By the time she reached the Eternity Springs city limits, she’d managed to fight back the tears and lock away her emotions. At least, that’s what she told herself as she unlocked the door to her Victorian and stepped inside, calling, “Inny? Where are you? Mama’s home.”
The dog came running and yipping a hello. Savannah scooped her up into her arms and squeezed her tight. Too tight, she realized, when the poor baby squealed.
Then Inny was licking her face and Savannah cooed back at her. Thank heaven for pets. They were a true blessing. Unlike humans, they gave unconditional love. They didn’t intentionally hurt people.
Inny squeaked again, so Savannah put her down. Her arms immediately felt empty, and a restless energy hummed through her. Now seated at her feet, Inny thumped her skinny little tail, her head tilted to one side as she waited expectantly.
“What?” Savannah asked her. “Are you bored? Do you want to go for a walk? Down to the dog park, perhaps?”
Actually, a walk to the dog park was a good solution for both of them. Inny loved her walks. Hearing the w-word almost always caused her to leap with joy. However, the little dog wasn’t built for accompanying Savannah on the long, draining run she needed right now, so she decided she’d let Inny play in the dog park while she ran the circumference of the fence until her legs gave out.
It took her only minutes to change, and soon they strode up Spruce Street toward Davenport Park. Savannah plastered a smile on her face and waved at neighbors, doing her best to keep her mind off the events at Reflection Point. For the most part she succeeded, and when she reached the dog park and released Inny to play, she returned Ali Timberlake’s greeting with a genuine smile.
Ali was quite a bit older than Savannah, though she didn’t look like it. Slim and stylish, Ali had that smart, city-girl look that the rural southern girl inside Savannah would have loved to emulate. How Ali pulled off that look wearing sneakers, athletic shorts, a scoop-neck tee, and a sun visor, Savannah couldn’t hazard a guess.
“What perfect timing,” Ali said. “I stopped by your place earlier but missed you.”
Evidently Ali hadn’t heard about the Chamber meeting. “I was … out … for the afternoon.”
“I wanted to invite you to join our softball team. We have a lot of fun, and it doesn’t require a lot of time.” She gestured toward the baseball diamond at the far side of the park. “We practice once a week in May until the weekly games begin in June. Summer is such a busy time for everybody, but we all need a break and this is a fun way to do it. Please say you’ll join us? Practice is about to start.”
Savannah’s gaze drifted across the baseball diamond, and yearning filled her. Once upon a time, fast-pitch softball had been her world, and during those awful years at Emmanuel, the time she’d spent playing ball had saved her sanity. She hadn’t picked up a softball since, but oh, how her fingers itched to give it a go.
She spied Nic, Sage, and Cat Davenport, along with a handful of other women she didn’t recognize. She didn’t see Sarah Murphy, and for that she was glad. She wasn’t up to dealing with the matchmaking machinations of the relatively new Mrs. Murphy, and she did want to join the softball players for at least tonight. Once Zach Turner spilled the beans about her past, they probably wouldn’t invite her back.
Savannah glanced toward Inny, who was playing happily with Nic Callahan’s boxer. An extended stay at the dog park wouldn’t bother her one bit. “I’d love to join you, thank you. Except, I’m afraid I don’t have a glove.”
“Excellent, and don’t worry about a glove. Someone will have an extra.” Ali beamed a smile toward Savannah and motioned her toward the baseball diamond.
That was another thing Savannah liked about Ali Timberlake. She gestured. She didn’t reach out and touch. She didn’t hug each time she said hello and good-bye.
Ali introduced Savannah to the other players whom she had yet to meet. Rose Anderson was the local doctor and Sage Rafferty’s sister. Julie Nelson taught third grade, Christy Hartford was a stay-at-home mom, and Megan Smith helped run the Blue Spruce Sandwich Shop.
Practice began amid much laughter and camaraderie. Savannah was dismayed to learn that the official coach and assistant coach