Chapter 6 - Molly

“Hi. Can I get your name for your tickets?” the friendly worker at the Will Call asks.

“I’m Molly Green,” I said with a slight pang of sadness. I wish I could shout from the rooftops that I was married to Tyler and say my name was Molly Stone. I still hadn’t legally changed my name, but I definitely planned to before the babies were born. I wanted the same last name as my husband and my children.

“Oh, wow. Okay. Here are your VIP passes,” the woman said and handed me four badges along with four tickets. “The pre-game buffet for VIPs is open now near section 104. Enjoy the game!”

“VIP?” Pen asked as I handed her the badge. “Pre-game buffet?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“What’s a buffet?” Peyton asked as her mom pinned her badge onto her pink shirt.

“It’s where all different types of foods are served at once, and it’s all you can eat. We have pulled pork, nachos, hot dogs, fruit salad, a carving ham station, and even a dessert table,” the worker explained with a wink at the kids. “And it’s unlimited. So it’s all the soda and beer you want.”

“Let’s go!” Camden called out, pulling on his mom’s arm. “A dessert table!”

“Right behind you, kid. She had me at unlimited beer,” Pen said with a grin. “I guess you’re driving, Preggers.”

We found the buffet room, and we were let in with a nod at our badges. Penelope made the kids eat lunch food before they were allowed to hit the dessert table. I made myself a stack of pulled pork on top of nachos with a side of the fruit salad. The pineapple looked amazing.

Penelope noticed me eyeing the pineapple and said, “If you put that pineapple on top of your nachos, I will not sit with you.”

“There are plenty of tables,” I replied with a grin. I cut up the chunks of pineapple and sprinkled them all over the nachos. I took a big bite, and one of the babies seemed to kick with joy. It shouldn’t taste good, but it was amazing.

“Are you Molly Green?” a stadium employee asked.

“I am,” I replied after wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“A Mr. Tyler Stone requested that you be at your seats before The National Anthem. That is due to happen in 20 minutes.”

I looked at my plate and nodded. I could finish a lot of this in fifteen minutes and then find my seat. I looked over and saw both kids had plates piled high with cookies, brownies, and different desserts.

Camden took a big bite of a cookie, then looked at me and said with a mouthful, “These are not as good as your cookies, Molly.”

I felt a puff of pride in my chest and grinned at him, “Thanks, Cam. That means a lot to me.”

I told Pen what the employee said, so we finished our food and made our way down to our seats.

“Penelope?” a female voice asked behind us as we sat down. “Penelope Delilah Benton?”

Pen sat up in her seat and looked towards the voice. A beautiful young woman with shoulder length brown hair and a grin on her face was approaching us.

“Lita?” Pen asked and was suddenly out of her seat.

“Well, as I live and breathe! It really is you!” the woman exclaimed and rushed towards us. She enveloped Penelope in a huge hug. “I saw the thing on the news about the tornado, and it showed pictures of our special guests at the game. And heavens to Betsy, it was you!”

Penelope and I made eye contact, and we both had wide eyes. Special guests of the game? On the news? What was going on?

“Hold your horses! Is this Camden? He was just a wee little thing last time I saw him!”

“This is Camden. Wow, has it really been that long?” Penelope said as she motioned for her kids to come over by her. “Cam, Pey, this is my cousin, Melita. Lita, these are my kids Camden and Peyton Jane.”

“You gave her the middle name Jane? That’s my middle name!” she exclaimed as she got down to their level. “Hey, y’all! Aren’t y”all just pretty as a peach!”

“Boys aren’t pretty,” Peyton said in a matter-of-fact tone. “They are handsome.”

Peyton’s cousin had to laugh, “Ha, well, I reckon so. You are pretty, Peyton. Camden is very handsome.”

“Why do you talk funny?” Peyton asked.

“Lordy be, aren’t you precious! I reckon your mama has been gone about a month of Sundays!” She then turned her attention to Pen. “Where in the heavens is Shiloh? I’ve missed that sister of yours as much as you. Everybody had a hissy fit when she up and went to college in the cold and snowy midwest. Then, Lordy mercy sakes alive, here I am, basically the pot calling the kettle black! ”

“Auntie Shiloh is back at home in Ohio,” Camden explained. “She came to live with us when Peyton was born. I get to share a room with her!”

“Thank God she is fine after the tornado, and our apartment wasn’t hit.” Pen said and then looked over at me. “Lita, this is my boss and one of my best friends, Molly.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said and gave her a quick hug. “So, why do they call you Lita and not Mel?”

“Heavens, I don’t reckon why. It’s just what my family always would call me. Golly, I’m sure you think I’ve got some nerve just findin’ out my favorite cousin had another baby and not even layin’ eyes on her for seven years. I was only twelve when Penny’s mom kicked her out after she had her baby boy. After she and Shiloh left together, Mama was fit to be tied and wouldn’t let me talk to ‘em.” Melita then turned and looked at Penelope before saying, “You were always my favorite cousin. I’ve looked for you on social media, but I was about as successful as fittin’ socks on a rooster.”

“Mommy hates social media,” Peyton explained.

