowed on her. “Where does that leave us?”
She thought about Raven’s suggestion. Just enjoy a casual relationship with him. Though she wasn’t sure she could or even wanted that, she gave him options. “The way I see it, we have two choices. One is to stop seeing each other.”
His hand curled on his knee. “As I said, I want you in my life.”
“Or we can keep it casual.”
“What would that look like?”
“We’d see each other when we could, but maybe not as much as we do now. We’d date others.”
Hell! “Seriously?”
She shrugged. “Isn’t that a man’s dream girl?”
It used to be his. “Not mine.” He had to be honest. “Not with you, anyway.”
“Those are the choices, Mike.”
“Then I take the second one.” He stood and held out his hand. “Come on.”
“Where?”
He arched a brow. “I assume we can still have sex.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Then I want to go to bed with you.”
She suspected this wasn’t a good idea right now. For either of them. But she stood, put her hand in his and walked down to her bedroom. Once there, he started disrobing. Usually they undressed each other. When they got their clothes off, he pulled down the covers and slid in bed. She followed, a bit chagrined by his silence, his grim expression. But once he clasped her to him, once she felt the hard planes of his body, she forgot her misgivings.
* * *
Mike kissed Evvie with conflict and anger and passion swirling inside him. He couldn’t accept her leaving. He’d asked her not to go. She’d shot him down. He wanted to keep all that out of the bedroom, but it was hard.
He was attentive to her. Running his hand down her side to her hip, he could feel her shiver. He loved how she gave herself to him. Loved how Evvie loved and matched it. So, he tried. He kissed her all over, aroused her in the normal ways, then threw himself into the act when she came. He followed her soon. When he was rational again, all he felt was sadness.
Evvie lay in his arms, trying to block out what had just happened. She’d behaved as she always did, gave him her body and her heart, but he...didn’t. He’d held back some of himself.
Well, that’s what you asked for.
It was. So she had no right to complain. But she wondered how she could keep seeing him without that incredible way he connected with her on all levels.
Neither of them spoke right away. Finally, he eased her away and came up on his elbow. “I can’t do it this way, honey.”
She saw the pain in his eyes. So he felt the same as she did about what had just occurred. She said only, “I know.”
Silently, he moved off the bed, dressed and left the room. There was no more to say.
Chapter 10
The end of July turned hotter than hell, making the warmups, batting practice and playing the game itself torture. The Raiders sweated buckets, and their uniforms itched like crazy. Players turned ornery and coaches impatient. They had a string of away games, which was good for Mike. He’d lost count of the times he’d driven halfway to Evvie’s house after a game, and then talked himself into turning around.
“Ironic, huh, that we wanted to come to Miami in this heat?” Coach made the statement as he and Mike walked into the air-conditioned domed stadium of the southern team. They’d shared a cab from the hotel.
“Man, it’ll be great to play without sweat pouring into my eyes.”
“I get it.” Coach stopped before the locker room. “Is that what’s got you so uptight? The heat?”
A shrug. “Probably.”
“I haven’t seen that dark-haired looker in the stands for a few weeks. And she wasn’t with you at the surprise birthday dinner my wife had for me.”
“We’re not dating anymore.” He shook his head. “It got too complicated.”
“So it’s heat of a different kind that’s got you down.” Coach opened the door. “Sorry, bud. At least your head’s still in the game.”
“Yeah.” Baseball was all he had now. Nope, he told himself, this was normal life. The life he’d had with Evvie had been a delusion.
Mike hit three home runs that night, and even his excellent play didn’t elate him. He went straight back to the hotel, got a beer out of the mini bar, laid on the bed and clicked into the game, which was being rebroadcast.
Not long after, the house phone rang. It was likely one of his teammates asking him to party. Tomorrow was a travel day with no game. He was about to let the call go to voice mail when something niggled at him to answer. “Jagielski,” he said into the receiver.
“Sorry to bother you so late, sir. But a call came in for you at the reception desk.”
“From a fan?”
“She said to tell you she’s your sister Sara.”
Mike dropped the phone onto his lap. Then he snatched it up. “I’ll accept the call.”
“Mike?” he heard a few seconds later.
The sound of her voice silenced him for a minute. “I...you... Sara.” He coughed to clear his suddenly clogged throat. “This is a surprise.”
“I know. I, um, saw you play tonight. People talk about where the players are staying, so I found out how to get hold of you.”
