The Only One For Me

Chapter 5

Chris lowered his gaze and took a deep breath. He’d been waiting for that question.

He smiled up at Corra. “I know I owe you an apology. I had every intention of keeping in contact. But the minute my plane landed in Philly, the chaos ensued. I had building problems, people issues, and a few other things that come with growing pains. We’re opening a new office in London, so I had to make a trip there. They were good problems to have, but very time-consuming. Can you forgive me?”

He bit his bottom lip and pressed his palms together at his chest. Corra tilted her head and gave him her side eye “what do you take me for?” look.

She threw her chin up. “I’ll think about it. But, maybe we should keep things strictly business for now.”

He lowered his hands and nodded. Just as he did, the waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Corra gave the waiter a double take. They hadn’t ordered champagne. Chris stared across the table at her while the waiter poured two glasses and complimented Chris on his selection. Corra crossed her arms as she realized he’d ordered the champagne before they arrived.

Chris picked up his glass and motioned for her to do the same. She complied. “What are we drinking to?” she asked.

“To new beginnings. The start of something beautiful. Whatever you want to call it as long as you’ll forgive me.” He held his glass out waiting for her to toast.

Corra set her glass down.

“So, you think this fancy restaurant and that bottle of champagne makes up for that flimsy excuse?”

Chris lowered his glass and nodded. “You’re right,” he said, before looking up at her. “That’s not good enough. I was wrong not to communicate with you, and I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. It wasn’t my intention to invite you out to upset you. I want to make up for my absence, if you’ll let me?”

The waiter returned with dinner, and to check on the champagne. He offered to bring out a different brand if they didn’t like the first choice.

Chris smiled. “No, it’s fine.” He picked his glass up and held it out to Corra.

The waiter slowly backed away. She left him hanging for a few seconds before she picked her glass up again.

“To forgiveness, and new beginnings,” Chris said.

Corra chuckled. “To new beginnings. You have to work for forgiveness.”

Chris held his glass up higher and smiled. “That I can do.”

Over dinner they discussed Chris’s company and their new line of software. Corra stated she was proud of him and all of his accomplishments. The conversation moved from work to family as Corra bragged about her babies.

“Katie’s my little soft-spoken princess. She’s so sensitive for an eight-year-old, and I have no idea where she gets that from. Jamie, he’s ten, and playing baseball this year. He’s actually pretty good. If only I could stop him from losing his gloves. We’re on the third one.”

Chris laughed. “I’m surprised you don’t have him in peewee football. The skill might run in the family.”

“Oh, no. Not my son. I don’t want him to play football. It’s such a dangerous sport.”

“Like he can’t get hit with a baseball?”

Corra shrugged. “I know. But with all the controversy about concussions and football players I’m playing it safe. Besides, he doesn’t have an interest.”

“Then he takes after his father. Eric was good at baseball too. He just wasn’t disciplined enough to play on the team.”

That was the first time Chris had ever made reference to her ex-husband, and his high school nemesis.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go there.”

Corra’s face grew solemn. “Yes, let’s not go there.”

* * *

“Woo-hoo! Come on, Jamie!” Corra cheered, then bit her bottom lip as her baby stepped up to bat.

“Attaboy, Jamie!” Rollin’s deep throaty cheer could be heard above all the parents in attendance. He stood and clapped so hard it hurt Corra’s hands.

She held her breath as Jamie swung at the ball.

“Strike.”

Rollin continued to clap. “That’s okay, we’ll get the next one. Focus on the ball. Come on.”

“Strike two.”

Oh, no. Corra crossed her legs and glanced over at Tayler and Katie who sat on the edge of their seats as they cheered Jamie on. His Sunday afternoon games had become a family affair, and Rollin hadn’t missed one yet.

Jamie tapped his bat against the base before getting into his squat, serious about the next pitch. Corra crossed her fingers.

The crack of the bat sent Corra to her feet screaming with joy as her baby took off running for first base. The sight of his little legs moving so fast brought tears to her eyes.

“Run, Jamie, run!” Rollin yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Run!” everyone screamed.

When Jamie slid in for a home run Corra just about lost her mind. Being the proud mama she was, she yelled out. “That’s my baby right there.” Before the game was over Jamie scored two more home runs.

After they won the game, the coach pulled all the boys and their fathers together for a photo. Rollin quickly ran down the benches to take a picture with Jamie. Not every boy on the field had his father at the game, but most of them did. Jamie and Rollin looked like a proud father and son, but they weren’t, and that hurt Corra a little.

On the way to their usual hot dog stand after every game, Jamie came up to Corra and hugged her.

“Baby, you were phenomenal today.” Corra stroked his back.

“Mom, is my daddy ever coming back?” Jamie asked, with a quiver in his voice.

A lump formed in Corra’s throat, big enough to choke a horse. How long would she keep telling her children their father was working in California, and had to stay for a few years? They coped with the divorce pretty well because they were so young. But what was she doing to Jamie?

Corra kneeled down to Jamie and smiled. “Honey, you know your daddy’s working in California, but I promise you he’ll be home soon.”

“Why doesn’t he call us?”

The sad look in his eyes tore Corra’s heart apart. A few months ago he asked for his daddy, and cried himself to sleep.

She lowered her head. “Baby—”

“Your dad asked me to take care of you until he gets back,” Rollin said as he walked up. “Is it okay if Uncle Rollin pitches in for a while?”

Jamie nodded and stepped back from Corra. She stood up with tears so big she could hardly see her baby.

“Hey, Jamie, why don’t you go see if your sister wants an ice cream cone. My treat.” Rollin pulled a few bills from his pocket and gave them to Jamie.

“Okay, thanks.” Wide-eyed, Jamie took off in the direction of his sister and Tayler who were sitting on a bench still eating.

Corra dug into her purse for a tissue and wiped her eyes. Eric’s absence was getting harder to cover up.

“Why do you keep telling him that?” Rollin asked.

“Because one day he’ll be back.”

“Do you want him back?” Rollin looked a little stunned by her answer.

She stopped wiping her eyes. “Hell no, I don’t want him back. But right now Jamie needs him in his life. As long as Eric’s parents are here he’ll eventually come back.”

“You truly don’t know where he is, do you?” Rollin asked.

“No I don’t.”

“Well, maybe you should find out for the kids’ sake.”

She nodded. “I was thinking the same thing when I watched all the fathers and sons gather for pictures. Jamie barely smiled for the picture.”

“Why don’t you bite the bullet and contact his sister, Cookie? I heard she’s a changed woman now that she’s found religion. I bet she knows how to reach him. He needs to be a father to his children.”

The tears started again and Corra blotted her eyes. She didn’t like to let the kids see her cry. Rollin was right. She needed a plan to do something she dreaded, but knew she had to do. Find Eric.

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