Brooke pulled into a parking space in the parking lot of Willard Middle School. After helping Lilly out of the car, Brooke and Lilly met Mouth and Noelle by the entrance to the softball field.
"Hey." Mouth greeted.
"Hey." Brooke replied with a smiled. "Thanks for coming."
"Thanks for inviting us." Mouth replied. "Noelle couldn't wait to see Lilly again."
"Obviously." Brooke replied, looking down at the girls who were giggling.
"So where are Haley and Peyton?" Mouth wondered.
"Oh, they're probably inside. The game has already started and we're running late, so let's go find them."
Brooke, Mouth, Lilly and Noelle started walking towards the baseball field. Already seated in the bleachers, Peyton held Emma and Haley held Cooper as they watched the game. They cheered and clapped loudly after Jenny pitched a fast ball and struck an opponent out for the third time in a row.
"Great job Jenny!" Peyton cheered from the stands as Jenny and the Spirits changed positions with the Lady Rams for the second inning.
"Hey guys." Brooke said as she, Lilly, Mouth, and Noelle climbed the bleachers to reach their friends.
"Hey, Brooke, Mouth." Haley said smiling. "Hey girls."
Lilly waved at Haley and asked, "Where is James and Andy?"
"They're at their grandparent's house for the night."
Lilly and Noelle sat down next to Mouth and went back to talking excitedly.
"Hey Peyton," Mouth said, "How're you feeling?"
"Pregnant, very pregnant."
Brooke chuckled and asked, "So how's she playing?"
"Really good." Haley answered. "Everytime Jenny pitches, she strikes a player out."
"Wow, she's talented." Mouth remarked.
Brooke looked around her and then asked, "Hey Peyton, I thought Jake would be here. Where is he?"
Peyton sighed and rubbed her stomach anxiously, "I don't know. But he isn't here where he should be."
"Great game Jenny." Brooke said after the game. "And congratulations on the MVP award. That's awesome."
"Thanks." Jenny replied.
"We'll see you later." Brooke wved as she began walking with Mouth towards the parking lot.
"Bye." Mouth said.
"So that was fun." He said when they reached Brooke's car.
"Yeah, it was." Brooke replied. "I'm glad you and Noelle decided to come."
"Me too. I think Noelle is glad too."
"I am, Daddy. I like playin with Lilly." Noelle said.
"I like playin with you too, Noelle."
Brooke and Mouth both smiled.
"I have had a lot of fun spending time with you Lilly and Noelle." Mouth said. "But I was thinking that it might be even more fun if you and I spent some time alone sometime."
Brooke smiled flatteringly.
"Sure, yeah, that'd be great." She said. "Really great."
Nathan was sitting on the sofa, still staring at the sonogram photo when he heard the front door knob being turned. He stood up and quickly shoved the photo in his jean pocket as Haley entered the house with Cooper asleep in her arms.
"Hey, sweetie." She said when she saw Nathan. "I missed you today."
"I missed you too." Nathan said as he walked over. He leaned down and kissed her lips.
The kiss took Haley by surprise, much like the time Nathan had kissed her for the very first time outside her house. Haley gave in to this kiss and after Nathan pulled away, she smiled and said, "Wow…you really did miss me."
"I love you Haley."
"I love you too, Nathan. You know, I'm glad you're in such a good mood, because I want to talk to you. But I need to put Cooper in his bed first."
"Oh, here, I'll do it." Nathan said as he took Cooper from Haley and began down the hall to the second bedroom on the right hand side.
"So far so good." Haley sighed.
A few minutes later, Nathan returned to the living room.
"So I know you wanted to talk," he said, "and I'm glad, because there is something I want to talk about too."
Haley's attention stuck. She stared curiously at Nathan, wondering if what he wanted to talk about was at all related to what she was finally ready to tell him.
