36 comments/ 103588 views/ 155 favorites Tom and Leah By: Tony155 I. "...so, it is with much sadness that I announce my retirement from baseball..." Those words from the press conference a few days before haunted Tom Murphy as he drove through the southern Michigan countryside. He knew his decision was final, but the reality of it all was beginning to hit him. There would be no spring training, no more traveling, no more camaraderie with his teammates, and no more playing the game he loved as he had done for the past fourteen years. There would be a lot of things he would miss. He had but a few close friends from his time in baseball and he would keep in touch with them forever. He knew he would drift away from others once he was not in their constant memory and that was okay with him. Ballplayers come and go and you do not think about former teammates much once they are gone for awhile. He would miss the fans and the way they would be behind you 100% when things were going well, but boo you the next instant you did not perform up to expectations. Most of the fans were great, though. In his mind, the thing he would miss the most would be the fresh smell of grass in the stadium right after a rain and the distinct sound of a baseball striking wood. He would miss the sound of cleats crunching in the dirt as you ran or the sweet feel of a ball smacking into your glove after a long run. God, he loved this game! That October day, he walked away from the only job he had known since college. Although he was not paid like the superstars of the game, he was a good player, but not great, Tom made an awful lot of money over the years and he invested and saved wisely thanks to his agent and other financial advisors. He was not an extravagant person and saw no need to buy a huge house for just himself when a more modest one would do just as well. A few months before when he had decided to retire, he went about buying his childhood home in Hastings, Michigan. The current owners did not want to sell the house and had no intention of moving. When Tom offered them twice the house's value and offered to pay their moving expenses, they jumped at their good fortune. It was probably the silliest thing Tom had done in recent memory, but he did not care. This was home to him and this was where he felt most comfortable. He had played for Baltimore, Oakland, and San Diego before winding up his career with St. Louis. He had homes at every stop, but never felt comfortable or at peace. San Diego had been the nicest stay for him and he briefly thought of settling there, but he longed for the simple life of small town living and Hastings still offered that. He had not been in Hastings for almost five years since his father died. His mother had passed while he was still in college. His siblings still lived in the state and took care of the funeral arrangements while Tom flew in from the west coast. It was during this time when Tom began to think about settling in the town. It still had a friendly feel about it even though it had grown quite a bit. During his stay, he visited old friends and their families and felt as if he had not been away at all. He was treated the same as before he became a professional athlete and the notoriety that came with it. For some reason, he did not pursue buying the house and let it fall into strangers hands instead. It was a nice house, having four bedrooms, three baths and a large finished basement, but it was the scenery that Tom always missed. The house sat on five tree-friendly acres and faced Thornapple Lake, a beautiful little lake where Tom went fishing almost every day during summer vacation while growing up. He came upon route 37 and knew he was close. Familiar houses tickled his memory as he thought about who had once lived in each. Most of the people with whom he grew up still lived in those houses for this was a town where people stayed put. Job-wise, there was not a lot of industry in Hastings, but it was close enough to bigger cities whereby you could commute for better jobs. If you look on a map, you can find Hastings right in the middle of Kalamazoo, Jackson, Lansing, and Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek. It is the county seat of Barry County and has a small police department, courthouse, and a jail. He turned onto Center Road and began the last short leg of his journey. Tom began to get anxious and excited as more familiar houses came into view; the Tuttles, the Fergusons, and the Van Wert's houses all came and went. Turning again on Cogswell Road, he could barely see the lake down the road and through the trees. He broke into a grin at the end of the road where he turned left and into the driveway of his new home. He hoped to see the moving van there with his belongings, but they were not due until the next day. Still, he could hope for a surprise. Tom got out and inhaled deeply, taking in the strong, refreshing smell of the lake not one hundred yards away. He looked in that direction and smiled. A few boats were floating about hoping to catch a crappie or blue gill that populated the lake. Bass, pike, and Muskie could be found in the right spots, but crappies and blue gills were prevalent. Leaving his suit cases in his car, Tom strode to the door and let himself in. It was an eerie feeling that overcame Tom as he stepped into the living room. It seemed much larger than he remembered, be it the room was devoid of any furniture. It seemed so familiar to him, yet so strange at the same time. The room was painted a different color than when his parents owned it, a pale green instead of the beige to which he had become accustomed. He went from room to room and explored as if seeing his home for the first time. It was his now and he could not wait to enjoy the peace and quiet. A