Page 54 of Love's Home Run

Melissa was happy to have some time alone with him. She knew it was only a matter of time before he got a call from a family member to come home.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with your father?”

“I feel comfortable Dad is on the road to recovery, and I don’t want you to be alone.”

“For selfish reasons, I’m glad you’ll be with me.”

“Me, too,” she said. “But, Ross, I’m pretty sure my mother will decide no more restaurant business for either of them.”

“How do you feel about that?” he asked her.

“I know this might sound crazy, but I wondered if there was a spot for a small restaurant at the sports center you’re building with Mike. I’m not sure I’d want to do more than that.”

“That might be terrific. We left some space on our drawings for something like that. We can talk it over with Mike in Florida,” Ross said. “Crystal has offered to supervise a snack bar with high school students running it, but I think it makes more sense to have you in charge of a bigger operation than that.

“It’s just something to think about. I’m not sure what I want,” said Melissa. Maybe her new life was finally coming together.

Later, when a discussion of the future came up at dinner with her mother, Melissa wasn’t surprised when her mother announced that they definitely wouldn’t be rebuilding the restaurant.

“Those 24/7 days of working are over,” her mother said. “Your father and I have agreed his heart attack was a wake-up call. With the insurance money from the fire and the sale of the land, we should be comfortable enough to retire.” She kept a steady gaze on Melissa. “Does that ruin your plans? We always thought you’d take over the restaurant one day.”

Melissa was quiet, thinking about how best to put it without hurting her mother’s feelings. “In many ways, it’s a relief for me. Now, I’m free to make plans of my own.”

“Yes, that’s true. I’m grateful we agree on this.” Her mother reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You’ve been a wonderful daughter and a terrific help to us with the restaurant. I want you to know that.”

Melissa blinked hard, too emotional to speak. Compliments from her mother were rare.

Ross waved a waiter over to them. “I think we’re ready to order now.”

Melissa felt as content as a cream-fed cat after a main course of baked scrod and fresh vegetables. Tomorrow, after seeing her father again, she and Ross would head to the airport for a flight south on what was sure to continue to be an emotional journey.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

That night, as Melissa lay with Ross in bed, she turned to him. “At least now, I know I won’t be working at a family restaurant in Lilac Lake.”

“How do you feel about that?” asked Ross.

Melissa had been thinking a lot about all the recent changes and answered truthfully, “I feel free. It’s going to take me a while to get used to it, but I want to be able to move forward in life in my own way.”

“We’re both at a crossroads,” Ross said. “My business is expanding. I like the idea that I can get away from the cold in a New Hampshire winter to go to my business in Florida and, vice versa, leave Florida in summer.”

“That’s ideal,” said Melissa. She said nothing more because she didn’t know if this conversation would lead to thoughts of a future together. She waited, but Ross didn’t mention it. He cupped her face in his broad hands and kissed her.

Melissa melted against him.

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The next morning, after a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs at a nearby restaurant, Melissa and Ross returned to the hospital.

He was sitting in a chair when they got to her father’s room.

“How are you doing, Dad?” Melissa asked and went to him. “It’s great to see you out of bed.”

Her mother stood by. “He’s going to take it easy and then get to work on his rehab program.”

Melissa saw the look of resignation on her father’s face and held in a chuckle. Her mother was determined to see that her father had the best care. That made it much easier to leave them.

“Nice of you to come, Ross,” said her father.

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