Balls Fore (Ball Games #4) (7 page)

‘My dad used to take me golfing. He loved the game. I showed an aptitude, so he paid for me to take lessons. I took part in junior competitions and began to place highly. Then I won. As I got older, I competed in amateur tournaments. Eventually, I turned professional, obtained sponsorship. Life was fantastic until two years ago.’

‘Your accident?’ says Tim.

‘Yeah. Not a night out of the ordinary. Travelling back home like any other, but a sheep had escaped its enclosure and as I rounded a bend, there it was. I swerved to avoid it and the car turned over in the ditch. I was lucky in a lot of ways, a broken arm, broken wrist and torn ligaments in my leg. Could have been a lot worse. In terms of my golf career, though, I lost my precision. What made me a Pro-player.’

‘So should you be doing lessons?’ Tyler asks. ‘If you can’t play anymore.’

‘Oh, I can play. Seems like I’ll need to show you sometime.’ I wiggle an eyebrow at him. ‘But I’m no longer championship level.’

‘Must be difficult,’ adds Tim.

‘At first, it was devastating, but then I got settled here. Travelling around for all those years was so fast-paced, I didn’t have time to think that life was passing me by. I like my life now. Hopefully, it’s going to get even better now I have a son here.’

‘So where’s your house and how big is it?’ Tyler asks while looking toward his knees.

‘You wanting an invitation, big boy?’ I wink.

Tyler blushes.

‘Just messing with you, Tyler. I live in a detached four bedroomed cottage in Whiston.’

‘How’ve they fitted four bedrooms into a cottage. They’re tiny aren’t they?’ he asks.

‘It’s maybe not what you’d consider a cottage.’

‘So it’s a mansion?’

‘Not quite. Anyway, that’s enough of the questions. I’m guessing that it's the notebook you’re messing with on your lap and not that you’re adjusting your penis in public. Beth will see the house for herself on Sunday. She and Trey are coming for lunch.’

‘God, no I would never.’ His notebook goes away again.

‘So, Tyler. You and this Lindsay. Is she the one, do you think? Has your relationship got potential?’

‘Hey? What?’

‘I’d say it's only fair. I’ve answered all your questions, time to ask some of my own.’

Tim chuckles and picks up his beer.

‘Got any popcorn? This should be entertaining,’ he winks at me. ‘I’m warming to you, Leo.’

Chapter Nine

Beth

I needed a night to myself after the last few days, but no. My plan was to get Trey in bed and then curl up on the sofa. With time to mull things over. I should never make plans. They never come off. Instead, my friend is here with her mother. Dora is carrying a bottle of wine.

She thrusts the bottle at me. ‘Get that into some glasses.’

‘I don’t drink.’

She sighs. ‘Still? We’ll have one on your behalf then.’

‘Trey in bed?’ asks Camille.

‘No, I’ve let Leo have him.’ I say flippantly.

Two pairs of eyes widen and there’s a simultaneous ‘What?’

I poke my tongue into my cheek and exhale. ‘Of course he’s in bed. It’s gone eight. Now let me get you these drinks while I have a nice cup of tea.’

They take a seat in the lounge while I sort out the drinks. I bring theirs in first.

‘See if you had a man at home, you’d be able to have a glass of wine.’

I love Dora but she’s about three seconds away from me exploding. My fist clenches. ‘I have a man at home. Trey.’

‘You know that’s not what we mean.’

‘Dora…’ I don’t want to be rude to Cam’s mother, but she’s up in my business and doesn’t belong there. ‘I’ve got to get used to Leo being in Trey’s life, and from that, he’ll be in mine for the foreseeable future. However,’ I hold my hand up as I can see she’s about to say something further. ‘There is no romance on the horizon. I believe the man is holding onto his temper because he’s a nice bloke. He must want to throttle me for what I’ve done.’

I hand them the wine. I return to the kitchen and have a swig from the bottle. It can’t hurt.

I re-enter the living room, carrying my cuppa. ‘Sorry,’ says Camille. ‘We wanted to check in on you, see if we could help in any way. I was bringing my mum so she could look after Trey if he disturbed. Give us time to talk. I should have known she’d start the minute she walked in.’ Cam gives her mum a pointed stare.

Dora shrugs. ‘I told you I was going to check if my business partner was okay.’

‘I’m fine Dora honestly. Leo wants to be in Trey’s life and he’s agreed to take it slow. That’s all I can ask for.’

