I finally got it right. I had been trying to get my hair right for the past fifteen minutes. It was Sunday night and daddy and I were fixing to leave and meet Clarice at some fancy restaurant.

"You ready?" Daddy asked me, as I came out of the bathroom.

"Yep." I confirmed.

We left McGinty's and headed down to the restaurant, which was about twenty minutes away. I told myself that I was at least getting twenty minutes alone with my father before Clarice took over.

"Gary, Arianna," Clarice said, when we got to the restaurant, "Don't you two look nice? Please, sit down."

We sat and spent the night talking. For some reason, I don't think Clarice really enjoyed talking to me, even though she said she did, as we were leaving.

And of course, she told daddy and me that she couldn't wait to see us again. I think she really meant that for daddy. Not me.

Time went on much like it had been going the past week. Jessa and I, both, made the baseball team and had practices everyday after school. I was glad for that because I wouldn't have to spend time at McGinty's watching Clarice and daddy. The Wissmann boys helped Jessa and I practice every Saturday, which really helped.

I became better friends with George Gunter and he came by the bar about twice a week for a sandwich and a drink. We would talk and he told me some neat stories.

One Wednesday, 4 ½ weeks since school started, I walked into McGinty's after practicing ball at school. I went into the office to find daddy because I wanted to tell him that our first game was this Saturday morning. I opened the door and Clarice was talking on the telephone. Daddy was no where in sight and she had her back turned towards the door, so she didn't see me standing there… eavesdropping.

"Yes, mother," She said, "It's going wonderful. Yes, I've managed to work around her so far. She's a spoiled little child though. No, she hasn't said anything to make me think that, but she wants her father all to herself. I can tell that by watching her.

"She's had him to herself for twelve years now and that's the way she wants to keep it. Well, I have got a little surprise for her. I'm going to get her sent to a year-round boarding school in California. I won't have to put up with her to any further extent."

That did it. I shut the door and went to sit at the bar. A boarding school? In California? Away from daddy year-round? I wouldn't be able to live with that. Since when did she have any say in what happened to me? She's not my mother… That's when I had a horrible thought.

Was daddy going to marry this woman? I didn't know for sure, but I did know that if I didn't do something… fast, then I might end up in some lousy school on the other side of the country.

I ran into the kitchen where I found Marissa instructing the cooks. I finally cornered her and somehow she knew that something was wrong.

"Arianna, what's the matter?" She asked me. She sounded worried.

"Marissa, is daddy going to marry Clarice?" I inquired, anxiously, panicked.

"Marry Clarice?" Marissa gave a chuckle, "Arianna Hobson, where did you get an idea like that?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "So, they're not getting married?"

"Arianna, if they were, then I think that Gary would talk to you about marrying her even before he talked to Clarice herself."

"Yeah, you're probably right, Marissa," I agreed, sighing with relief, "I guess I just jumped to conclusions."

"That's alright, Arianna. I can see that you might be worried."

"By the way, Marissa," I changed the subject, "We've got our first game this Saturday morning at ten o'clock. Can you be there?"

"I'll tell Emmett and Lainey and we'll be there to root you on. I promise." Marissa smiled.

I pulled my ponytail through the back of my baseball cap and smiled. It was Saturday morning and I was excited. I was wearing my new blue and white uniform, complete with the hat.Daddy had left earlier this morning to make a few saves, but he was going to be at the game. George Gunter said that he would be at the game, too. I had found out that he really enjoyed baseball.

Jessa and I had decided to meet at the park where we were playing a half hour early. I grabbed my water bottle from the refrigerator, stuffed it in my backpack, and ran out of McGinty's.

Climbing onto my blue bicycle, I headed for the park. I hoped that the game would go smoothly. Jessa was our #1 pitcher. If anyone could win the game for us, she could. I had learned that I was pretty good when it came to batting and I could hit some balls way out there.

About ten minutes later, I reached the park. Jessa was already there. She was throwing the ball up in the air, trying to catch it.

I parked my bike next to the fence, grabbed my backpack, and ran out to meet her. Sliding my mitt onto my right hand, I waved at her.

"Hey, Jessa," I said, "You haven't been waiting for me, have you?"

"No, I only got here a few minutes ago." She assured me.

Jessa was also wearing her uniform and her black, curly hair was pulled back behind her head. She picked up a bat and jogged out to home plate.

