Love in the Lineup

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  She laughed. “Or you could ask me.”

  “I could do that. That would probably be a good thing at some point.”

  “At some point,” Roshawn answered.

  Angel rolled above her, easing her on to her back. Leaning on his forearms he stared down at her, joy growing like wildfire over every inch of his expression. “Right now though,” he said, his body pushing gently against her nakedness, “right now I think we should make love one more time.”

  Roshawn pressed her palms against his chest. “Really?”

  He nodded. “We must practice making our babies so that when you ask me and I marry you, we’ll know how to do it right.” He pressed his mouth to her mouth, his lips teasing and caressing hers. Roshawn’s voice caught in her throat as a rush of electricity fired through her body, setting an explosion off in each of her nerve endings.

  “Practice is good,” she finally muttered.

  He nodded, his tongue dancing a slow glide from her mouth, down the length of her neck and toward the cleavage between her breasts. “Yes,” he whispered, “practice is very good.”

  Chapter 23

  The next morning Angel woke up on edge, nervous energy consuming his spirit. Roshawn noted his discomfort, commenting on it after the man had rushed out the door for the ballpark.

  “Papí, what’s bothering Angel?” she asked as the two sat enjoying their morning coffee.

  The old man shook his head. “I don’t think there is anything that is upsetting him. He is very happy. I’m sure he is just nervous about the game tonight.”

  “But he’s been playing so well. Why should he be nervous?”

  “His beautiful woman will be there and she has not been there in a long while. I’m sure he just wants to do well to impress you,” the man said nonchalantly. Israel took another sip of his coffee. “You should not worry, niña. Angel is just fine.”

  Roshawn nodded, jumping to her feet as she finished the last drop of morning brew from the bottom of her cup. “I need to run,” she said as she reached for her purse. “I want to stop by to get the rest of my things from Chen’s house before I go into the office.”

  “Do you need help, niña?”

  She shook her head. “No, there really isn’t much there. Nothing I can’t handle alone.”

  “Then I will see you later at the game, yes?”

  “Of course. Would you like me to come pick you up, Papí?”

  “No. I will get there fine,” he said with a wide grin.

  She pulled her fingers through his hair. “We need to give you a trim, Papí. I can cut it when we get home tonight.”

  The man flapped a hand in her direction. “Not to worry. I am sure you will be much too busy.”

  She smiled. “I’m never too busy for you, Papí.” Roshawn kissed his cheek goodbye then headed out the front door.

  As soon as the car pulled out the driveway and disappeared out of sight, Israel picked up the telephone and dialed. “Hijo, she is gone to the office now.”

  On the other end, Angel grinned, winking at the four women who stood at his side. “Gracias, Papí. We will be ready. You know what you have to do.”

  Israel laughed with glee. “She will be very surprised. Very surprised indeed!”

  * * *

  Roshawn was starting to get annoyed. She had less than an hour until game time and Chen seemed intent on working her last nerve. As she printed the last spreadsheet of data that he’d insisted on having before they could leave for the day, she began to pack up her desk for the night. When he called her name for the umpteenth time, gesturing for her attention, it took everything in her not to go kicking and screaming to see what it was he wanted.

  Chen was hanging up the telephone as she stepped into his office, dropping the spreadsheet onto his desk. “You do realize what time it is, don’t you, Chen?”

  “I’m sorry, Roshawn. I know it’s late but you never know when these things will come up.”

  Roshawn heaved a deep sigh. “Well, is there anything else that needs to be done before I leave?”

  Chen paused, stammering slightly as he spoke. “Well…as a matter of fact…”

  Roshawn rolled her eyes, her jaw tightening, as she bit down against her bottom lip.

  “I…um…well… I need to ask you for a big favor, Roshawn.” He eyed her tentatively. Roshawn dropped down to the leather seat, crossing her legs first and then her arms against her chest.

  Chen continued. “That was our media and promotions person on the phone. You know how the organization plays games with fans before each game and how they get the kids and the parents involved with the team and Baxter the Bobcat during the seventh-inning stretch?”

  She nodded, her expression indicating that she really wasn’t interested.

