Nine forty-five. Still plenty of time before her eleven o’clock patient. She’d thought Sammy’s dentist appointment would run much longer than it did so she hadn’t scheduled her first patient until later in the morning. But, in a way that was good. At least now she’d have some free time to spend with him before running him to day care on Route 22 and 3 before her workday started.
Scooting back into her SUV, she turned around to Sammy, who was staring out the rear window. “Hey kiddo, what do you think about a jelly doughnut this morning?”
The mention of his favorite sweet pulled her son’s attention from the shiny silver and red motorcycle in the gas line opposite them.
“You kidding, Maw-mee?” Surprise widened his sweet eyes.
“No, I’m not kidding.” He always had a way of making her laugh. “Is that a yes?”
“Yeh! Buh don tell Doctor Bell. He get mad.”
No doubt, it was slightly crazy to be indulging in a serious amount of sugar only minutes after Dr. Bell’s hygienist had finished cleaning Sammy’s teeth. But Sammy’s report had been good—great actually. No cavities and double stars for pink gums and proper brushing, something Megan helped him with each morning and night.
And besides, with the Donut Emporium right there at the gas station, she was thinking she could kill two proverbial birds with one stone. She could also visit Sean’s place for Janey and tell her friend all about it when they met up for dinner later that evening.
“Don’t worry, Sammy. I won’t tell,” Megan promised, as she started the engine and drove all of twenty feet or so across the parking lot that the station and doughnut shop shared. “And we’ll brush your teeth with the new brush Dr. Bell gave you once we get to day care, okay?”
“Yeah, brush ‘em,” he agreed.
Luckily there was a handicapped space open, giving Megan plenty of room to get Sammy out of the car and into his wheelchair. The space happened to be closer to the gas station than the Emporium, but that was okay. The sun felt pleasant as she pushed Sammy’s chair along the sidewalk the two businesses shared—not unbearable the way it’d be feeling in another couple of hours. Its early morning glint bounced off the cars and the storefronts where she happened to catch her reflection in one of the windows.
At first it startled her to see herself. Sometimes lately she didn’t recognize the woman smiling back at her. In the past, she’d made a point of smiling, always wanting to put on a happy front. She didn’t want anyone to think for a minute that she didn’t feel blessed to have Sammy as her son—that she didn’t feel honored to be his mom.
But truth was, the incredible fatigue that came from caring for a special-needs child could really zap the life out of her. Often that smile was over-the-top and forced.
Yet since Mac …
She felt her cheeks heating thinking about their first kiss. And how it felt to dance in his arms. Thinking about the way he often looked at her. How his smile would go all the way to his eyes, which made her smile more. Yes … sometimes she’d catch a glimpse of herself in a mirror or window, and it would absolutely surprise her. She looked so happy. Genuinely happy. Scarily so! Because of Mac, things in life were so much lighter for a change.
“Here we are, Sams. Our first visit to the Donut Emporium.” She started to grab for the door, planning to prop it open with her foot while she wheeled Sammy inside. But the door opened on its own accord.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true.
“Welcome. My name is Rachel.” A nine-or-so-year-old blond wearing a beaded headband, jean shorts, and a lavender T-shirt with sparkles, held the door for them. “We’re glad you’re here.”
Hmm. A four-foot greeter! Now that’s something Janey doesn’t have at Sweet Sensations.
“Thank you, Rachel.” Megan grinned, pushing the chair over the threshold into the bakery where a heavy smell of sugar hung in the air like a cloud of fog.
“We glad we here, too!” Sammy said a bit loudly, causing several customers hovered around the bakery case to turn to look at him. But if Rachel noticed, she wasn’t embarrassed. Instead, she nodded at Megan’s hands clenched around the wheelchair’s handles.
“I can do that for you.”
“Yeah?”
Rachel nodded.
Megan sized her up quickly and decided she looked strong and capable enough. She leaned down to get her son’s permission. “Sammy? Would you like Rachel to push your chair?”
Sammy nodded vigorously, as she thought he would, his eyes twinkling, already entranced by his new acquaintance.
