Page 19 of The Ex Next Door
“Well, there you go. A good coach makes all the difference. Listen. Why don’t you let him play baseball? That’s a real sport.”
“It’s your sport, so no wonder you prefer it.”
“It’s America’s sport, Amy.America.”
She cocked her head and smiled. “I see. Baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. I think I know the song. And your preference for the sport has nothing to do with your storied history?”
“It’s a great game. The best. I stopped playing because I didn’t have what it took for the long haul.”
“But you did.” She studied him, sincerely assessing him, it seemed. Probably because she knew too much. “You always had what it takes.”
He changed the subject. “There’s a rec league, so why not do that and see how he likes it? It’s not exactly Little League.”
“That’s the second time someone told me about this, but I don’t think I can sign him up. I’ll be working as soon as I can find a job, and I can’t count on Rob. He travels so much. Bianca said she would help but she’s on the other side of town now. It’s asking a lot.”
“I can do it. All you had to do was ask.”
She blinked. “Why would I ask you?”
“Because we’re old friends, I’m your neighbor, a baseball enthusiast and former teacher, player and coach.” He held both palms out in an “I give up” gesture. “Other than that, no reason I can think of at all.”
Amy snorted. “Okay, I think you’ve made your point.”
“Take advantage of the fact I’m right next door.”
“Yeah? And what will your girlfriend say about you helping your ex-girlfriend?”
“Are you kidding? It won’t bother her at all.”
The truth was that Samantha probably wouldn’t like it very much but that wasn’t going to stop him from helping David. This was about the kid, not Declan and Amy.
They were ancient history.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll talk to him.”
And then, “history” walked out the door, sashaying her butt, leaving Declan to swallow hard and wonder far too much about how history tended to repeat itself.
Chapter Seven
That evening when Amy tucked the kids into bed after reading to them, she brushed the soft dark hairs along David’s hairline. His hair was thicker now, no longer those tiny wisps of fine locks. His smooth skin was still soft as a baby’s, though she would never tell him that. She would quietly hang on to those little snippets of his babyhood and tuck them away.
“Why didn’t you tell me what your coach said?”
“I didn’t want you to get mad and go yell at him.”
Oh dear. She was that transparent.
“Well, he shouldn’t have said that to you. It’s discouraging and just plain wrong.”
“Yeah, that’s what Dec said.”
Interesting. Already calling their neighbor by his nickname.
“If you want to quit soccer, it’s okay with me. I want you to have fun. But you have to promise me you’re not just going to give up on the next sport when it gets hard. This is it.” She tapped the bridge of his nose. “I can’t let you give up again. This time, you’ll have a good coach. But sometimes persistence is the answer when it’s not easy in the beginning. Try and try again.”
“For real? You mean I can play baseball with Matthew?Thanks, Mom!” David reached to give her a hug, and his smile tugged on her heart in a sweet ache.
Her baby. The very least she could do for her son right now, after all she and Rob had put him through, was let him have a fun summer playing the sport he wanted. In the end, it was Declan’s sincerity that convinced her to let David try baseball. For an athlete of Declan’s caliber to offer help was not something she could take lightly. She would get over her humiliation at accepting assistance from her ex-boyfriend for the sake of her son. The regret she’d carried about Declan was all in the past, unfortunately replaced by Rob’s far greater abandonment of his family.