  “Well, they’re shorthanded for tonight’s game. They called to see if I knew anyone who’d be able to help and I immediately thought about you.”

  “For tonight’s game?”

  “Yes. It not much work. You’ll be right down on the field and in the dugout so you can see Angel.”

  Her gaze was cautious. “I don’t know, Chen….”

  “Please, Roshawn. I need you this one time. Do it for me. But I need an right answer right now. If you’ll do it then we need to get you over there.”

  Roshawn shrugged. “I guess so. And only because I’m going to be there anyway.”

  Chen grinned. “Great. I appreciate this. Let’s go. We’ll take my car and you can get yours later.” He rose to his feet.

  “I’ll meet you at the elevators,” she said, moving ahead of him. “I just need to run to the ladies’ room.”

  “Thanks again, Roshawn. You’re a lifesaver.” He watched as she grabbed her belongings and headed out the office and down the hallway. Reaching for the telephone he dialed quickly and waited for it to be answered on the other end. “Hi, Ming. Tell Rios everything is right on schedule. Your mom and I are headed that way right now.”

  Minutes later Chen guided Roshawn through the security gates to the basement offices beneath the stadium. A heavyset man dressed in a pinstriped suit that was two sizes too small for him greeted them in the employee area. As he pumped her arm up and down, it was obvious that he was feeling stressed about something.

  “Am I glad to meet you!” he exclaimed. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help, Ms. Bradsher. I’m Chuck, the promotions manager.”

  Roshawn smiled weakly. “Hi, Chuck. It’s my pleasure. So, what do you need me to do?”

  The man rushed to one of the employee lockers, pulling a brown fur animal suit and headpiece from the cabinet. As he held it up, Roshawn’s eyes widened, her exasperated expression not lost on either man. She turned to face Chen who was smiling stupidly in her direction, his hands held up as if in surrender.

  “I didn’t know, I swear, Roshawn.”

  “It’s only for a short while, Ms. Bradsher. You’ve seen our Baby Bobcat character before. The young lady who usually plays it is out with a sprained back and we can’t find anyone else in the organization small enough to fit in the suit. You’d be perfect.”

  “I am not wearing that rat suit, Chen. I cannot believe…”

  “I’ll pay you, Roshawn. Do it for me,” Chen said, his goofy smile still plastered across his face.

  “How much?”

  “Fifty dollars?”

  She paused, cutting her eyes from the suit to him and back. “Make it a hundred.”

  “One hundred? Really, Roshawn…”

  She turned and headed toward the door, glaring as she brushed past him.

  “Okay! Okay! One hundred dollars.”

  The other man laughed. “For one hundred dollars I’d squeeze into it if I could.”

  At that moment, the Baxter character made his way into the room, the young man who donned the costume carrying the massive head in his hands. “Hi, there! Are you playing my baby sister tonight?” He extended a pawed hand. “I’m Jimmy. Jimmy Donovan.”

  Roshaw
n eyed the extended appendage, ignoring it as Jimmy dropped his arm back down to his side. She jabbed her tote bag into Chen’s chest. “Here. Hold this,” she said as she reached for the costume.

  Both he and Jimmy continued to grin widely as she stepped into the outfit, adjusting it around her petite frame. Chuck rambled as she studied the headpiece, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “All you have to do is jump around beside Jimmy here and wave. Lots of waving. Either myself or my assistant Karen will be with the two of you at all times. The heads are a little heavy and sometimes you get a kid or two who wants to tug on your tail and it’ll be hard for you to turn around. We’ll be there to fend them off.”

  Jimmy interjected. “It’s really not the kids you have to worry about. The adults will give you more of a problem most times.”

  “Oh, great,” Roshawn said, her tone devoid of any enthusiasm. “How long do I have to wear this thing?”

  “Just until we’re finished with the fan activities after the seventh inning. We’ll run the bases once or twice and during the fourth and fifth innings we’re in the Peter Piper Den taking photos with the kids.”

  She glared at Chen for a second time. “Seventh inning?”

