"Yes."
"You look slightly pink."
"That's just from playing softball." Sara said. "That's a good tradition."
"Originally it was just to tire the kids out after we had a cook out. But it turned into a family tradition."
"We've been playing softball for as long as I can remember." Erin said.
"You never had any family traditions?" Jillian inquired.
"No." Sara replied.
"That's a shame."
"You'll probably find out eventually so I may as well tell you."
"Tell us what?" Erin inquired.
"My parents used to be hippies and owned a bed and breakfast. When I was about one my father started drinking heavily, he was abusive. One day my mom couldn't take it anymore and stabbed him to death. That was nineteen years ago, she's doing twenty-five to life. My brother and I got sent to separate foster homes. I lost contact with him. I got a scholarship to Harvard which is how I could afford it."
"That's terrible." Jillian said.
"It was a long time ago." Sara replied. "It's also why I don't have any family."
"You can be a part of ours." Jillian told her.
"We have more than enough to go around." Erin added.
"Thanks." Sara smiled.
"Does Nick know about this?" Jillian inquired.
"Yes. He knows everything." Sara confirmed.
"Good."
"Sara." Matthew ran over to her with a book.
"Hey Matthew." She picked him up and sat him on her knee. "What have got there?"
"Read." He handed her the book.
"You want me to read to you?" Sara questioned. Matthew nodded. "How about we go over there and sit under the tree?" Sara suggested.
"Okay." Matthew agreed.
"Excuse us; we're going to read a book." Sara told Erin and Jillian.
"Have fun." Erin told her.
"So what do you think?" Jillian asked when Sara was out of earshot.
"I like her." Erin replied. "She makes Nick happy. I haven't seen him smile this much in a long time."
"Just what I was thinking." Jillian agreed with her.
"And she's not a stripper."
"I knew he was more sensible than that."
"A few more people want to hear the story." Erin nodded in Sara's direction where some of the other younger kids had gathered around.
CSI CSI
"So let's have it." Nick said while he and his brother and sisters were sorting out the dishes inside.
"Have what?" Carrie asked.
"You all have opinions on everything. What's the verdict on Sara?"
"She can play softball." Andy stated.
"She's great with the kids." Maggie remarked.
"She didn't run scared when we told her the stories about you." Becky pointed out.
"She was willing to pitch in and help." Heather added.
"She has some decent stories on you too." Emily continued.
"And Carrie?" Nick shrugged.
"We like her." She shrugged. "She'll fit in just fine."
"But you didn't need our approval." Becky said.
"But it's nice to have it."
"We only have one complaint." Andy told him.
"What's that?" Nick asked.
"She's not Texan."
"Nor is Jack." Emily pointed out.
"But he's lived here long enough.
"He still supports the Bears rather than the Cowboys." Nick told them.
"Sacrilege." Carrie rolled her eyes.
TBC