27. Cora

27

CORA

O ne Hundred and Seven Days After Christmas…

Cora sat beside Jared in the April sunshine, grateful for the big cowboy's presence during this tense yet joyful moment.

Ever since he'd put that pretty engagement ring on her finger, the life she had shared with Sylvester for so long began to open up in so many ways.

It started with little things, like watching the two of them head into the woods for a nice hike, with an inhaler for Sylvester tucked into his pocket and a back-up in Jared's, of course.

They had started having Sunday dinners at Timber Run with the rest of the Webb crew. Sometimes, they came by early and Sylvester played outside with the other kids, while Jared and Cora helped his parents prepare the big meal. Other times, she sat on the porch with her brother-in-law, Derek, with whom she had formed a friendly bond, and listened to him talk about the farm, and once in a while about the woman who had stolen his heart long ago. Jared still told her how amazed and grateful he was to see his brother opening up to someone, though Cora thought he was probably just exaggerating to make her feel good.

Her life felt bigger now, and easier, in spite of the added obligations that came from being part of a great big extended family.

And Cora trusting Jared with Sylvester had brought all three of them so much joy. At times, she still felt nervous watching the two of them horsing around, or taking off on wild adventures.

But Jared would never, ever let anything happen to their boy, she believed that with all her heart.

Today her belief would be tested.

She looked out over the baseball field, wondering how in the world she was going to watch Sylvester run through all that dust.

"He's got this," Jared murmured, wrapping his big hand around hers.

She looked down at their entwined hands and the big band of gold he wore that matched the slender one he'd slid onto her finger at the simple ceremony that made them man and wife.

They were a team now. He had reminded her of that the night he and Sylvester asked her blessing for Sylvester to join the local children's baseball league. It was high time for Sylvester to be on a team too .

All around them, other families were cheering for their kids, eating snacks, and chatting about the warm weather and the beautiful tulips that were finally popping out in front of the library in the village.

Only Cora was watching the field in a cold sweat.

"There's no sustained running," Jared reminded her. "And Kellan is here today."

They both glanced at the seats below theirs, where Kellan and Daisy sat with baby Hope, who was almost one and a half now. She wore a cute little sun hat and chattered to her mama here and there.

Benny and his best friend Mara were playing in this game too, but Kellan normally saw patients on Saturdays. Cora had a feeling he had taken the day off to be here today just to set her mind at ease.

The last child before Sylvester stepped up to bat. The little girl grinned and waved to her family, then turned and hit the ball on her first try. She made it neatly to first base, leaving the bases loaded with her son up to bat next.

Sylvester approached home plate, clutching his bat in a way that made Cora know he was feeling a little nervous himself.

" You've got this ," Jared called to him. " Go Team Webb. "

Go Team Webb was echoed in the dugout by all of Sylvester's new cousins, and it put a smile on his little face when he turned to wave to Jared and Cora.

Cora squeezed Jared's hand when the pitcher threw the first ball to Sylvester. The pitch was perfect, but Sylvester swung a little too late.

" Strike ," the ump called out .

Cora saw Sylvester's shoulders slump a little.

" That one was just a warm-up ," Jared yelled. " Now you're ready for the real one. "

Sylvester squared his shoulders again, and the pitcher threw another good ball. But this time, Sylvester didn't even try to hit it as it sailed right over the plate and into the catcher's mitt.

"That's two strikes," she said worriedly to herself.

She had been to all the practices and she already knew that Sylvester was not a good baseball player, or as Jared liked to say, he wasn't a good baseball player yet.

So far, he had just been so thrilled to be part of the team that he hadn't seem to mind a bit when he wasn't as skilled as some of the other players. But today, with parents here cheering, she could sense his longing for a chance to do well.

"He's got this," Jared told her.

" Here we go, Rocky, here we go ," the kids in the dugout yelled joyfully, thumping the ground twice with their feet. " Here we go, Rocky, here we go ."

