Summer on Main Street

by Crista McHugh

  Beth chuckled. “Good one.” She looked around. It was true. They did have a ton of wedding attire. “Where’s Lindsey?”

  He nodded to the office. “She wanted to play a game on the computer. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  “Any more hard questions?”

  He shook his head. “No, thank God. She got distracted when your customers came into the store.”

  Speaking of, the two women waved to Beth and left the shop without buying anything. She sighed. Not the day to worry about that.

  Jack glanced toward the back door. “Zoey okay?”

  Beth shook her head, biting her lip. “I sent her home.”

  “She sick or something?”

  Or something. “She, um, went to see Ryan.”

  He nodded. “Ah. A lover’s spat.”

  “Um, not exactly.” She cleared her throat. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Do I need to cross my fingers behind my back?” He grinned, then must have seen something in her expression. His eyes narrowed. “Oh, no. She’s not...?”

  Beth nodded. “Yeah. She is.”

  Jack swore under his breath. “Wow.”

  “I know. She’s meeting him at the Rapids compound.”

  “Wait. She’s telling him now?”

  She nodded.

  “We have a game in a few hours.”

  Beth flattened her lips, and forced a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, just as Tara taught in yoga class. “Before the game or after the game, what’s it really matter? He needs to know.”

  He held up his hands. “I’m not saying she shouldn’t tell him. But maybe now isn’t the right time. The kid’s been playing incredibly well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was called up in the next few days. The last thing he needs right now is something like this to distract him.”

  “So Zoey’s pregnancy is a distraction. Just like I was seven years ago.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  She closed her eyes a moment and shook her head. “You didn’t have to. Actions speak way louder than words, Jack. They always have with us.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The rest of Jack’s day didn’t improve after that. He had a horrible showing at the game that evening. He struck out twice, dropped a high fly foul ball behind the plate, and the team didn’t fare any better.

  His shitty play earned him a text from Kyle after the game that read simply: WTF????, and a brief voice message from his dad that he listened to on his drive from the stadium to his condo, which basically told him to pull his head out of his ass. He also listened to a long voicemail from his mom, asking when she could come out to meet her new granddaughter. “I’m going crazy here not knowing her, honey,” she’d said before clicking off.

  He didn’t hear from Beth. She’d gotten into the thoughtful habit of texting him after every game with either a congratulatory or consolatory text, depending on how he and the team had done.

  Since there was no such text on his phone, he figured she was still pissed at him. Maybe he could have reacted better to Zoey’s news, but his job as Cooper’s mentor was to help the kid keep his head in the game, just as he’d always done.

  And how’s that working for you, McCauley?

  He ignored his internal scolding and pulled into the condo parking lot. Once inside, he grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and a handful of raw almonds from the fridge, and plopped down in the chair overlooking the valley. It was a rare clear night in the NW, and he could see the lights of Twin Rivers twinkling from across the river.

  He clicked on the TV and turned it to a Seattle news station, right in time to hear: And in baseball news, fan favorite Jack McCauley, recently sent to the Twin River Rapids to rehab a knee injury, had an awful showing tonight in his team’s embarrassing 10-2 shellacking. Team manager Rocky Banes stands by his star player. “McCauley’s leadership and experience have been a huge asset to this young team. Did he have a bad night? Yes. But we still believe in him.” But the fans aren’t so sure. “Jack-Mack is past his prime,” said one fan they interviewed. “His head just doesn’t seem to be in the game,” said another.

  The reporter went on to speculate that Jack might be at the end of his career at the ripe old age of twenty-eight. “There are a lot of Jack-Mack fans out there,” the reporter said. “If his career ends in Twin Rivers, he’ll have let a lot of people down.”

  “Asshat,” Jack muttered, disgusted. He flipped off the TV and tossed the remote onto the couch. His gaze was drawn to the framed photo of Lindsey sitting on the nightstand.

  It was just a matter of time before he let her down, too.

