Sometime before the last inning Eric left. Corra hadn’t seen him leave, but when the game was over he was nowhere around.
* * *
After dinner with the family Corra returned home to laundry and preparing the kids for the week. Then, Sharon stopped by and they sat around the kitchen table talking.
“You should have seen him sitting there like he was so into the game. If anything he was more of a distraction to Jamie. Poor fella looked as if he was struggling.”
“What did Eric say to you?”
“Nothing. Only that he’d come to watch Jamie play. I didn’t have anything else to say to him. I just wish he’d had the decency to let me know when he’s going to show up. We need to establish some boundaries.”
“You still haven’t told Chris?”
Corra lowered her forehead into the palm of her hand. “Not yet. I could have kicked myself for not telling Rollin. He was blindsided when Eric approached them.”
“Rollin’s such an understanding man. Besides, playing daddy is good practice for when he and Tayler have children of their own.”
Corra laughed. “And he should be ready with as much practice as he’s had over the years. I can’t wait until they give me a little niece or nephew.”
The doorbell rang, and before Corra could make it to the front door Jamie and Katie came charging down the stairs screaming, “Daddy’s here, Daddy’s here.”
What the hell! Corra looked back at Sharon. “See what I mean?” She turned around and dared the kids to open the door until she got there. When she opened the door Eric grinned at her like he was a young man again who’d come by to pick her up. Only this time she wasn’t excited to see him.
“Hey Corra, I thought I’d stop by to see the kids since I’m off this evening.”
So he has a job! “Eric, you need to start calling to set things up. How do you know I don’t have plans this evening?”
They’d waited behind her long enough. Jamie peeked around Corra. “Daddy, did you see all of my game today?”
Eric squatted down. “I certainly did. My ride had to leave at the very end, but I saw you out there doing your thing. I’m proud of you.”
Unable to contain them any longer, Corra stepped aside while Jamie and Katie held the door open for Eric to enter.
He looked up at Corra. “Mind if I come in for a few minutes?”
She shook her head.
Eric waved back out the door at someone parked in front of her house, and the car pulled off. Corra hoped whoever it was had planned on coming back. She wasn’t going to take him home.
“That’s Dickie, you remember him, don’t you?” Eric asked.
With disgust, Corra nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
Eric shook his head. “He’s visiting a friend in the area, so all I have to do is call him when I’m ready. He’ll swing back by and pick me up.”
She breathed a sigh of relief as they walked up into the living room. “And how long will that be?”
Jamie grabbed Eric’s hand. “Come on, Daddy, let me show you what the coach gave us after the game.”
“I want to see,” Katie said from the other side of Eric, holding his hand.
“Hi, Eric.” Sharon stood in the entrance to the kitchen.
He raised his chin. “I see some things never change. You two still best friends?”
“That’s right. Corra’s my girl. I’ve always got her back.”
“I’ll remember that.” Eric headed upstairs with his kids.
Corra joined Sharon at the kitchen table.
“I think he’s about to become a permanent fixture over here,” Sharon said.
“Oh, no he’s not. I’ll be sure to see to that.”
Sharon left an hour later, and Corra was downstairs in the family room folding clothes and watching TV when Eric walked in.
“Where are my kids?” she asked, shaking one of Katie’s blouses.
“In their rooms. I wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
“Yeah, I need to talk to you too.”
“Look, is it okay if I come get the kids this week and take them to the park? There’s only so much we can do here.”
Corra snapped the next top in the air. “No, it won’t be okay. I’m sorry but you haven’t been around long enough for me to trust my kids with you.”
He sat down on the corner of the couch. “What do you think I’m going to do, kidnap my own kids? I barely have a place to lay my own head.”
She folded the shirt and placed it on top of the stack next to her. “I haven’t seen you in over two years. And I have sole custody so right now I’m more comfortable if you visit them here at the house.”