Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (41 page)

“I’m not. I trust you.”

I wondered if my jealous feelings when I see someone like Hailey talk to Michael would surface again. With all that has gone on, I thought maybe he would look for a girl with not quite so much drama to deal with. As if he sensed my insecurities, he leaned down and whispered, “I love you.” He really did care for me and I knew I needed to get over being insecure.

I looked around and saw my parents had walked behind us to the other set of bleachers. Rachel was with them so I
figured
she was still dating Brad. There was no way that she would be at the ballpark unless they were.

“I wonder if I will get invited to Brad and Rachel’s wedding,” I asked, looking over at her.

“They aren’t seeing each other anymore,” Erica said.

“They have to be. There is no way she would be here unless they are still together.”

She shrugged. “They aren’t,” she repeated. “Did you know he is working at the store no
w
?”

“Are you serious?” I asked, wanting to scream.
I didn’t know what to think. I had no idea how much more my dad could do to twist that knife he had in my back harder.

Michael’s parents climbed up by us handing everyone drinks and snacks. “What time you have to warm up?”
H
is Dad asked.

“I’m going in a minute?”

“How’s the arm feel?”
H
e asked, giving it a quick rub.

“Feels good,” he flexed it and straightened it. “Feels really good. You know we are going to beat your
d
ad’s team, don’t you?”

“You are confident.”

“They are either going to have Travis or Brad pitch. Pretty sure we are going to win.”

I looked at my Mom and
saw her
talking to a policeman. She looked over and pointed
at me
. I looked away, and was scared to death she was telling him to make me leave.

“My dad can’t make me leave the game
,
can he?’ I asked Jaclyn.

“I don’t see how,” she said. “Unless he didn’t drop the restraining order like they said they did. If they do, you can make Brad leave
.
I would. Why do you ask?
”

“Mom is talking to a policeman and she pointed
to
me. He’s walking over here. Am I going to get arrested?” I asked, scared to death that I was going to jail.

“Alex
,
”
t
he policeman said
,
standing in front of me. I didn’t answer, thinking he would just go away, which I knew was the stupidest thing to do since I was a COPS addict and watched them all.

I looked over to see if by chance he had left, but of course that was also stupid.

“Alex?” he repeated. I looked at him. “Am I in trouble? I just want to watch the game. I won’t say anything to them, I promise.”

He looked confused, “No, you aren’t in trouble. I’m Officer Kincaid. I’ve helped with your case. I guess you don’t remember me.”

“No,
I don’t. Why are you looking for me?”

“I wasn’t. I saw your mom and was asking about you
.
S
he told me you were over here. I was one of the first responders that night. I just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing. You look really good.”

“Thanks,” I sighed, relieved that I wouldn’t be cuffed and dragged to the unit in front of everyone. And particularly glad it wasn’t in front of Rachel and Brad.

He sat down in front of me, “Is it okay to talk right now?” He looked at everyone around me.

“Yes, it
’
s fine.”

“I was wondering why you dropped the restraining order on Brad.”

“What? What do you mean? I didn’
t drop the restraining order.”

“I got a message on my desk that you dropped the restraining order on Brad and also your father.”

“No, no, no, no no
,
” I said, starting to panic
.
“I dropped mine against my father, and he and my sister dropped theirs against me, but I didn’t against Brad. You are kidding me, aren’t you? Is this some kind of in-poor- taste-
p
rank-show or something? You are just kidding, aren’t you?”

“No, Alex. I’m sorry, but that was what the message said. I was confused when I saw it.”

“What do I do to get it put back on?”

“I’m not sure. Let me get with the sheriff and I’ll let you know. I’m actually off duty, just didn’t have time to go change. I came here to clock the pitcher’s speeds for the newspaper.”

“Ok,” I said, looking at Rachel
, seeing her watching me.
“Who would have been able to drop the restraining order besides me?”

“Just your parents
, I think
. You had us worried that night. Just be careful and stay in a safe place until you hear from me. I’ve got your home phone so I can call you.”

“I’m not at home,’ I managed to say hearing my voice cracking.
“
I have a cell phone.”

“Great,” he said, writing it down.
“
You take care, Alex. I’ll call you.”

I immediately texted my Mom

Alex: Who dropped the restraining order on Brad?

Mom: I wasn’t aware. Do not make a scene.

Alex: Im not going to make a scene. No worries, MOM. Tell DAD good luck

She looked over at me and I gave her a stone cold stare. She looked away.

“That was not good news,” Michael’s mom said
,
putting her arm around me.

“It was expected. I should have just dropped the restraining order myself so there wasn’t any surprises to catch me off guard.”

“I’m going to go talk to her,” she said, standing up.

“Please no. Just forget it. It’s not a big deal.”

“Alex, he almost killed you. Now I don’t know what he has told your
parents to convince them other
wise but I believe you. So whatever I have to do to help you, I am going to do.”

“The only thing, and I know it sounds really petty compared to what Brad did to me, but the biggest revenge I can have right now is all riding on Michael.”

“Awe,” she smiled. “I’m at least going to help you by adding some fuel to his fire.”

She walked over to Michael watching him pitch. Officer Kincaid had the radar gun clocking Michael’s pitches. She stood there watching him pitch another three pitches and said something. Then he pitched another one. Derek yelled something to
Michael
and laughed. “I really want to go down there and see what was going on,” I said
.
He threw another pitch and Derek laughed again.