“Except when it helps the bakery,” Camden added.

I had to laugh. I knew Penelope wasn’t on social media herself, and I felt like a horrible friend not knowing much about her past.

“I can’t believe you”re here! What are you doing in Illinois?” Pen asked her.

“I’m going to college here at Oakville Community College since my fiancé plays for the Bobcats.”

“You’re engaged? Congratulations!”

“Thanks!” Melita gushed and showed her ring finger. Her ring wasn’t very big, but the solitaire diamond seemed to mean a lot to her. “My fiance is the left fielder, Drew Parker.”

“We’ll make sure to watch him,” I said.

“And you’re with one of the Lightning, right?”

I nodded, “I’ll claim the catcher, Tyler Stone.”

Melita nodded, “Yeah, it’s all over the news. Drew was riled up that he was scratched for the game today.”

“What?” I asked in shock and looked around at the scoreboard to see if it showed the line up, but it just showed the team names and game time. “He told me he wasn’t in trouble.”

“Drew couldn’t figure why,” Pen’s cousin said apologetically.

“Where are you sitting?” Pen asked Melita. “Because if there are seats around us, you should join us.”

“I’d be tickled pink,” Lita said. “I usually sit over yonder with the other WAGS.”

“What are wags?” Camden asked.

“The wives and girlfriends of players,” I explained.

“Oh, ew,” he replied, and all of us girls laughed.

”I guess I”m a WAG,” I said.

“I want to be a WAG!” Peyton exclaimed.

“Maybe someday.” I patted her on the head, and we walked down to our seats. While we waited for the National Anthem to be announced, I sent Ty a quick text.

Me: Some people are saying you were scratched from the line up. What’s going on? I really am sorry if I got you in trouble.

After a few minutes, I looked at my watch and wondered why the game hadn’t started yet. Something had to be going on. “Attention, ladies and gentleman. Before we begin the game today, we have a very special announcement from one of the players on the Lightning,” a man said into a microphone that was just off home plate. How had I not noticed they had a microphone out of place there?

“Hey! That’s Cooper’s friend!” Peyton called out, and I looked at where she was pointing.

“Honey, that’s Tyler, Molly’s boyfriend,” Pen said with a shake of her head.

I watched in shock as Tyler stepped towards the microphone. He had a paper in his hand that was shaking, so I knew he was nervous. When he looked up into the crowd, he made eye contact with me.

“Hi. For those who don’t know, my name is Tyler Stone. I’m the catcher for the Lightning. I began my professional baseball career at the beginning of the season with the Riverbend Raptors. I am sure many of you have heard by now about the tornado that tore through Riverbend yesterday afternoon. MiLB has asked me to ask you, the fans, for some extra support. Twenty percent of all ticket sales to any of the Midwest Conference MiLB games this Saturday will go toward the Tornado Relief Fund. That includes season tickets. If you are at the game today, you are most likely a baseball fan, so I ask that you invite your family, friends, and neighbors to the game on Saturday to fill the stands and help an awesome cause.” Tyler paused and looked around at all the people in the crowd.

“Riverbend will always have a special place in my heart because of the amazing coach and teammates I had there. Sadly, my former coach, Adam McAlister, lost his wife in the tornado. His young son is in the hospital but hopefully will make a full recovery. They can use all the prayers they can get.” I felt tears flowing out of my eyes as I thought about Coach Mack and Nico and how they must feel about the loss of Ashleigh. I didn’t know her well, but from what I knew, she was a great wife who loved her husband and son. She wasn’t a huge baseball fan and didn’t attend as many games as the other wives and girlfriends, but you could tell she loved Mack. My heart broke for them.

I looked up at my husband as he wiped away his own tear. “But, back to the positives… Riverbend is also where I met my wife. I am so thankful that she was already driving here to surprise me and was not physically harmed by the tornado. Her bakery business was demolished in the tornado, so the relief fund will really help us. Her bakery’s name is Batter Up! How perfect is she for me?” Tyler gave me a wink and some people around us chuckled. Ty then thanked the fans for all the support. It was what he said next that caused me to really smile. “After I make this speech today, I, along with my wife and her friend, will be heading back to Riverbend to help with the clean up and whatever else we can. Thank you, again, and thanks to the MiLB for starting the Tornado Relief Fund.”

“Do we get to go, too?” Camden asked.

“Of course!” Penelope said and then looked over at me. “How mad are you at him?”

“What for?” I asked. “He probably just found out about all this. He told me an explanation would come soon. He’s coming home for a bit, Pen!”

“Not that!” Penelope said. “He lied to everyone here when he said you were his wife. I’d be mad if my man lied like that just to make it sound better.”

Oh, that. Shit! I wasn’t sure what to say. Tyler probably didn’t even realize what he had said. I was saved by Melita coming over and sitting with us.

“Y’all work in a bakery? Hush up! Do y’all do wedding cakes? I’ve been lookin’ for somebody to make the perfect cake. I’d totally trust you, Pen!”

Pen looked at me and then at her cousin. “Molly is our baker. I just help. We’ve never made a wedding cake before.”

