Chapter 3

Emi was the only girl on her T-ball team. There were no rules saying girls couldn't play; Kuki guessed that most 4 or 5 year old girls just didn't want to. The coaches, big, brawny men whom Kuki didn't particularly care for, hadn't been pleased about coaching Emi. Kuki had chosen not to tell Wally this, even after one of them made a comment about how bad the odds would have to be to get the only girl in the league, for fear that it would end so much worse than she wanted it to. But, thankfully, Abby had caused a minor scene on Kuki's behalf and now, a month later, Emi was their best and favorite player.

Emi had a lot of her father in her. She was fast and strong and didn't let anything scare her. Kuki had been worried the boys would be mean to her precious daughter or intimidate her, but she soon found out, it happened the other way around.

"I'm gonna hit a home-run today," Emi told Kuki. They had just arrived at the field, sans Wally because he had to work for a couple hours before Nigel's party. Kuki had sent Kaida and Violet to play at the park down the path. Max sat happily in the stroller. "

"I'll be watching, sweet pea," Kuki replied, adjusting her daughter's navy blue cap and sending her over by her team. She turned around to see Abby and Hoagie approaching, Augie was on Emi's team. "Hey, girl," Abby smiled. She was glowing, Kuki was jealous.

Augie was riding atop Hoagie's shoulders, smiling like he was king of the world. He reminded Kuki so much of Hoagie, even with his chocolate colored skin and dark, curly hair. Hoagie flipped the 4 year old off his shoulders and Augie took off in the same direction Emi had. Kuki pushed some of her ebony hair behind each of her ears. "You look so good, Abby," she gushed. "I'm so excited you guys are having a baby finally!"

"Finally?" Hoagie repeated, a look of confusion spreading across his face. "What's Augie, chopped liver?"

"Well, it's just that you two waited like five-ever to have another. You could have had, like, 3 other kids in that time frame!" The three adults sat down on the bleachers.

"Kuki, have you ever heard the phrase 'take your time'? Abby likes to live by that one," Abby commented.

Kuki searched her brain for a replacement topic, not wanting to further upset a hormone-addled Abby. "So…I'm super excited for Nigel's party! He hates surprises!"

"Abby bets he already knows we're throwing a party." She folded her hands on top of her large belly and turned her face towards the sun.

"How would he?" The young Asian woman pouted. "I know Rachel and…" She trailed off at the appearance of a bald man with his two children. Nigel.

"Well, hey, guys! Look who's here, Palmer!" Palmer smiled and waved at Kuki after his father's words. Poor Rachel and Nigel, they'd tried everything, but still couldn't get the tiny 3 year old to talk very much.

"H-hiya, Nigel. Funny seeing you here today…at the park." Abby elbowed Kuki.

"Don't. Say. A. Word," she whispered through clenched teeth into Kuki's ear.

Hoagie stood up and gave Nigel what Kuki liked to call a "man hug". "Happy birthday, buddy."

"So," Nigel gestured the just starting game, "T-ball."

"Yep," Hoagie replied.

Emi stepped up to the plate, easily the smallest on either of the two teams, the back of her jersey reading "BEATLES" in bold, white letters. Nigel did a double take, looking first at the young player, and then back at his friend. "Is that Emi?" he asked incredulously.

"She is her father's daughter," Kuki responded with a smile.

Nigel's eyes scanned the park until he found his daughter. Olivia had chosen to wear her pink, plastic cowboy boots, a knee length jean skirt, a feather boa, sunglasses, and purple t-shirt. That little girl would never in a million years touch a baseball bat. She was talking animatedly to some other children. A rag-tag group, all in the strangest outfits. Olivia saluted one of them. Nigel sighed; she was just so imaginative that sometimes he couldn't keep up.

After hitting the ball, Emi took off running to first base, and she was fast. "That she is."

"Emiko! Look at her go!" Hoagie screamed from next to Abby. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back into a sitting position. "They're getting good. Right, Abs?"

A glare was shot at Hoagie from first base. Emi hated her full name, something that was entirely Wally's fault. Kuki loved the name Emiko; she thought it was the most beautiful Japanese name she'd ever heard. It meant "smiling child", a promise any mother would want to give their child. But, of course, Wally had to shorten it to "Emi", and now the little girl was indignant when it came to her legal name.

As Augie approached the plate, Hoagie shot up again. "Augie will make it foggy!"

"Sit down, fool. That one doesn't even make sense!" Abby winced slightly after this statement, pressing a hand against her belly. Kuki, having been pregnant herself, noticed it and she also noticed Abby was trying to be discreet. She didn't say anything.

Augie turned and smiled at his dad beneath the rim of his hat. "He is so his father's son," Abby commented to Kuki. Kuki nodded, slightly worried about her friend. Abby's hand was balanced on her bump again.