After getting in line, it was only a matter of minutes until the customers in front of them had cleared out. And there was Sean Shaffer staring at her from behind the glass case.
She really didn’t know how Janey could act so nonchalant about seeing Sean again. He was even better looking than he had been in high school. His baby face had matured into easy-on-the-eyes, all-grown-up, good-looking features. It was a warm and friendly face, and his body wasn’t so bad either. He was average height, shorter than Mac. But still, even with an apron on, you could tell he had a good physique. Obviously he wasn’t much tempted by all the doughnuts he was around every day.
Tilting his head, he squinted. “I feel like I know you, but I’m really bad with remembering names. Sorry.”
“Megan.” And when he still didn’t recognize her, she added, “O’Donnell.”
“Right! Your dad was my guidance counselor.”
“Probably. He had that last part of the alphabet. P through Z.”
“And this is your little guy?” He nodded to Sammy.
“He sure is. And Rachel is your—”
“Niece. I’m just helping my sister Tammy out. I told her Rach could come and hang out at the shop on days that she works. Helps her save on babysitting money.”
Something Megan could relate to. “That’s really nice of you.”
“It’s just until school starts. And she’s really been a help. Haven’t you, Rachel?”
But Rachel was more interested in Sammy than the adult conversation.
She squatted down to get even with Sammy’s face. “What’s your name?”
“Sammy.”
“Sammy, cool.” She spoke to him as if they were equals in age and every other way. “I like your chair. A chair on wheels is a good idea. I could use a chair on wheels when I get tired of standing at the front door.”
Megan noticed Sean frown. “Rachel honey, I told you. You don’t have to stand at the front door all day.”
“That’s okay. I don’t mind,” she answered her uncle.
“Women in my family …” Sean shrugged. “They’re a hardworking bunch.” His lips slid into a proprietor’s friendly grin. “So what can I get you, Megan?”
“Actually we just need one jelly doughnut.”
“Coming right up.” He grabbed a sheet of waxed paper from the dispenser. “That’s all?”
“Oh, and I could stand a cup of coffee.”
“No problem.” He moved in swift motions behind the counter, retrieving the order. But after she’d handed Sammy his doughnut and got her wallet out to pay, Sean paused.
“Wait a minute.” He clicked his fingers. “You were good friends with Janey Saunders, weren’t you?”
Megan’s hands stilled like she’d been caught stealing a handful of doughnut holes. “Uh, yeah. Yes,” she admitted.
Sean harrumphed and rolled his eyes. “I still never got why she told everyone I dumped her at prom senior year. What an imagination! But … whatever.” He shook his head. “A buddy told me she’s the owner of Sweet Sensations bakery.”
“Uh, yeah,” Megan repeated herself. “Yes, she is. She’s had the place for a couple of years.”
“Good for her. That’s great.” Megan noticed his obvious sincerity. “Hopefully she doesn’t twist things around and think I’m after her business or anything. Truth is, I finished college with a business degree but then wasn’t happy with that, so I went on to culinary school before I
moved back here. I’d love to own my own restaurant someday and not just be a doughnut man. But it’s all a process….” He grabbed a rag and swiped at the glass counter. “But anyway, back to Janey. Hopefully, she’s cool with everything. She still can’t be as delusional as back in high school.”
“Janey? Ha!” Megan groped for a few dollars from her wallet. “She’s uh—Janey’s fine. So how much do I owe you?”
“Two dollars.”
She couldn’t wait to get out of there, her cheeks burning, but Sean took the money and asked, “Anyone else you run into from school?”
“Not really. But you know, I mean, plenty of people are still around. It’s just I’m busy with Sammy and work and … stuff.”
Like sneaking around to doughnut shops for my friend who really still is a bit delusional. She dropped her wallet into her purse and zipped it up, hoping to hurry out of the shop. But Sean had more things on his mind.
“Hey, come to think of it. Do you remember a redhead in our class? There’s a woman who’s been coming in here, and well, she reminds me of someone. I just can’t put my finger on who. I’ve gotten to talk to her some, but just when I’m on the verge of asking her name, she scoots out of here before I can find out.”
