Hot Corner (Baseball Romance) (2 page)

***

Audrey managed to get her imagination all whipped into a frenzy, but apparently it was all for not.  Audrey full well expected her mom to call that night.  No call came though.  So when Audrey went over to her parents house for dinner the next week, Audrey went digging for answers.  

"So?" Audrey asked, as Carla opened the front door. 

Carla meanwhile turned her attention to the sky.  It was a brisk night, but a clear one.  The stars were out in full force, twinkling away.  And the moon was as round and full as could be.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Carla replied.

Carla briefly looked up at the sky before focusing on her mom once again.

"It is.  But that wasn't what I was talking about," Audrey said.

"Oh--right.  Still, you should appreciate scenery like this when you see it," Carla insisted.  "It doesn't come around that often.  Especially this time of year."

"As true as that is, I'm not quite sure what that has to do with the conversation.  I mean aren't you going to tell me what happened at your book club?" Audrey asked.

"Well, we talked about this great new book.  It's about a crime solving librarian," Carla said.

Audrey couldn't believe what a job her mother was doing in avoiding the subject.  But after the way her mom had blown up her expectations, Audrey wasn't going to stop digging until she got an answer.

"I can't stand it anymore.  I just have to know.  Was the book club able to find me a man?" Audrey blurted out.

Carla grimaced.  Audrey's mother was usually able to put a good face on any situation.  Not this time though.  And that could only mean one thing--bad news.

Audrey could not hide her disappointment.  "Oh," she replied, deflated.  

"I'm very sorry.  I shouldn't have gotten your hopes up," Carla said.

Audrey was dumbfounded.  The book club was practically gossip central.  They knew everyone's business.  So for them to draw a blank was a huge deal.

"Wait a minute.  Are you saying that the book club wasn't able to come up with even one man for me?" Audrey asked, still in disbelief.

Carla tried to console her daughter.  "But hey, just because we weren't able to think of anyone, doesn't mean there isn't a man out there for you."

Audrey needed more than just a pep talk though.  "Who are you trying to kid here mo?  Your book club knows everything that goes on in this town.  So if they couldn't think of anyone, that probably means that there really isn't anyone out there."

"Honey, that could all change next week or next month.  You know how life is," Carla explained.

"I do know how life is.  And things never change around here," Audrey replied.  

"Look, it's really important that you don't give up hope," Carla insisted.

Audrey had a different take on the situation though.  "Yeah.  But what if hope has given up on me?"  

Chapter Four

It was amazing the way the world worked.  If the emotional peaks and valleys weren't hard enough to navigate, everyone seemed to be going through their highs and lows at different times.  Case in point--Audrey and her sister.  While Audrey seemed to be sinking in emotional quicksand, Elizabeth was practically having the time of her life.  It was hard to believe the sisters had both been hopelessly heartbroken just six months ago.  Unfortunately luck only followed Elizabeth from there on out.  The stark contrast in their romantic lives was leading to some interesting interactions.

Audrey had never heard her sister whistle while she made breakfast.  Yet there Elizabeth was in the apartment, walking on air without a care in the world.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone be so happy making breakfast before," Audrey joked.

"Trust me.  This has nothing to do with breakfast," Elizabeth replied.

"I'll bet," Audrey said.

"Nice try," Elizabeth replied.  "So I guess you haven't gotten tired of John yet then," Audrey joked.

"You could say that.  Go figure, I just can't get rid of the guy," Elizabeth said sarcastically. 

"Maybe you're just not trying hard enough.  I could give you some tips if you want," Audrey joked again.

"You know what?  I think I'll just stick with what I have," Elizabeth replied.

"That's what I figured.  Look at you all smitten.  You're happier than I've seen you in a while.  It's a good look on you," Audrey commented.

"You know, I wasn't sure I'd ever say this again, but I'm in love," Elizabeth revealed.

"Wow, that's amazing," Audrey said.

