Page 51 of Lemon Cake

“How are you? I hope you’re not too stressed with the games having started.”

“I’ve been good. I actually called to tell you that I’ve met someone.”

“And now you’re ready to tell me about her.”

“Yes.”

“So, she must be very special.”

“She is. Her name is Gemma. We met a few weeks ago during a charity event at her nephew’s school.”

“I want to know all about her.”

And Rider told hereverything. About their first date and how she’d come to visit him at camp. How easy it was to be with her and how well she got along with his friends. He left out the part about her accident, unsure of how she would feel. His mom laughed when he told her how he’d helped her decorate her classroom and was thrilled that he’d met someone who understood his obsession over football.

His mother genuinely seemed excited and by the end of the call, they had a date to meet over Thanksgiving dinner.

Gemma

Monday morning, Gemma had been called to the front desk only to see that their receptionist had trouble looking past a large bouquet of flowers on her desk. The kids loved them, and she had to promise not to take them home so they could enjoy them in the classroom.

During nap time she finally had a quiet moment, to open the card. Three game tickets fell into her lap as she unfolded the handwritten note.

Gemma,

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your day.

Here are the tickets for Friday.

Dinner tonight?

Rider

Gemma was already contemplating dinner before she finished reading the note. Though when she pulled out her phone to text him, she saw a message from Gina. Dan had been sent home sick from school and her boss wanted herto make up those lost hours that evening. Without hesitation, Gemma offered to watch Dan and shot off a text to Rider.

I won’t be able to meet today. Dan was sent home sick from school. Gina’s boss is a jerk and wants her to work late to make up for it.

Poor little man! I hope he feels better soon. Let me know if you two need anything.

You’re not upset, right?

Why would I be? He’s sick and needs you more than I do. I adore you for taking care of your family.

Instead of a romantic dinner for two, Gemma’s evening was spent cuddling and comforting Dan. His only symptom was a fever, so she made sure he was comfortable while they spent their night on the couch.

Over the next few days, Gemma was lucky to be able to leave work early and watch Dan so Gina could work. When Friday came around, Dan was fit as a fiddle. When Gemma picked him up from school that afternoon, he was practically bouncing in his seat. And as always when hewas like this, he chatted along so excitedly he could barely focus on anything. Gemma even had trouble getting him fed while Gina changed out of her work clothes.

Though they both tried to talk Dan out of it, he insisted on wearing his custom jersey. Gina didn’t want him to wear off the signatures but after Dan promised to take good care of it, she relented. Gemma wore a matching Bullriders jersey with Rider’s number on the back. As they walked to the car Gemma told Gina that she expected to meet up with Sarah at the game.

“So, do you get along with Sarah?” Gina asked once they’d settled into the car.

“She’s wonderful—and her daughters are amazing too. But Rider said he wasn’t sure if the girls were coming too.”

“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

The drive was filled with Dan chewing their ears off—in a figurative way, of course. The stadium was packed, making that night one of the rare times she used her handicap permit. Once she’d gotten used to her prosthesis, she barely used it anymore. She didn’t like being stared at by people trying to figure out exactly what her disability was.

They navigated through the massive crowd that couldn’t even drown out Dan’s cries about how Gina was going to make his hand fall off. They found their seats—behind the team zone like last time—and Sarah joined them a few minutes later.