Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
I go inside, ready to clean up and prepare some dinner.
The smell of the old house still hits me each time I walk in through the door. It’s not musty, but a house with a history. It was once bustling with a busy family and all the things that remind me of home—my leather mitt, stinky cleats left by the door, a roast cooking on Sundays, and peaches picked fresh from our very own orchard. So many memories come back at once that I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I can almost hear my sister banging on the bathroom door for Baylor to get out so she could wash her hair, the boiling pot of potatoes on the stovetop, a game on the TV in the living room, and my dad going on about the cattle not wanting to leave the wildflower field again.
Smiling, I welcome the flood of memories instead of pushing them away like I usually do. Exhaling an easy breath, I rush upstairs with renewed energy to take a shower. It’s not the memories, although they’re good to have, but come Friday, I have a purpose. I don’t have plans to leave or know how long I’ll stay. That’s the freedom of no obligations. But I can’t wait to be back in the saddle again.
CHAPTER 8
Cricket
The jersey feels a little snug when I pull the two sides together to button over my chest. This polyester might be breathable, but I’ll need a little spandex to make this work. As I’m buttoning it up, the top one refuses to stay through the hole, so I undo it, which exposes my bra and a whole lot of cleavage. Probably not the look my father would approve of when representing the family.
My boobs aren’t going to shrink, and there’s no way I can fit a tank under this shirt. I change out my bra to one with more coverage and smooth cotton. Buttoning up the shirt, I leave the top undone since it won’t behave anyway. I check my appearance in the mirror. If I’m looking to meet a guy, this would be a great outfit to wear. Maybe not as great at a professional event that carries the weight of my name as the organizer on it.
But I’m not terribly upset. It feels good to finally like what I see in the reflection.
All those early morning Peloton and yoga sessions are paying off. Finally. It took three years to lose most of the baby weight, and I’m happy with where my body is in its journey. Glancing once more in the mirror, I grin because these jeans and this top are showing off all my better assets, and my name embroidered on the back is a nice touch.
I walk into the living room to find Jacob stacking building blocks on the coffee table. His nanny looks up, her long brown ponytail swinging to the side. Hairs have escaped the band like it’s been quite the rambunctious day, but she smiles when she sees me. “It’s beautiful outside with a nice breeze.”
“I was hoping for good weather,” I say, smiling as if I accomplished controlling Dover Creek’s temperatures today. “And it was far exceeded.”
With a block in each hand, she says, “I’m taking Jacob to the park in a little while. I think it will be good to get some of his energy out so he’s not running wild at the stadium.”
“That’s a good idea. He loves hearing his stomps echo off the metal flooring.” I laugh to myself. “People there to watch the game may not appreciate it as much as he does.”
I move to my purse on the kitchen counter and then hesitate. For the past five days, I had no qualms about Jacob being at the game, but with Griffin Greene wandering around the stadium, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. “Judy?” She looks up from gathering blocks that have scattered across the floor.
She’s been a great nanny over the years. Jacob adores her, and being in her early twenties, she has the stamina to keep up with my busy boy. He doesn’t stay still unless he’s sleeping. I wouldn’t get any work done if I didn’t have her help. She’s also someone I’ve come to rely on heavily with my busier schedule more recently since organizing this event has taken more time than anticipated. “Yes?”
“I’m thinking tonight might be too long a night for him to stay up. And there’s the possibility of overtime, plus awarding the checks and acknowledging our sponsors. It could be a very late night.”
“I can bring him for a while, but also stick to his regular bedtime schedule. I don’t mind staying until you get home.”
“Are you sure? It may be late.”
Her smile never fails. “I don’t mind, Cricket. You rarely take an evening. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into raising money for these kids. I want you to be able to enjoy the event from start to finish. I really don’t mind.” She glances at Jacob, ready to catch anything that falls as he stacks the blocks ten tall this time with a steadier hand.