8. Cat

8

CAT

The house was quiet for the first time since I'd arrived. It had only been about a week since I parked my car in the driveway and the slow pace of New Winford was starting to eat away at me.

Of course, hiding away and refusing to participate in any of the activities of the town wasn't helping.

So I slipped on my Air Force 1s and a black ballcap. Daniel had sent me the little league information before they left the house, wanting to make sure I could tag along if I changed my mind. But for the most part, I still remembered what fields the town park dedicated to kid games.

I grabbed my keys from the hook by the door, using my free hand to hold the extra keys, mail, and other junk from tumbling to the floor in the jostle.

Throwing open the front door, I walked out of the house and locked the door behind me. I was about forty minutes behind my brother and his family. The game was probably moving along by now.

I pressed the unlock button on my Benz key fob, the headlights flashing at me as they did. Slipping inside, the crisp scent of the new car filled my nose. I hadn't been driving much since arriving back in New Winford. Instead, I'd been opting for walks or hiding inside.

But when I pressed the ignition button, lighting up the engine, my chest rumbled with excitement. It was a quick drive over, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to enjoy the luxury ride in the meantime.

Backing out of the driveway, I checked both ways for any oncoming cars. I peeled out of the driveway once the coast was clear and whipped the car down the road. Dan's house was only a few minutes from the fields and the drive was pretty easy.

Situated at the back of town, the New Winford Town Park bordered a heavily wooded area where a playground was nestled inside. The park itself felt like the town's transition from suburbs to truly rural.

I pulled my car into the gravel parking lot which was already full of cars and trucks. Giving my Benz some room, I settled for a spot near the back where it was less likely to be scuffed by too-busy-to-care parents trying to shuffle their kids home after long days on the fields.

Turning off the engine, I climbed out and headed toward Field 7 where I knew Lily's game was in full swing. Because she was so little, the game was toward the back of the park which meant I had to walk through every other little league game in town.

The age ranges were diverse, everywhere from tee-ball age to late-middle school. My ears filled with the sound of metal bats and baseballs landing in gloves.

I walked the path toward the back of the park, where the path narrowed. To my right, a game of ten-year-olds was in full swing. For a moment, I stopped and looked on. I made my way to the chain link fence just past the dugout.

Letting my fingers interlace with the chilly metal, a sigh escaped my lungs. At the plate, a young boy was ready for the incoming pitch. The pitcher wound up and released the ball from his grip.

My eyes scanned the field, the game was a mix of boys and girls. Raising my eyebrows, a small smile crept onto my cheeks just as the crack of the little kid's bat filled the field. The crowd on the bleachers a few dozen feet away erupted into cheers.

A familiar voice hollered, "Go, baby!" I let my head turn just far enough to peek at who it was. Her face was just as familiar as her voice but Sarah Greenwood looked a little older than the last time I saw her. Seated next to her and now with a baby bump, was who I could only assume was her sister Zoey.

They watched the field carefully as Sarah's son zipped to home base. But just as I thought the coast was clear, Zoey's partner turned to look at me. Her eyes flicked away from my face quickly.

If Daniel's gossip over the years had stuck in my mind, I was pretty sure the woman was Robin Lowell – a local contractor.

But I quickly turned back to the game, not wanting to draw more attention than I already had. I'd done a decent job of keeping a low profile since I'd returned. Of course, I'd mostly just stayed in Dan's house and avoided going anywhere I'd be recognized.

Sarah's kid settled back into the dugout as his family sat back down on their bleachers. Even from here, I felt like I could hear every word of their gossiping.

So, I unlaced my fingers from the chainlink and kept walking toward Lily's game. A part of me wondered if I should have asked Sarah if she knew where I could find Cleo and if she had any updates on what my ex had been up to.

But I knew Sarah from a distance over a decade ago. And she certainly wouldn't divulge information to an ex whose heart I broke years ago.

It wasn't long before I was approaching the bleachers of Field 7 where a bunch of parents delicately clapped as their kids clumsily moved around the field.

I slid onto the cold metal seats next to my brother.

"You made it." He smiled, reaching his arm around my shoulders to give me a light side hug and a pat on the back.

Nodding, I took a look at the field. Once I got my head around the score, the plays, and the teams, I sat back on the bleachers. "How's she doing?"

Daniel chuckled. "Well, it's seven year olds. So she's having a good time."

"Good." My shoulders dropped as I tried to embrace the joy on the field. When I closed my eyes, I could still remember how it felt to be that little out there. This was the age where the love of the game really grew.

"Dad would hate this." I bit my lip as I looked over at Dan. The field and the stands were calm, with no crazy yelling or attempts to make the game more serious.

Looking up from Jacob's little hands which were working on a coloring book, Daniel smirked. "We had to stop inviting him."

Our parents had stayed in New Winford for some time after Dan had kids. But once he bought the barn off of them, they decided to move down south for easier winters. It had been a couple of years since I saw them, no longer traveling for League games near their new home.

I giggled. "I believe that."

In a familiar silence, we watched as the kids moved around the bases. Out on the field, Meredith stood on the first base line, coaching the little ones that got to her.

"I saw Sarah Greenwood by Field 4."

Dan nodded. "She's everywhere if you look around. She and Dani Lawson run this place."

Biting my lip, I sighed. There was a question plaguing my mind but I knew Daniel would be annoyed by it. So instead, I shook it off and tried to get my mind off of Cleo. It was hard to believe they would have given up softball after school.

They loved the game and if I hadn't done a bit better than them at bat, they would've gotten my scholarship.

"What?" Dan whipped his head to look at me, knowing I was keeping something inside.

Shrugging, I met his gaze. "Is there a rec league or anything?"

Dan raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking?"

"I'm curious."

Rolling his eyes, Dan scoffed. "About the league or your ex? Don't you think it's better to let them go?"

He wasn't wrong. Cleo and I had a messy last few years. The end of our relationship had been far more bitter than it should have been. It was a regret I carried with me in everything I did. And it would be a lie to say I didn't want to make it right.

But I was almost certain Cleo would want nothing to do with me. Especially now that my life was a total disaster.

I pleaded with my brother, widening my eyes in a desperate attempt to beg.

Eventually, he groaned. "Yes, there's a rec league. But I think you should leave it alone. If you need practice, call some old teammates, not them."

"Thank you." I patted him on the back. "Where do they meet?"

Shaking his head, Dan crossed his arms. "Nope. You're gonna figure that out. I'm not enabling you to reach out to an ex."

A grin took over my face. I loved a challenge. But I knew one thing to be true: if I had any hope of getting back to my life, I was going to need to get back to my roots. And Cleo was the key.