Page 60 of Love's Home Run

What seemed moments later, she was awakened by Ross moving around the room.

“Time to get up?” she asked.

“Yes. Hurry. Jack has texted me to say things are going downhill. I want to be on our way as soon as possible.”

Relieved she’d taken a shower the night before, Melissa quickly dressed. “We can eat on the road.”

Downstairs, they grabbed cups of coffee and a sweet roll to take with them and left the hotel.

As they approached the car, Melissa said, “Do you want me to drive?”

“No, thanks. I need something to keep me busy, and it won’t take us long,” Ross said. “We’ve all dreaded this time for months, and now that’s it here ...” he stopped speaking.

“I understand,” said Melissa, touching his arm. She and Ross had started as neighbors and friends. Their relationship was now so much more.

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Melissa could sense his escalating tension as they got closer to Ross’s boyhood home.

When they pulled in front of the house, the driveway was full of cars.

“All my brothers are here,” said Ross quietly. “C’mon. Let’s go inside.”

Outside the car, Melissa took hold of Ross’s cold fingers, and they went to the front door together.

A pretty woman with short, curly dark hair and bright blue eyes greeted them. “Go right to your father’s room,” she told Ross before turning to Melissa. “Hi, I’m Addie, Dewey’s wife. You’ve met him.”

“Yes,” Melissa said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, though I wish it were under different circumstances.”

“Me, too. My father-in-law is a prince of a man—gentle, sweet, and encouraging. He’s been more a father to me than my own.” Addie pulled a tissue from her pants pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

Melissa hugged her.

When Addie pulled back, she smiled. “His father has spoken about you too. As Dewey said, Ross hit a home run with you.”

Addie’s easy acceptance of her brought tears to Melissa’s eyes as she followed her inside. Two other women sat in the living room, talking quietly. They looked up and smiled when Melissa entered the room.

Addie introduced her to Jack’s wife, Jenn, and Dennis’s wife, Lisa. The difference between the two women was striking. Jenn looked like the wife of a very successful lawyer, with her striking features, expensive clothes, and blond hair pulled back into a classic bun. Lisa, married to a farmer, wore jeans and a knit top and had let her brown hair flow down to her shoulders. Though pretty, she made little effort with makeup. But all three women seemed friendly and supportive of one another as they faced their family’s sadness.

“I understand you and Ross have driven here from Florida. Jack told me that Ross met you in New Hampshire, where he’s built a new house,” said Jenn.

“We’re next-door neighbors. But living in our small town means everyone knows everyone else, so we were bound to meet anyway.”

“What’s this I hear about you being a chef?” asked Addie. “I bet you have some recipes to share.”

Melissa smiled. “Mine are a little complicated. But I do have a way of streamlining them for home cooking.”

“I heard there was a fire at your family’s restaurant,” said Jenn.

“Yes, it was destroyed. My family isn’t going to reopen it, so I’m at loose ends trying to figure out what I want to do next,” said Melissa.

“Well, you won’t have to worry about that if you marry Ross,” said Lisa. “The Roberts men like large families. I’m still working on baby number four.”

The women all chuckled. Melissa joined in. But secretly, she was uneasy. She and Ross had talked about many things, but not marriage per se and not about children. She couldn’t imagine handling four children.

Mrs. Barnard stepped out of the bedroom. “I’m sorry to say that John is gone. If you’d like to see him privately, you can take turns. The boys are saying goodbye now.”

Jenn, the wife of the oldest, stood. “I’ll be first if you don’t mind.”

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