"Hoooome run!! This is the fourth home run in this game for Merrill Hess!"
A young woman sat next to her older sister, who was cheering at the top of her lungs.
"Ali, isn't he amazing?! I bet he'll be in the World Series a year from now!"
The younger woman took off her sunglasses and said, "Yeah..he's good. Now that's the same Merrill who was at your wedding? Graham's brother?"
"Yeah..he's changed, huh?"
"Changed? Colleen, he looks like a GQ model."
"He's single, too. I could put in a good word for you."
"Nah. He's probably got a girlfriend in each city he travels to."
"You'd be surprised. He has his little flings here and there, but in general, Merrill's a good guy."
The game lasted for another hour or so, and after it ended, Alicia followed Colleen to the dugout area. Colleen called out Merrill's name before he went into the locker room.
"Merrill! Come here!"
He turned around and smiled when he saw Colleen. However, his heart skipped a few beats when he saw Alicia. He was smitten the moment his eyes met hers.
"Is this is the elusive younger sister Alicia?" he asked.
Colleen gave Alicia a gentle shove towards Merrill and said, "I can't believe you guys haven't seen each other since Graham and I got married."
Merrill said, "You were."
"I was 11, I think. Yeah, cause it's been ten years."
"So you're 21 now?"
"I'll be 22 in three weeks."
"Wow..time flies. You look.incredible."
"Thanks. You're not too bad yourself."
Colleen said, "Merrill, why don't you come over for dinner tonight? We're having a mini-barbecue outside."
Merrill had a date that night, but every girl he had ever met disappeared off his radar the second he saw Alicia.
"Of course I'll be there. We can catch up on what you've been up to, Alicia."
"I wouldn't want to bore you."
"I don't think I'd be bored."
Merrill and Alicia were becoming attracted to each other more and more by the millisecond. He casually gave her body a glance-over when she wasn't paying attention.
Perfect, he thought to himself.
Colleen said, "Want us to wait for you?"
"Um, that's OK. I'll stop by the house as soon as I'm done. I have to make some phone calls and takes care of some things. But I'll be over as soon as I can- believe me."
Alicia said, "Can you show me how to hit a home run like the ones you hit today?"
"For you," he said, picking up her hand and kissing it, "absolutely."
He ran back into the locker room and Alicia put her hand over her heart.
"I have the hots for my brother-in-law of all people. My brother-in-law!"
"He's not blood, sis. Wouldn't that be crazy? Us Spencer sisters married to the Hess brothers?"
"I don't even know if he's potential yet, Coll."
"I saw the way you were making eyes at him. 'Can you show me how to hit a home run?'"
"Oh, shut up. I was just trying to make conversation."
"That's what they all say. Come on, let's run by the store before we head home."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Kylie? It's Merrill. I'm good. Hey, listen. I won't be able to make it to your place tonight. My sister-in-law just moved to town and I promised that I would go to dinner at my family's. Don't be upset. We'll make plans for after I get back from Atlanta. I'm sorry, but my family comes first. OK. OK. Bye."
Merrill hung up the cell phone and a few minutes later, he arrived at the Hess home in Bucks County. It was the perfect August evening- the sun was barely lingering in the sky and the warm breeze made for just the right temperature. Merrill parked his car and went around to the backyard. When he got there, he saw Morgan and Bo running in the stalks of corn and Graham at the picnic table writing.
"Hey bro," Merrill said, "Writing the next great American novel?"
"Not quite. It's for Sunday. I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"I'd never turn down an invitation for dinner here- you know that."
"That's funny, because the last three times we've invited you to dinner while you were in town, you were always on a date or at a party. What made you suddenly change your mind?"
Merrill sat across the table from Graham and lowered his voice.
"Have you not paid any attention to your wife's little sister?"
"She's definitely not little anymore."
"Graham, I swear to God-"
Graham shot Merrill and evil look.
"Sorry. But I swear, Graham.I've seen beautiful girls, believe me. But Alicia is a knock-out. I almost lost my breath completely when I saw her."
"Well, she is pretty. She looks like Colleen did when we were in high school."
Colleen came outside and said, "Merrill, you made it."
"I never break my promises, Coll. Hey, where's your sister?"
"She ran to the drugstore to get Morgan's inhaler for me. She should be back any second now."
Within five minutes, they heard a car pull into the driveway. Alicia came through the house and out through the backdoor. As Merrill looked at her, he memorized everything about her- her long, light brown, almost strawberry- blonde hair, blemish-free complexion, her warming smile. He also paid close attention to what she was wearing- a 'Perfect' t-shirt from Abercrombie and Fitch that hugged her upper body and khaki shorts. She took off her sunglasses as she spoke, and her piercing hazel eyes were like a punch in Merrill's stomach.