  ***

  Beth glanced up from the new inventory she was setting out when the bell over the front door jingled. Jack. Her nerves cartwheeled at the sight of him, like they always did. Then she reminded herself she was still mad at him for the way he reacted to Zoey’s news yesterday.

  “Hey,” he said to her, and nodded to Susie who was ringing up a customer at the counter.

  “Hey.” Awkward.

  He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. Maybe he was going to apologize for being a jerk. “Is Lindsey still upset, or would she mind if I came to her game today? I have the day off.”

  Beth blinked in surprise. “No, she’s not upset anymore, and she would love to have you at her game.”

  “I feel bad that I keep missing them because of my schedule. But I wouldn’t mind hanging out with her team if her coach doesn’t mind.”

  Her irritation with him dissipated a little. He was trying. “Are you kidding? The famous Jack-Mack stopping by? Uh, no. I’m sure Coach Roger won’t mind.”

  Silence hung between them, so she headed to the storage room to grab another box of items to set out.

  He followed her. “Did you hear about Cooper?”

  She shook her head.

  “He got the call. He flies out tonight.”

  “Ryan got called up? That’s wonderful.” She was happy for him, but she wondered if the news was bittersweet to Jack. He wanted that so badly for himself, too.

  She also wondered what this meant for Zoey. She hadn’t spoken to the girl since she’d headed out of the store yesterday to talk to Ryan. She glanced at her watch. Zoey should be here anytime for her shift. “How did he take the news about Zoey?”

  Jack shrugged. “He didn’t mention it, so I wasn’t going to bring it up.”

  That was such a guy thing. If the roles were reversed, that’s the first thing a woman would have asked.

  Jack’s mouth thinned, and she expected him to say another jerk comment about Zoey being a distraction. But he said, “I could have handled the news of her pregnancy better.”

  That was a surprise. But he spoke the truth. He’d been an ass.

  He must have read her mind because he made a face and said, “I know, I know. I’m an ass.”

  “Not always.”

  He didn’t even smirk. “I’m serious, Beth. I just… sometimes forget not everyone’s as selfish as I am.”

  He was so convinced he was just like his dad. And he was in some ways. “I’m serious, too. You’re not always selfish.”

  “Yeah, pretty much I am. You should know that better than anyone.”

  She didn’t have time to dissect his words when the front door jingled, and then squealing and giggling erupted out in the store. Beth and Jack stepped from the storage room to see Zoey holding her arm out toward Tara and Susie, flaunting something on her hand.

  “Well, look at that,” Beth muttered, rushing past Jack. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Zoey’s smile lit up the store and she was practically jumping for joy as she stuck her hand in Beth’s face, showing off a huge diamond solitaire. “Ryan asked me to marry him!”

  Beth laughed and hugged Zoey. “Obviously, your conversation with him went well.”

  Zoey nodded. “I can’t believe I was nervous to tell him. He was really excited.”

  Beth smiled, hap
py for the young couple, and relieved their path would be different than hers and Jack’s had been. Speaking of, she felt him come up behind her by the way her skin tingled and their body heat melded.

  “Let me see that thing,” Jack said, his hand resting on Beth’s shoulder. Zoey showed him. He whistled under his breath. “That’s quite the ring. I’ll say one thing for the kid—he has great taste in jewelry and in women.”

  “That’s two things,” Beth muttered under her breath, but no one heard.

  “Well, congratulations, Zoey.” He squeezed Beth’s shoulder. “Gotta run. Tell Linds I’ll see her at her game.”

  She nodded. “Will do.”

  She watched Jack hurry out of the store. She knew he didn’t have any place he needed to be. He was probably just uncomfortable with any mention of the M word: marriage. She sighed and turned her focus on Zoey. “So when’s the big day?”

  Zoey blushed. “Actually... two weeks.”

  “Wow,” Tara said. “You guys aren’t messing around, are you?”

  Zoey blushed. “Ryan’s team will be in Seattle for a five-game series in two weeks so we thought we’d have the wedding then—we want to get married before I start showing, because I want to fit into my favorite wedding dress.” She headed over to the rack against the wall, and sorted through the dresses until she found one and pulled it out. “I’ve been dreaming about wearing this one ever since Ryan and I started dating. Isn’t it gorgeous?”