Another shock. “You live in Miami?”
“I do. I’ve been here for years.”
What to say? What did he want to say? What did he want from her? Evvie had asked about his family...
One sister. We were separated when my parents died.
Oh, I’m sorry. Have you tried to find her?
No. Long story why.
That’s so sad. I’m not sure I could live without my family.
Suddenly he knew what to do. “Where are you, Sara?”
“I’m still at the stadium. I waited to see you after the game, but I got caught in the hordes leaving the stadium and I got pushed out. I couldn’t get back inside.”
“I can come to you.”
“I’d rather come to you. Meet you in the bar at the hotel?”
Twenty minutes later, he walked into the first-floor pub and found a woman at the front waiting for him. She used to be taller than him, but now came up to his shoulders. Her brown hair was lighter than his. When he got close, he saw familiar hazel eyes that made his throat get tight.
“Sara.”
“Mike.” She bit her lip and tears trickled down her cheeks.
Acting on instinct, he grabbed her to him and hugged her, something he never would have done before Evvie. After Sara quieted, he found them a table and they both sat. Music played in the background and a low rumble of voices filled the air, but he only had eyes for his sister.
She wiped her face. “I’m sorry for the waterworks.”
“That’s okay. I feel like bawling myself.”
She ordered a Coke, and he asked for one, too. After the waitress left, Sara said, “I don’t want any money or anything like that from you, Mike. You probably thought I did.”
Self-protection reared its head. “That crossed my mind. What do you want?”
“I wanted to see my little brother. I...I’ve followed your career, but never dared come to a game.”
“Wow! Tell me about your life.”
A small smile, one that resembled his. “I’m married. I have two sons. They’re big baseball fans.”
“Do they play?”
“Little league.”
“What about your husband?”
“He’s a good man. I met him...” She bit her lip. “Mike, bad things happened to me at first.”
He frowned.
“I ran with Tito’s gang for a while, then got arrested. They had drugs in the car. After I was released, he tried to drag me back into his world.”
“How old were you?”
“Seventeen when I went to jail. Eighteen when I got out.”
At eighteen, he’d been drafted to play minor league ball. “I’m sorry. What happened?”
“I was totally lost. But I got assigned to a wonderful probation officer who saved me, literally. Her name was Jill. She helped me get a job at a diner and go to night school to get my GED.”
“Thank God.”
“Bobby, that’s my husband, was the son of the diner’s owner. He was only twenty-five when his father died, and he inherited the place. We worked—still work—there.”
“I’m so glad you got a better life.”
“When the kids came along, I was silly with happiness. There was only one cloud in my life.”
“Sara...”
“No, I take full responsibility for abandoning you to that monster who beat us.”
Mike had wondered what he’d say to her if he ever saw her again. Initially, he planned to be nasty. Later, he didn’t think about it much. And now...after talking with Evvie about life and values and priorities, he was able to say, “That’s all water under the bridge.”
“Is it?”
“For me it
is.”
“I thought you’d hate me.”
“I did, initially. But I got a lot of breaks with baseball, ones you didn’t get.”
“I didn’t try to contact you when you got famous, because I was afraid it was too late. Or that you’d think I was after something. Actually, I am.”
He froze.
She took a shiny paper out of her purse. Slid it over to him. He looked down. A picture of two little boys in baseball uniforms. “If you could autograph this, they’d be thrilled.”
Warmth spread through him like good whiskey. “Of course.” She handed him a pen. “What are their names?”
“The older is Bobby Jr.” She hesitated.
“Sara?”
“The youngest is Mikey.”
Evvie would have burst out in tears hearing that. Again, Mike felt like bawling.
* * *
Nothing was working. Evvie had taken to running each morning to drive away the now-regular insomnia. She’d lost ten pounds in two weeks. She’d tried to stay away from her sisters and phone calls with her mother, because they would know how much she was suffering. She missed six Lions games because the stadium, the play, cut her to the quick. Her colleagues asked several times what was wrong. The only thing she could escape to was the NICU where she lost herself in tending to babies.
Secretly, she’d hoped to have Mike’s babies some day. God, would she ever stop thinking about him?
She’d worked nights this week, and luckily came home exhausted. After her last shift, she entered the house at six a.m. and sensed someone else was inside. Frankie or one of the other girls? They all had keys.
“Hello!” she called out from the far end of the kitchen.
A woman appeared in the breakfast nook area.
The Queen of Casarina.