Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Back-Ups - Carol Moncado Page 0,4
percentage, and runs batted in.
His post-season was flawless for the first two series, but when the World Series rolled around, Carson choked. In twenty-five plate appearances, he’d only connected with the ball four times. All four resulted in outs - three times he was thrown out at first base and the other was a pop fly to shallow left field.
More people showed up until there were fourteen women, plus Madi. Mama Beach, ever the consummate hostess, had plenty of finger foods and drinks for everyone. Madi sat in the seat she’d been directed to and let the conversation flow around her. Eventually, she’d take part, but for the moment, she didn’t have to.
Mrs. Braverman stood up and the chit chat stopped. “I spoke with one more person who I hoped would come, but...” She glanced at her watch. “Officially, the meeting started five minutes ago, so I guess not.”
The older woman held up the book of the month. “We all should have read Parade of Love by our very own Madi Beach.”
Murmurs around the room told Madi everyone had.
“Unlike most of the books we read, there’s no discussion questions in this one.” Mrs. Braverman’s voice held a hint of reproval as did her pointed glance at Madi. “Also unlike most of the books we read, we’re blessed to have the author sit in on our meeting with us. We’re going to open with a word of prayer. Mama Beach?”
Madi bowed her head as her aunt prayed, thanking God for the opportunity to gather and for the author in their midst. About the time she finished, Mama Beach pulled her phone out and tapped a couple of times.
“Someone else is coming in.”
“Then we can wait another moment,” Mrs. Braverman said. “Why don’t we take a few suggestions for our next book? We’ll vote at the end of the meeting, but does anyone have any ideas?”
“I do!” Mrs. Scarlotti waved her hand in the air. “We talked about it a couple of months ago, but I’ve been dying to read Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner. I adored her last book.”
Mrs. Braverman turned to Madi. “Have you read it?”
Madi nodded. “I’ve met Bethany a few times. She’s fantastic. HadBeck is her best book yet.”
“Objections?” Mrs. Braverman asked the room as Mama Beach headed for the door to let their last guest in. When no one said anything negative, Mrs. Braverman nodded her assent. “We’ll skip the vote later then. Hadley Beckett it is.”
A few seconds later, Mama Beach walked back into the room accompanied by... a man? Madi blinked. Not just a man.
Conner.
He appeared to be as shocked by her appearance as she was by his.
Mrs. Braverman clapped her hands. “Oh, I’m so glad you could come, Wyatt. Ladies, this is Wyatt. I met him at the bookstore the other day. He was looking for a good book, so of course I recommended our Madi’s book.”
Not Conner.
Wyatt?
Like Wyatt Carson?
Left fielder for the Maryland Heights Crimson Knights?
That Wyatt?
Madi gulped. Maybe it wasn’t too late to run.
After doing a double-take when he realized the author was also the woman he’d had dinner with, Wyatt took the seat Mrs. Braverman indicated she’d saved for him.
“Why don’t we all introduce ourselves?” she started. She looked at the woman on the other side of her. “Wyatt already knows who I am, so Julie, you’re up.”
They went around the room, and Wyatt found himself wishing they all wore nametags. He repeated their last names like a mantra.
He knew the last one was right. So was the first one. Probably. Beach was in there somewhere, just like the last name of the author. Her mother?
Wyatt gave up. He’d have to turn on his smile and charm and ask if the need arose.
Mrs. Braverman held up the book of the month. “Did everyone read Love on Parade by Madi?”
For the next hour, they discussed the book. Wyatt had read it, just like he said he would, but he didn’t feel the need to participate in the conversation. Hearing the women’s perspectives fascinated him.
But the woman he’d had dinner with barely spoke.
She wrote the book. Shouldn’t she have the best insight into the meaning of the gift the