Prompt: field

Dialogue flex: "Happy anniversary!" she said.

Still not beta'd, so please overlook the over/underusage, of, commas,.


Twice a year Carmen, well, Monumental Events, splurges on outings for the employees and our families. We're not a huge company, but Carmen does well enough to spoil us every so often, especially around the winter holidays.

A couple days after the fiasco of losing the Mayor's birthday party we acquired a wedding. But oh, not just any wedding, the Senator Black from Washington State and his lovely fiancé have been added to our client list. Needless to say, Carmen is a bit happy. She visited Vicki that afternoon to tell her the good news; I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall to hear that conversation.

Apparently, the senator's fiancé is a native of Virginia and she wants the wedding here. That and the fact that she went to college with Rose might have had something to do with us landing the account, but no matter—instead of taking the Metro into the game tonight we arrived by limo busses, so we all benefitted from this triumph.

Garrett nearly flipped when they rolled into the parking lot back at the office. He gawked and went on about how they looked like something from the future. After we boarded our bus Garrett pestered the driver for almost the entire 45 minute ride, asking what each button's purpose was, how the floor lit up, was it anything like the car from the movie Back to the Future?

"I'm sorry—I hope he didn't bother you too much," I sheepishly said to the driver.

"No worries. I have a few inquisitive grandkids myself." He tipped his hat to us as we stepped off the bus, promising Garrett a treat on the way home.

Garrett's fascination of late with all things sci-fi is great, but I'm really inept on the subject. Though, we did make it through his Jurassic period phase unscathed, meaning the Professor didn't lose all patience with his mom, I think we'll survive this round, too.

So, here we are seated half-way up behind third base, and it's gorgeous out tonight. The sun has just set, turning the April sky a perfect cerulean behind the lights that surround the stadium. Players are warming up in the field—the Braves first, and I scoot back in my seat, settling in for the game.

Hot dog in hand, my son, who's bouncing in his seat between me and Edward, eyes the cotton candy guy as he makes his way up and down the aisles.

"Pace yourself," I tell Garrett. "Let's wait a little while before you start with the sugar." Because we're eating so healthy now.

"Promise I can get one?"

"Sure, just not too much junk tonight, okay?"

"Aw, come on, Mom," Edward says, teasing. "It's tradition to load up on fats and sugars at ballgames, and you don't break tradition."

I lean forward, playfully glaring at Edward. "You're not the one who'll have to deal with tummy aches during the fifth inning."

He raises his hands in surrender, laughing then turns to Garrett. "Men don't get tummy aches, do they?"

"No, we don't." Garrett looks at me, pointedly, and I shake my head.

Leah nudges Edward. "Behave," she says then apologizes to me.

I want to hate this woman.

I'm an awful, horrible person, I know. But I want to loathe her. What with her perfect skin and shiny black hair, but I can't. She's sweet and kind…pretty. Young. She's like seven years younger than Edward—not that it matters, but she is which means she's exactly that much younger than me. The few times we've been around each other we've gotten along really well, and I wish… I don't know.

I don't know what I wish because it changes all the time.

Still, Edward and I gravitate toward each other. We always have, though it's one hundred percent unintentional. Sometimes we're on the exact same wavelength about work stuff, or have battles quoting Seinfeld. Or we simply talk. Not once have I thought about acting on the butterflies he gives me. I'd never do that to him, to Leah…to me. But my mind wanders. Like him feeding me chocolate cheesecake. Or other things.

I have to stop.

Edward exasperatedly rolls his eyes for effect and squeezes Leah's knee. The two of them begin talking with Mike from accounting who's sitting a row in front of us.

Rose is to my right, Angie on the other side of her and I gladly partake in the discussion about Senator Black's upcoming nuptials. Rose is super excited that she's in charge of the account. She's all flaily hands, giving us the G-rated version of hers and the fiancé's trysts from college. I turn back and forth between Rose and Garrett, holding two conversations at once when a burst of laughter erupts from Leah and Mike.

""Happy Anniversary!" he said," Leah cries, giggling.

Edward glimpses at me, almost embarrassed. He whistles to the cotton candy guy and holds up three fingers.


More from the ballgame tomorrow.

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