Dora wrinkles her nose. ‘No, it’s not. You can ask for child support, or a shag. I’d ask for a shag if I were you. He’s like a caramel bar, smooth chocolate on the outside and sweet in the middle. You just want to bite him and have his gooey centre on your tongue.’

‘Mother,’ admonishes Cam. ‘Too far.’

I start to laugh. Hysterical laughter that creeps up on me from nowhere. One minute I’m pissed off, the next I’m gasping for air, tears rolling down my cheeks. I have to hold the edge of the sofa for support I’m laughing so hard.

‘Oh, Dora. What are you like?’

‘Not blind that’s for sure.’ She winks.

After that, Dora and Cam make polite conversation. I’m not sure what they want from me. They’re pissing me off. I wish they’d go home. I don’t realise I’ve sighed out loud.

‘Do you want to ask Dylan to fetch us back, love?’ asks Dora.

‘I’m sorry.’ I tell her.

‘No. We’re sorry. We wanted to help but we’re crowding you when you’ve enough on your plate. Just know we’re here if you need us.’

Cam gets out her phone.

‘No, stay. I need to talk.’

Cam puts her phone back in her bag, ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

I absentmindedly stroke the side of my mug. ‘Leo’s being great given the circumstances. He’s agreed to go slowly and we’ve arranged that I’ll take Trey to his house next Sunday. The thing is, yes he could have been a lot more demanding, but my mind is racing ahead anyway. On Sunday, I’ll be looking around his house and I’ll be advising him on baby proofing for our son, which means that at some point, Trey will stay with Leo, and -’

I burst into noisy sobs.

‘Oh my God. I never thought,’ says Dora as she envelopes me in a huge hug. ‘Apart from Friday nights he’s never been out of your sight, has he?’

I shake my head and sniff, ‘… safe there,’
sniff
, ‘can ring any time I want.’

‘I’m sure it’ll be the same with Leo. He’s not far away. I’m sure he has a telephone, and if you’re going slow, ask if he can go for a couple of hours first. Build it up.’

‘I know,’
sniff,
‘but I’ve never had to share him before. He’s mine.’

Dora tilts her head and sucks on her lip for a moment. ‘He’s not, though, is he, love? He’s both of yours, and they need to get to know each other.’

I nod my head. Cam hands me a tissue and I blow my nose.

‘So, step one. You spend some time at his house on Sunday. Then why don’t you do something like go to Meadowhall? You could wait in a coffee shop or restaurant while he takes Leo to a couple of toy shops. That won’t take more than an hour, then they could join you for something to eat and drink.’

I sniff again. ‘That sounds an okay idea actually. Yeah maybe that could work.’

‘How is it seeing Leo again?’ Cam ventures.

‘You mean do I still have feelings for him?’ I close my eyes for a moment. Then I focus my gaze on my best friend. ‘I’m not sure my feelings ever went away, but they complicate things. Anyway, I’m sure I’m the last thing on Leo’s mind. I bet he hates me. I need to put Trey first. It needs to be about our son.’

‘Well, I’m not sure I agree,’ says Dora. ‘I think you need to carve out a little time for yourself. You were on constant high alert, even before Leo returned. I’ve seen you and your house. It’s like you’re permanently afraid.’

‘I am,’ I agree. ‘Because I don’t want to be judged as a single mother. People saying I can’t cope. I’m proud of the way I’ve raised Trey. He lives in a clean and tidy home. He’s loved.’

‘That won’t change if he gets to leave a couple of toys out now and again.’ Dora looks around the house.

‘I can’t,’ I admit. ‘I’m scared he’ll trip or fall.’

She nods. ‘I once sat Cam on a windowsill. She was enjoying herself staring out at the garden. I totally forgot and turned around to put a mug away. The split second I remembered it was too late. Her falling off the side happened in slow motion. She landed on the floor and cried. I felt sure I’d killed her, or caused brain damage at the very least. But there wasn’t a mark on her. Three minutes later, she was giggling as the neighbour’s cat had jumped on the outside windowsill.’ She places a hand on my arm. ‘What I’m trying to say, is that you can put every safety measure available in place, but you can’t be switched on 24/7, and you can bet your life in that one second something will happen. Most of the time it’ll be okay, and if it isn’t, you deal with it anyway because you’re a mum.’

‘Are you sure it was me who fell and not Tyler?’ asks Camille. ‘It would explain a lot.’

‘No, it was you, love,’ Dora replies. ‘Not to be rude but you were a fat baby. You bounced.’

I giggle at Cam’s horrified face.

