then he’s hurting me. Also, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that you two reformed conformists belong together. I knew he’d see sense.” He slaps my shoulder fondly and I cough to clear my throat. Damn, if Hayes didn’t nearly bring a tear to my eye.
The crack of the ball striking the bat has us both turning toward the field.
“Holy shit, she’s fast,” Hays says, and I follow his line sight.
Eva Landel is running like a demon, tagging bases and dodging the grasps of the boys who try to catch her with the ball. She streaks from third to home. The outfielder who caught the ball makes a running leap at her and she evades him by inches, but she never looks back.
I’m on my feet, my camera out to record this for Regan as Eva slides into home to the deafening shouts of the crowd. The twins are having a Beyblade battle a few feet away but tear their eyes away from their game to clap for their sister.
My conversation with Hayes is forgotten and my heart nearly bursts with pride. Her teammates flood the pitch and lift her on their shoulders to carry her to the dugout.
I brought Eva to her scrimmage this morning because Regan and her mom had an errand to run. She’s the only girl on her baseball team, but she’s the fastest and the most fearless.
The last six months have gone by in a blink and yet it feels like we’ve been doing this forever. The kids are off for a summer in Monaco in two weeks. While it’ll be nice to have the house to ourselves as we settle into domestic routine, I’m sorry they’re going for so long
My phone rings just as I’m about to head to the dugout to take more pictures.
“Hey, goddess, you should have seen your girl--” I answer, out of breath and excited.
“My mother... she’s gone after him. She left me a note. She says she’s going to kill him. I’m going after her,” she says in a clipped, calm voice.
“Who is he? What are you talking about?”
“Weston. He is Weston. Remember, I told you that my mother was looking into the connection with him and grandfather?”
I remember vaguely from that night, but we haven’t talked about it again.
“Yeah, what happened?”
“She found him.”
“He’s not dead?” A chill runs through me, from toe to tip.
“Not even a little. He’s been hiding in plain sight.” My eyes dart around the field, would I even recognize him if I saw him?
“Where is he?”
“Well, according to her note, he’s at the house in Palestine.”
“Her note? I thought you were running errands.
“We were. I went to take a bath and came down to find a note from her. She said she’s going to kill him.”
“What?” I jump to my feet and move away from Hayes and the kids.
“I know. I’m on my way to try and catch her. She drew me that bath and then left. She gave herself an hourlong head start.”
“Do you know where she went?? I’m on my way.”
“Of course, I have an address. He’s been in that house. You have the kids. So, I’m on my way. I was just calling to let you know. You need to come.”
Like hell. I press mute and run over to Hayes. “Can you take Eva and the boys home with you? I’ll leave their booster seats on top of your car, okay? Emergency.” I add, deliberately making it sound like work calling so that the boys won’t worry.
“Sure.” He gives me a thumbs up and I turn back to the call.
“Regan, give me that address now.” I bark.
She sighs. “Fine. But if you get there first, don’t get any ideas about finishing what you started all those years ago. He is not worth you going to jail. And if anyone is going to have the pleasure of hurting him, it’ll be me. Sending you that address now. I love you.” she says.
I race for my car. My heart is in my throat and rage is nearly choking me. If I get there first, nothing will stop me from finishing what I started.
Finally
Regan
I pull off the exit and break out into a sweat. I checked my rearview mirror compulsively on the drive over and every time a car appeared behind me; my heart raced. But no one is following me. This is not that night and I am not going to be anyone’s victim today.