Home Field

by Laurie Winter

  “Don’t go misconstruing kindness for a romantic interest. I’m not really his type. I’m nobody special.” Julie’s cheeks burned red.

  A sure sign her feelings ran deeper than she’d admit. “You’re wrong. You are special, and Reagan would be the first to agree with me. A man with his responsibilities doesn’t spend so much of his free time with a woman, unless he’s fallen for her. He even spent his day off helping me with repairs around here.” She pointed to her house. “Reagan may be nice, but nobody’s that nice unless love is involved.”

  “You know how unprepared I am.” Her voice cracked. Julie kicked a small stone on the sidewalk, sending it skipping into the grass. “I can’t imagine loving anyone else but John. He was my one true love. No one is lucky enough to find that twice in a lifetime.”

  “You had a wonderful life with John, and Aiden’s evidence of that. But John’s gone, and you deserve to be loved again. And Aiden…think about how much he would benefit from a father figure in his life. If you were honest with yourself, you’d admit your feelings for Reagan have grown. I can see you really care.” She opened her arms.

  The moment Julie entered her mom’s embrace, she began to cry.

  Mary absorbed the emotional turmoil her daughter released with every tear.

  “Why is life so hard?” Julie took a deep breath then exhaled. “I do care about Reagan. But his life is so different than mine. We’re friends, yes…but that’s all we’ll ever be.”

  Mary wished her daughter would open her eyes to the simple truth. Julie could find love again, but first, she’d have to unlock her heart. “I think Reagan’s been waiting for you to be ready, just don’t keep him waiting too long.”

  “Thanks for always being here for me.” Julie dabbed at the corner of her eyes and made her way down the front steps. “I should probably get going. Wish me luck!”

  ****

  Julie’s stomach churned as she parked her Jeep in front of Reagan’s house to meet his family. As she exited her vehicle, a squirrel darted across her path, most likely on a single focused mission to find as many acorns as possible before winter.

  Not even the bright sunshine calmed her nerves. After what had happened earlier with Aiden, she worried about their judgment of her relationship with Reagan. The last thing she wanted was for any more misunderstandings. But when they answered the door, all her misgivings evaporated.

  Bob and Eileen were the first to greet her, followed by Kelsey, who gave her a massive hug. Reagan’s father was exactly as she’d imagined—tall, with wide shoulders and the same strong features as his son. Eileen’s petite height took Julie by surprise. How had this small woman produced big Reagan?

  She was then introduced to Reagan’s older sisters, Stacy and Maggie, and their husbands, Tony and Derek, along with their combined five children. Stacy and Maggie were so similar in looks, they could pass as twins. Both were tall and thin, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Stacy’s husband, Tony, sported a dark, bushy beard. That, combined with his plaid shirt, made him resemble a lumberjack. Derek, on the other hand, looked like a lawyer or engineer. Julie learned he was the former and had a successful law practice in Indianapolis.

  Reagan had arranged for a babysitter to stay home with the kids so the adults could go and enjoy the game.

  Arriving at the stadium parking lot, the group flipped open the tailgates of their three vehicles and kicked off the party. As they unloaded coolers, numerous food containers, lawn chairs, and the grill, Julie unfortunately found herself the focus of Reagan’s sisters.

  “So, you’ve been seeing Reagan for what…three months now?” Stacy raised a single, perfectly shaped brow.

  “I’ve known him for that long,” she answered while pulling out an icy beer from the cooler.

  “When you say ‘known,’ you mean date.” Maggie piped up with a grin. “Now, I know my brother, and his eyes light up every time he talks about you.”

  “I’m glad he stopped seeing Brynn,” Stacy said. “She’s dumber than a box of rocks. I did a happy dance when he gave her the boot. Reagan’s much better off dating you.”

  “But we’re not dating,” Julie insisted. This was going downhill—fast.

  “Don’t interrogate her.” Kelsey put a protective arm around her. “What feelings she has for our brother are none of our business. We don’t need to know all the hot, steamy details.”

