League of Her Own

by Faith O'Shea

  “The place looks just like we left it. I have Fiona to thank for that, don’t I? It surprised me when texted this morning saying she’d be gone by the time we got back. You didn’t drive her away, did you?”

  He hugged Leeni closer. “She kept me in line, just like you asked her to.”

  Izabella had come around and taken a seat next to him.

  “She told you?”

  “She did.”

  “Why are you…just sitting here? It’s not like you and you’ve got me worried.”

  It wasn’t like him. He was usually the life of the party. He didn’t want the role right now.

  “I’m fine, Iz. Just thinking, is all.”

  Wide eyes were staring at him. He wasn’t known for his contemplative nature. He felt her hand rest against his forehead.

  “No fever but you look pale. Are you sure you’re all right? Are you mad at me because I asked her to stay?”

  He closed his eyes. He should be. If Fifi had gone home, he wouldn’t be feeling the effects of her absence. He had to come up with something to satisfy their curiosity. A misrepresentation of the facts would have to suffice.

  “I just didn’t sleep well last night, woke up groggy.”

  “Why don’t you go up and take a shower. I’ll set up some appointments, show you some rentals.”

  He gave her a weak smile. “Want to get rid of me already?”

  “Not at all. I just figured you don’t have much time before spring training starts, and if you’re still planning to go to Brazil for a few days, you might want that task behind you.”

  “Are you sure you want to go right out. You don’t want to unpack first?”

  “I’ll have plenty of time to do that later.”

  “Then sure.”

  It might be good to have a place to call his own. And maybe the activity would take his mind off an absent house sitter.

  He kissed Leeni’s temple, put his arm around Alex to hug him from behind and forced himself up. He didn’t miss the look of concern on Izabella’s face when she glanced over to her husband.

  “I’m fine, Iz. There’s been a lot of changes, and I’m ready to go home for a few days.”

  “From what you told me, you’re setting yourself up for one of the biggest changes in your life.”

  He was, but no matter how stridently he tried to hold on to that thought, another slipped into his consciousness. Fifi was gone.

  Izabella had changed while he showered, looked the part of Andover agent. Not that she didn’t always look presentable, but she always traveled in more casual attire.

  They were standing in the kitchen, the kids off with Reid from what he could hear coming from the other room. They were playing video games if the hoots and hollers meant anything. He wanted to go in and play with them, but he couldn’t change his mind now. Izabella was holding her iPad.

  “I never asked you what you were looking for, so I guessed. I’m thinking condo.”

  “Yes. I won’t have time for the upkeep.”

  “Small? Large?”

  If he was planning on sharing the space, he wanted big. That way they’d have the room for alone time. Never having lived with the person before, not even knowing who it would be, he wanted the extra square footage, just in case. It might take them time to mesh.

  “Large.”

  “There’s two that fit that parameter. One of them is in the same area where Melinda and Jim live. It’s close to four thousand square feet of living space and it’s furnished which I think will suit your time frame. You can afford the rent and you can move right in.”

  “You are trying to get rid of me.”

  “Am not. But I know you. You’ll want your own space so you can do as you please and not what Reid suggests.”

  He leaned his arms across the counter and looked up at her.

  “Seems we’re on the same page there. I want to see the one near Jim and Melinda.” As an afterthought, he asked, “Is it pet friendly?”

  She raised her eyebrow at him before checking her iPad. “No. Sorry. You can’t have a pet anyway. Who’ll take care of it while you’re on the road?”

  His heart rate picked up. Maybe Fifi would be willing...

  What the hell are you thinking?

  He clicked that off and said, “You know I’m looking to get married. Maybe my wife will like pets. What if she already has one?”

  A laugh sputtered out. “Right. I can’t see any of the women you usually date wanting a dog. Wait, maybe she would. The small kind that will fit in her purse and she’ll take everywhere.”

  He groused at her in-depth knowledge of his dating patterns.

