the
moment, which substantiated the reasoning that she had no
intention of being stupid. Been there, done that. Not going
back.
As Reva and Todd walked leisurely to the ball diamond, they
spoke casually, making idle conversation. The slow pace
tortured her. Can this man not walk any faster? Does he always
meander through life as if nothing matters?
“We’re twenty minutes early, you know,” he said.
She forced herself to release the fist that she’d clenched her
right hand into.
“We’ll be the first ones to show up so you don’t need to
rush.”
“Sorry, it’s habit. I always walk fast.”
“And you run. Or at least when I see you, you’re running
somewhere.”
She ran in the mornings, and made sure to watch every
movement
around
her
when
she
did.
He
had
already
mentioned seeing her. She wondered if he’d noticed her
other habits. Like that she always crossed the street when
someone was
in their
yard or
approaching her
on the
sidewalk. She even did so when a car drove toward her
sluggishly.
“Would you prefer to run now?”
“Actually, no. I’m sorry. I’ll slow down.” She hesitated to
explain. It could be an instant conversation killer to do so.
Besides, apparently her family had already said something.
No need to dwell on it. Go forth.
The softball practice was a nice tension reliever, and it
proved a pleasant surprise to discover she hadn’t lost her
skills. The team was made up of a great deal of young
parents
or
newlyweds.
Only
one
other
single
person
attended, a young man named Rod. “As in Stewart” he had
told them when introduced. Reva guessed his mother had
been a fan. Rod took an instant liking to Reva and didn’t
attempt to conceal it. Apparently, he had signed up at the
request of his brother and wife, who felt it would help him
to meet people. Rod had moved nearby less than three
months before.
“I knew you’d nail this.” Todd smiled when he returned
from rounding the bases after his ground hit made it past
two fielders.
“What are you talking about? You’re the one that just hit the
snot out of the ball.”
“Errors. I made it around on errors, not on the hit, but I’ll
take it any way I can.”
After practice, the group lounged in the dugout around a
cooler
filled
with
drinks.
Idle
conversation
about
kids,
friends, parents, and the home owner’s association seemed
to be the main topics. Reva contributed little as she took a
random swig of beer. Though quiet, it had been a welcome
feeling to be outside with a group, almost relaxing. When
she gathered her things and headed home, Todd fell into
step beside her, and she was glad for it.
“You seemed a bit distracted earlier. Everything okay?” He had no idea. He was just being polite and she certainly
didn’t intend to dump her baggage on him.
“Work is… Work. I have a small co-worker issue but it’ll
resolve itself in a few days.” She had been confident of that
last week but now that confidence had wavered.
Brent’s
confrontational attitude, coupled with his lack of response,
made her think back to her original unease. She needed to
really think about the best way to proceed with him.
“Want to tell me about it?” He offered it almost as an afterthought.
She sized him up for a brief moment. “Nope. Not really.”
”Okay. Maybe some other time then. You know, you’re a
pretty good athlete. I’ve seen you run and you move easily
and more graceful than most. I assume you ran track and
played ball in high school?”
“Does it matter? That’s all over with now. I run now to stay
in shape and be prepared.” She realized the last word was a
bad choice after it was already spoken.
“Prepared for what?” He stepped off the curb to cross the
street as a car whizzed past. Reva jumped back, yanking on
his arm. “Don’t panic. They saw me.”
“I know – but they were so close.” She hesitated until the
car
had
reached
the
corner
and
turned
away
before
following.
She picked up the pace and clipped across the
street to
moment, which substantiated the reasoning that she had no
intention of being stupid. Been there, done that. Not going
back.
As Reva and Todd walked leisurely to the ball diamond, they
spoke casually, making idle conversation. The slow pace
tortured her. Can this man not walk any faster? Does he always
meander through life as if nothing matters?
“We’re twenty minutes early, you know,” he said.
She forced herself to release the fist that she’d clenched her
right hand into.
“We’ll be the first ones to show up so you don’t need to
rush.”
“Sorry, it’s habit. I always walk fast.”
“And you run. Or at least when I see you, you’re running
somewhere.”
She ran in the mornings, and made sure to watch every
movement
around
her
when
she
did.
He
had
already
mentioned seeing her. She wondered if he’d noticed her
other habits. Like that she always crossed the street when
someone was
in their
yard or
approaching her
on the
sidewalk. She even did so when a car drove toward her
sluggishly.
“Would you prefer to run now?”
“Actually, no. I’m sorry. I’ll slow down.” She hesitated to
explain. It could be an instant conversation killer to do so.
Besides, apparently her family had already said something.
No need to dwell on it. Go forth.
The softball practice was a nice tension reliever, and it
proved a pleasant surprise to discover she hadn’t lost her
skills. The team was made up of a great deal of young
parents
or
newlyweds.
Only
one
other
single
person
attended, a young man named Rod. “As in Stewart” he had
told them when introduced. Reva guessed his mother had
been a fan. Rod took an instant liking to Reva and didn’t
attempt to conceal it. Apparently, he had signed up at the
request of his brother and wife, who felt it would help him
to meet people. Rod had moved nearby less than three
months before.
“I knew you’d nail this.” Todd smiled when he returned
from rounding the bases after his ground hit made it past
two fielders.
“What are you talking about? You’re the one that just hit the
snot out of the ball.”
“Errors. I made it around on errors, not on the hit, but I’ll
take it any way I can.”
After practice, the group lounged in the dugout around a
cooler
filled
with
drinks.
Idle
conversation
about
kids,
friends, parents, and the home owner’s association seemed
to be the main topics. Reva contributed little as she took a
random swig of beer. Though quiet, it had been a welcome
feeling to be outside with a group, almost relaxing. When
she gathered her things and headed home, Todd fell into
step beside her, and she was glad for it.
“You seemed a bit distracted earlier. Everything okay?” He had no idea. He was just being polite and she certainly
didn’t intend to dump her baggage on him.
“Work is… Work. I have a small co-worker issue but it’ll
resolve itself in a few days.” She had been confident of that
last week but now that confidence had wavered.
Brent’s
confrontational attitude, coupled with his lack of response,
made her think back to her original unease. She needed to
really think about the best way to proceed with him.
“Want to tell me about it?” He offered it almost as an afterthought.
She sized him up for a brief moment. “Nope. Not really.”
”Okay. Maybe some other time then. You know, you’re a
pretty good athlete. I’ve seen you run and you move easily
and more graceful than most. I assume you ran track and
played ball in high school?”
“Does it matter? That’s all over with now. I run now to stay
in shape and be prepared.” She realized the last word was a
bad choice after it was already spoken.
“Prepared for what?” He stepped off the curb to cross the
street as a car whizzed past. Reva jumped back, yanking on
his arm. “Don’t panic. They saw me.”
“I know – but they were so close.” She hesitated until the
car
had
reached
the
corner
and
turned
away
before
following.
She picked up the pace and clipped across the
street to
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