  “Oh, yes we do,” Stacy and Maggie said in unison.

  Julie’s eyes bugged out and her drink caught in her throat. She coughed and sputtered while Kelsey patted her on the back.

  “Everything Reagan does is our business.” Stacy clinked beer bottles with Maggie.

  “That’s just because you want to use the information to tease him.” Kelsey poked Maggie’s arm several times. “Just like when he was little.”

  Maggie laughed and turned to Julie. “Reagan is two years younger than me and three years younger than Stacy. The poor boy had it rough growing up. We would dress him in our clothes and parade him around the house. Ah, those were the days.”

  “That’s why he grew up to be so rough and tough.” Kelsey flexed her bicep, which was significantly smaller than her brother’s. “He had to learn how to protect himself from these two.”

  Stacy and Maggie must have been a formidable duo against a young Reagan. Julie almost felt bad for the guy. Almost.

  Now that Julie was no longer the topic of discussion, she enjoyed the ongoing exchange. Maggie had just finished telling Julie a story, which included Reagan and their mom’s nail polish, when Bob Harrison walked over to the cluster of giggling females. “All right, let my son keep a shred of dignity.” Bob winked at Julie. “Dear, let me save you from this trio of trouble. Would you mind coming over and help me get the food ready?”

  “Sure.” She gladly followed Bob around to the front of the car where a small charcoal grill sat. She noticed he walked with a slight limp, maybe a leftover from his own days playing sports. The air was filled with the aroma of brats, hamburgers, and the smoke from countless tailgate grills surrounding them.

  Bob sat on a plastic folding chair and pointed to an empty one next to him. “My daughters can be pretty relentless, and you’ve definitely piqued their interest.”

  Julie gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, but I’m really not that exciting. I’m sure they would’ve gotten bored with me eventually.”

  “Don’t count on it.” He stood to flip over the hamburgers and brats cooking nearby.

  Bob Harrison was quiet, but carried an inner strength that was hard to miss. With his tall frame and strong build, she could tell where Reagan got his athletic talent from. His hair was the same sandy color as his son’s, with an added touch of gray.

  Reagan’s mother soon joined them. Eileen possessed the charming personality that was also evident in Reagan and Kelsey. She was very small in comparison to her husband, with shoulder-length blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

  By the time she made her way into the stadium with Reagan’s family, the game had already started. She wove her way through throngs of people dressed in Warriors gear, trying not to stare opened mouthed at several men with large, red Ws painted on their beer bellies. The crowd was loud and rambunctious, and the smell of beer and hot dogs permeated the air. The seats Reagan arranged were ten rows behind the home team’s bench, at midfield. The group of eight filed into their row, with Julie situated between Kelsey and Maggie.

  “Julie.” Kelsey patted her arm to get her attention then pointed to the sidelines. “Do you see number eight standing over by the water cooler? He asked me for my phone number at the party and wants to get together next time I visit. Reagan overheard him and threatened to toss him into the next county. I was so bummed, because he’s super cute.”

  How endearing of Reagan to try to guard his sister’s heart, along with the rest of her body. Julie caught sight of the offending player and laughed. “Seems your big brother is slightly overprotective.”

  “Oh! Reagan’
s running on the field.” Kelsey bounced up and down, clapping.

  “He said you’ve been feeding him well,” Maggie said. “I seriously don’t know how he survived on takeout and microwave meals for all these years. When he was in high school, my mom couldn’t make enough food to fill his stomach.”

  Reagan broke through the offensive line to take down the quarterback, and the noise level in the stadium erupted. Julie, along with the whole Harrison family, jumped to their feet and cheered. What a rush to see him play in person!

  Eileen leaned around to get Julie’s attention. “I’m so glad you came with us today. Reagan’s always so much fun to watch. I wish we could be here more often.”

  Julie tore her gaze away from Reagan and turned her head toward his mother. “This is my first Warriors game. I was totally oblivious to football before I met Reagan. My son, Aiden, started playing on a team this summer.”