“A redhead?” Megan could feel her face going into a full-fledged burn. “Um, the only real redhead I can remember from school was Melanie Ellis.” Well, that was a version of the truth.
“No, definitely not her. This woman is taller. Usually has on a sunhat and sunglasses. Really great sense of style and, I don’t know. Just something about her.”
He had a misty look in his eyes that made Megan want to die on the spot. No doubt he was taken by the mysterious redhead and maybe even wanted to ask her out.
It was the same starry-eyed expression her almost-seven-year-old had on his face, she noticed, as he stared at Rachel. Sammy, her special-needs son, who was pretending to be especially needy and intentionally messier than usual, getting jelly all over his shirt so Rachel would continue to wipe it off.
I’ll never get those stains out! Megan sighed.
Oh, did she have a lot to say to Janey tonight. An entire earful. Or two.
The morning hadn’t been going anything like Megan had planned, and the trend continued when she arrived at the clinic.
“Your eleven o’clock just called and had to reschedule.” The receptionist worried her lip. “I tried to reach you.”
“Oh.” Megan moaned. “I had my phone on silent and didn’t even think to look at it. But thanks for trying, Ellen,” she tried to say brightly even though she felt her shoulders slump in disappointment. If only she’d known she had more time, she and Sammy could’ve visited Mrs. Biddle, whose recovery had been going remarkably well. Or she could’ve taken Sammy to nearby Montgomery for a really nice breakfast at First Watch or the Pancake House. Instead of ending up at Donut Emporium where she’d evaded the truth, and was still feeling bad about it even though she only did it to protect her “redheaded” friend.
“It looks like your next patient isn’t due for another thirty minutes or so.”
“Well, in that case I think I’ll try to get caught up on some paperwork,” Megan said. But as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she remembered that Mac had a radio interview. His first radio interview to promote their All-Stars Sports Day event. And, glancing at her watch, she figured he might be in the midst of it right at that moment.
Bypassing her office, she walked down the hall to the employee lounge where a portable radio sat on the kitchen counter. One of the other therapists had brought it in at the beginning of baseball season so they could tune into games in between patients. Turning it on, Megan switched it to the correct station, feeling an instant gush of warmth when she heard Mac’s voice.
“Yes, Trista, that’s true,” he was saying as Megan settled into a cushioned chair. “A lot of people in Loveland and many local businesses have been working together to ensure All-Stars Sports Day will be a true success.”
“And now, tell us, what kind of activities will be on hand for the participants?” the interviewer—Trista—asked.
“All sorts of things,” Mac told her. “Whether a child is wheelchair-bound or not, we’ll have outdoor bowling, croquet, basketball, and all kinds of fun races just to name a few activities. Also, luckily, some of my baseball buddies from the Hawks will be there that day to play ball along with a handful of volunteers. Whoever wants to challenge them should go online and sign up. We plan to rotate players if we get overloaded.”
“You’re obviously pumped about this, huh, MacNeill?”
“I am. It’s one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been involved with in my entire career.”
“And speaking of your career, some people may wonder how you got from there to here—to heading up an event like this.”
“I don’t think it’s much of a stretch really. I’ve always loved sports, especially baseball. This event gives me the opportunity to help disabled kids play, or even discover some sport that they might enjoy.”
The interviewer giggled in a way that sounded out of context, causing Megan to frown. Why did she have the feeling the woman was fishing for something?
“Uh-huh. Oh sure, I get that part, Mac.” Trista’s voice suddenly sounded sweeter than Sammy’s jelly doughnut. Plus, she’d gone from MacNeill to a friendly “Mac” fairly quickly in Megan’s opinion.
“The bottom line is, you like games, right?” the interviewer cooed.
“Well, sure. Sure I do.”
“And it seems you’ve played your share of them. On the field. And off the field.”