"It sure is.  Especially after what I've been through," Elizabeth replied.

"Does he love you too?" Audrey asked.

Elizabeth leaned in close.  "Don't tell anyone, but I think he's close to proposing."

"Lucky you," Audrey said, with a smile.

But inside, Audrey's emotions were far more mixed.  Of course Audrey was happy for her sister.  She only wanted the best for her family members.  At the same time though, Audrey wondered when luck would come to her own life.  When she'd be the one smiling again.  When happiness would fill her days.  But it was clear that day had not come quite yet.

***

Audrey decided to take her dog out for an extra long walk in the park that day.  She needed the air.  And she also needed to clear her mind.  But as Audrey went to take a seat on the bench, a surprise was waiting for her.

"Isabel Hoffman.  Wow, I haven't seen you in a while," Audrey said, seeing Isabel already sitting on the bench.

"Audrey.  What a pleasant surprise," Isabel replied, tearing herself away from the horizon.

"I'll say.  You look different," Audrey pointed out.

"You mean I look happy for a change," Isabel said.

"No, that's not what I meant," Audrey replied.

"It's ok.  I was miserable for a long while there," Isabel said.  "To be fair though, I had a good reason."

Did she ever.  If Audrey thought life had thrown her for a loop, all she had to do was look at Isabel to see how dire her circumstances really could be.  Audrey and Isabel were in the same class in high school years ago.  And so was Isabel's future husband Mark.  Isabel and Mark hit it off immediately.  They were great together.  And their lives seemed like dreams come true.  Then Mark had a brain aneurysm completely out of the blue one day, leaving Isabel as the youngest widow Audrey had ever met.

Isabel sleepwalked through the next couple of years, not sure what to make of her life or how to rebuild.  Then one day, Isabel just picked up and left.  But now she was back and looking happy.  It was great to see Isabel again, but even better to see her with a smile on her face.  Audrey was curious to see how Isabel was able to bounce back only three years after her husbands death.

"Yeah, you deserve to be happy," Audrey said.

"We all deserve to be happy.  No one should have to go through life miserable," Isabel replied.

"Amen to that," Audrey said. 

"I just wish I'd taken my own advice sooner," Isabel replied. 

"Speaking of, where have you been all this time?  I haven't seen you in ages," Audrey said. 

"I took a vacation to Hawaii that lasted a little longer than I anticipated," Isabel replied. 

"So that's where you've been all this time," Audrey said. 

"Yeah, all the way up until a few months ago," Isabel said. 

"That must have been one hell of a vacation," Audrey joked. 

"It sure was.  I went there a widow and came back a wife," Isabel replied. 

Audrey's eyes opened as wide as saucers.  "Damn."

"What can I tell you?  I found a man that I couldn't say no to, so when he asked me to marry him, I said yes," Isabel explained. 

"Wow.  That's amazing," Audrey said. 

"So is Joshua.  Not only is he totally hunky, but he's also as sweet as can be," Isabel explained. 

"He sounds incredible," Audrey said. 

"All the guys in Hawaii are. The men are different there.  They really get what's important in life.  Not to mention so many of them are total hunks because they surf everyday," Isabel replied. 

"That does sound like paradise," Audrey admitted. 

"Have you ever been to Hawaii?" Isabel asked. 

"Nope," Audrey said. 

"You don't know what you're missing out on," Isabel replied. 

"Maybe I don't," Audrey said.  "But look, if it's such paradise, then what are you and your husband doing back here?"

"My mom just had a hip replacement," Isabel revealed. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Audrey said.

"Look, she's going to be fine.  She just needed some help while she's on the mend.  Joshua and I should be heading back to Hawaii soon," Isabel replied.

"You're a lucky woman," Audrey said. 

"Well, if you're ever in Hawaii, let me know.  I know tons of hunky single surfers I could introduce you to," Isabel replied. 

"Don't tempt me," Audrey said. 

