Randy let the first one roll on by.
A woman’s voice rose from the crowd. “That’s it, Randy! Make him pitch to you.”
Randy choked back a laugh.Courtnie. His sister had come to the game. She was always the biggest voice in the bleachers.
He repositioned his stance. It never paid to swing on thefirst pitch, no matter how good it was. He’d learned that early in baseball, and still stuck to it. He shook it off and got ready.
The next pitch was a little on the inside for his liking, but he took the swing anyway.
He didn’t even have to look to know that ball was going right over the fence. The sound it made when the ball hit the bat was perfect.
His sister screamed, and he’d know that two-fingered whistle anywhere. “Run!”
Randy dropped the bat and headed for first base in a sprint. His team was cheering. He looked to the outfield, and watched that ball sail like it was driven by hurricane-force winds.
He pumped his fist in the air and rounded the bases, taking care to stomp squarely on each bag. The whole team was at home base when he got there.
Oh yeah, the chief will be a happy camper this week.
After the handshakes, the guys headed out to the parking lot, and Randy went over and hugged his sister. “What are you doing here?”
“Haven’t talked to you in a couple weeks, and I was wondering what you were up to.”
“You could’ve texted me for that.”
“True.” She propped a hand on her hip. “But you’re hard to read on the phone.”
“Uh-oh. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Me?” He shrugged. “Nothing going on with me.”
“Who was the girl you brought over for coffee?”
He paused, and that was the nanosecond Courtnie needed to go all in. “I knew it. That was not just a casual cup of coffee,”she said. “You two looked all interested in each other, with your heads together.” She slugged him on the shoulder. “Tell me! Who is she?”
“It’s nothing. She doesn’t even live here anymore. She moved to the mountains. That was the last time I saw her.”
“What mountains?”
“Blue Ridge.”
“That’s not far.”
“If she was interested, she probably wouldn’t have moved.”
“Did you tell her you were interested?”
“No, but—”
“Well, then don’t put it on her. This is on you. As your big sister, I have the right to point that out.”
“Which you are enjoying a little too much.”
“That is not true, but my kids are grown and out of the house. You haven’t even had any yet, and if you don’t do it soon, you’re going to be too old to be out there playing ball with your son. Just because that last relationship was a bust and sent you into workaholic mode doesn’t mean you have to stay there. It’s time you shifted your life into high gear.”
“If it’s meant to be it’ll happen, if not—”
