Page 23 of The Cannon
“I know Atticus’ idea of fun. We would have ended up in bed.”
“If you’re like your brothers, Sawyer will be a happy man,” January says.
“You’re both way ahead of me. It’s a first date. There’ll be nobody in anybody’s bed tonight.”
“Here honey, I made a plate for you. And January this one’s for you.”
My mother comes up behind us and hands me a plate of things she knows I’ll eat. Raw veggies, slices of tomatoes and green salad with oil and vinegar dressing. January’s plate bears no relation to mine. There’s potato salad, a slider and a chocolate chip cookie.
“Sit with us, Lucinda,” Charlotte says.
As my mom takes her seat, the players take the field.
“There’s my guy,” Charlotte says eyeing Atticus take his spot behind home plate.
“There’s Sawyer,” I say watching his every move.
His practice pitches to Atticus are a thing of beauty.
I’m aware of someone calling from the entry to the room.
“Excuse me. I have a delivery for Miss Bristol Swift.”
Turning, I find a hotdog vendor looking for direction. I raise my hand.
“Right here! I’m Bristol.”
He walks over and begins to pass the delivery my way. My plate gets stored on the window ledge, and I hold out my hands.
The room’s attention is on me.
“Here you go, miss. One Memphis dog with all the fixings, I’ve got a kosher pickle and a large Coke.”
I’m trying to balance it all.
“That boy clearly doesn’t know what a picky eater you are. I like it,” says Brick.
“Here’s some curly fries and a bag of peanuts. Oh yeah, and two white macadamia nut cookies for dessert.”
I’m chuckling because this is the exact opposite of what I’d eat. When he’s finished with the food, the vendor reaches in his pocket and brings out a baseball.
“Mr. Tom signed this for you. Said to tell you he wants you to have the whole game experience. And he asked that I give you this.”
He passes a folded piece of paper to me. When I read his words, I’m smiling
Let me teach you to love the second greatest sport. And the first.
Ohhhh. That’s cute, Sawyer. And sexy. I stick the note in my pants pocket. Maybe I’ll read it again when I get home. Once or four hundred times.
Wish I could wipe this grin off my face but it’s impossible. And everyone here sees the effect. Charlotte and January are dancing in their seats. Well, January is mostly raising a waving arm.
What game?
* * *
I haven’t beennervous for a date’s arrival since the turn of the century. Quickly I do the math. Shit. Sawyer was ten years old.
Taking a final look in the hall mirror I smooth my favorite dress and tuck a stray strand behind my ear. I hardly recognize this woman looking back. She’s out of her brain and into her body. Interesting. I’m feeling turned on, and nobody’s touching me.