  She shook her head, her long black hair moving with it and she narrowed her brown eyes at him. “You don’t really believe you can just make a list of traits you’re looking for and find a woman who has them all, over a weekend, do you?”

  “All it will take is some discipline.”

  He’d keep his eye on the prize and not get bogged down by looks or stature.

  “And very good luck. Actually, a miracle. You are not easy to manage, Rique.”

  “What do you mean? I’m a piece of cake compared to some of the men I know.”

  “You’re spoiled and the women you run with are spoiled, as well. Who will keep the center, mediate when it’s needed, encourage you to focus?”

  He studied her, and there was an aha moment. She offered all of that to Reid. His brother-in-law respected his wife, listened to her advice and was a better ball player because of her encouragement and support. He needed someone who could do the same. Letting Izabella know he’d prioritized, he said, “I’ve crossed all of them off my list. I have a better idea who I need now.”

  “And how did you come by this awakening?”

  He couldn’t tell her the truth. If his sister knew he’d been sleeping with the house sitter, she wouldn’t be pleased.

  “I’ve started paying attention. To you and Reid, Mama and Papi. You have the kind of marriages that work.”

  “But we are totally different. Everyone has a different…love map. I am not Livia. Couldn’t be. I can’t be an appendage to Reid. I need my own work, my own life. He’s away too often for me to while away the minutes waiting for him to get back. He appreciates that I have somewhere to put my energies when he’s gone.”

  “I like Mama’s steadfastness. She’s created a home.”

  Her hands went to her hips. “And I haven’t?”

  He straightened, lifted his hands to stop the spit and fire he knew was in her.

  “Yes, you have. I didn’t mean it like that. Her life is about him and it suits Papi. I think it would suit me.”

  She was shaking her finger at him now. “You need to be careful Enrique. I wouldn’t trust some of the women you know to stay faithful with those long, lonely nights they’ll endure when you’re on the road. Keeping the home fires burning only works if you’re home to enjoy them.”

  She’d packed up her briefcase and led him out to her car. All business now, she talked rents, amenities, and fees on the way over.

  It didn’t take long to get there or for him to make a decision. The condo she showed him was perfect. Gleaming hardwood floors, lots of sunlight, three bedrooms, a garage and furnished in a comfortable style. He filled out the application, put down a deposit and they put down a move-in date that coincided with his departure for Florida. He’d have a place to bring a wife. Now all he had to do was find one.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  After wiping some foam off her upper lip, Siobhan said, “Tell me about the guy.”

  Fiona was sitting in a brewery for some lunch and beer on tap with her sister. They’d spent an hour walking around Old Port and had worked up an appetite. Siobhan’s husband, Derek, had offered to take the kids sledding at the local park, giving them time together. There was always more snow here than at home and the residents took advantage of it in the form of winter sports. Derek had lived here all his life and it had been an easy decision
to settle here when they’d married. Siobhan wanted to leave Pennsylvania behind as much as Fiona had. Not so much the state but the parents who lived there. Not much of a doting grandmother, Clare hadn’t minded. Not like some mothers who might not want to miss the benchmarks and growing years of their children’s children. Patrick made a solo trip now and again and, from what her sister had just told her, had taken the kids to the local baseball park to see some minor league games.

  It was their father who’d told her about Rique and brunch.

  “It’s Izabella’s brother. Not much of a story.”

  “Dad said you two looked pretty chummy. From what he gathered, you’d both been asleep on the couch.”

  “I feel asleep while he was talking. He likes to. A lot.”

  “You’re not usually known for giving a man the time to do that.”

  She was right. The men she interacted with usually reached ten out of ten on the boring meter quickly and she’d learned to be rude. In a nice way, of course.

  “He’s…different. And even if his topic of conversation begins to wear, he’s nice to look at.”

  “I’ve never heard you say that, either. You can take them or leave them, something I’ve never understood. For that reason, I’m asking again. Tell me about the guy.”