large refrigerator and stove were left behind and he was grateful for that. At least he would be able to get some groceries before he had to find a place to stay for the night. Down in the basement, a newer washer and dryer were in the corner. He checked the water, electricity, and phone and they all appeared to be in working order. It was only around noon when he went back to his car and began to bring in his suitcases. As he started to unpack, he noticed there were no hangers in any of the closets, so putting away his clothes would have to wait, too. Looking out the livingroom window, the lake caught his eye once more. Smiling to himself, he left the house and walked down to the lake. When he got to the boat dock, he looked around in disapproval. The dock had become old, rickety, and in desperate need of repair. There had once been a small swimming area and sandy beach to the right side of the dock, but they had become overgrown and weeded. Tom shook his head with disdain. That would be first on his priority list when spring came the following year, to get the area looking like it should and once did. Looking back at the house, he was pleased to see that the landscaping and flower gardens had been well kept. Tom sighed deeply. He was home. A half hour later, he drove to town in search of lunch. It looked a bit different from the last time he was there, but it was a nice sight nonetheless. After picking up a newspaper, he strolled into a small café called "Speed's Coffee Shop". It was fairly crowded, but Tom found a seat at the counter. Within a few minutes, a waitress about his own age appeared before him, a medium built blond with brilliant blue eyes. "Can I get you started with some coffee, hon?" she asked politely. "No, iced tea with lemon, please," Tom answered. "Sure thing," she replied. "Do you need a menu? Our special is meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy." "The special sounds fine, thank you." "Great!" She turned and gave the order to the cook. Turning back, she said, "I don't remember seeing you around here. Are you new or just passing through?" She eyed the dark haired, brown eyed stranger with curiosity. He was of average height, but she could see he had a muscular, athletic build. "Well, I grew up here, but now I'm back to stay. I bought the Jamieson's place." "Oh, so you're the one. I didn't know they were even thinking about moving, but all of the sudden, they're gone. How did you do it?" In his best Godfather voice, Tom replied, "I made them an offer they couldn't refuse." The waitress smiled, but said nothing. She went about filling his drink order. Her name tag said "Leah", short for Cecilia and she was well liked in town. Known for her quick wit and smile, she sang in the church choir and volunteered at the hospital. She had been married once, divorced, and had two children, both girls aged thirteen and eleven. Considered pretty and a fine catch, her friends could not figure out why she chose to remain single when she could basically have her pick of anyone in town. In her mind, the answer was quite simple; she liked being single. She handed Tom his glass of tea. "Here you go, hon. Your food will be ready shortly. As much as I'd like to chat with you, I have other customers." Tom smiled and nodded, noticing her eyes once again. He had never seen such stunning eye color before. He had met and dated many women all over the country, but he had never seen eyes like hers. It was almost as if they were enhanced by contacts, but he doubted it. Tom was a good, quick judge of character and he got the distinct impression this person was not vain about her looks. She seemed very down home and friendly in a natural way, not put on or an act. He found himself staring and looked down quickly to his paper. Five or so minutes went by before Leah appeared with a steaming plate of delicious smelling food. "Here you go, hon," she said, placing the plate in front of him. Tom quickly folded the paper and placed it to the right. "Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked. "Not a thing," Tom said, looking up at her. "This should be fine for now." "Okay," Leah replied. "Give me a yell if you need anything." With that, she hurried off to another customer. The food proved to taste as good as it smelled. Tom forgot what good, simple home cooking tasted like. Being on the road as much as he was during the course of a baseball season, Tom dined in many opulent restaurants, but he found that small diners such as this appealed to him more. In the off season and at home, he cooked for himself and thought he was a decent cook. He had not gotten sick from any of his concoctions, so that was in his favor. Like Leah, he had been married and divorced, but he had no children. By the time Leah returned to check on him,. Tom had just finished his meal. "I guess you were hungry, weren't you?" she said while taking his plate. "I had breakfast around six. I've been on the road most of today." "Can I interest you in dessert? We have all kinds of pie." "Do you have peach?" "We sure do, hon. I'll bring you out a big piece." "Thanks. That sounds great." She was back a few minutes later with his pie. "Here you go, hon. Enjoy." "I will. Thanks." The crowd was starting to thin out by the time Tom finished his dessert. There were only two other people at the counter and only a few tables were occupied. Leah was busy hustling back and forth cleaning the counter and helping the other waitresses with their duties as well. When she came back to Tom, she placed the bill in front of him. "Take your time. I'll get it whenever you're ready." "I'm ready now," he replied, thinking of the shopping he had to do. He looked at the bill and smiled. It was only $5.50. He remembered the last meal he had in St. Louis cost him