Out at Home

by JL Paul

  With a groan, she flipped the sheets back and swung her feet to the floor. No use trying to sleep anymore. Each time she tried, the same images invaded her dreams.

  Locating her laptop, she took it to the living room where she got comfortable on the sofa and opened it. She’d started her story on Brady as soon as she'd gotten home, but his parting words had haunted her relentlessly. Giving up, she'd saved what little work she'd had and slammed her laptop shut.

  She drew in a deep, cleansing breath and threw herself into the story, consulting her notes often and recalling some of the things his teammates had told her about him.

  He had played on the farm team with Kyle for a few years. Kyle had been called up and sent back down a number of times but now it seemed like he was a permanent fixture. Well, as permanent as one can be in the world of professional baseball.

  Brady had only received his call recently. Mitchell Randalph, the team’s veteran second baseman, had broken his leg during an awkward slide into home. Although the season was still young, Mitchell figured he wouldn’t be back at all this year. Besides, he’d been hinting around about retirement since the end of last season.

  Taylor had spoken to the other guys at the cookout and was surprised to find that they knew Brady pretty well already. Alex had explained that the team had invited Brady to spring training camp the previous two years and since he and Kyle were friends, they'd all gotten the chance to get to know him.

  Taylor often thought that she knew more about sports than the average girl, but after spending an entire afternoon with a group of baseball players, she realized that she was quite the rookie. She’d never thought before about the hopes and disappointments they went through in their efforts to finally make it to the big time. Kyle had described to her how thrilled he'd been when he was called up the first time and how he’d telephoned everyone he knew, sure it was finally his moment. But after only a couple weeks with the team, he was sent back down to the minors.

  Brady, in one of his humble moments, had described what an emotional rollercoaster it was for him when friends would get called up, leaving him behind. And when it was finally his turn, he'd been totally elated, until he had to pack up his locker and tell the guys who'd worked beside him every day goodbye.

  She included nearly every little piece of information she'd collected and put it together to create a story not only about an athlete whose hard work and persistence finally paid off, but also of the camaraderie between teammates and the struggles they faced together.

  She spoke of the heartbreak of another ended season in the minors. She told of the thrill of getting the call, only to be replaced by guilt when the call came due to an injury to another player.

  She read through it over and over until she was certain Luther wouldn’t totally pick it apart. She saved her work, emailed it to Luther, and shut down her computer.

  After she showered, she gathered her things and headed to the office, feeling confident in her work. Brady’s words kept floating around in the back of her mind but she kept pushing them away. She wasn’t going to let Brady Nolan ruin what was to be a perfect day.

  She was the first to arrive so after dropping her things at her desk, she waltzed to the break room and started the coffee maker, waiting patiently for it to brew.

  She loved coming in early; enjoying the quiet of the usually busy office. She knew every square inch of the squat brick building by heart. Back when her father first became ill, it had been her one escape from medications and doctor visits. Here, she could be Taylor the eager employee; the girl not afraid of any job. She'd jumped feet first into every task.

  Finally, Luther had let her try her hand at reporting. Funny thing about that, Taylor had never really thought about writing. Sure, she'd always been an exceptional English and Creative Writing student, but she'd never once dreamed she’d use it to earn a living.

  But after she'd written her first piece, she became hooked. Of course she’d been assigned to the Society section, the first rung on the ladder, but she'd embraced it and wrote every piece as though writing a Pulitzer Prize novel. Her hard work did not go unnoticed; no, Luther loved it. Unfortunately, he had to play along with office politics and forced her to work her way up. She wasn’t thrilled, but she understood.

  When the coffee finished brewing, she poured a cup - stirring in two spoonfuls of sugar before retreating to her desk. She picked up her phone and dialed her voice mail. She hadn’t been in at all the day before and wondered if anyone had even noticed.

  Someone did, she thought wryly as she punched a button to retrieve her one mail message. Her hand stilled when she heard Brady’s voice.