"No, I'll leave that to the guys.  Now if you'll excuse me, it's been great running into you, but I have to go see my mom in the hospital," Isabel replied.  

***

Isabel sure managed to open Audrey's eyes in a hurry.  Vacations were hard to come by though--especially to Hawaii.  There always seemed to be so much work to do at the ballpark.  Not to mention Hawaii was about as far away from Florida as could be.  Still, hunky surfer guys were a hard thing to resist.

Still, after Audrey's conversation with Isabel, the idea of escaping seemed intriguing.  After all, if it could work for Isabel, it could work for anyone.  Isabel had fallen on the kind of hard times that Audrey couldn't even imagine.  To have lost her husband at such a young age of nineteen was just unfathomable.  Hell, Isabel was still young.  But to be able to recover from such a loss was a feat in itself.  Yet there Isabel was, happier than Audrey.

Chapter Five

As much as Audrey wanted to fantasize about hunky surfers all day, she had to go back to work.  But as she made her way into the break room at the ballpark, she found something incredible on the table.  It was a book.  But not just any novel.  It was a romance novel set in Hawaii with a hunky surfer right on the cover. 

Audrey couldn't believe her luck. It seemed almost like fate.  What were the odds that she'd randomly run into an old friend from high school that told her about hunky surfers in Hawaii, only to have Audrey come across the first Hawaiian romance novel she'd ever seen in her break room.  Audrey had to read it.  She couldn't just let a coincidence like that pass her by.  So Audrey picked up the book.  But just as she did, Tatum Miller entered the break room. 

"There it is," Tatum said. 

"There what is?" Audrey asked. 

"My book.  I thought I'd lost it," Tatum said.

"Oh, so this is yours," Audrey asked. 

"It sure is.  And damn is it hot," Tatum said. 

Audrey smiled.  "Oh yeah?"

"Audrey, you don't even know.  When you read this, you'll never look at surfers the same again," Tatum said. 

"It's that good, huh?" Audrey asked. 

"Are you kidding?  It makes me want to hop on a plane to Hawaii," Tatum said. 

"Can I borrow this?" Audrey wondered. 

"Not until I'm done with it.  I need to know how it ends," Tatum said. 

That was the kind of ringing endorsement that Audrey didn't hear often.  Audrey didn't want to wait a couple of days until Tatum was done with the book though.  She wanted to read what all the fuss was about now.  So after work, Audrey headed out to the bookstore and picked up her own copy.  And Audrey wasn't disappointed. 

Audrey didn't usually read a lot of romance novels, but this one was different.  That night, she found herself devouring the book.  The whole while, Audrey almost couldn't believe what she was reading--and not just because of the tropical setting.  The story was so wonderful.  The book was about a heartbroken girl from the South that moves down to Hawaii to start over.  Once down there, the girl meets a hunky surfer that captures her heart and makes her believe in love again.   

Audrey couldn't help but be swept up in the story.  Then again, who didn't love a good love story?  Audrey wished that her own life would follow that same path.  It seemed that her friend Isabel's life had already beaten her to it though.  The similarities in the fictional story and Isabel's real life were absolutely striking.  It was as if Isabel was living a romance novel life, albeit with a happily ever after ending that was long overdue.  If Isabel was able to pull it off, anyone could though.  And Audrey was all too ready for her turn.  

Maybe Audrey wouldn't have to wait much longer though.  See, because Audrey was a firm believer that things happened for a reason.  And what were the odds that she'd just get done talking to an old friend about Hawaii only to return to work and see a book about that very subject?  Sure coincidences happened, but this seemed like more.  As if something greater was at play.  Audrey had been looking for her luck to change.  Maybe this was the universe's way of nudging her in a new direction.  Maybe Audrey was meant to follow in Isabel's footsteps.  What if a fairy tale life was waiting for Audrey in Hawaii?  Audrey didn't know what the universe had in store for her, but she was excited to find out.