Strike One For Romance
Sheila took aim, forced the ball from her hands and watched as Barry swung, missed and shook his head.
"Mom, I told you the ball is supposed to go between my knees and shoulders."
A ten year old ballplayer could only do so much without the help of someone who knew what they were doing, Shelia thought, as she tried to suppress her anger at Barry's father for leaving them alone. He wasn't cut out for marriage and fatherhood he had told her. "Sorry Sweetheart, I just can't do it," were his parting words when he left two years ago.
He had taken a job in California and promised to stay in touch. He did, with a child support checks monthly and periodic phone calls to Barry. It was something, but not as helpful as having a man in her son's life.
"I'm sorry Barry," she called from the pretend pitcher's mound. "I can't get the hang of it. But I'm trying."
"Need any help?" A strong, male voice called out from behind her.
Sheila turned and nearly gasped at the ruggedly good looking man in cut off jeans, tight fitting T-shirt, and a NY Yankees baseball cap walked towards them.
"Hey, Mr. Prentice," Barry called
"I'm Todd Prentice, I'll be Barry's phys ed teacher next year," he explained as he removed his cap and ran his hand through short, blond, curly hair. "Mind if I pitch him a few?" he asked a staring Sheila.
She felt like a robot as she handed him the ball and glove and stood rooted to the ground.
"Batter up! Todd yelled to Barry." The words were clear with a hint of laughter. Sheila jumped out of the way as the ball connected with Barry's bat and sailed past them.
"Way to go, Slugger," Todd called and ran to retrieve the rolling ball. "Play the outfield," he smiled at Sheila pointing towards a group of trees.
For nearly an hour Sheila dashed about scooping up balls that Barry hit in one direction after another. Every muscle in her body was beginning to ache. She was ready to beg for a break or even a downpour of rain but each time she tossed the ball to Todd, his smile chased her thoughts and numbed her aches.
At the point when she believed she was going to collapse, she heard a horn blow. Glancing towards the parking area she saw a red convertible sports car with an outstandingly attractive blond in the driver's seat.
"Todd, let's go. I'm sorry I'm late," Ms. gorgeous blond called.
Sheila's heart ache gave competition to hurting muscles as she watched Todd briefly talk to Barry, wave at her, and jog to the waiting sports car. She stared after them remembering that her mother had told her that after thirty most of the good guys were taken.
She sighed and hoped that maybe for once her mother was wrong. At 32 she hoped there might be someone out there for her. Someone like Todd who was good looking and thoughtful enough to take time to work with a young boy. She wondered if he and the blond had any children. Probably not, most young mother's didn't drive fancy red sports cars.
"Did you hear me, Mom?" Barry was looking up at her, "Mr. Prentice said he'd help me again tomorrow if we're here. Can we come back? Please!"
Her heart wanted to say yes but her reasoning mind said she was better off keeping her distance from someone who was inordinately attractive and very unavailable. Barry's pleading eyes overruled her reasoning mind.
During the next three days Sheila agonized from aching muscles and watching Todd drive away with the blond. On Friday afternoon he brought her a fielder's mitt and showed her the best way to use it. He placed his arms around her and guided her hand to the right positions to catch a fly ball or scoop up a grounder. The smell of him co-mingled with the feel of his arms around her took her breath away.
At one point Todd called a break and they sat on the ground while Barry climbed a nearby tree . Sheila admonished herself for babbling about her work as a computer programmer. "I can work from home," she told him, "and be somewhat of a full-time mother."
Todd's blue eyes looked at her so warmly she felt her temperature rise. She quickly ended the break before her feelings became apparent.
Barry's hits were become more frequent but still not controlled. She'd dash from one side of the field to the other. Near the end of their practice time, a little before the red sports car was due to arrive, Barry hit a pop fly. Sheila dashed toward it, her eyes squinting in the sun. Suddenly Todd's back hit her and together they sprawled on the ground. Their arms and legs were tangled and as Todd moved around to face her she saw a look of more than concern in his eyes.
"Are you okay?" He got to his knees and began to rub her arms, his eyes moving up and down her body. "I didn't know you were right behind me or I wouldn't have tried for the ball."
For a moment their eyes locked in an awareness of something beyond Sheila's wildest dreams. Her heart raced as he stood and pulled her to her feet, never taking his eyes from hers.
Sheila glanced at the parking lot looking for Todd's wife. She breathed deeply trying to stop the pounding in her chest. How could he look at her like that? Didn't he know that only someone attracted to someone love should look at a person like that? Why did he act so concerned. She was fine, he didn't need to keep holding onto her.
"You two gonna play anymore?" Barry called out to them.
"No, I think your mom's had enough for today." Todd slipped his arm around her and guided her toward the parking area. "I was hoping you might let me take you to dinner tonight. It's the least I can do after knocking you down out there." He seemed hesitant, almost shy.
Sheila stopped, turned, and looked up at him. She stammered, stunned that a man she admired as such a good guy could even think of inviting her to dinner.
"Isn't' your wife picking you up today?" her voice was biting.
Todd stared at her questioningly. "My wife? I'm not married." He stared down at her. "Oh, you mean Adrianne?" He laughed and shook his head. "She's not my wife. She's my Realtor. She can only show me places in the early evening when her husband's home to take care of her kids. She picks me up here to save time."
Sheila's heart soared. She felt like a big league player must feel when he hits a three bag homer and wins the World Series.
"Do you like shrimp?" she smiled up at him. "I have a shrimp salad chilled at home. Barry and I would love to have you join us."
He grinned at her and opened her car door, "Only if you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night."
"Me too?" Barry asked from the passenger's seat.
"Maybe just your mom and me tomorrow night Slugger but we can all go out Sunday after we get in some more practice." Todd looked down at her as she slipped the key into the slot. He smiled as he winked at her. "You going to feel up to it?" Suddenly her muscles didn't hurt anymore. Sheila felt she was up to anything. |