  He smiled and shrugged, inching his way slowly toward the door. “I’ll be up top. You’re going to do just fine, Roshawn. I can’t believe what a great sport you are. I’ll catch up with you later. Wo ai ni!” Chen waved and rushed out the door before she could fix her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought.

  Jimmy laughed. “It really isn’t so bad. We usually have a great time.”

  Roshawn cut an eye at him. “I just bet you do,” she said facetiously.

  Chuck smiled sweetly. “And just remember, Ms. Bradsher, we have only one rule that cannot be broken. You can never remove your head while you’re in any of the public areas. It would traumatize the young kids to see Baby Bobcat beheaded. So you can only take the head off if you’re in one of the closed employee areas. And don’t ever, for any reason, speak. Wave, nod, shake your head, gesture with your hands, but no talking is allowed whatsoever.”

  Roshawn tossed him a wry smile. “Just great.”

  Ten minutes later, Roshawn the Baby Bobcat and her big brother Baxter were both heading through the employee tunnel to the field. Chuck was trailing close behind them. As they stepped out onto the green grass, Baxter leading the way, Roshawn couldn’t believe she was headed to the pitcher’s mound dressed like a brown matted rodent. The crowd cheered and Chuck whispered behind her.

  “Wave, Roshawn. Lots of waving. And jump. Baby Bobcat does a lot of jumping.”

  * * *

  Laughter rang loudly from one of the luxury team suites on the upper concourse. Ming shook her head as the group gathered pointed in Roshawn’s direction. “Mom’s going to kill you all when she finds out,” the young girl said.

  Her aunt Bridget giggled. “She’s going to kill you, too, Ming. You know she’s going to be mad you didn’t tell her.”

  Jeneva joined in, baby Alexa glued to her hip and clapping her hands excitedly. “I can just hear her now. She may not speak to any of us ever again.”

  Nina grinned. “I have to get plenty of pictures. This is absolutely priceless.”

  Ming moved to her father’s side, Allison settled in the plush seat in front of him. “And I can’t believe you, Daddy. I didn’t know you could be so devious.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, Ming. I’m only doing this as a favor to Angel to make your mother happy,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  Bridget laughed. “Don’t let your father fool you, baby girl. He and your mother use to get into a lot of trouble doing things they had no business doing, in places they had no business being. And it wasn’t always your mother’s idea.”

  Ming laughed as Chen blushed profusely, swatting a large hand at Bridget’s head. “Don’t you pay your aunt Bridget any attention, Ming. She doesn’t have a clue what she’s talking about.”

  Jeneva laughed. “But I sure do,” she said, passing Alexa into her father’s arms.

  Mac shook his head, moving to take a seat beside Israel. “Mr. Rios, these women are a wild bunch. We men are never safe when we’re around them.”

  Israel smiled. “I’m going to like these women. I’m going to like them very much, I think.”

  Mac grinned as Jeneva, Bridget and Nina all moved to Israel’s side to hug and kiss his cheeks.

  Nina giggled. “You boys really need to take some pointers from a man with such good taste.”

  Back on the field Roshawn and Baxter were still dancing about. Angel stood watching from the dugout as Patrick moved to join him.

  “She’s going to kill you, you know.”

  Angel nodded, trying to stifle the laughter that threatened to spill over. “I know. But this makes us even for that hot-sauce trick. And look at her, she is having a good time.”

  Patrick laughed. “I bet when she gets out of that costume you’re going to see just what a good time she was havin’. Just make sure she isn’t too close to any of these bats. I’d sure hate to see you get hurt.”

  With minutes, till the start of the game, Roshawn was ecstatic when Chuck motioned for her to follow him off the field. Shaking the length of her bobcat tail one last time, Roshawn sprinted off the field, waving both hands as she disappeared from view. Back in the tunnel, Chuck congratulated her.

  “Good job, Ms. Bradsher. You’re a natural at this.”

  “It’s kind of hot in this thing.”

  Jimmy chimed in. “It takes some getting used to. If you need a break though, just let us know.”

  She shrugged. “No, I’ll be okay I guess. What now?”