Sylvester turned back to his team for a second, smiling so hard his eyes were crinkling in the shadow of his batting helmet.

When he faced the pitcher again, he was holding the bat at the ready, his posture more confident than ever. A shiver went down Cora's spine at the sight. She had never seen him like this.

" Attaboy ," Jared murmured.

The ball sailed through the air a third time, and Sylvester swung at just the right moment. The bat connected with a mighty crack, sending it sailing across the field and over the heads of all the children in the outfield.

Sylvester had never, ever hit the ball like that in practice, and for a moment he stood frozen, as if he didn't even know what to do.

" Run ," his teammates yelled. " Run, Rocky. "

He glanced up at his mother.

Cora's heart was in her mouth. She felt herself rise to her feet without even meaning to.

" Run, son, run ," she screamed to him.

He came back to life in an instant and dashed for first base as the little girl darted to second, the boy on second base flew for third and the boy on third sprinted home.

The small crowd roared its approval, and Sylvester stood on first base, practically glowing.

"That was incredible," Cora said, shaking her head as she smiled at their boy.

"I never thought I'd hear you scream at him to run," Jared teased her gently. "Wonders never cease."

"I've been trying some new things lately," she said with a teasing smile of her own. "I think I like these adventures of ours."

"Keep that feeling in mind when he sprains his ankle or gets hit with the ball," Jared warned her. "A few bumps and bruises are part of the whole experience."

"I'm starting to understand that some risks are worth it," she told him seriously. "If they come with great rewards."

"I'm glad you think of me as a reward," Jared teased. "I can't wait to tell my brothers. "

She gave him a little shove and they watched and cheered together as the next child went up to bat.

Life was sweet these days, even if she spent a little more time with her heart in her mouth.

When the game was over, Sylvester ran to them at top speed, and Jared swung him up in his arms.

"I'm super proud of you, champ," he told him. "You hit that ball so hard, I thought it would go straight to Jupiter."

Sylvester laughed his head off, and then scrambled down to greet the friends and well-wishers who had been there.

Among them were Big Jim Allen and his son.

"Do you have a family member playing today?" Cora asked after they greeted each other.

"We're just here to support your boy," little Jimmy said with a smile. "He was great."

Cora was so amazed and grateful that she didn't know what to say.

Sylvester had been talking with Ginny, but he turned from her now to greet the Allen men.

"Thank you for coming," he told them politely.

"Wouldn't miss your first game, son," Big Jim told him.

"I'll bet they heard that one over in Springton," little Jimmy told him, giving him a hard pat on the back that made Sylvester grin up at him.

Jared winked at her over Sylvester's head and she felt gratitude threaten to overflow her heart. This town and these people, they cared for each other, truly cared.

"Who's ready to celebrate with an ice cream sundae?" Jared asked.

"Me, me, me," Sylvester said, looking like he had just won the lottery.

"We'll see you all around town," Big Jim told them.

"And I'll see you at school," Cora said to little Jimmy.

"Yes, you will," the young man replied with a warm smile.

The look in his eyes told her he was grateful. She hoped her eyes told him the same thing, how much it meant to her son to have him here today—to know they all had each other's backs.

The Allens headed off, and Sylvester dashed back to the dugout to grab his stuff and check out with the coach.

"I'll just pop over to the diner and get us a table before they get too crowded," Ginny said. "I'll see you there."

"That sounds great," Jared told her. "Thanks."

She headed out, leaving Cora and Jared looking out over the field of their friends and neighbors.

"Thank you," she said softly. "Thank you for helping us get back out into the world."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and bent his head to murmur in her ear.

"Thank you for helping me find where I belong," he told her. "I may never have left Trinity Falls, but you brought me home, Cora Webb."

Her heart was full as she leaned into her husband's embrace and they both watched Sylvester sprinting forward at full tilt, a huge smile on his face as he ran back to his family.

***