  Fiona’s shoulders slumped. Needing to fortify herself, she took a gulp of her beer and met her sister’s eyes.

  “I think, given the right circumstances, I could fall in love with him. He’s funny, smarter than your average Joe, loves his family, has talent and passion.” She smiled at the memory. “He’s very passionate about some things.”

  “You’ve slept with him.”

  It wasn’t a question, so she didn’t bother answering it.

  Her sister asked, “I take it the circumstances aren’t right?”

  Fiona emitted a long, deep sigh. “He’s off to Brazil to find a wife.”

  Her sister sputtered out, “And you slept with him?”

  “Curiosity, proximity, foolishness. I’m beginning to think the cat’s run out of lives.”

  Siobhan took her hand. “I’m sorry.

  “Don’t be. It was the most daring thing I’ve done and worth it.”

  She’d spent years cooped up in her lab, not wanting to test those dating waters because of past disappointments. She’d gone out on a limb for Rique and even though she was stranded in the damn tree, it had been worth the risk.

  “There’ll be someone else, someone who will appreciate you and all you bring to a relationship. Who’d want a baseball player anyway?”

  Fiona gulped. She did but her attributes didn’t meet his needs. If she looked at it honestly, his didn’t meet hers, either. No way would she be able to mix and mingle with the team as a whole. And cooking him a home-cooked meal? Laughable. He’d want her to spend time at his games, which meant time away from the lab.

  “Right. Who’d want a baseball player? I’ll be too busy soon to dwell on it.”

  After they’d eaten, they returned to the house to find the kids and Derek munching cookies and drinking hot chocolate. They spent a languid afternoon in front of the fire watching movies. For as much as she’d traveled miles to get away from thoughts of the shortstop, he’d texted her several times since leaving. It had been non-sensical statements, much ado about nothing.

  Guess who got dog-walking duty with you gone? Not fair, Fifi.

  Does Hoover always circle around before she poos? I froze my balls off waiting for her to find just the right spot to squat.

  At my suggestion, Izabella ordered in tonight from that Mediterranean place. Everyone enjoyed it. She’s got it on speed dial now. I think you started something.

  I’m grabbing a couple of beers tonight with Seb. I’ll fill you in on the gossip next time I see you.

  Right before she climbed into bed, she got another.

  One response would be nice, Fifi. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’ve already put me in the past. I’m not going to let you keep me there.

  That’s what he thought. She was done putting herself at his disposal. And try as she might to prevent it, images of him came on like a tidal wave. Unable to get him out of her mind, she tossed and turned for hours, the memories of the night before bittersweet. She’d known then it would be the last time she’d feel his lips on her, his hands on her body, be brought to the brink of pleasure and plummeted down the other side. She’d made the decision to leave before he woke up before they’d even begun their love-making marathon. But she pulsed with need, wanted him to fill her. Knowing that would never happen, she finally gave in to the tears that burned for release, accepting it was over.

  She spent the next day, while Siobhan was at school, in a daze, sleep-deprived but not in a good way. She’d gone many a night during the last year with minimal rest, but she’d awoken energized by what she’d accomplished, not depleted. She’d been wasting her time missing him, dissecting every minute of their time together, looking for something that didn’t exist. Why hadn’t she moved on already? She was ordinarily so decisive, never allowed herself to look back, never bothered to look at a problem from every angle, always skipped over ancillary data when searching for a solution, but this infatuation had her head spinning in all directions. Her life had been a singular pursuit of knowledge before Rique, and she’d successfully achieved her goal. Now, her focus had splintered. She was letting her emotions hold sway and the forecast was impending doom. No matter how badly she wanted to spend her life with him, it wouldn’t be possible. They just didn’t meet each other’s needs. She thought she’d be content with his body but instead she’d fallen in love. Getting over this, him, was going to be difficult. The pang wasn’t easing no matter how much she willed it to, even though she was miles away from temptation. Living with someone for as short as a week could do some major damage to your routine. She’d need to learn how to manage the pain, needed to find her way back to before. When she was content to be alone, satisfied with her career consuming her life. With her dream about to become a reality, she’d need to devote all her time to it.

