Trent (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #4) (17 page)

When the game ends, I take
them for ice cream. I’d be lying if I didn’t hope to run into Trent
again. I’ve been watching him playing and keeping up with his
stats. I did have to Google a few things to understand what they
meant, but I’m officially his stalker now.

As soon as we’re done with
ice cream, I take the boys home before I run to the grocery store.
I don’t have anything in my fridge, but wine, and I know I need
food soon before my liver becomes pickled. I grab a basket and head
toward the fresh veggies when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“Ms. Knowles?”

I sigh deeply. “Junior, I
think you’re stalking me.”

The reporter from the Memphis
Paper Blog gives me his best smile, which makes him look like a
bigger nerd than he already is.

“I’m not. I just need a
quote, and I have a few more questions.”

I roll my eyes and turn my
back to him and head over to the tomatoes.

“Um, I’ve noticed you and
Trent Baker are
friends
.”

I didn’t like the way he
hissed the word friends

“Did you meet at the gym? I
know you both have memberships there.”

“As do three hundred other
patrons,
Junior
.” I say without looking at him.

“So, you met him before his
wife died, right?”

I stop testing the firmness
of the produce and turn to him. “What?”

“When did the affair
start?”

“What?” I squeak. “I’m not
having affair with Trent.”

Junior has the nerve to
laugh, and he even snorts. “No, you’re not
now.
I mean,
before your brother killed his wife.”

My mouth drops in shock. I
can’t figure out what he’s talking about or where the questioning
is going, but I’m going to put an end to it now. “Listen you
half-assed reporter. First, you’re a blogger with no credentials.
Second, Trent Baker is a loving and loyal husband and father who
never cheated on his wife. I know him because of sick connection
with my brother. I have not ever had an affair with Trent, and
that’s your damn quote. And let me say one more thing: if you come
around me again, I will press charges against you for harassment.”
I shove my basket into his chest and race out to my car.

This could be very bad.

“Here is what I know,” Macy
sits down on my couch and opens an app on her phone. “Junior is
Junior Mintzer, and he's a blogger for the hardly noticeable
Memphis Paper Blog. They mainly work on conspiracy theories and
stuff. You know, where are the aliens? Was Elvis at Denny’s eating
last night? Could BigFoot run for President next year? Shit, like
that. However, it looks as if they are moving up in world and have
been doing some current affairs exposés.”

“What does that have to do
with Trent and me? I mean I know Dominic is our connection, but I
didn’t know Trent before all this. Mr. Junior Mints thinks I was
having an affair with Trent. Before his wife died.”

“Really? Well, I know you
weren’t, and I’m not sure where he was going with that dumb ass
question. I’ll do some more poking around, but I don’t think it’s a
big deal. However, I need to split. If I hear anything else, I’ll
let you know,” Macy jumps up from my couch and rushes out the
door.

I sip on my glass of water
because I need to slow down on my wine drinking, and I still need
to get groceries. I flip on my TV and of course, the Angels
highlights are the first thing on the screen. Blake Foster had two
home runs and is well on his way to be MVP at that pace. The news
shows a play where Jordan, Trent, and Hector had a triple out. It’s
a rare but awesome play. I smile seeing their celebratory faces.
There’s a gleam in Trent’s eyes, and it tugs at my heart.

I check the time; it’s
possible Trent would be able to talk right now. I want him to know
what Macy found out, and I told him I would keep him in the
loop.

I find his name and decide to
send him a text instead. Hearing his voice isn’t something I can do
at this moment.

Me: Talked to Macy. Mr.
Junior Mintzer is nothing but a jerk who is digging around for a
story. Be aware, he thinks we had an affair BEFORE your wife
died.

Trent: Are you serious? God,
I hate him even more now

Me: Macy is still looking
into it, but said it shouldn’t be anything to worry about. I
thought you should know.

Trent: She’s positive?
Because that’s not a headline I ever want to see

Me: Me either and she seems
to be. I’ll let you know if I hear anything different. Good game,
by the way. I just saw the triple.

Trent: Thanks. It felt good.
Hope you’ve had a good day

Me: I watched Joey and David
play. Joey struck out nine players and David had 4 RBIs. They won
by 7. My thighs are still on fire from the metal bench though.
Haha!

Why am I telling him
this?
I shake my head after I press send.

Trent: Give them a good job
and high-five for me next time you see them. Sorry about your legs.
You should invest in either a towel to sit on or one of those
padded seat things for bleachers.

Me: I’ll remember for next
time. How Kaelyn? Still loving Curious George?

Trent: Yeah. She asked
tonight if I would get Snow White for her, so I had to order it
online. I don’t know how much longer Curious George will be able to
stick around now. She’s enjoying her time off from school too.

Me: Maybe you should enroll
her into some classes for the summer. The library has a reading
group for kids her age. Or maybe some dance classes at the YMCA.
Maybe expose her to more stuff and she’ll find something new.

Trent: That’s a good idea.
She’s driving Granny crazy, and I’m sure she would enjoy more of a
break. I’ll have to see what Kaelyn may want to try.

Me: If you call ahead,
sometimes you can observe a class with Kaelyn. Then you’ll know for
sure. Just some friendly advice.

Trent: Thanks. I really
appreciate it. I swear, sometimes it feels like I’m brand new at
this and not like I’ve been a parent for five years.