over thirty dollars and was not nearly as good as what he had just consumed. He fished a ten dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to her. "I'll be back with your change," she said as she turned to leave. "Keep it," Tom said. "What?" she asked, turning back his way as if she had not heard correctly. "Keep the change. It was a great meal." "Are you sure?" Tom laughed, "Yes, I'm sure." "Well, you can come around anytime, you hear." She flashed a genuine smile his way. "I'll do that," he said as he slid off the stool. He grabbed his paper and turned to leave, but remembered something. Looking over his shoulder, he said, "Can I ask you something?" "Of course you can." "Where can I find a bed and breakfast or a boarding room for tonight? My furniture's not going to arrive until tomorrow and I need a place to stay." Leah thought for a moment. "I really can't think of any in town. There's one in Charlotte that I know about." "I really don't want to go to Charlotte. How about a Holiday Inn or something like that?" "There's a Motel 6 and a Best Western on route 43 about ten minutes down the road from State Street. Route 43 is just down the street." She pointed in the general direction for him. "That sounds great. Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it." He turned to leave once again. "Hey there," she called to him, stopping him in his tracks. "Yes?" he asked, turning back to her. "Since you're going to be around for a while, what's your name?" "Tom Murphy." "Well, Tom Murphy, it was a pleasure to meet you. Come back around when you get hungry." "You can count on it," he replied, smiling. II. The next day was one of the busiest Tom had ever remembered. The moving van arrived promptly at eight o'clock and the unpacking began. His house in Florissant, Missouri was almost the same size, but it did not have as many bedrooms or bathrooms. Tom had a general idea of where he wanted his furniture placed in the living room, dining room, and his bedroom. He had very little recreational furniture besides his television console and computer desk, so diagraming and placing the furniture was fairly easy. He had done this quite a few times before on his own and he was used to it. By mid-afternoon, the last of the boxes was unloaded and the large moving van left. After carefully inspecting his fragile boxes, his wide screen television, and other breakable items, he was satisfied and relieved to find nothing chipped or broken. Throughout the morning and afternoon, Tom found himself too busy to worry about lunch. Now, his stomach was growling. After fixing himself a couple of chicken salad sandwiches, he grabbed a cold soda from the fridge and sat down at his dining room table to eat. While eating, he surveyed his living room and was generally pleased at how it looked. There were no wall hangings, but it looked pretty much the way he wanted it. He was going to take his time unpacking and getting things in order. His kitchen and bedroom would be the first parts of the house to get organized, then he would worry about everything else. Once he finished his lunch, he set about arranging his bedroom and unpacking his clothes. It was close to four o'clock when he heard the doorbell ring from the main floor. All of the bedrooms and two of the baths were on the second floor. Puzzled and curious, Tom bounded down the stairs and opened the door. To his surprise, Leah was standing on the porch holding a Styrofoam container. "Hey," said Leah, "I thought you might want some supper for tonight. It's some leftovers from lunch and I didn't want it to go to waste." "Thanks," Tom replied, taking the container from her. "That was really nice of you." He opened the door wide. "Come in for a minute? The place is a mess, but I do have some chairs unpacked." "Sure," Leah replied. She walked past him and looked around. "This is a really nice house. How did you know about it?" "I lived here before I went to college." Tom put the container of food in the refrigerator. "You did?" Then the realization hit her. "You mean you're Jack Murphy's son?" "Yes, I am," Tom said proudly. "Did you know him?" "Of course I did. Everyone knew Jack. He was the sweetest man. He used to come into the diner every day for breakfast. He'd have toast and coffee and nothing else. I was so sad when he died. I can't believe you're his son!" "Well, I'm glad you got to know him." They moved to the living room. "Can I offer you a soda or something?" he asked, looking at her. She was still in her uniform while he was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals tee shirt and sweat pants. "No, I'm fine. I was just on my way home and thought I'd stop by." "That was very nice of you. I certainly wasn't expecting company today, as you can well see." He ran his hand through his tangled, curly hair and smiled sheepishly. Leah laughed lightly and looked around again. "I think you've done quite a bit in a short time. It looks like it's taking shape already." "Would you like to see the rest of the house?" he asked. Leah checked her watch thinking she needed to get home to her girls. Tom noticed, but said nothing more. "I can't stay too much longer." "It'll only take a few minutes. I promise." "Okay," she replied after briefly debating the idea. True to his word, it was a short tour and in less than ten minutes, he had shown her all the levels and rooms. Leah thought the house to be huge as he showed her room after room, telling her what each room was when he was growing up and what each room would become to him once everything was in place. As he led her to the door, she remarked, "It's a beautiful house, Tom. I'm sure you'll enjoy it again after all these years." "I know I will," he replied. "Well, I better get going. My daughters will wonder what's happened to