  “Taylor, love," he greeted. "Come to the game Friday night. I’ll leave a ticket for you at Will Call. I know you’re upset with me but Tabby and Zoey want to see you again. I’ll even buy you a drink after the game.”

  Deleting the message, she slammed the phone down in fury. How could he even think that she’d be remotely interested in being anywhere near him? No, she was through. She got her story and now she could continue her life without Brady Nolan.

  “You’re here early, kid.”

  Looking up at a surprised Luther, she smiled. “Yeah. I couldn’t sleep so I got up early and finished the story. I already emailed it to you.”

  He raised his brow. “Already? Excellent.” He hurried his heavy frame to his office, calling over his shoulder. “I’ll let you know when I’m done reading it.”

  Leaning back in her chair, she nodded. She looked around the office and realized she had nothing really to do. She'd only had the Brady Nolan assignment and she’d finished that already.

  Closing her eyes and tilting her head back, she swiveled left and right in her chair.

  “I lost. I lost the bet.”

  She squeezed her eyes tighter, forcing the image of his torn face from her mind.

  “I didn’t tell. I didn’t tell anyone what happened.”

  “Must be nice to get paid for sleeping.".

  Startled, she jumped, nearly falling out of her chair. “I’m not sleeping, Josh, and even if I was, I deserve a little rest. I worked nearly all night.”

  Josh sat at his desk and turned on his computer. “I see that. You look like hell.”

  She snorted. “Thanks.”

  Following his example, she turned on her own computer, deciding to check her email.

  He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. So, how did it go? Did he give you any hassles?”

  She browsed through her email, eyes never leaving the screen as she answered him. “No, not really. He took me to a cookout.”

  Josh’s brows rose to his hairline. “You’re kidding!”

  She shrugged as she deleted various spam messages. “It’s embarrassing really.” She turned her chair toward him and filled him in on the whole story.

  Josh laughed. “You have to admit he knows how to get to you.”

  “He does not,” she protested.

  “Are you serious? He got you to do what he wanted. I’ve been trying that for years. And if he’s calling you and trying to get you to come to his game, well, it’s obvious he likes you.”

  Closing out her email, she shut down her computer. Getting up, she grabbed her bag, her heart a mess. “No, Josh, he does not. He’s trying to clear his guilty conscience.”

  Josh wandered over to her side and perched on the corner of her desk. He placed a hand on her shoulder, a gentle smile on his face. “But you didn’t see him when he came looking for you after graduation.”

  “I was sort of busy, remember?”

  He squeezed her shoulder gently and ran his free hand through his short hair. “Of course I do. But still, he was a mess. I’ll never forget it.”

  She let out a bitter laugh as she brushed his hand off her shoulder. “Yeah, right. Brady Nolan is never a mess. And why the hell are you defending him?”

  “I’m not defending him. I know what he did. I just think maybe you should talk to him.” He held up
a finger to stop her protest. “Before you get all defensive, I’m only suggesting this because I think maybe you need some closure.”

  She shrugged. “I’m going home. I don’t want to think about this anymore.”

  “You can’t avoid it forever, Taylor.”

  She just waved as she worked her way through the people filtering into the office. When she made it to Luther’s door, she rapped quickly on the glass before poking her head inside. “Hey, Lou Grant. I’m beat so I’m heading home.”

  “Not so fast. Get in here.”

  She stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. She shifted nervously from foot to foot, feeling as if she was about to face a firing squad.

  Looking up at her, he peeled his glasses off his face. He held two sheets of paper up in his free hand. “This is marvelous. I mean, better than newspaper reporting marvelous. You shouldn’t be reporting, you should be writing a book.”

  A furious blush warmed her cheeks. “Yeah well, I need the paycheck.”

  He sighed. “I know, kid.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his graying head. “Well, at least this gives me leverage when I start putting you on real stories.”

  Her face lit up as she dropped into a chair in front of his desk. “Really?”