Michael’s mom walked back up to the bleachers and sat down.
“
Well he was pitching an 88
miles per hour.
When I told him that Brad’s retraining order was dropped and that your parents were the ones to have to have done it, he started pitching a 95. Man, that was fast. Hopefully he will keep that up.”

I looked over at my Dad’s team and saw as expected Brad warming up.

“There is no way Brad is going to pitch anywhere close to as fast and accurate as Michael.”

I kept watching Brad pitching. I looked over at the stands that I should have been sitting on watching my team. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be cheering for the opposite team.
I started looking through the stands at all the people,
“Oh my
g
od!” I said out loud, not even realizing I said it. I had seen the woman a million times at the games, even spoke to her
numerous
times. My mother.

“What’s wrong?
”
I heard more than three people ask me, all at the same time.

“My mother is here.”
             
Erica leaned forward, “We know. She texted you. Remember?”

“No! My real mother
.
Brad’s mother. Even when I knew it was her
,
I never really thought about it until just now
.
She’s right there.”

             
“Wow, I didn’t connect the two either,” Erica gasped. “Why haven’t we talked about this? Weird!”

“Does she even know you are her daughter?”
Kaitlyn
asked.

“How could she not. She had my birth certificate and adoption papers. My mom
once
said it was done through an agency, but she might have been lying. And it was easy enough for Brad to figure out. She has to know.”
             
I couldn’t stop looking at her. “This is just a bad soap opera. Anytime the music is going to start and w
e are going to see credits roll,
” I forced a laugh, not totally sure it wasn’t true.

“Ignore her and watch the game,” Erica said. “That fine piece of ass is walking up the mound.”

“Erica, his mom is right next to me,” I glared.

I looked over and saw Mom talking to my dad through the fence, “Why do I feel wrong for being here?”

“You have every right to be here, Alex,” Jaclyn said. “Why do you think otherwise?”

“I just feel I should be at home strategizing how to get him in jail than worry about him losing a ballgame. A ballgame seems so trivial right now compared to what may be going on down the road. I just feel strange sitting here enjoying a game when everything is so chaotic outside this ball field.”

“I don’t know why you think you have to put everything on hold and not enjoy life because of a tragedy that you had nothing to do with. Call this your little escape. Don’t even think of what happened to you and enjoy the game. Then we can strategize and make the jerk pay for what he did. Deal?”

I nodded, “Deal.”

Michael threw nine pitches and struck the first three batters out. 

“Wow, how humiliating,” I cringed. I looked over at my Dad
seeing that
he looked worried. Brad went up to the pitcher’s mound. I was right in front of home plate and wanted to move, knowing he could see me if he just looked up.

For some reason I couldn’t help it. I don’t even know why I did it
,
because it was something I would have never done a week ago, but I texted Rachel.

Alex: Rachel, Just let your Daddy know that Michael is pitching 95
MPH
. If you aren’t aware the national average is 82. Tell him good luck again for me .And check your boyfriends phone log.

I watched her read the text and look up at me. I smiled and waved. Then felt guilty, but not for long when I got a text back.

Rachel: That’s awesome, sister dear. It will be a shame if he gets hurt and cant finish the game.

“I think I made a big mistake,” I said to Jaclyn. I showed her the texts.

“Don’t worry,” she smiled. “She’s just trying to get you upset.”

“Well
,
it worked. I hate not knowing the players names so I can yell for them. I can’t tell if the announcer said
Roy
or
Troy
. Oh! He hit it! Ok, don’t need to cheer. Help me listen for next guy. I went to school with him but I think he’s younger. Gosh, this sucks.”

“I think he said Hank,” she said.
             
“No one names their kid Hank anymore. Ugh, this is sad. Oh! He hit it. Ok, I know this guy,’ I said
,
seeing Derek walk up to the plate. I can finally yell.

“Come on, D! Hit the ball!
Kaitlyn
, yell for your man,” I said, hitting her on the leg. She clapped.

“
Kaitlyn
, you have been a cheerleader for 7 years and all you do is clap?”

“I don’t want to distract him. OH! He hit it! Whoo hoo! Oh! A double.”

“Come on score keeper; put the 2 points on the scoreboard so I can see my Dad’s neck turn red.”

“Michael’s up. Come on
,
BABE! Hit em in.” I looked at the mound and saw Brad looking straight at me. And he was more than just pissed. The look on his face was so scary that I had to look away.

Brad threw the first pitch aimed right at Michael’s head. I gasped, seeing him fall backward on the ground. Michael stood up and dusted the dirt off his pants. Second pitch went straight to his head, making him fall again. Michael looked over at me and smiled and mouthed “what a pussy.”

“What did he say?” Michael’s Dad asked.

I shrugged not knowing if I should repeat it.

Brad threw the third pitch straight for Michael’s head.

Michael’s coach ran up to the plate to check on him. Michael dusted his pants off, said something to the coach, and laughed. The coach said something to umpire and he walked up to Brad and said something. My stomach was filled with butterflies. I don’t even know why I was nervous. The coach patted Michael on the back and walked to the dugout yelling, “Ok Williams, it
’
s all you!”