Trust in Me (33 page)

Annie’s first response was to tell her daughter that she wasn’t allowed to go unsupervised.

“Let her go,” Suzie coaxed from behind. As a close friend as well as a sister-in-law, she knew Annie’s tendency to be overprotective of the kids. Suzie and Grace had turned out for this big family event, too, though to be fair, they regularly attended Matt’s games. Annie and Grace had a tentative truce, effective if they didn’t talk about Joe.

“Okay,” Annie called out to Faith. “But stay in the play area where I can see you.”

Lisa, who’d appeared at the fence with her mother, was a new friend of Faith’s, and new to Annie’s dance studio. She’d joined because of her mother, Rosa DeMartino, who’d quickly become a part of Annie’s life in the last two weeks. As Rosa waved to Annie, and threaded her way up the bleachers to sit with her, Annie gave her a warm, if somewhat forced smile. She was very worried about the woman.

It’s the first time he hit me. He won’t do it again.

I thought that too, Rosa.

Then, of course, a week later Annie spotted the bruise on Rosa’s waist when she’d lifted Lisa up and her shirt had pulled past her slacks.

They hit where it can’t be seen. It happened to me more times than I can count. You need help, Rosa.

Bleak eyes had agreed, and Rosa had made an appointment at Social Services for the following afternoon.

“Any action yet?” Rosa asked, glancing toward the field. Unbeknownst to them both, their sons had been assigned to the same Little League team this year.

“None. The coach is talking to the guys.”

“Tommy hasn’t stopped talking about Coach Murphy. He loves him.” Though Rosa was a plain woman, wearing basic tan pants and a plaid blouse, she had beautiful blue eyes which stared wistfully out at the diamond. “I wish his fath...” She let the thought trail off, but Annie knew she was wishing Sam was more like Joe. The irony was striking. Annie had only found out today that Tommy was on Joe’s team. She hadn’t the wits or the time necessary to tell Rosa who Joe was, necessary because once she realized Joe was Matt’s father, Rosa would make her own connection between the beloved coach and the abusive ex-husband.

“Annie, you okay?”

“Sure.”

Rosa ducked her head. “I shouldn’t speak out of turn like that.”

“Oh, Rosa, you’ve got to say what’s on your mind.”

Glancing around like a gunrunner making a drop, Rosa nodded. “But we shouldn’t talk about it here.”

“You’re right. Want to come over to my house after the game?”

“Maybe. Sam’s working tonight.”

Annie squeezed Rosa’s hand gently and turned her eyes to the diamond. She’d avoided looking at her ex-husband all night. Watching him now, standing off to the side of the boys, Annie admitted that the sight of him in the Good Father role often disconcerted her. She also admitted he physically attracted her, too, especially when he looked so wholesome and healthy. His green T-shirt stretched across his chest and tucked into navy shorts that accented the corded muscles of his legs. She’d seen him running in town and guessed it was part of his rehab program to stay fit and sober.

Play began.

“Matt’s lead-off batter,” Grace announced from behind.

Joe had told them that Matt was the best on the team. Annie watched her son stride to the plate, dig in his cleats, hit the base with his bat and glance over to the dugout. Joe cupped his hands and yelled something to the boy that made him smile.

Matt connected on the first pitch. Annie watched it soar—over the pitcher’s head, past the second baseman, way out into center field. Then she bolted up with the rest of the crowd.

“Oh, my God, it went over the fence!” Suzie screamed.

Bouncing up and down, Annie watched Matt’s graceful trek around the bases. She didn’t think she’d ever seen a wider grin on his young face.

Dad’s really helped with our hitting. He changed my stance, and I can get a lot more power behind it.

When her son reached home plate, his team converged on him. A little taller than most, he looked over their heads for his father, who stood off to the side, beaming. As Matt came toward the dugout, Joe approached him. Without censoring his response, Joe grasped his son in a heartfelt bear hug. Matt returned it.

Amid the comments like, “Hey, Annie did you see that?” and “Wow, another Mark McGwire,” from other parents, Annie battled back tears. Nothing had happened as she’d planned since Joe had come back to town two months before. It was hard keeping up with the emotional whirlwind he’d brought with him. First, the horror. Then doubt. Then he seemed to be...good for the kids. Her conflicting feelings warred heatedly inside her.