  She stopped in at the Starbucks in town, grabbed a seat at an empty table by the window as soon as her drink was served. She was thinking to watch the passers-by, zone out for a minute, and let her mind rest from the swirling turmoil, but her attention was caught by remnant sections of the Boston Globe lying there. Before she knew what she was doing, she picked up the sports page and scanned the headlines. Most of the news was about the upcoming Super Bowl event due to take place this weekend. There were two articles that interested her, the first “Who Is Mac Calipari?” It was a rundown on the man and myth. It gave his history as a Greenliner and more personal bits about his family. There was a photograph of him, his wife and his daughter. Suddenly interested in what Casey looked like, she brought the paper closer. Here was another woman who’d been left behind by a ballplayer. Could they have commiserated together? Rique had implied she lacked warmth, using the words cool as cucumber, but the smile she wore in the picture countered his assessment. She was lovely and you could tell from the photo that the three were close. Their arms were around each other, their bodies leaning in, a seamless unit. Their faces were engaged, signifying they were happy at being together. Casey was a feminine version of Mac from what she could see in the blurred, grainy picture and she wondered at the color of her eyes, the size of her feet. Letting the curiosity about her DNA go, she went on to the next article entitled “Out with the Old, In with the New.” The reporter had presented a detailed outline on the differences in style and technique between Farina and Calipari. They were numerous and stark. She got the distinct impression that the reporter was in favor of Calipari’s methods. She thought it might have been more sympathetic to Farina’s family if he’d waited a day or two to print it.

  She got up to leave, taking her half-finished latte with her, never once checking the front page to see what was going on in the world.

  That night she packed up all her fantasies a
bout Rique and put them away. Once she regained control of her mind, she was able to get hold of her heart. She was ready to absorb herself in her research again. When she left for Boston on Wednesday morning, her heart and mind were on the upcoming interview. Work would be the only thing that could save her from the agony of her unrequited love.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Rique was straightening his tie, his thoughts automatically drifting to Fifi. The last time he wore this jacket was the night they’d gone dancing. Her scent still clung to it, and if he closed his eyes, he could feel her here with him. He hadn’t been the same since she’d left. He’d lost his appetite, not only for food, but for his upcoming trip. The night before he’d met Seb and Mattie for dinner, muddled through the meal, and left as soon as Seb mentioned clubbing. He had no desire to fake conversation, plaster on a smile, and he certainly had no intention of dancing with anyone else. Not when the memory of her was still so fresh in his mind. It should have left him restless and bored, but it hadn’t. It seemed Fifi’s absence was as grounding as her presence had been.

  Melina and Alex had gone right back to school on Monday and Izabella had gone back to work. It was supposed to be for a couple of hours of floor time, but then she got caught up in a relocation family and a couple of listing appointments. She’d been out of the house more than she’d been in it, but she made sure to call and check in with him. At first, he thought it was to make sure he and Reid hadn’t come to blows. He’d been left in Reid’s clutches, but his brother-in-law had been almost conciliatory, suggesting they meet Jaco for lunch. He hadn’t seen his brother since he’d arrived, and it had been wrong of him. At least Jaco didn’t disappoint and gave him shit about it, which he took. Jaco gave him shit about that, too. He wasn’t acting himself and it was apparent to everyone.

  A voice called out, “Are you coming with us?”

  Izabella had to be standing at the bottom of the stairs, yelling up.

  “I am. I’ll be right there.”

  “We’ll be in the car.”

  He was sure that meant to pressure him into moving more quickly than he was, but it had little impact. Neither did the horn Reid began leaning on.