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“He’s got enough for one ticket.”
“So if they win, you won’t be going?”
Without looking at me, she says, “I’ve decided to use the money you’re paying me to rent a table at the diner. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don’t want the boys to miss out if they don’t have to.”
“Nice!” I take a sip of my soda. “And with you all staying at my place, there won’t be any extra expenses.”
She looks at me out of the corner of her eye as a small smile crosses her mouth, but she doesn’t say anything else.
Even though the game isn’t a close one, it’s exciting anyway. Wyatt’s team wins eleven to four. You’d think they’d just took the World Series with all the cheering going on.
“Come on out here, kids!” The coach gestures for all the other teams to join them on the field. When they’re all in place, he turns on the microphone he’s holding and booms, “These boys have been working hard to raise enough money to revamp our baseball field.”
Claps and whistles fill the cool evening air.
“First off, I’d like to tell you how much they earned and what we’re going to do with the money, and then I’ll tell you which team won. The grand total brought in by the league so far is nine thousand and fifty-nine dollars.”
Cheers!
“Which is enough to build a bigger concession stand, add more bleacher seating, and update the field and equipment. So, in a sense, all the kids are winners! Before we announce the team who gets to go see the Dodgers, we’re going to draw the winner of the signed LeBron James jersey.” The coach reaches into a bucket and pulls out a ticket. “The winner is Isaac Caplan. Come on up, Isaac and get your prize.”
My dad jumps up and rushes down the stands to get his prize, looking much younger to me than I’ve seen him in a long time.
The coach keeps the crowd in suspense for the next several minutes, while he reads out the winners of the other prizes, then he finally says, “Okay, the moment we’ve all been waiting for!”
Someone starts to stamp their feet on the bleachers starting a kind of drumroll. Several more chime in until the coach holds a hand up. “The winners of the Dodger tickets are …” If tension could fuel a rocket, we’d all be halfway to the moon by now. “Our major division team, The Sluggers!!!”
“That’s Wyatt’s team!” Jack shouts.
Colton and Ash are jumping around, trying to figure the best way to get to their brother’s side. They ultimately decide to hop off the back of the bleachers and go that way.
Moira slips her hand into mine and leans into me. “I guess this means we’re going to California.”
I squeeze her fingers tightly. “I guess it does. I promise to make this the best family vacation you and the boys have ever had.”I cannot wait to show them around.
“As it’s the only time they’ve left Alaska, I can assure you it’s already the best.”
I feel more alive than I ever have, sitting here holding Moira’s hand while the town whirls around us in excitement. The fear I have over a repeat of what happened with Paige seemingly fades away.
Chapter29
Moira
The next two weeks fly by. I’m so busy with work and trying to make sure the boys have everything they need for our trip, I barely have time to worry about the closeness developing between me and Ethan. Now that we’re all going to California together, he’s been coming by the house at night for supper. Tonight, we’re eating out in the yard.
The boys want to know everything about what we’re going to do once they get there. Most of Wyatt’s teammates are going with the coach and his wife as chaperones. They’re only staying for three days. But because we’re all going and have a place to stay, we’ll be there for ten. Neither the boys nor I have ever gone away for that long. The whole thought is seriously wreaking havoc with my equilibrium.
“I want to go to Disneyland!” Colton jumps up and knocks over the folding chair he’s sitting on.
“Disneyland is a given,” Ethan tells him. He seems to notice the startled look in my eyes, because he adds, “I work with a lot of people from Disney. I can get us free tickets.”
“Really?” Ash looks as surprised as he would have if Ethan had just sprouted wings and started to fly around.
“I can get us free tickets to Universal, too,” he tells them proudly.
“Mom, I’m never going to want to go home!” Wyatt interjects.
“Can we go to the beach?” Ash wants to know.