As we practiced, I relayed everything that had been happening with Clarice over to Jessa. We had been discussing that lately, trying to figure out what to do about her.

"Did I tell you what I heard her say on the phone?" I asked as I caught the ball she threw to me.

"I don't think so," She said, "What?"

"She was talking to her mother and she mentioned that she was going to get me sent off to a school in California; year-round." I added, throwing the ball to Jessa.

"Oh no," She gasped, "You don't think it'll work, do you? I mean, California; that's a really long way from here."

"No, I'm not worried about that," I guaranteed her, "Daddy most likely wouldn't send me off by myself to the other side of the country, even if I wanted to go. It's the fact that she seems to think she's gaining control and I'm beginning to think she's right."

"Does Clarice really like your dad?" Jessa asked me, picking up the ball she dropped.

"It's hard to tell," I shrugged, "I mean, she acts like she likes him and all, and truthfully, I think she really does, but she doesn't like me. That's the problem. I don't think she's really a 'kid-person'. I guess she doesn't realize that if she's got daddy, I'm part of the package."

"We have to let your dad see what's going on here." Jessa stated.

"Without hurting anybody's feelings." I added.

"So, do you have a plan?"

"Complete with daily alibi." I smiled.

"Come on, Jessa!" I cried, "Strike him out!"

We were playing against the Bearcats and their team was up at bat. I was playing at second base and Jessa was pitching. Our team, the Hurricanes, was winning the game so far; 7 to 5.

I glanced at the bleachers. Daddy was there and so was George Gunter. Marissa, Emmett, and Lainey were there, too. I'm sure that if it weren't for the fact that she might actually get dirty, Clarice would be there, too. I hadn't invited her this time, but I definitely would next time.

The whole Wissmann clan was there, too. From Jessa's mom and dad, to her youngest sibling, Stephanie. Even Jessa's grandma was there. Between the people there to watch me and the people there to watch Jessa, they almost took up all the seats.

I was suddenly brought back to reality when the batter hit the ball with a SMACK! It was coming my way, through the air. I ran underneath it and it landed firmly in my glove. The crowd cheered and I swelled with pride. I gave Jessa a high-five as the teams switched places in the game.

By the time the game was over, I was tired and sweaty. We won, 11 to 8, and the taste of victory was sweet.

I ran over to daddy and he gave me a hug, "Way to go, Arianna!" He exclaimed, "You did great!"

"Where'd you learn to play like that, girl?" Emmett asked me, grinning.

"You played wonderfully, Arianna." Marissa said.

"I want to play baseball, too, Arianna," Lainey announced, "Can you teach me, please?"

Elaine, or Lainey, was eight years old. She would be nine in November.

"Sure, Lainey," I sat my hat on top of her head, "We'll play sometime."

"Ye played right fine there, little lady," George shook my hand, "Maybe we'll be seein' ya in the playoffs."

"Thank you." I beamed.

I glanced over at Jessa. She, too, was being smothered by friends and family. They were congratulating her on her first game of the season.

"What do you say we go home and celebrate?" Daddy suggested.

"Sounds great," Marissa agreed, "I happen to know that there's some Chocolate Chip ice cream in the freezer."

We all agreed that ice cream sounded good, loaded my bike in the back of the van and left. Marissa, Emmett, and Lainey followed in their car, while George followed in his pickup truck.

"Daddy?" I took a sip of my orange soda on the ride home.

"Mmm?"

"Daddy, do you really like Clarice?" I asked him.

"Well, Ari, that would depend on what you meant by that." He replied me while taking a corner.

"I mean, do you like Clarice as in the "getting married" kind of like?" I asked him, while I still had the guts to do so.

"Married?" Daddy exclaimed, surprised, "Arianna, honey, where did you get that impression?"

"It just seems like you've been spending a lot of time with Clarice lately," I explained to him, "and I thought that maybe…"

"Arianna, we haven't even brought up the word 'marriage'." Daddy interrupted me.

"You haven't?" I asked him surprised.

"No, we've only known each other for a month and a half," Daddy reminded me, "Why should we discuss marriage so soon?"

I sighed with relief.

"Arianna, is something bothering you… about Clarice, maybe?" He asked, glancing back at me for a moment.

"It's just that, well, I don't think she likes me very much." I admitted.

"She hardly knows you, honey," Daddy reassured me, "Give her a chance to get to know you better."

I sighed once more and thumped my head against the back of my seat. Get to know me better? I didn't think Clarice wanted that.