Page 49 of Rescued Heart

Eddie’s nose flared with his deep breath. “Right now, we must focus on our attitudes. And this game.”

Scout whispered to Jacob, “When my grandma changes the subject, that means she doesn’t think something’s gonna happen but doesn’t want to tell us.”

Scarlette shot her brother a glare. “Except this time’s different.”

Tank swiped his glove off the bench and headed out of the dugout. “The only reason we’re winning is because the other team’s starting pitcher went to Hawaii on vacation.”

Will pulled on his baseball hat. “Wish I could go to stupid Hawaii.”

Scarlette pushed on the snap of her catcher’s shin guards. “I wish this stupid gear worked.”

Bianca bent down and straightened the connecters on the catcher’s shin guards. “Sometimes, the snaps only need a little lovin’.”

The snaps clicked together at the same time Will’s stomach growled.

Bianca smiled. “Someone’s worked up an appetite.”

Will’s face went white. He grabbed his mitt and ran out onto the field.

Eddie came over beside Bianca. “Was that Will’s stomach or yours again?”

“I could go for another one of those shakes, but it was his.” She’d even texted Frances about her restaurant needing to add marshmallow shakes to their summer menu.

Eddie closed his eyes.

She frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Eddie put his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a five-dollar bill. “Lincoln, run to the concessions and buy all the popcorn this will get you. Some of you might have to share.”

A grin broke out over the skinny boy’s face. “Yes, sir.”

Bianca grabbed her keys off the bench. “I might have some cash.” Maybe.

Eddie placed his hand on her arm. “That will get them through the game, at least. I forgot their warm-up snacks. No wonder Will’s on edge. He may not have eaten lunch.”

She squeezed her keys. No lunch? “Does that happen a lot?”

Eddie rubbed at the crease on his forehead. “Once is too much.”

Bianca pressed her palm over her chest. He was right. These boys needed more than a simple youth center. “I’ll keep my end of our deal,” she whispered. “About helping fundraise and collect donations.”

Eddie’s lips pressed into a line. “Not sure you and me”—he glanced behind him and cleared his throat—“is such a good idea. I’m still worried about the kids finding out and thinking I’m lying to them. Then who are they going to trust and depend on? You saw what happened with Will and the grant. Lying. It breaks trust. I can’t afford?—”

The metallic clunk of ball meeting bat had both of them whirling around in time to see the other team’s batter send the pitch soaring over the fence.

More than Scout’s shoulders sank as the batter jogged around the bases. The whole team’s hope sank.

Bianca may not be able to win the game for them or buy them a youth center—yet. But maybe she could do something. No kid deserved to go hungry.

Frances’s voice came into her head.

Don’t envy someone else’s gift. Use what the Lord has blessed you with. If it’s giving, do it with the right heart.

Bianca grabbed her phone. Hopefully, the pizza shop beside Kitty’s Family Clothing Outlet could deliver on such short notice. She might not be able to solve all their problems at the moment, but she could feed a bunch of hungry kids.

As her phone rang, Eddie’s words circled back to her.

You saw what happened with Will. Lying. It breaks trust.

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