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“Are you okay? You went a little…well, you wandered off there. And Amy’s waving at you.”
“What? Oh!” I see Amy has gotten around the other bases, and she is jumping up and down by the fence. I wave at her. “Well done, darling!”
“Did I do great, Mommy?” she shouts at me.
“You did amazing!” I stick up both thumbs. “Can you do that again?”
Amy nods eagerly, still grinning as she runs off, giving Luke a wave. Luke chuckles.
“I wish I had that much energy.”
“No, you don’t. I have no idea where she gets it from. She’s more than likely going to crash later.”
“She’s on the go so much. Is that normal for her?”
“Pretty much.”
Luke shakes his head.
“Each time I see her, I have more respect for you for raising a child like Amy. You’ve done a good job.”
I feel my face getting warm.
“You say that far too much, Luke.”
“But I mean it. You’re a good mom, Elle.” He smiles at me. “She’s a great kid. You should be proud of her.”
I don’t know what to say to that. All I’m aware of is that he’s closer than I remember. Is it because we’re sitting close together or is he leaning towards me? Either way, it feels like he’s going to kiss me.
And I realize that I want him to kiss me.
Then a movement behind Luke catches my attention, and I look past to see a familiar person at the end of the stands. He’s standing on the steps, seeming to searching the bleachers.
My heart stutters, and I gasp. Luke pauses.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I never thought I’d see Dad again. The sight of him is leaving me both panicked and angry. Putting a hand on Luke’s shoulder, I stand up.
“I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Sure.” Luke is watching me in confusion. “I’ll wait here.”
I barely acknowledge him as Dad’s eyes land on me. I know when he recognizes me. Not waiting for him to say anything, I make my way past the other parents, and I reach the end of the seating. Dad stares at me, looking me up and down.
“Elle? It’s really you?”
“What are you doing here, Dad?”
“I came to see you.” He starts to reach for me, but I hold up my hands. He falters. “Can’t I greet my daughter?”
“We have not talked in six years for a reason.” I am not about to do this in full view of everyone else, and I’m sure Luke is watching me. I gesture for Dad to follow me. “This way. We can talk in private.”
I’m surprised when Dad follows me off the bleachers and into the parking lot. When I’m confident that we’re far enough away that we won’t get bothered, I stop and face my father. Apart from the graying at the temples, it’s like time has been good to him. He still looks pretty much the same.
Part of me wants to hug him. Even with my anger towards him, I miss my dad. But he messed everything up with his affair and then married the mistress. I don’t want anything to do with that, especially when the mistress is nearer my age than his.