Stop it, and just enjoy the game.

Which only got better from there. Donovan’s Sluggers—they were sponsored by Beth’s diner—were leading four to two at the end of the fifth inning when Beth waved to her from the grass. She was with Ronny, Linc and the woman he was dating, Jane Meachum.

“Hey, is there room up there?” Beth called out.

“Yep, come on up.”

Annie watched Beth say something to Ronny, who pointed across the field. Beth nodded, and followed by Linc and Jane, climbed over people to get to Annie. Ron loped to the other side of the diamond.

“Sorry we’re late,” Beth said when they reached Annie, greeted the Murphys and sat down. “I got held up.”

“Nothing’s wrong, is it?” Annie asked, scooting over.

“No, just business. It’s picked up since the races started.” Beth looked drained. Her usually serene eyes were sad, and for once the red color of her sweatshirt didn’t complement her dark looks. She was pale.

Annie had tried to talk to her about Tucker Quaid after she’d confessed her attraction to him that night at Crocodile’s. But Beth had told her that, because of Ronny’s attitude toward Tucker, their relationship was a dead end and nothing could be done to change things.

“How’s Matt doing?” Linc settled in next to Jane, who sat beside Suzie.

“He got a homer first time at bat and a single and a double after that.” Grace’s voice was filled with grandmotherly pride.

“He should be up again soon,” Annie told him.

Linc smiled pleasantly enough, but he too seemed unhappy. However, the big-eyed woman next to him appeared to have found paradise. She stared at Linc adoringly.

Rosa gave Linc a smile and he winked at her. “What about your boy, Rosa?”

“Tommy got on base twice,” she said proudly.

“Super.”

“He’s younger than Matt. This is his first time for Little League,” Annie put in. “He’s doing great.”

Linc watched Rosa for a minute. He was worried as hell about her. Which was only one of a whole swimming pool full of concerns he had right now. If he wasn’t careful, he was gonna drown in them.

We found somebody to help Rosa, didn’t we, buddy?

Frowning, Linc shook his head. He didn’t want to talk to God now. He was not a happy camper.

You think I don’t know that?
God asked.

Linc pretended to watch the game.

So, how’s Jane?

Fine.

I sent her to you, you know.

My, haven’t we been busy lately.

Anger’s good Linc. It’ll spur you on to decide what to do.

No decisions to be made,
he told God as the other team got on base.

There are always decisions to be made.

Hey, lay off tonight, will you? I’m trying to enjoy the game.

Are you going to call Margo when you get back home?

Yeah.

Good, she needs to talk to you. It wasn’t nice of you to miss the last two Sunday phone calls.

I have to stay away from her

Why?

You were there a couple of weeks ago. You know what almost happened.

Do you really believe she can take you away from me that easily?

Can’t she?

Mmm. Let’s watch the game, now.

Oh, sure, as soon as we get into something interesting, you clam up. You got a mean streak in you, God, you know that?
He thought he heard God chuckle.

“Linc?” Jane asked. “Are you all right?”

He glanced over at Jane and his mood lightened. She looked so innocent in her prim little white blouse under the navy jacket and matching slacks.
Please, don’t let me hurt her
. “I’m fine. Hey, thanks for coming with me tonight. When we made the date, I forgot about Matt’s game.”

“I love baseball.”

And everything else Linc enjoyed—and needed in his life. Like God. Like going to Bible study—she’d attended two of the sessions he’d held these last weeks, even though her daddy’s church offered them, too. She also liked watching reruns of
Emergency
on TV, Italian food and walking in the rain.

And, he suspected, she liked
him
a whole lot. More than once she’d indicated that a real kiss, a warmer-than-chaste hug would be welcome. For some reason, he’d never initiated either.

“Who’s Ronny with?” Linc asked Beth as the side was called out and he tried to distract himself from his introspection.

Beth stared across the field. “He saw a girl he knew. I think her name’s Lily. I wondered why he was so interested in Matt’s game tonight.”

Annie chuckled. “Is she nice?”

“I haven’t met her, but he’s talked about her some.” Beth scowled. “She dresses like we used to.”

“We turned out okay, Bonnie.”