  “Yep. Now get lost and get some sleep,” he told her, fighting to keep the embarrassment off his face. “You and Tia take my tickets tonight. Louisville is in town and it's going to be a good game.”

  He shuffled through a drawer on the left hand side of his desk until he produced a slim envelope. He handed it to her and sent her on her way. She shot out of his office, pausing only to smile at Josh, who was on the phone, as she grabbed the cell phone off her desk. At least the tickets weren’t the ones Brady had left for her. Luther’s tickets were down the first base line and ten rows back. Brady would never think to look for her there. She could enjoy the game with Tia and not have to deal with his insufferable ego.

  ***

  She decided since she was leaving the office early, she’d go see her father. She drove to the hospital thinking the whole time about everything Josh had said. She agreed he was probably right. Maybe it would be best if she sat down and talked to Brady, get everything out. Then maybe she could move on with her life. Maybe she could get out of her funk and find happiness somewhere. Hell, maybe she'd even date…

  After Prom, when her world had fallen apart, she’d been much too busy to even consider dating again. But now, with Teddy away at school and her father in the hospital, she spent many lonely evenings at home with her television. Tia always regaled her with tales from her dating escapades and sometimes, Taylor felt a twinge of jealousy. She usually had no desire to go out with anyone; Brady had pretty much ruined that. But other times, especially when Tia spoke dreamily of the way her current suitor held her hand or kissed her softly, she would long to have the same thing. Dining with Josh and his wife Lacy only enhanced the emptiness inside.

  But dating Brady Nolan once more? No, definitely not. He’d built her up once only to tear her down. She would never let anyone do that to her again. Especially him.

  Her father wasn’t sitting in his usual chair when she walked into his room. Instead, he was sleeping in his bed, snoring softly with the crisp, white sheets tucked firmly under his arms. She took a seat next to him, observing how thin he had become in the last few weeks. The doctor had informed her that if he continued to not eat well, they would have to insert a feeding tube. She cringed. She knew her father would hate that.

  Resting an arm on the bedrail, she raised her other hand to stroke his thinning hair. She remembered how thick and lustrous it used to be and how her mother would lovingly rake her fingers through it before ruffling it. She’d run from him, laughing uncontrollably, until he caught her around the waist and kissed her.

  Taylor rambled softly to her father about how her story had turned out and the cookout she’d attended. She talked of the players she’d met and told him when he got better, she’d introduce them to him.

  She started when the door opened and Dr. Edwards entered. The aging doctor smiled at her over his bifocals as he checked her father’s chart. He made a few notations then placed it back in the tray at the foot of the bed.

  “Miss Lockwood, could I have a word with you in the hall,” he asked. Taylor nodded and kissed her father’s forehead. She followed the doctor out of the door.

  “How is he?” she asked nervously.

  Dr. Edwards sighed. “He hasn’t eaten at all in the last two days and now he’s started refusing water. I’ve ordered an IV of just saline to keep him hydrated. And I think I’m going to have to order a feeding tube also.”

  Nodding, Taylor studied the floor, fighting back the tears that were forming in her eyes. “He’s wasting away, isn’t he?”

  “I think that’s what he intends to do.”

  Releasing a long breath, she peeked in at her father resting in his bed. “Do what has to be done. I’ll call Teddy and see if he can’t come home soon.”

  He gently squeezed her arm. “That’s a good idea. I’m sorry I didn’t have better news for you.”

  She nodded again, gazed once more at her father, and padded slowly down the corridor. Once she reached the parking lot, she called Tia’s cell phone and told her to pick her up later; they were going to the Racers game. She hung up with Tia and found her car.

  Opening the door, she climbed inside, taking a deep breath. She dialed her brother’s number, frowning when it went immediately to voice mail. She left him a message asking him to call her later and flipped her phone shut before starting the car.