  Eileen smiled. “Just wait, if your son continues to play football, you’ll become an expert.” She returned her attention to the action on the field.

  Julie’s mind wandered to an imagined future, where she sat in the stands watching Aiden play high school football, with Reagan still by her side. The thought made her take a deep breath and smile. Maybe the idea of a relationship with Reagan wasn’t so crazy. But could she put her heart on the line, knowing he may not feel as strongly? His idea of a committed relationship may be very different. Could she endure any more heartache in her life?

  Shouts of “Dragon” snapped her out of her daydream, and she looked over to see Reagan standing on the sidelines. He took off his helmet and grabbed a water bottle, before squirting water into his mouth. Then he turned to face her in the stands. As their gazes met, a slight smile crossed his lips. Her heart fluttered in response.

  With a quick nod, he slowly turned to face the playing field.

  Reagan Harrison, with his confident attitude and sweet smile, might be the one man worth the risk.

  Chapter Ten

  On the day of Aiden’s birthday party, the thermometer outside Julie’s kitchen window read fifty degrees. A striking contrast to the sunny day a week ago when she’d attended the Warriors game. Aiden had wanted a costume birthday party a few days before Halloween. He and Grandma were out shopping for gifts to put into the party bags.

  On this busy day, going out for a run didn’t make much sense, but here she was, lacing up her shoes. She walked out the door, wearing an old sweatshirt, running tights, hat, and gloves. There was someplace she needed to go before she saw Reagan again. Over the past months, she’d been running regularly, and the activity now felt natural. Not as easy as in high school, when her legs were young and she had very few other responsibilities, but still familiar and freeing.

  She took deep, cleansing breaths, causing cool air to flood her lungs. The activity of her body unclouded her mind. Julie turned the corner onto Maple Street, and a narrow path came into view. A familiar trail led to a little opening in the tree line, which continued to Cottonwood Field. She hesitated for several seconds before heading through the wall of trees. She entered the woods through an arch of tree branches, and memory took control of her steps. Suddenly, the air became quiet and still, the sounds of cars faded away. The only sounds were from her own heavy breathing, the crunch of gravel under her feet, and the song of a lone bird.

  Turn left at the grove of birch trees. Head right where the large boulder divided the path. She ran a mile farther and took a left turn, and instead of following it to the right, she quickly found herself stepping into the clearing. The fall leaves were bright orange and red, many still clung to tree branches. Even more were scattered on the ground, providing a disguise for the brown grass. The air smelled of rain and earth, the undeniable scent of autumn.

  She visually absorbed the landscape. Ten years had passed since her last visit, but the scenery was the same. She could picture John sitting on the fallen tree next to the creek, with a book in hand, absorbed in his own thoughts. Back then, neither of them had a clue what the future would hold. They were idealistic and full of their own ambitions, ready to take on the world.

  They had discovered Cottonwood Field on a hot day in July, covered in tall grass and prismatic wildflowers. A slow-moving creek meandered through the middle, weaving back and forth like a shimmering snake.

  She’d named the field for the large Cottonwood tree, which stood guard in the middle of the field. In summer, the tree released an abundance of white fluffy Cottonwood seeds. They had floated through the air like summer snowflakes. The soft puffs filled the sky and stuck to her and John’s sweaty skin. They laughed and swung their arms in a failed attempt to avoid becoming covered in the cotton.

  John leaned in close to pull off a seed stuck to her lower lip and their lips met in a shy, first kiss. Throughout their high school years, they visited Cottonwood Field again and again. Their special field offered a place to slowly fall in love—a way to escape the rest of the world.

  Julie remembered the conversations about the number of children they wanted to have and where they would live once John retired from the Army. They’d been different people then, and she realized how much she’d changed, especially during the trials of the past year and a half.

