Page 17 of Safe at Home

“I’m Erick Carlile. I work for Sports Network Corp. The MiLB has hired me to be with you every step of the way as you are the new face of Baseball giving back to Riverbend.”

“Holy shit,” I said and then covered my mouth in embarrassment. SNC was the station that played all the major league baseball games. I had been watching it forever. No wonder he looked familiar. “I mean, wow. Nice to meet you. My old coach said I’d get a video call.”

Erick smiled, “Nope, you get the real deal. I take it you’ve heard of SNC.”

“Of course,” I said with a chuckle.

“Good, good. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure I need to get to practice,” I said as I looked down at my watch.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. You’ve been put on the Development List for the next seven days.”

“The Development List? But I thought that was only for players who needed help watching the game or taking extra batting practice. They don’t play but are still part of their team and all.”

“It usually is used for that, but since you aren’t injured or being punished, this was the best way the league could get you time off. They were able to call up the catcher from another High A team in your absence.”

“Time off for a week? For real?”

“Well, not really time off, but you will be away from the Lightning. At 2:45 you and I will be leaving for Riverbend, my friend.”

“But the game starts at 2:30.”

“We have a lot to discuss,” Erick said and motioned me to sit back at the desk as he opened up his briefcase and took out a folder.

“Well, my wife is here with her friend and her friend’s kids. We were planning to meet for lunch between practice and the game.”

“Tell her you won’t be able to go to lunch but to pack her bags and have her friend be ready to go, too. Have her come to the game, and then they can leave with us.”

I nodded and sent Molly a quick text.

Me: Some plans have changed. I’m not sure what all is going on, but I’ll explain when I know more. Pack your bags and have Pen pack her stuff, too. Come to the game like originally planned, but I won’t be able to make it to lunch before. But, Molly, don’t worry. This is all good stuff. There will be tickets for you guys at Will Call.

My everything: That’s a little vague, but I trust you. See you at the game. ??

“Hi. Can I get your name for your tickets?” the friendly worker at the Will Call asks.

“I’m Molly Green,” I said with a slight pang of sadness. I wish I could shout from the rooftops that I was married to Tyler and say my name was Molly Stone. I still hadn’t legally changed my name, but I definitely planned to before the babies were born. I wanted the same last name as my husband and my children.

“Oh, wow. Okay. Here are your VIP passes,” the woman said and handed me four badges along with four tickets. “The pre-game buffet for VIPs is open now near section 104. Enjoy the game!”

“VIP?” Pen asked as I handed her the badge. “Pre-game buffet?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“What’s a buffet?” Peyton asked as her mom pinned her badge onto her pink shirt.

“It’s where all different types of foods are served at once, and it’s all you can eat. We have pulled pork, nachos, hot dogs, fruit salad, a carving ham station, and even a dessert table,” the worker explained with a wink at the kids. “And it’s unlimited. So it’s all the soda and beer you want.”

“Let’s go!” Camden called out, pulling on his mom’s arm. “A dessert table!”

“Right behind you, kid. She had me at unlimited beer,” Pen said with a grin. “I guess you’re driving, Preggers.”

We found the buffet room, and we were let in with a nod at our badges. Penelope made the kids eat lunch food before they were allowed to hit the dessert table. I made myself a stack of pulled pork on top of nachos with a side of the fruit salad. The pineapple looked amazing.

Penelope noticed me eyeing the pineapple and said, “If you put that pineapple on top of your nachos, I will not sit with you.”

“There are plenty of tables,” I replied with a grin. I cut up the chunks of pineapple and sprinkled them all over the nachos. I took a big bite, and one of the babies seemed to kick with joy. It shouldn’t taste good, but it was amazing.

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