"Sorry that took so long," she said, "The girl behind the counter swore she had seen me on TV before..weird."
Right after Alicia said 'before,' she had thrown her hands in the air with exasperation. But Merrill didn't notice her hands. He noticed the navel piercing that rested upon a fit stomach as her shirt slightly raised. He wanted to tell her how beautiful he thought she was right then and there.
"Hi, Merrill," she said in a playful tone that drove him crazy.
"Alicia."
"So, are you gonna show me how to hit a baseball after dinner?"
"Of course."
"Good."
Graham said, "I'll let you two talk. I'm going to go finish this in the study."
As he got up, Alicia sat across from Merrill.
"The last time I saw you," Merrill said, "you had on braces and you were mad you had to go to the reception because you were missing '90210'."
Alicia burst into laughter and said, "I was so pissed because it was the season finale! That's so horrible- I cared more about a stupid TV show than my only sister's wedding reception. And I can't believe you remember that I wore braces!"
"Well, they paid off. Your smile is breathtaking, to say the least."
"Thanks."
"Uncle Merrill! Come play tag with us!"
Six-year-old Morgan and three-year-old Bo ran up to the picnic table.
"Let me finish talking to your Aunt Alicia and then I will, OK?"
"OK!"
They ran back into the cornfields and Alicia's eyes followed them.
"I want kids like them. Hell, I want Colleen's life. A great job, a handsome husband, a beautiful home, perfect kids.."
"Who says you can't have a life like this?"
"I need to start by finding a quality boyfriend- not the trash and playboys I've been dating for years. Let me know if any of your teammates are available."
"Well, I can think of one who would love to take you out for drinks later on tonight."
Alicia looked at him slyly.
"What are you saying?"
"I know a great bar in Philly. We can have a few drinks and get to know each other."
"We could do that right now."
"What? Have drinks?"
"No. Get to know each other."
"Fine by me."
"So let's see.if I'm not mistaken, at Colleen and Graham's wedding, you were 17. So that means you're 27 now."
"Yep. "
"So that means we're five years apart. Not too bad."
"Not bad at all."
Merrill couldn't stop staring at Alicia's lips, which were coated in vanilla-scented gloss that he could smell from across the table.
"Do I have something on my mouth?" asked Alicia.
"No. Why?"
"You keep looking at my lips."
"I.um.you caught me."
Alicia laughed and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You know, I wasn't sure about moving back home. But now.I think I made the right decision."
Merrill's cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and then put the phone on the table.
"I think it's the wrong number."
Alicia looked at the phone.
"So. Amber Lynne is the wrong number? Her name is programmed into your caller ID."
Merrill silenced the phone from ringing and let out an uneasy laugh.
"What can I say? I'm friendly."
"So how do I know that you're not seeing someone else right now? You're getting my hopes up, Merrill."
"You had my hopes up the minute I saw you by the dugout this afternoon. I was expecting to hear that you had a boyfriend or were engaged.or something like that. How do I know you don't have a boyfriend or a crazy ex who happens to be a serial killer?"
"I broke up with the serial killer a year ago."
Merrill eyed her strangely.
"I'm kidding," Alicia said, playfully hitting him.
Her touch sent shivers all over his body.
"I've never gone out for drinks with a semi-celebrity."
"A semi-celebrity? Me?"
"Yeah! I saw an article about you in a magazine..can't remember which one. I told my best friend that you were my brother-in-law, but she didn't believe me."
"Do you have any friends here?"
Alicia shook her head.
"They're all in school out of state or I just don't talk to them anymore. My best friend Ellen- the one who I was just talking about- is still in New York."
"So why aren't you still in New York?"
"We'll talk about that tonight. In the meantime, I think you're due to play Tag with Bo and Morgan."
"You're right. Are you playing?"
"Maybe later. I'm gonna go help Colleen in the kitchen."
"OK."
"Have fun."
"Oh, I will."
Alicia watched as he began chasing the kids. Then she went into the kitchen and sat on the counter as Colleen made lemonade.
"Merrill and I are going out tonight," she sang.
"Really? Where?"
"We're going out for drinks in Philly."
"Very nice. You know, it's good to have you back home, sis. We were really worried about you for a while when you were in New York."
"Who says I'm staying here?"
Colleen glared at her younger sister.
"I want you to stay. I missed most of your childhood. I owe it to you. Plus, we could use a good babysitter for the kids."
"Oh, so that's all I'm good for?"
Colleen ran her hands under the running faucet and sprayed Alicia with water.
"No, because I also need someone to tease besides Graham!"
Alicia squealed and ran out the back door. Suddenly, she felt someone slap her on the back. It was Merrill.
"Tag. You're it."
He laughed and sped away in the other direction.
"Merrill, that's not fair! You play baseball.you run for a living!"
