She swore under her breath, knowing exactly why she’d done it. It was because he was the sun and she was one of the satellites. Her mother was his other. It had been that way all of her life and it seemed some things never changed.
When she’d dropped by his office this morning, to give him the details on the team barbecue he’d asked her to arrange, he’d suggested, “Why don’t you and your mom take Charlie somewhere fun. Orlando’s not far. You could spend the day there. Maybe she’ll stop being so angry with us.”
Irritation curled in her gut. “Is that why I’m here? To occupy Charlie? I could have done that at home.”
Should have. At least until February vacation was over and Charlie was back in school.
He must have heard the tinge of sarcasm in her voice because he gave her back some of his own. “She wanted to be here, Case. The problem is we’ve never denied her access to the field before. She thinks she’s being punished and my explanation that this is a whole different league isn’t computing.”
That wasn’t exactly the truth. He wanted her mother, Galen, here and that meant Charlie had to tag along. They’d both arrived in Sanford on Saturday and Charlie hadn’t been allowed her usual freedoms. She’d had the pool at the house her parents had rented, and her skateboard and Switch, but hadn’t been allowed to attend the first several games of the Grapefruit season and the resulting tantrum had been full out. Charlie didn’t understand why she’d been imprisoned at the house and there was no plausible reason to give her. Not one she’d understand at least. There’d always been an open-door policy with the team Mac coached. She’d spend time in the dugout during games, and attend the parties held at her parents Pittsfield rental, even play catch with some of the more family-oriented guys. She knew every player and every stat, just like Casey’s best friend Allie had when they were kids. Today said friend was Vice President in charge of Player Development for the team and they were rooming together for the next six weeks.
For now, Charlie would just have to deal.
“Yeah, well, I can’t help that.”
Her father’s voice was tight when he said, “I don’t think it would hurt for her to be in the stands. Who’s going to know?”
She clutched her arms to her chest. “I can’t take the risk.”
“Casey, you’re going to have to rethink your strategy. Things have changed, radically. Don’t you think it’s time to set things right?”
She sighed dejectedly. “Nothing’s changed. I… I can’t do what you’re asking.”
Yet.
Her father’s impatience had reared its head and his terse “Why?”, did nothing to settle her unease.
“It’s too late, I don’t want any more complications in my life, we can’t go back. Do you want any more reasons? I have them.”
Maybe the bottom line was she didn’t want to risk having to share her daughter. Or her heart.
Her father pointed out, yet again, “It’s going to be impossible to keep this quiet. We discussed all this before I took the job. You said you were okay with it. I hope you haven’t changed your mind because it’s too late now to renege.”
“I should never have come with you. That’s the problem.”
Mac asserted firmly, “The problem will exist as long as I’m manager of the team.” He raised his voice in irritation. “Do you want me to make a trade?”
Her gut had twisted at the implication, her anxiety straining for the top of the meter.
“No. That wouldn’t be fair. Not to you, not to Allie. She’s counting on the team she’s put together to get you to the World Series.”
It wouldn’t be fair to the man he was suggesting to be traded, either. He’d done nothing to warrant it, except maybe break her heart.
Her father gentled his voice. “Your happiness is more important to me than the team, and you know that.’
Mac had always claimed it was, that their family was his number one priority but there were too many times that it took second rung because of his job, his status, his reputation.
“Yeah, well Allie might feel differently. I don’t know whether you’ve heard but she’s gone to extreme lengths to bring this team together.”
Her friend had married a man to get a third baseman. That she fell head over heels in love with the Cuban was icing on her cake.
The headache had started throbbing and she wanted out. “I’ll let you get back to work but you and I are going to have a meeting to discuss my role here. Being your social secretary is not a compelling reason to stay.”
If she went back home, she could put off the upcoming conflict indefinitely. The younger Casey would have done just that. But her father was right and although she didn’t want to admit it quite yet, she was inching her way towards resolution.
“You can’t keep procrastinating, Casey. I should have insisted you be honest from the start.”
Her jaw dropped open. “That really wasn’t your decision. It was mine.”
“I’ll let you keep believing that if it makes you feel any better. But it was a bad one from where I sit. They both have a right to know.”
She knew that at the very core of her being but every time the thought surfaced, she pummeled it back down, petrified to take the step.
She put her attention back on the field. Charlie and Mac had switched places. Charlie was taking fielding practice, Mac hitting the ball out to her. Her daughter was keeping the ball in front of her like she’d been taught, giving up her body if she had to. She wondered how many bruises she’d have before the practice session was over.
A smile crept onto her face without warning.
Charlie