Dora stands up and knocks imaginary fluff from her trousers. ‘Right, well we’re off now. Cam, ring Dylan and tell him we’ll be outside the Co-op. It's time to leave Beth alone.’

‘You can stay until he gets here.’

‘No. We can see you have a lot on your mind, love.’ She puts on her coat and shoes. ‘Plus, Cam and I need some gossip time to discuss you before we get in the car.’

‘No scheming, Dora, please. I’m working things through with Leo, slowly. We’ll get there. Please don’t interfere.’

Cam looks at her mum with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

‘Would I?’ says Dora. She kisses my cheek. ‘Night sweetheart. Remember we love you and we’re always here for you.’ She lowers her voice. ‘Now, I wonder how Tim and Tyler got on with their golf lesson?’

‘What?’ I yell, but Dora closes the door with a wink.

God help me.

Chapter Ten

Leo

I’ve never known a week take so long to pass. I don’t think I can do what I said and take it slow. My son’s face appears in my waking thoughts. He’s in my dreams. More than that, though, I can’t stop thinking about Beth. The truth is, I’m looking forward to seeing her again almost as much as I am my son. My brain, the common sense part warns me against falling for her again. However, my heart and my libido are on the opposite end of the scale.

Finally, I see them walk up my driveway. Beautiful, stubborn Beth refused to let me pick them up, saying she’d got him around places for the last three years, so she could get here. Trey is skipping down the driveway, stopping to kick the odd stone. Beth is telling him off and pointing to his shoes. I’d buy him twenty pairs of shoes to see that delight on his face, but then I laugh and realise Beth would murder me if I let him kick stones. We’ll stick with the football I’ve bought him instead, and
outside
. I’ve remembered. Balls
outside
.

Beth is unaware I’m watching them from an upstairs window. She straightens her blouse and takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. I see her notice the doorbell and push on that. Then Trey yelling that he wants to press it. She picks him up and lets him. I try not to run down the stairs in my excitement.

I open the door. ‘Hey.’ I smile.

‘Hey,’ she replies. Then she bites on her lip. She’s dressed in a baggy floral blouse and black jeans. Her feet encased in sandals. She has a massive bag over her shoulder. Women and their handbags. What do they carry around?

Trey jumps in front of me. ‘Grrrr.’

‘Are you a tiger?’ I ask him.

He nods. ‘Grrrr.’

‘I’m scared of tigers. Please don’t chase me.’

So I head through the hallway, jogging slowly while a giggling Trey chases after me. Beth closes the door behind her and cautiously walks through, her eyes looking around for things Trey may catch himself on. I’ve had six days to study baby and child sites. To read up on hazards. My house is as childproof as can be.

‘Drink?’ I ask.

‘Do you have some water? I’m a little warm. Black jeans on a hot day. Not the best idea.’

My eyes are drawn to them. She bends over to wipe Trey’s nose. I see how her jeans caress her backside. I want to tell her to take them off if she’s hot. Damn it, man. Stop it. The trouble is, I remember that bottom naked. That I’ve smacked it with my hand. I’m hyper aware that at the top of her right thigh there’s a mole. Which I’ve kissed on many an occasion. She has a scar on her left knee from trying to jump a wall in her childhood and missing.

‘Are you going to get it then?’ Beth raises an eyebrow at me. I swear she knows my thoughts.

‘Sorry, yeah, I was miles away. What does Trey want to drink?’

Beth opens the large bag and extracts a beaker. ‘He’s all set thanks.’ So far, she’s been in the bag for tissues, and now a drink. I spy a banana and some packets and boxes. I walk over, ‘Is this like a child-friendly bag?’

She opens it further to show me. There are wipes, a plastic knife and fork, a spoon, small bottles of food. Spare pants, ointments, plasters. Toys. So much stuff.

‘Looks like I need to go shopping later.’

‘Kids need a lot of stuff. It's less now than when he was potty training, although I still have emergency pants for him as he has the odd accident.’

I lift it. ‘Goodness. It's as heavy as my golf clubs,’ I jest. ‘Right. Water coming up. I’ll add ice and a slice of lemon. Make it posh.’

‘As it comes out of the tap is fine,’ she says.

I know it is, but I want to make the effort.

I return with two plastic beakers of water. I open the French doors and indicate that we should go outside. Trey runs into the garden and takes off to explore. I see the panic on Beth’s face.

‘It’s okay. My garden is completely enclosed and child proof. There are a few plants and shrubs, but I’ve no problem if he kicks a football in them.’