As she began chasing the kids and Merrill, she thought, Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A young woman sat next to her older sister, who was cheering at the top of her lungs.
"Ali, isn't he amazing?! I bet he'll be in the World Series a year from now!"
The younger woman took off her sunglasses and said, "Yeah..he's good. Now that's the same Merrill who was at your wedding? Graham's brother?"
"Yeah..he's changed, huh?"
"Changed? Colleen, he looks like a GQ model."
"He's single, too. I could put in a good word for you."
"Nah. He's probably got a girlfriend in each city he travels to."
"You'd be surprised. He has his little flings here and there, but in general, Merrill's a good guy."
The game lasted for another hour or so, and after it ended, Alicia followed Colleen to the dugout area. Colleen called out Merrill's name before he went into the locker room.
"Merrill! Come here!"
He turned around and smiled when he saw Colleen. However, his heart skipped a few beats when he saw Alicia. He was smitten the moment his eyes met hers.
"Is this is the elusive younger sister Alicia?" he asked.
Colleen gave Alicia a gentle shove towards Merrill and said, "I can't believe you guys haven't seen each other since Graham and I got married."
Merrill said, "You were."
"I was 11, I think. Yeah, cause it's been ten years."
"So you're 21 now?"
"I'll be 22 in three weeks."
"Wow..time flies. You look.incredible."
"Thanks. You're not too bad yourself."
Colleen said, "Merrill, why don't you come over for dinner tonight? We're having a mini-barbecue outside."
Merrill had a date that night, but every girl he had ever met disappeared off his radar the second he saw Alicia.
"Of course I'll be there. We can catch up on what you've been up to, Alicia."
"I wouldn't want to bore you."
"I don't think I'd be bored."
Merrill and Alicia were becoming attracted to each other more and more by the millisecond. He casually gave her body a glance-over when she wasn't paying attention.
Perfect, he thought to himself.
Colleen said, "Want us to wait for you?"
"Um, that's OK. I'll stop by the house as soon as I'm done. I have to make some phone calls and takes care of some things. But I'll be over as soon as I can- believe me."
Alicia said, "Can you show me how to hit a home run like the ones you hit today?"
"For you," he said, picking up her hand and kissing it, "absolutely."
He ran back into the locker room and Alicia put her hand over her heart.
"I have the hots for my brother-in-law of all people. My brother-in-law!"
"He's not blood, sis. Wouldn't that be crazy? Us Spencer sisters married to the Hess brothers?"
"I don't even know if he's potential yet, Coll."
"I saw the way you were making eyes at him. 'Can you show me how to hit a home run?'"
"Oh, shut up. I was just trying to make conversation."
"That's what they all say. Come on, let's run by the store before we head home."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Kylie? It's Merrill. I'm good. Hey, listen. I won't be able to make it to your place tonight. My sister-in-law just moved to town and I promised that I would go to dinner at my family's. Don't be upset. We'll make plans for after I get back from Atlanta. I'm sorry, but my family comes first. OK. OK. Bye."
Merrill hung up the cell phone and a few minutes later, he arrived at the Hess home in Bucks County. It was the perfect August evening- the sun was barely lingering in the sky and the warm breeze made for just the right temperature. Merrill parked his car and went around to the backyard. When he got there, he saw Morgan and Bo running in the stalks of corn and Graham at the picnic table writing.
"Hey bro," Merrill said, "Writing the next great American novel?"
"Not quite. It's for Sunday. I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"I'd never turn down an invitation for dinner here- you know that."
"That's funny, because the last three times we've invited you to dinner while you were in town, you were always on a date or at a party. What made you suddenly change your mind?"
Merrill sat across the table from Graham and lowered his voice.
"Have you not paid any attention to your wife's little sister?"
"She's definitely not little anymore."
"Graham, I swear to God-"
Graham shot Merrill and evil look.
"Sorry. But I swear, Graham.I've seen beautiful girls, believe me. But Alicia is a knock-out. I almost lost my breath completely when I saw her."
"Well, she is pretty. She looks like Colleen did when we were in high school."
Colleen came outside and said, "Merrill, you made it."
"I never break my promises, Coll. Hey, where's your sister?"
"She ran to the drugstore to get Morgan's inhaler for me. She should be back any second now."
Within five minutes, they heard a car pull into the driveway. Alicia came through the house and out through the backdoor. As Merrill looked at her, he memorized everything about her- her long, light brown, almost strawberry- blonde hair, blemish-free complexion, her warming smile. He also paid close attention to what she was wearing- a 'Perfect' t-shirt from Abercrombie and Fitch that hugged her upper body and khaki shorts. She took off her sunglasses as she spoke, and her piercing hazel eyes were like a punch in Merrill's stomach.
"Sorry that took so long," she said, "The girl behind the counter swore she had seen me on TV before..weird."
