Page 23 of Back to You

11

Vivian

Vivian hadto pause for a second, thinking it over. It wasn't like she and Tyler had never been apart. He went to school. He went to camp. He had a babysitter—or as he stated, the person who hung out with him while Mom was busy. But there was something next-level about him going over to the Rosses’.

She looked at Mrs. Ross's face which was filled with an odd kind of hope, and Vi couldn't deal with the idea of saying no to her.

And honestly, would there really be any better place for Tyler to be than their house?

"Sure," she said. “I'll warn you though, he's a handful.”

"Oh, please.” Mrs. Ross waved a hand between them. "You've met my sons. A handful is an understatement."

Beside her, Tyler watched the entire exchange carefully. Vivian had to remember this was a first for him as well.

Mrs. Ross’s child-radar must have pinged on. "If you'll give me a sec, I have to have a word with Jenny. Then I'll be right back and we can get this show on the road."

She waited until Mrs. Ross was several feet away before turning back to Tyler. "You’re okay with this while I go figure out what's going on? It's this or go to another meeting."

Even though she knew she was not making him go sit through Noah's. He was getting that tired look around the eyes that never boded well for cooperation.

Heck, she was probably getting it too if she was being honest.

"Yeah. Cam's parents are cool. I mean they come down and help out at camp sometimes."

"They do?"

"Yeah," Tyler said again, waving at a friend just past her right shoulder.

"Ty?"

"Oh, yeah. Mr. Ross is my batting coach. He said I have a lot of potential. Cam says they used to watch videos to make him better when he was in high school." His attention drifted away for another moment and Vivian waved a hand. "Do you think Mr. Ross would watch batting videos with me?"

"There's not much he'd love more." Cam stepped back up to them. “He loves coaching. He'd still be doing it if he hadn't—gotten sick a few years ago."

Mr. Ross had had a straight-up heart attack in his forties, but she appreciated Cam dodging that info.

"Wow, like one-on-one coaching. And Mikey Baines not there to push his nose in."

Not a selling point Vivian had anticipated, but sure.

"But remember, they worked all day. If they're not up for a video, then maybe just watch a movie or something."

"PG-13?"

"Yeah, we'll leave that call up to Mr. and Mrs. Ross. I'm sure they have some options we'd all be happy with."

Cam gave a barely there head bob and Mrs. Ross made her way back over.

"Ms. Bev! I'm going to come over and hang out with you guys. Cam said maybe we can watch some batting videos."

Mrs. Ross gave a deep sigh. “I guess you'll be too busy to help me bake some cookies, then."

"Oh, cookies." Tyler sounded so torn that Cam had to turn a snort into a cough.

"With all your mom is going to have to do over the next little bit, I'm betting we'll get to have you come visit again. If not, we can make a baking date for just the two of us later."

Vivian was in awe of the woman.

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