  That dress was one of Beth’s favorites, too, with the strapless scalloped neckline, oodles of pearl beads on the bodice.

  “Ooh, I love that one,” Susie gushed, fingering the white satin. “This would look awful on me, but the way it hugs the body before flaring out below the hips will look amazing on your figure.”

  Zoey turned to Tara. “I have some ideas of how I want this altered. Would you please, please, please help me with that? I saw that gorgeous dress you changed up for what’s-her-face last month.”

  “Of course I’ll help,” Tara said, blushing at the compliment. “Let’s get you measured right now.”

  Zoey nodded and held up a finger, then turned to Beth and Susie. “And can you guys help me plan it? I have no idea where to start.”

  Beth did a mental calculation of everything she’d have to do to plan a wedding in two short weeks and had a silent panic attack. “Absolutely. Whatever you need.”

  “And one more teensy, tiny thing?” Zoey asked, her expression hopeful.

  The three sisters waited expectantly.

  “Could I have the rest of the day off so I can spend it with Ryan?”

  ***

  Jack patted Ryan on the back, then released him from the bear hug. “Good luck, kid. Amazingly, I’m going to miss you.” He’d swung by the Rapids training center to say goodbye before heading out to Lindsey’s practice.

  Ryan dumped the contents of his locker into his duffel bag. “If you start crying, I’m going to make you turn in your Man Card.”

  “I’m not going to cry, you little shit. Actually, you’re a total pain in my ass, constantly disappearing to hang out with your girlfriend. I’m glad to be rid of you.”

  Ryan grinned and shrugged. “What can I say? I love her, man.”

  “I hope so. I saw the rock you bought her. You’re sure about this?”

  “What? Marrying Zoey? Hell, yeah. She’s gonna have my kid. I need to do the right thing.”

  “You also have a huge contract you need to do right by. You’ve told me many times that you want to be the best.”

  “Yeah, so?” He zipped up the over-stuffed duffel and hauled the strap over his shoulder.

  “Then you need to ignore the rest.”

  “Ignore the rest? You mean, dump Zoey and to hell with our baby?” His voice was incredulous.

  Jack held up a hand. “I’m not saying that at all. I’m just suggesting you focus on one thing at a time. Get settled in your new position on the team. It’s a completely different life in the majors than it is here. The rest of the season will be a whirlwind. The travel, the media attention, the money, the women. Lots of temptation, if you know what I mean. It’s a lot to get used to at your age. My dad gave me the same advice when I was in your shoes.”

  “I’ve idolized your dad since I was about five years old.”

  “He knows what he’s talking about. If he was here right now, he’d tell you to enjoy your new life. To focus on the game. Not to settle down yet. There’s plenty of time for that later.”

  “So I need to sow my oats, play the field, or whatever else they say? And what happens down the road when I’m ready to settle down with Zoey and she’s found someone else?” He shook his head. “No way. Not gonna take that chance. I’ll make it work.”

  Jack shrugged and grinned. He held out his hand. “Then I wish you the best of luck, kid.”

  Ryan stared at his hand a moment, then shook it. “Hopefully, you’ll be joining me down there sooner rather than later.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  They headed out of the locker room together for the last time. “You know what I’m going to do right now? I’m heading over to Zoey’s and she and I are going to spend the next couple of hours getting down and dirty before she takes me to the airport.”

  “Thanks for the play by play.”

  “Do yourself a favor, Jack. Go do the same with that girlfriend of yours.”

  “Beth is not my girlfriend.”

  “Whatever. You still need to call her.”

  “Why?”

  “Cuz you obviously need to get laid more. You’re so fucking uptight.”

  ***

  Jack thought about Ryan’s words as he hit the training room to do his PT and burn off a little steam on the stationary bike.