Beth forced a smile. “Oh, look, our team’s up.” She pretended to concentrate on Matt but she was watching her own son. He seemed less sulky with Lily Hanson than he’d been for the last few weeks.

“Oh, God, look!” Suzie’s comment, and how she shot out of her seat, had Beth’s mind back at the field; she stood, too.

Matt had hit a drive to first. The baseman fumbled it. The pitcher, coming to the baseline, picked it up and tried to tag Matt, but missed. The umpire, however, called the runner out.

Everybody was on their feet from the Sluggers’ side of the stands, including Linc, who was yelling like an Outlaw, not a town minister. “What’s the matter, ref? You need glasses?” he shouted.

Matt’s startled look turned to adolescent outrage when he realized he’d been called out. He yelled something to the ump.

Immediately Joe jogged out to first base.

“Oh, no, I hope he doesn’t get mad.” Beth saw Annie’s fists clench at her sides.

Reaching out, Beth grasped her friend’s hand. So many bad memories faced Annie every day since Joe’s return. Though her faith in Joe was a lot stronger than Annie’s, Beth also held her breath.

Joe headed right for his son; when he reached him, he put his arm around Matt and drew him off to the side. Matt said something, and Joe leaned over and spoke in his ear. Matt shook his head hard. Again Joe spoke to him and Matt nodded; more advice from Joe and Matt shrugged and headed to the dugout.

Then Joe faced the umpire.

He made a comment.

The umpire said something back.

Joe gestured to first and to the baseline.

The umpire answered, then shrugged.

Finally, Joe nodded. Turned. And jogged back to the dugout.

The breath escaped Annie in a whoosh.

Beth patted Annie’s arm. “Seems okay, kid.”

The game began again, but a few plays later, Beth’s gaze drifted back to Ron. He and Lily had gone to the playground and were pushing Faith and some of her friends on the swings. Beth smiled at them. Ronny was going to be all right. Just a few more weeks of weekend jail. Now if she could just stay away from Tucker like she promised.

“Beth, you okay?” Linc had grasped her arm and gave her a questioning look. “We won, honey. And you’re frowning.”

“No, I’m fine.”
Or least I will be
, she thought. Her eyes straying to Ronny again, she vowed she would be. Fine. Without Tucker Quaid. Someday she’d even be able think that thought, make that promise, without feeling the prick of tears behind her eyelids.

“Okay, Bonnie, if you say so. How about coming to get ice cream with me and Jane?” He scanned Annie and Rosa, and included the Murphys in the invitation. “You guys, too. My treat.”

“You’re on, Jess,” she said to her brother.

o0o

AN hour after the game, Linc eased open the door to his apartment and stood back so Jane could go inside before him. He followed her in, and reached for the light switch.

A soft, lithe hand stopped him. “Don’t.” Jane’s voice was sweet. But husky.

Though he was a man of God, he was still a descendent of Adam; he leaned back against the door in the darkness. Only the sliver of moon peeking in through the sheer curtains illuminated them. He reached for her waist and brought her to stand before him. “You’re pretty tempting, do you know that, Jane Meachum?”

“Am I?” She stepped closer. Her trim navy pants fit her hips loosely.

His hands flexed on her sides. “Hmm.”

“It’s taken you a long time to get this close,” she whispered. “And then you needed urging.”

He slid his arms further around her and he shoved back the memory of the feel of Margo, supple and muscular beneath his fingers. “I don’t want to push you into anything too soon.”

A heartbeat later she said, simply, “Push.”

Linc drew in a breath and drew her closer. She smelled like peaches. He was only five-nine, but he had to bend down to reach her mouth. It was soft against his. He pulled her closer and kissed her gently. When she cradled his neck in her hand, and moved against him, his body responded.

But it was her moaned words that doused his ardor. Her
Linc
, against his mouth flashed Margo, like a brilliant billboard advertising hot sex, before his closed eyes.
Linc
, she’d told him,
take me home. Make love to me.

It was blasphemous to think of one woman while you were kissing another. An insult to both of them. He wound down the contact as diplomatically as he could.

Getting the message, Jane stepped back from him and he groped the wall for the switch. When he flicked on the light, he could see questions in her eyes. Her pretty brown hair had fallen into her eyes and he brushed it back. “Let’s take this slow,” he said.