  ***

  Taylor was fiddling with the radio as Tia maneuvered through the heavy traffic when her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen, frowning at the unfamiliar number.

  “Who is it?” Tia asked.

  Taylor shrugged as she answered the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi Taylor. It’s Tabby Hays. I hope you don’t mind but I got your cell number from your editor.”

  Taylor glanced at Tia briefly. “No, it’s okay. What’s up?”

  “Brady said he left you some tickets at the Will Call. Are you coming to the game?”

  Taylor rolled her eyes. “Yeah we are but we have tickets already.”

  “Forget about those tickets,” Tabby cheerfully ordered. “Use Brady’s. His tickets are next to ours. You can sit with us and get drunk.”

  Just wonderful, Taylor thought. She groaned quietly. “I’m with my friend, Tia. We have her uncle’s tickets. I need to check with her.”

  “Okay, call me back. Do you have my number?” she asked.

  “It’s on my phone,” Taylor responded. “I’ll talk to you in a few.” She flipped her phone shut and pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “What?” Tia asked, eyes alternating between Taylor and the road.

  “That was Tabby, Alex Miyerson’s fiancée. She, uh, wants us to use the tickets Brady left me at Will Call so we can sit with them.”

  Tia’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me Brady left you tickets! You must have really made an impression on him.”

  She grunted. “Not the one I wanted to make.”

  “Cheer up. He obviously likes you or he wouldn’t go through all this trouble.”

  “It’s not like, it’s guilt,” she stated as they followed the stream of cars into the parking lot. “Do you really want to sit with them? It’d be a shame to let Luther’s tickets go to waste.”

  “He’ll never know,” Tia responded in a flippant manner. “He wouldn’t have come anyway. He told me he had a business dinner tonight.” Once she parked, she shut off her car and grabbed her purse. “Besides, Brady’s tickets are probably better and maybe I’ll get to meet a single, sexy baseball player.”

  A sudden urge to bang her head on the dashboard rushed through Taylor. She resisted and opened her door instead. “You do realize that the players will be on the field and not in the stands?”

  “Minor tech
nicality,” Tia smiled. “Now where’s that Will Call window?”

  Groaning, Taylor helplessly followed her exuberant friend.

  Chapter Five

  Taking the seat between Tabby and Tia, Taylor quietly nursed a foamy beer in hopes that it would relax her jangled nerves. Alex Miyerson was on the mound and Tabby was beside herself in ecstasy. So distracted was she that Taylor was able to focus on the game and not listen to some propaganda about how wonder Brady Nolan really was.

  Taylor’s heartbeat quickened when a batter from the opposing team knocked a line drive between first and second. Brady dove to his right, snatching it from midair. He fell to his knees, grabbed the ball from his glove, and fired it to the first baseman. The crowd around them jumped to their feet and roared.

  Tia stood and cheered excitedly, slopping beer on her hand. “Why did he throw the ball to first? He caught it so the batter was out, right?”

  With a smirk, Taylor pulled Tia back down to her seat. “The runner on first took off as soon as the ball was hit. When Brady caught it, the runner needed to go back to touch first but since Brady’s throw to the first baseman beat him back to the bag, he couldn’t tag up so he’s out. Double play. Oh, never mind.”

  “Hey, I never said I understood the game. I just like coming and watching the cute players,” Tia said with an indignant shrug.

  Taylor rolled her eyes with a smile as the players trotted off the field to file one by one into the dugout. Suddenly, she remembered a baseball game long ago.

  Huddling in the light drizzle on the bleachers with Amanda Allen, Taylor's heart fluttered when Brady walked out to the on deck circle and winked at her. Amanda squeezed her arm. “I can’t believe you’re dating Brady and I’m dating Jason!”

  Taylor refrained from rolling her eyes. Amanda was a nice girl and pretty, though nothing like the beauties Jason usually dated. Maybe that was why she constantly expressed her disbelief that she was dating him. But whatever the reason, it was starting to drive Taylor crazy.