What on earth? Megan shot up straight in the chair, stunned. Staring at the little silver box, she willed Mac to come back with some brilliant response. Something to defend himself. Or a segue to change the subject entirely. But he stammered and hemmed and hawed, sounding as caught off guard as she was.
“I—excuse me?” is all he managed to get out.
Trista, however, didn’t skip a beat.
“Is that why you’ve never been able to settle down with one person and take a relationship seriously?”
“Hello!” Megan jumped out of the chair. “Is this an interview or an inquisition?” She shouted at the inanimate radio, wishing so much she could come to Mac’s aid. Luckily, for the sake of their All-Stars Sports event, Mac was doing a better job of keeping his composure than she was. He simply laughed. It was a forced sort of laugh, she knew, but at least he maintained his cool.
“You know, Trista—” he started slowly, his voice even.
Ever the expert, Trista cut him off deftly before he could fully recover. “On another note sounds as if you have some news you may want to tell us about.”
“Some news?” Mac asked.
Some news? Megan repeated in her head.
“About the rumors.”
Megan blinked once at the radio, and then once again, waiting to hear Mac’s reply. Rumors? Really? Was there something he’d failed to tell her? Something everyone else knew?
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to,” he finally said, allowing Megan to let go of a pent-up breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding.
Trista prodded on. “Isn’t your agent talking to other teams?”
“Agents are always talking. That’s what they’re good at.”
“Oh, you sure are the coy one, MacNeill Hattaway, aren’t you?” Trista’s tone had gone all gooey again. “Well, if you won’t tell our listeners then I will. Rumor has it that once you get that elbow of yours healed you could be playing for the Mariners or the Miners.”
The Mariners or Miners? Seattle or Sacramento? Megan felt her heart sink all the way to her toes. Thousands of miles from Loveland, Ohio? Really, Mac?
“Like I said, agents are always talking. I can’t comment about that, Trista.”
“But it is a possibility then?”
Megan crossed her arms over her chest, feeling like she was about to get hit with som
e unsettling news. But Mac’s answer was vague.
“In major league sports, anything’s a possibility, Trista.”
“Of course.” Trista sighed at the ambiguous answer, and Megan did, too, for a whole other reason. “So, MacNeill, since we’re running out of time here,” Trista began to wrap up the interview, “is there anything you would like to comment on?”
“Sure. I just want to remind folks that they can go online to get all the details about the All-Stars Sports Day games at …”
Megan didn’t need to hear any more. In fact, as she edged up to the counter to turn off the radio, she almost wished she’d never turned the thing on in the first place.
It had been hard enough to be reminded about Mac’s past dealings with women. To have it publicly restated that the man she’d fallen for had never, ever been involved in a lasting relationship before.
But then the other issue—the news that he might be traded! Just the idea of it caused her knees to go weak. Grabbing onto the counter for support, she stared at the white tiles behind the sink, Mac’s words playing over and over in her head.
“… anything’s a possibility …”
That definitely left a lot of doors open. And was it true that he couldn’t comment? Or that he wouldn’t?
She wished so much she could’ve seen Mac’s face to gauge his expression because she certainly couldn’t read anything into his voice.
Oh dear Lord, what have I done? She buried her head in her hands. What have I been thinking?
Somehow she’d let down her guard because of Mac’s attentiveness to her and Sammy. She’d succumbed to all of his sweetness … his charm … and ultimately—his kiss. Somehow, yes somehow before she knew it, she’d come to love the man!
But the guy she loved was the Mac she’d seen riding his tractor through the fields when she pulled up to his driveway. It was Mac, the co-chair she’d been so reluctant about at first, whose fervor to create a special day for the disabled kids was unrelenting. The man who knuckle bumped the volunteers and kept them charged up and smiling.
And then … when the time was right, it was the man who could make the world go away when he held her in his arms and drew her close to his chest. And who used those same strong arms to lift Sammy up time and time again. Who would swing her son in the air till Sammy giggled in a way—so free, so gleefully—that she had to swallow back the lump of gratitude in her throat and blink away the tears from the corner of her eyes.
Wedding Homerun in Loveland, Ohio Page 16