  Strolling through the field, Julie came to terms with certain facts of her life. She was a widow, and no amount of heartache would bring back John. Every day was as unpredictable as the Wisconsin weather. Instead of fearing the future, she needed to start embracing the gift of life. Which led her straight to Reagan and how he’d altered her life.

  Up to this point, their relationship had been strictly platonic. She always assumed Reagan only saw her as a friend. Was that belief just a protective measure to guard her heart? Looking at the situation now with clear eyes, as the fog finally lifted, she saw the truth. Reagan’s unwavering loyalty, the way he looked after her well being, and his affection for Aiden—those were responses to feelings much stronger than friendship. The signs had been there all along.

  What she felt for Reagan had strengthened over the past three months. The warning voices in her head needed to be quieted. Eighteen months ago, her heart had been cut down and nearly destroyed. Now, every day she became a little bit stronger. Thanks to Reagan, she felt whole again, instead of someone broken.

  Walking over to the creek, she noticed a patch of purple Prairie Thistles holding strong against the changing of the season. No matter how hard I resist, change will come regardless, always of its own accord. Carefully, she picked a flower as a reminder of what she discovered within herself that day.

  Instead of hiding away, she needed to step out onto the ledge and take a chance. Jump, and have faith Reagan’s strong arms would be there at the bottom to catch her. Trusting him—a playboy football star with a shady dating record—would definitely be a risk. She’d learned over the past year that risk proved a double-edged sword. Hopefully, she’d be on the winning side this time.

  The morning turned to noon, and she headed toward the path that led home. The rain from earlier left the earth with a glossy sheen. Birds came out of their shelters, taking flight into the brightening sky. As she ran, she deliberated on how to tell Reagan what was in her heart. A new anticipation grew with each step home.

  ****

  That night, with Aiden’s party scheduled to start in less than an hour, Julie opened her front door to the object of her nervous excitement. What she saw caused her breath to come to a screeching halt. Standing before her was a scrumptious-looking pirate. If fantasies came true, he’d kidnap her and take her to some deserted, tropical island, where they could swim in turquoise water and stuff themselves with coconut and shrimp.

  Back to reality, girl. Save the fantasizing for another day.

  He shrugged off his coat and hung it in the closet before she could offer. “Aiden, a pirate’s here to see you,” she called out. “And he said the birthday boy needs to walk the plank.”

  Aiden came running. “Reagan!” he yelled and gave him a bi
g hug.

  “No fooling you, kid.” Reagan, still in Aiden’s grasp, looked over at Julie and closed his one exposed eye in an attempt at a wink. “Didn’t the eye patch help my disguise?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure no one will figure out who you are. You do make an absolutely terrifying pirate. The children will be shaking with fear.” She walked into the family room dressed in her new fairy costume, sparkling wings fluttering behind. She’d spent hours searching for the right costume, with Reagan in mind. The one she’d ended up choosing was short, but not too skimpy, and hugged her curves in all the right places.

  “How come I don’t believe you? Speaking of children, when are the kids arriving?”

  Julie let out a deep exhale, realizing she was quickly running out of time. “Very soon. Would you mind helping me set up some of the games? I could use your help hanging doughnuts from the kitchen ceiling.”

  “Sure thing.” He followed her into the kitchen.

  Julie pointed to the supplies on the table. “Here are the doughnuts, string, and tape. Hang the doughnuts at a height so the kids can reach them with their mouths. They eat them without using their hands.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “Sounds like fun.”

  Julie’s knees nearly buckled. Focus. You have a party to run. But Reagan’s lips were way too distracting. “The game is harder than it sounds,” she stated, before hustling out of the room to tackle the next task. Distraction was the name of the game, and the only way she would get through this party without doing something foolish.

  “Aiden, time to put on your costume. It’s hanging in your closet,” Julie instructed while putting up the Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin game. Taking a break, she stole a glance at Reagan, who was busy taping string to her ceiling. He looked extremely dashing as a pirate, with his shirt open just enough to offer a peek of his well-defined chest. Julie became so lost in admiration, she let her gaze linger a little too long.