Page 64 of Love's Home Run

“Yay!” said Kate, clapping her hands. “We haven’t had that in a long time.”

“Not with all those calories,” said Nan, giving her sister a reproving look.

“Let’s use this time to celebrate without worrying about other things,” Jenn said quietly, and the girls grew silent.

Melissa had heard many horrible stories about teenagers but was impressed by the girls’ behavior.

While they waited for dinner to be delivered, the girls went to their rooms, and Melissa settled on the outdoor porch with the other adults. The screened-in porch was as stunning as the rest of the house, with an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and comfortable seating. The landscaped backyard was lush and held a small fountain that tumbled water into a koi pond.

“This is lovely,” Melissa said, “I have a big backyard, but it’s mostly a vegetable and herb garden.”

“Which is appropriate for you,” said Ross, smiling at her before turning to Jenn. “Melissa is a fantastic chef. At the restaurant her family owned, the food was always served fresh and delicious. Unfortunately, the restaurant burned down.”

“What will you do now that the restaurant is gone?” Jack asked her.

“I’m still trying to figure that out,” said Melissa. “I spent years learning about food and earning a reputation as an excellent chef. I don’t want to walk away from that.”

Jack shrugged. “That’s understandable. But aren’t you helping Ross with his project?”

“I’m encouraging him and trying to help in any way I can, but I need to do things for myself,” Melissa said.

Ross caught her attention and winked. He knew she needed her independence.

Their dinner arrived, and Melissa became lost in choosing what she wanted for her meal. She took small servings of everything so she could go back for more. Jack had ordered enough food for a crowd double their size.

They sat at a long, pine table in the kitchen dining area. Melissa took a bite of the House Special Chicken, closed her eyes, and savored the taste of chicken strips and fresh vegetables in a spicy sauce.

“Delicious, huh?” said Ross, grinning at her.

She opened her eyes and let out a soft laugh. “A fantastic blend of tastes. It’s wonderful to have authentic food like this.”

“One thing about living in this area is that we’re exposed to many different foods,” said Jenn. “You’ll have to visit for a foodie weekend.”

“I’d like that,” said Melissa, realizing how pleasant it was to be included in the family.

“You two can stay here when you return for Dad’s service,” said Jack.

“Of course,” said Jenn with a warmth that touched Melissa. Was this what it would be like to be a permanent part of Ross’s family?

After dinner, Jenn told the girls, “Go ahead and spend some time with your father and Uncle Ross. Melissa and I will do the dishes. It’ll be nice for the four of you to spend some time talking about Grandpa John.”

“I’m going to write a poem about him,” said Nan.

“That would be lovely, sweetheart,” said Jenn. “We all have so many things to remember about him.”

“What about Grandma Betty? Do you think they’re together again?” asked Kate.

Jenn smiled. “I’d like to think so.”

The girls left the room with the men, leaving Melissa with Jenn.

“What was Ross’s mother like?” Melissa asked her.

Jenn stared into space and turned to her. “Betty was not your average wife and mother. She was gentle but tough and could wrestle life with four active boys. She attended everyone’s sports games, encouraged Dennis with his love of plants, and commanded the boys’ respect. She was quite an athlete herself. She was built a lot like you.”

“She sounds like an outstanding mother,” Melissa said.

“All the Roberts men adored her. John, most of all. She was very kind to me. I’m Jack’s second wife, and I was eager for her to see I wouldn’t hurt him like his first wife did.” Jenn said quietly, “His first wife was a troubled woman. Thank goodness they had no children. That’s all I’ll say about her.”

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