Page 35 of Finally Home
I know he means his home, but in my sleepy, satiated state I can’t help but think about how nice it would be if he meant our home. Butterflies fill my chest at the thought, and that scares me more than anything. I survived growing up without a mom and having a cheater for a husband without losing my optimism. But if I lost Rhodes because I fell in love with him when he doesn’t love me back?
I’m not sure I’d ever find my shine again.
“Okay, kiddos! Today is our last day, and if you’re new to camp this year, this is your free day! We have stations set up around the field for y’all to play at and we’ll break for lunch in two hours, but otherwise be safe and have fun!”
I can’t conceal a wide smile when Aidan stands at the home plate to ring in the end of camp. I guess normally Rhodes would be the one doing the honors, but he had a brand photoshoot he couldn’t get out of and had to miss today. He asked me to accompany him to the shoot, but I wanted to be here with the kids. This program has been so fun and informative.
My dad offered to tag along and so far; the kids love him. Dad turns to me with a wide smile as everyone disperses across the field to the different stations, a large group walking to the makeshift batting cage in the outfield. “This is so much more involved than I was expecting after how you described it to me, Starshine.” He links his arm with mine as we head to Aidan’s station near one of the dugouts.
“Right? I was surprised when Rhodes brought me here the other day, but it’s been so much fun. Twice a year they host between twenty and fifty local foster kids, and God, Dad, some of the things these kids have dealt with are heartbreaking.”
Just then someone crashes into my back and if it weren’t for my dad, we both would have gone sprawling. “Wren, you’re here!” Ava screeches excitedly. I regain my balance, turn, and hug her back; suddenly, I’m even more happy I chose to come here today instead of sitting in a stuffy studio with Rho.
I introduce a clingy Ava to my dad. “Dad, this is Ava. She’s been my shadow in a bid to learn everything there is to know about Public Relations in professional baseball. Ava, this is my dad, Archie.”
Dad holds out his hand to shake hers, and even though she scoots behind me, she tentatively reaches out and accepts the shake. “It’s nice to meet you Ava! Has my girl been showing you the ropes?”
Ava nods enthusiastically. “I want to be just like Wren when I grow up!”
My dad laughs, but I nearly burst with pride. I’ve always loved my job, but I never really thought of it as something a kid would aspire to be. Ava is such a sweetheart, and I’m pretty sad that I may not see her again after today. I ruffle her hair and smile down at her. “I bet you’ll be even better than me, Ave.”
She smiles and skips off, presumably to find her foster brothers. Dad turns to me with a twinkle in his eye and a knowing grin quirked on his lips. I groan, fully aware what’s coming.
He laughs at my feigned irritation and tosses an arm over my shoulders. “Oh, come on, Starshine. You can’t blame an old man for wanting a grandkid or two.”
We’ve had this conversation more times than I can count since Derrick and I got married, and my answer still hasn’t changed. “Daddy, I love you, but I’m not built for the whole mom thing, and you know that. Does Caroline have any kids you can pressure into procreation?”
His expression grows somber, and he glances around and guides me to the empty dugout, encouraging me to sit with him. “She doesn’t, but that’s not the point.” he sighs. “Wren, I know growing up without your mom was hard, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be wonderful at it. You’re so good with the kids here and if you could see the way your face lights up around them, I think you’d realize that. If you truly don’t ever want human children, I support you. But I don’t want you to miss out on something so big because you’re scared.”
I know we’re talking about kids, but I think about Rhodes when he says it. This friends-with-benefits thing we have going on has been incredible so far, but I only have a couple of weeks left before I return to reality, and I’ve started to realize that I don’t want to leave. But I’m the one who made the rule about not catching feelings. I’m the one who insisted we stay just friends.
Like he can read my damn mind, Dad turns to me and waggles his brows. “That goes for all aspects of your life, Starshine. I couldn’t help but notice the way a certain ballplayer looked at you the day I came home.”
I try to disguise my panic with an eye roll. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just because you’re blissfully in love with Caroline doesn’t mean everybody else wants hearts and butterflies too.”
He snorts. “You’re just as bad of a liar as when you were fifteen and would sneak my truck out at night to practice driving in the empty fields next door.”
My glare is ice cold, and he gives a boisterous laugh. “I’ll keep pretending you haven’t been in love with that boy since college, and you can keep bein’ a river in Egypt. Your old man is here when you’re ready to talk.”
“Dad, I got married. Pretty sure that’s a good indication I wasn’t in love with my friend.”
I turn away so he can’t see my face, and I hear him sigh loudly before he pats my knee. “Alright, I’ll drop it.” He pauses while we watch Noah, Chase, and Ava run by, playing what looks like a game of tag. “That Ava sure is a sweet little thing, isn’t she?”
Thinking about my eager shadow brings my smile back and I nod. “She is. She’s a fantastic kid from what I’ve seen. I just hate that she’s had such a hard life. I mean to not even be ten years old and lose both of your parents in a car accident, only to be shipped off to a foster home where you don’t know anyone? It breaks my heart.”
He looks contemplative and pulls out his phone, sending a text. I’m about to ask him about it, but he turns to me with a small smile. “Have you considered becoming a foster parent?”
My eyes widen in surprise at the question. I haven’t; I was too focused on not wanting biological children. “I haven’t…” I start slowly. “But I’m not sure I could do that. I travel so much for work, and I’m a single woman—that doesn’t exactly scream stability. Somebody like Ava, like any of these kids really, deserves more than that. I do think I’ll find a way to work with this program in the future though, even if I have to fly here from Seattle to do it.”
“Hey there, Reid fam! Y’all wanna help set up lunch for the kiddos?” Aidan’s voice startles me, and when his words register, I check my watch. I’m shocked to see more than an hour has passed.
Smiling up at him, I quirk a brow at my dad. He slaps his palms on his knees and groans obnoxiously as he stands. I laugh at his theatrics but take his proffered hand. “You’re barely fifty, Dad. Cool it with the grunts and groans.”
Aidan stands there quietly shaking his head in amusement. “I brought somebody along who’s more than willing to help y’all set up too.”
Rhodes steps out from the side of the dugout, and I grin before I can stop it. “Hey! I thought your shoot was an all-day thing.”
He smirks, and I quirk an eyebrow when I realize his gaze is locked on the bench behind me. “Nah, they got the shot they wanted pretty quick and let me leave, so I figured I’d come see my favorite people. I was a little surprised when Aid said y’all were hanging out in here though. I figured it would still be wet after we hosed it down a few days ago.”