Page 42 of Love's Home Run

“Including Lanie Southerland next door. She’s living with her parents since her divorce,” said Dewey, giving Ross an impish grin. “She’s been asking about you.”

Ross looked disgusted. “She tried to call me a couple of times, but I didn’t return them.”

Dewey turned to Melissa. “You’re the woman he ran into on the ball field?”

Melissa nodded. “I still feel bad about it.”

“Don’t worry. Ross is strong, and things like that happen all the time,” said Dewey.

“To you more than me,” teased Ross, and both men laughed.

“I’ll leave you guys alone,” said Dewey. He gave his father a loving pat on the shoulder. “Call me anytime. It won’t take me long to get here.”

“I appreciate that, son,” said Ross’s father.

Melissa was touched by the tenderness between Ross’s father and his children. All three of them were easy with affection—no pretending to be so strong you couldn’t handle a hug.

Melissa moved to a nearby couch and talked with Mrs. Barnard to give Ross some time alone with his father.

“How long have you been working here?” Melissa asked her.

“For about four months now,” Mrs. Barnard said. “But I’ve known the family for a long time. I was a nurse for Mrs. Roberts when she became ill. Such a lovely woman.”

Melissa gazed around the room. The fireplace mantel held several family photos. To the right of it, a bookcase was filled with trophies and more pictures of Ross and his brothers. In the center was a photograph of a beautiful woman with Ross’s features. Recalling her lonely childhood, Melissa hoped she’d have many children of her own and form a family as strong as this.

“Tell me more about your family restaurant,” said Mrs. Barnard, and Melissa described it and their situation.

“Then this is a very good time to be away,” said Mrs. Barnard. At the sound of a doorbell, she got up and went to answer it.

She returned, followed by a pretty woman with dark hair and brown eyes who looked about Melissa’s age. Seeing her broad smile and the bounce in her steps, Melissa sensed this woman must have been a cheerleader in earlier days. A very cute one.

“There you are! Hi, Ross!” said the woman, moving toward him with open arms.

Ross stood and allowed her to embrace him. “Hi, Lanie.”

“When you didn’t return my phone calls, I checked with your dad and learned about the knee surgery.”

“Yeah, it’s the same knee I injured in college. Remember?”

“Oh, yes. And then, you had that awful accident ending your career,” Lanie said, drawing closer and gazing up at him.

Ross stepped back and turned to Melissa. “This is the ‘girl’ next door, Lanie Southerland. Lanie, meet Melissa Hendrickson, my neighbor and friend from Lilac Lake.”

Lanie’s dark eyes surveyed Melissa before she held out her hand. “Hi. Just a friend and neighbor, huh?”

Melissa glanced at Ross. “That’s right.”

Ross came over to her and put a hand on Melissa’s shoulder. “And an excellent chef.”

“Chef? Really? But you’re so thin,” said Lanie.

Melissa laughed. “After working with food day in and day out, you learn not to taste everything.”

“My kids are two and four. I’m still working off the baby fat,” said Lanie, chuckling.

“How are you doing on your own?” Ross asked Lanie.

“It’s hard. I never should’ve married Rick. Lesson learned. Now I’m hoping to find a reliable man who likes children. My kids are the best.”

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