  “You’ll just walk the stadium, stop at the food court to shake hands with the kids, just some fun stuff. Are you up to it?”

  Roshawn nodded, the oversize mask blinding her view and then snapping her neck back. “I guess. Whatever it takes to get this over with.”

  * * *

  Angel had gotten a home run his last hit and as the end of the seventh inning approached, a twinge of nervousness was settling in his midsection. The coach came to tap him on the back, the other players extending their congratulations and well wishes. As the Titans secured their last out, indicating the start of the short break, he broke out into a cold sweat. Patrick stood at his elbow, cheering words of encouragement as the team’s mascots appeared back on the field and the stadium announcer sounded out over the PA system.

  “For all you Titan fans we’re only going to take a quick break for some brief announcements. If you need to take a break, the food and beverages are flowing from out food stands and we’re sure there is something there for everybody.

  “Now it’s time for our seventh inning Race the Bobcat game and this time we’ve got some special visitors with us who think they can beat that bobcat around the bases. Come on out, gang!”

  Roshawn heaved a deep sigh as Chuck continued to chorus like a broken record behind her. “Wave, baby. That’s it. Jump, jump, jump! Give ’em another wave!” He leaned in close to her. “Okay, you get the first lap. They’ll bring a few kids on the field, Baxter will help them bat a ball one of the players will pitch and then when the kid takes off running, you just pretend to run after them. Of course, you’ll let them win. Any questions?”

  Behind the mask, Roshawn rolled her eyes. “No, Chuck. I think I can handle this.”

  “That a girl!” he chimed cheerily, before adding, “and remember, no talking!”

  She turned as the lucky fans stepped past the dugout security who guided them out onto the field. Inside her mask her mouth fell open as Jeneva stepped toward them, baby Alexa toddling at her side as Jeneva’s son Quincy trailed behind them. Two other youngsters also raced onto the field excitedly.

  Roshawn was ready to bust as Chuck set them all in position. A boy named Tyler and his twin sister Kim got to go first. Roshawn couldn’t even begin to wrap her mind around what was going on as she trot
ted slowly behind Kim first and then Tyler. Before she realized it, Baxter had helped Alexa take her swing and she and her big brother were both circling second base toward third. Roshawn trotted behind them, pretending to fall to the ground from exhaustion as the two kids touched home plate. Quincy held his sister protectively as Alexa laughed and clapped with glee.

  Roshawn eased her way to Jeneva’s side and whispered loudly. “What are you doing here?”

  Her friend chuckled. “Shhh. You’re not supposed to talk. Don’t scare my baby.”

  The announcer continued to incite the crowd with his banter and cheers and laughter rang around the stadium. “Are you ready for our next game!” he shouted. “Let’s play Bounce the Bobcat!” he said and Roshawn groaned loudly.

  Jeneva and her family were escorted to the sideline and when Roshawn glanced over to them, Angel was standing by their side, his arms crossed over his chest, and a Cheshire-cat grin spread across his face.

  The next game involved the participants donning padded bubble suits to do battle with the bobcat mascot Sumo wrestler style. As Bridget slowly made her way to the cushioned mat, the padded suit impeding her gait, Roshawn knew that she had been had and had good. Angel had gotten the best of her right under her nose and she hadn’t been able to decipher one clue that could have forewarned her. Over on the sideline, Nina, Mac and Israel had joined the others.

  “Okay,” Chuck called. “We just do this to give the kids a laugh. Pretend to wrestle. Let the fan toss you off the mat and then you’re finished. And remember, no talking!”

  Roshawn nodded as she and Bridget stepped to opposite sides of the large circled area that had been marked out for them. She shook her bobcat finger at her friend, her head waving from side to side. Bridget laughed.

  “Come and get me, baby. Think you know everything, heifer. Not!”

  Ten minutes later, the game was over and as Roshawn moved to follow behind Bridget toward her family, Chuck grabbed her arm.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Bradsher. We have one more thing you have to do.” He pointed to the pitcher’s mound as Baxter spun her back in the other direction, guiding her by the hand to stand midfield. The announcer’s voice pulled at her attention.