  He wouldn’t admit this to anyone but himself, but he was envious of the kid. Green-eyed monster jealous. One, because he was headed to the majors, which is where Jack wanted to be with every fiber of his being. But also because Ryan dared to bring Zoey along for the ride.

  Had he known about Beth’s pregnancy seven years ago, Jack didn’t know if he’d have had the balls to make that same choice.

  But where had his dedication to the game gotten him? He was back in the minor leagues with a bum knee and an empty bed each morning.

  He and Ryan were cut from a different cloth. Maybe Ryan could make it work. Jack knew himself though. He might fantasize about juggling the game and family, and a part of him really wanted to try, but it was just a matter of time before he would have to make a choice: them or the game. And it would always be the game. It had to be. It was who he was, in his blood, in his soul. And that wasn’t fair to Beth and Lindsey.

  Beth’s image flashed in his mind’s eye as he pedaled on the bike. Then he remembered Ryan’s suggestion that he get laid. His body tightened in response and made him pedal faster. He didn’t need to be thinking about sex while his nut sac was being squashed on the bicycle seat. Damn. He stood up from the seat and cranked the intensity to pedal some “hills”, needing to pedal her image right out of his brain.

  “Think of baseball, McCauley,” he muttered, not caring if any of the guys in the room heard him or saw him talking to himself.

  But instead of thinking about the game, Lindsey’s image came to mind, dressed in her little uniform and warming up—

  “Aw, fuck!” he yelled. A couple of the guys shot him quizzical looks.

  Lindsey’s game. He’d told Beth he’d be there. She’d told Lindsey he’d be there.

  But he was here. He’d been thinking about himself, feeling sorry for himself, focused on his own game.

  He’d let them down.

  ***

  Beth was tempted to ignore the buzzing phone when she saw Jack’s name on the screen. He’d texted her during Lindsey’s game, saying he’d forgotten and was sorry.

  With an annoyed sound through her teeth, she handed the phone to Lindsey where she sat in the backseat. “It’s Jack.”

  Through the rearview mirror
she saw Lindsey’s frown. She held the phone to her ear. “Hello?” She listened a moment. “You said you were coming to my game,” she accused, sticking out her lower lip. “You promised.”

  Beth eavesdropped on the one-sided conversation as she pulled into the drive-thru of a Mexican food chain. Tacos sounded like a good way to eat away her frustrations.

  She almost felt sorry for Jack as Lindsey railed against him for breaking his promise, that daddies should never break promises to their kids, that he made her super duper sad, and several other things totally unrelated to the fact that he’d missed her game.

  He deserved every single bit of Lindsey’s seven-year-old tirade.

  Beth paid for their food and pulled out onto Main Street, heading home. From what she could tell, Lindsey was making Jack promise he’d come to her next game. She made him cross his heart and hope to die.

  When Lindsey was apparently satisfied that he’d crossed his heart sufficiently, she asked, “Are you going to leave like Mr. Ryan did?”

  Beth’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, and she wished she’d thought to put the conversation on speaker.

  “Mm hmm,” Lindsey muttered, then listened. “Mm hmm.” Her little face grew serious in the mirror and she didn’t look as mad anymore. “Are you sad that your friend is gone, Daddy?” She listened some more. “Maybe you can come over to my house and I’ll give you a big hug so you won’t be sad.”

  Beth’s heart squeezed at her daughter’s sweet soul.

  “Okay, Daddy,” Lindsey said, smiling now. “I’ll save you the biggest, most gigantic hug in the whole wide world.” She rocked back and forth in her seat. “Bye, Daddy,” she said. Then after a moment, “I love you, too.”

  Beth blinked and tears welled in her eyes. Jack must have told Lindsey he loved her.

  “Daddy’s going to pick me up at Do-Overs after school tomorrow. Then he’s taking me to my game. He promised and crossed his heart and hoped to die.”

  “Yes, I heard, sweetie. That’s great.” Beth swiped the wetness from her cheek. But, honest to God, if Jack reneged on that promise, she’d hasten him along that ‘hope to die’ path.