Right after Alicia said 'before,' she had thrown her hands in the air with exasperation. But Merrill didn't notice her hands. He noticed the navel piercing that rested upon a fit stomach as her shirt slightly raised. He wanted to tell her how beautiful he thought she was right then and there.
"Hi, Merrill," she said in a playful tone that drove him crazy.
"Alicia."
"So, are you gonna show me how to hit a baseball after dinner?"
"Of course."
"Good."
Graham said, "I'll let you two talk. I'm going to go finish this in the study."
As he got up, Alicia sat across from Merrill.
"The last time I saw you," Merrill said, "you had on braces and you were mad you had to go to the reception because you were missing '90210'."
Alicia burst into laughter and said, "I was so pissed because it was the season finale! That's so horrible- I cared more about a stupid TV show than my only sister's wedding reception. And I can't believe you remember that I wore braces!"
"Well, they paid off. Your smile is breathtaking, to say the least."
"Thanks."
"Uncle Merrill! Come play tag with us!"
Six-year-old Morgan and three-year-old Bo ran up to the picnic table.
"Let me finish talking to your Aunt Alicia and then I will, OK?"
"OK!"
They ran back into the cornfields and Alicia's eyes followed them.
"I want kids like them. Hell, I want Colleen's life. A great job, a handsome husband, a beautiful home, perfect kids.."
"Who says you can't have a life like this?"
"I need to start by finding a quality boyfriend- not the trash and playboys I've been dating for years. Let me know if any of your teammates are available."
"Well, I can think of one who would love to take you out for drinks later on tonight."
Alicia looked at him slyly.
"What are you saying?"
"I know a great bar in Philly. We can have a few drinks and get to know each other."
"We could do that right now."
"What? Have drinks?"
"No. Get to know each other."
"Fine by me."
"So let's see.if I'm not mistaken, at Colleen and Graham's wedding, you were 17. So that means you're 27 now."
"Yep. "
"So that means we're five years apart. Not too bad."
"Not bad at all."
Merrill couldn't stop staring at Alicia's lips, which were coated in vanilla-scented gloss that he could smell from across the table.
"Do I have something on my mouth?" asked Alicia.
"No. Why?"
"You keep looking at my lips."
"I.um.you caught me."
Alicia laughed and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You know, I wasn't sure about moving back home. But now.I think I made the right decision."
Merrill's cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and then put the phone on the table.
"I think it's the wrong number."
Alicia looked at the phone.
"So. Amber Lynne is the wrong number? Her name is programmed into your caller ID."
Merrill silenced the phone from ringing and let out an uneasy laugh.
"What can I say? I'm friendly."
"So how do I know that you're not seeing someone else right now? You're getting my hopes up, Merrill."
"You had my hopes up the minute I saw you by the dugout this afternoon. I was expecting to hear that you had a boyfriend or were engaged.or something like that. How do I know you don't have a boyfriend or a crazy ex who happens to be a serial killer?"
"I broke up with the serial killer a year ago."
Merrill eyed her strangely.
"I'm kidding," Alicia said, playfully hitting him.
Her touch sent shivers all over his body.
"I've never gone out for drinks with a semi-celebrity."
"A semi-celebrity? Me?"
"Yeah! I saw an article about you in a magazine..can't remember which one. I told my best friend that you were my brother-in-law, but she didn't believe me."
"Do you have any friends here?"
Alicia shook her head.
"They're all in school out of state or I just don't talk to them anymore. My best friend Ellen- the one who I was just talking about- is still in New York."
"So why aren't you still in New York?"
"We'll talk about that tonight. In the meantime, I think you're due to play Tag with Bo and Morgan."
"You're right. Are you playing?"
"Maybe later. I'm gonna go help Colleen in the kitchen."
"OK."
"Have fun."
"Oh, I will."
Alicia watched as he began chasing the kids. Then she went into the kitchen and sat on the counter as Colleen made lemonade.
"Merrill and I are going out tonight," she sang.
"Really? Where?"
"We're going out for drinks in Philly."
"Very nice. You know, it's good to have you back home, sis. We were really worried about you for a while when you were in New York."
"Who says I'm staying here?"
Colleen glared at her younger sister.
"I want you to stay. I missed most of your childhood. I owe it to you. Plus, we could use a good babysitter for the kids."
"Oh, so that's all I'm good for?"
Colleen ran her hands under the running faucet and sprayed Alicia with water.
"No, because I also need someone to tease besides Graham!"
Alicia squealed and ran out the back door. Suddenly, she felt someone slap her on the back. It was Merrill.
"Tag. You're it."
He laughed and sped away in the other direction.
"Merrill, that's not fair! You play baseball.you run for a living!"
As she began chasing the kids and Merrill, she thought, Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
* * * * * * * * * * * *