“I did some in culinary school, and we have all the time in the world. Let us know what you have in mind, and we’ll see what we can do,” I said with a smile.

“The only issue will be getting it here to you.”

“Well, the wedding is actually back home.”

“Oh.” Penelope said and visibly paled.

“Where is home?” I asked.

“Bless your heart. Magnolia Bay, Mississippi.” Melita said in her thick southern accent. “Y’all have to come now that we’ve reconnected! It’s not for another year. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, we were able to get a June date at The New Beginning Bridge, you know where -”

“Both our parents got married,” Penelope finished for her cousin, quietly.

“Yes!” Lita said, obviously unaware of her cousin’s discomfort.

“Hey, ladies and Camden, are you ready to go?” a deep voice from behind me asked.

I turned around and hugged Tyler. “That was quite the speech!”

“Sorry, I couldn’t tell you more. It was sprung on me this morning.”

“We don’t get to stay for the game?” Camden asked.

“Well, we could, or we could get in the cars and head back to Ohio and go see your best buddy Cooper,” Tyler said with a wink.

“I want to see CJ!” Peyton said, while jumping up and down.

“I had a feeling you would say that.”

Penelope turned to her cousin and gave her a big hug goodbye.

“Before I skedaddle, lemme get your number, Penny. I wanna holler at y’all about fixin’ me the best wedding cake ever!”

Pen nodded and exchanged numbers with her cousin. I also gave her the bakery’s number so she could call when it was back up and running.

“I still can’t believe you found me. It was so great to see you!” Pen said.

“I declare, I thought I was dreamin’ when I saw your pretty face on the television. I’m excited as all get out to get to meet your precious babies and your friend, too. And I’m glad you got to see me.” Lita gushed and gave all of us a hug goodbye as well. She looked at Tyler and smiled. “My fiancé says you’re going places and won’t be in the minors long.”

“That’s nice of your fiancé. Is he a big fan?”

“Oh, my stars, no. He is the left fielder for the Bobcats, Drew Parker.”

“Oh!” Tyler said and looked over his shoulder at the players getting ready to start the game. “He’s a great hitter. He’s got a solid average, and his RBI’s are impressive.”

“Well, bless your heart, I’ll be sure to tell him!” Lita gushed. “Good luck with the tornado clean up. I’ll see y’all in a year, Lord willin’!”

As we reached Pen’s VW Bug in the parking lot, we saw a huge van pulling an enclosed trailer blocking her car from being able to exit the spot it was in.

“Erick?” Tyler asked as the driver stepped out of the vehicle.

“Hey, Stone. Is this your woman?”

“Yeah. Molly, this is Erick Carlile. He’s with SNC and is going to be helping to get out the word for tornado relief. He basically wrote the speech I gave, but I did add a few things myself.”

“Like calling me your wife!” I whispered in his ear but then turned and smiled at Erick. “It’s so nice to meet you! I thought you looked familiar. You usually cover hockey, right?”

“Oh, fuck!” Tyler said and looked at me with horror in his eyes. “I am so sorry, baby. I didn’t even realize.”

I actually laughed. “Cat’s out of the bag now, I guess.”

“Who’s cat is out of the bag?” Peyton asked.

“Pen, this is Erick. He’s a reporter for SNC,” Tyler said.

“What’s SNC?” she asked.

“Not a sports fan, huh?” Erick asked with a chuckle. “SNC stands for Sports Network Corporation.”

“Yeah, not a sports fan, sorry,” Pen said with a shrug. “But can you please move this monstrosity. It’s blocking me in.”

Erick grinned at my beautiful friend. “I was told to park by the antique blue VW bug. We’re going to the same place, so I figured I’d follow you.”

“What’s with the van and trailer, man?” Tyler asked him.

“Well, I take it you didn’t watch the news.” We shook our heads, and he continued explaining, “We asked people to bring certain items to the game tonight and to different locations around town. This van and trailer are filled with tons of cases of bottled water, blankets, flashlights, toilet paper, first aid supplies, non perishable food, pet food, diapers, clothes of all sizes, and more. I even saw some card games and toys for children who have lost their homes.”

“That’s so awesome!” I exclaimed.

“Do we get a toy?” Peyton asked.

“No, honey, those toys are for kids who lost everything in the tornado,” Penelope explained.

“Oh,” Peyton said but didn’t seem to really understand. “I still have my ponies from CJ, so I’m okay.”

“One whole ladies church group got together last night and sewed pillows and teddy bears to donate. It was really awesome to see how many they had!”

“That is awesome!” I said. I then got down on the little girl’s level and said, “Pey, maybe you could hand out pillows and teddy bears to kids who need them?”

“That would be awesome!” Peyton said while jumping up and down.

“Can I help, too?” Cam asked.

“Of course, my man,” Tyler said and ruffled his hair.

“Well, we better get a move on. We don’t have much room in the van, but I do have enough for you and your girl, like you requested, Stone.”

Tyler nodded and squeezed my hand. “Thanks, man.”

“I also have to pick up my cameraman on the way out of town. You guys will love Tanner.”

“The kids and I will lead the way,” Penelope said. “That way, if we have to take a potty break, you guys can just follow us.”