Me: You’re doing great. But
sometimes a little advice or other suggestions can help. Besides,
she needs more girly stuff to do. No offense, but your grandmother
can’t do a lot with her and she needs some female role models,
besides the Disney Princesses

Trent: I know. She likes
Sofia, Blake’s (aka Happy) girlfriend, but it’s not like they can
spend a lot of time together. Plus, Kaelyn would rather hang out
with Blake than Sofia. smh.

Me: Oh, so that’s Happy!
Haha! Why don’t you suggest the next time Sofia goes shopping she
takes Kaelyn. I know she’s only five, but it matters in the
formative years. It sounds old-fashioned, but she’s going to want
to put on make-up, talk about boys, get her period, and be sized
for bras. Trust me, she doesn’t want to talk to her dad about that.
(No girl does!)

Trent: Ugh. Stop it. I don’t
want to think about that yet. I want my little girl to stay LITTLE.
For as long as possible. As for Sofia, I’ve thought about it, but
then it feels like I’m pawning my kid off to her just because she’s
a girl too. And I wouldn’t want her to feel like she has to say yes
either

Me: No one is going to think
of it that way. Women understand situations like this. Just find
someone Kaelyn is safe and comfortable with and it’ll be great for
her. I know you want her to stay little, but sorry Daddy-O, it’s
not going to happen. =)

Trent: I know, I know. I
think about it enough as it is. Between thoughts of her growing up
and worries about how much longer my grandmother can be the person
who stays with her for me, I’m all worried out.

Me: Oh, Trent, try and stay
positive. If I know anything, I know it’ll all work out. It’s a big
mess right now, but soon you’ll find someone who will be by your
side to help you full time.

Trent: Or I won’t and I’ll
have to turn into a prince (since she’s obsessed with the
princesses) to be able to have skills to do it all myself

Me: You’re a great dad. I
saw it firsthand. She adores you and you’ll always be her #1
man.

Trent: Thanks. You always
seem to be able to make me feel better

Me: Ditto. I need to go. I
have plans and I’m late. Have a good night

I lie to him, because I have
no plans at all, but I can’t stay on the phone with any longer.

Trent: Have fun...you know,
you say all these nice, kind things to me, but the first time I say
something in return, you always make a quick exit.

Me: I’m not used to hearing
nice things about me

Trent: You’re a good person.
People should be saying nice things about you

Me: Have a good night Trent.
Good luck with the game tomorrow.

***

“KAELYN, COME IN here
please,” I call out. I’ve been standing in front of the closet for
a good fifteen minutes. My chest is tight; the air feels heavy,
thus making it a little harder to breathe. All of Deborah’s clothes
are hanging in the exact spot she left them. For some reason, when
I woke up this morning, my gaze was on the closet. Something just
clicked. It’s time to pack up her things.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Kaelyn
runs into the room with a flourish.

I lift her up in my arms, the
guilt already threatening to drown me. Clearing my throat, I reach
out and run my hand down Deborah’s favorite scarf. “If you could
have any two of your Mommy’s scarves to keep forever, which two
would you want?”

Kaelyn immediately leans
forward to grab Deborah’s favorite scarf and a pink one, pulling on
them until they come free of the hanger. “Can I have three, Daddy?
I really like this one too.” She points to a yellow and blue
one.

I get it for her and set her
on her own two feet. “There you go. Why don’t you put them in your
bedroom?”

She nods, running away. My
eyes burn with the need to cry, and I know I won’t be able to do
this with Kaelyn here. Sighing, I sit on the edge of the bed to
rack my brain. Scarlett’s suggestion that Kaelyn hang out with
Sofia runs through my mind. I debate it for a couple of seconds
before grabbing my phone to call Blake.

“Hey, Trent. What’s up?” he
answers.

“Is Sofia busy today?” I ask,
getting right to the point before I change my mind.

“She’s going out with her
sister and mother to get their nails done and go shopping.
Why?”

“Oh, I was wondering if she’d
watch Kaelyn for me, but I’ll figure something else out.”

“Hang on a sec.” I hear him
call for Sofia, silence, and then, “If she says no, I can watch her
for you,” he offers. A second passes and he adds to Sofia, I’m
assuming, “Trent was wondering if you’d watch Kaelyn for him. You
could take her with you for all your girly stuff you’re doing
today.” Another pause. “She said absolutely.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Thank you so much. Is it okay if I bring her over in the next
thirty minutes?”

“Yeah. That’ll work. Do you
know when you’ll want to pick her up?”

“Um, not really. I just can’t
have her here today, but I can text Sofia when I’m done or she can
text me when she’s ready to send her back home.”

Blake is quiet before he
asks, “Everything okay, Trent?”

“Yeah, I’m,” I sigh, “I’m
packing up Deborah’s clothes.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. So, I’ll see y’all
soon. Thanks so much again.”

“Any time. We don’t mind the
practice.”

I laugh before saying
goodbye. I leave my room for Kaelyn’s. She was already dressed, and
now, she’s wearing Deborah’s favorite scarf. I swallow hard at the
sight of her. God, I hope I’m strong enough to do this. It feels
right, but it still hurts.

“Hey, how would my girl like
to spend the day with Sofia?”

Kaelyn squeals. “Yes!”