"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

Chapter 10

Charity looked at the clock a frown pulling at the sides of her mouth, it had been forty eight hours since she'd helped bring the kids home. Still, there was no call from Alex. Her heart thudded to her toes at the realization, and she went to get ready for the game. With her A-rod jersey on, and jeans that had seen better days she brushed her dark hair up into a pony tail and slipped on a yankee cap. It was one of those days where comfort and being a yankee fan took precidence over being good-looking. Nodding at herself in the mirror, she locked the door behind her and took off toward Yankee Stadium.

The row of seats were empty tonight, and her heart reached for her toes once more in the same day. Where was everyone? A note, a bucket of popcorn and two sodas sat in their seats. With a frown, she ascended the concrete stairs and grabbed the note.

Dear Charity,

We know you'll probably kill us for this, but it's our contribution to your love life.

Her heart pounded, and anger coursed through her veins as she read her sister's handwriting bold on the paper. Next to it in parenthesis was a note in Lidia's handwriting:

(Please don't hurt the rest of us, it was Jazzelle's idea!)

She actually felt her spirit lifting as she read the note now, and at the last sentence written in Bethany's girlie handwriting she nearly squealed.

Now take a seat and look down at the enterance to the box..*wink*.

Curious now, Charity sat cautiously lifting one of the sodas into her lap before taking a look at the enterance. There in all of his glory stood Alex Harper, eyes searching her out. She smiled and waved to him, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. He was here! An actual date? Her mind twirled and reeled in excitement. What now?

--

Alex couldn't believe how good Charity could make a simple jersey and old jeans look. Sighing as he walked up the stairs, he accepted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "You look great today, Charity."

"Thank you." she whispered, her face turning a bright pink he found endearing.

He took a seat next to her and motioned to the popcorn beside her in what was usually Jazzelle's seat. "That for us?"

She nodded, "You're in on all of this, aren't you?" With a laugh, she pushed him jokingly as he held up both hands.

"I had nothing to do with it, I got a phone call that I was expected to show up here or else." he grinned at her sense of humor.

With a shove, the popcorn was in his arms, and she shook her head back and forth. "I should have expected something like this from the whole lot of them!" she muttered, turning her head so fast her ponytail whipped him in the face.

"Ouch." he muttered, cupping his stinging cheek.

"Aw, did I hurt you?" she asked, turning toward him again.

He nodded, "Right here."

With a smirk, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Better?"

"Much." he enthused, loving the flirting passing between them.

Together they watched the game, he let the comfortable silence envelope him as they sat. The only time the silence was broken was when the umpire made a bogus call and both of them nearly went over the rails after him. He laughed, turning toward her after they'd both settled down. "This is nice."

She nodded, letting her hand settle next to his.

He covered her hand with his own and leaned closer to her. "Would you like to do more things like this together?" he asked finally, looking into her eyes.

Biting her lip, Charity finally let her face break out into a smile. "I really would, as long as their Yankee games."

--

"See now isn't that cute?" hissed Jazelle from the upper tier pointing out her little sister to the rest of them.

Andre chuckled, "Sure, okay, but can we stop watching them make out now?"

Lidia elbowed him, "Aye, men!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes.

"Will y'all set me up like that?" asked Bethany, with a dreamy sigh.

Tugging the popcorn from Jazelle, she handed it to Miss Julie and the children. "Sure will, Bethany, we sure will."

"Only a cowboy will put up with that idiotic y'all stuff." inserted Lidia with a sigh of her own, that wasn't quite so dreamy.

"I think it can be arranged." decided Jazelle with a self-satisfied grin.

"Oh no!" they exclaimed in unison.

"What?" asked Jazelle, holding up both hands and looking innocent.

"Matchmaker." accused Miss Julie with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Well it isn't as if anyone else is doing anything about it." said Keely smiling at Jazelle.

"Exactly, and I plan to marry y'all off before this is over!" she exclaimed turning back toward the game.

Lidia elbowed her, "Don't you start with the 'y'all' stuff!"

They laughed together, it was the perfect ending to Charity's story, but there were so many happy endings to come.

THE END

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