me." "Daughters?" "Two of them," Leah nodded. "Emma is thirteen and Christine is eleven. Do you have any kids?" "No," Tom shook is head, thinking back. He and Karen did not have time enough for themselves, let alone children before they divorced. "Oh," Leah replied, sensing she had touched a bad nerve. She glanced at her watch once more. "I really must be going." "I'll walk you out," Tom offered. The cool late afternoon breeze greeted them as they stepped onto the porch. Tom glanced to the lake and wished it to be summer so he could go fishing and swimming. Even though he grew up there, he did not like swimming or fishing in cooler weather. San Diego had been the perfect place for him, but was starting to become crime-ridden near the time he left. "Enjoy your supper," Leah said as she walked toward her car, an older Chevy. "I know I will," Tom replied, his mind taken away from the lake. He watched as Leah got into her car. Before she started it, Tom walked to her window, which she rolled down. "Can I ask you something?" he said. Leah blinked, then smiled and took her hand away from the ignition. "Sure you can." "I was just wondering something. Why me?" "What do you mean? I'm not following..." "I mean, do you do this for every new person who comes to town? You know, bringing food to me and then coming into my house without any qualms or reservations. I could be a psychopath for all you know." Leah laughed loudly as if she had heard a great joke. It was a light, pleasant laugh that brightened her face and Tom liked it. "You are so funny, Tom!" she said between giggles. "No, I don't do this for just anyone. I sense good things about you. Anyone who wants to come back to this town after being away has to have some good in him. Plus, anyone who is Jack Murphy's son is okay in my book. He couldn't have a bad kid. There's no reason in the world for me to think you're a psychopath. You aren't one, are you?" Tom smiled, amused at her question after what she had just said. "No, I'm not. I guess I've lived in big cities for too long. It's hard to realize there are places where people trust each other, help one another, and can leave their doors unlocked." "Welcome back to Hastings," she said. "It's good to be back," he replied. "Well," he said finally, "I've kept you here long enough. Thanks again for the food. It was really thoughtful of you." Tom and Leah "You're very welcome. If you feel the need, come on down and we'll whip up something really tasty for you, I promise." She waved to him and started up her car. Tom took a step back and waved back as she pulled away and disappeared down the road. Tom glanced in that direction once more before he headed back into the house to resume his work. III. The next few weeks went by swiftly for Tom as he continued working on his house. His pickup truck and boat arrived from St. Louis a week after his return to Hastings and he promptly stored the boat and trailer in the garage. There was still plenty of room in the garage for his car and truck. He continued to go to the diner periodically, mostly at lunch, but sometimes for breakfast. He never was a big eater at breakfast and felt guilty for ordering only cereal or an egg or two. When he did order, Leah would shake her head and say, "Just like your dad.", before walking away. Leah did not visit his house again, but they started to get to know each other little by little through their conversations at lunch. It was during one such conversation in the early part of November when she asked him a question that had been gnawing at her every time she saw him. "So, what do you do for a living?" she asked as she wiped up a spill with a washcloth. She looked at him expectantly, not knowing if she was prying too much. "I'm retired," he answered simply. "Retired? You're too young to be retired." "Well, in my line of work, it's about the right age." "What was your line of work, if I may ask?" "I was a baseball player," he replied, slightly amused by her ignorance. Most people in town knew he played professional ball. "Really?" she asked. "I didn't know that. Who did you play for?" "I played for Baltimore, Oakland, San Diego, and St. Louis. St. Louis was my last stop." "Why did you quit?" She put the dishrag aside and had her full attention on him, her blue eyes boring in on him. "I wasn't playing up to my own standards. I didn't want to be a reserve player anymore and that's all I was going to be from now on. I guess I was just getting too old and I had enough." "Enough of what?" "I don't know," he sighed, "It was a lot of things. The traveling was getting old, living out of a suitcase half the year was a pain, trying to stay in top shape when I wasn't playing as much as I wanted. There was a lot of things, I guess." "Do you miss it?" Tom laughed. "Not yet. I won't miss it until spring rolls around and I won't have to go to Florida for spring training. Then, I'll start missing it. Right now, I'm enjoying a normal off season." "Do you think you'll regret it?" "Regret what?" "Regret retiring when you probably could have played a few more years." Tom shook his head. "No, I won't regret it. I thought about it for a long time before I made the decision. It was the right thing to do. I never wanted to be one of those players who hung on way too long after their skills went downhill. I never wanted to hang around just for the money. I made enough money in the game. It was time for me to step aside and let someone younger take my place." Tom looked down and away as his inner turmoil started to make waves again. He knew he would miss the game terribly when spring arrived. He always looked forward to going to Florida to start a new season. He would miss the warm sunshine hitting his face just as he would miss chiding his siblings about the cold weather that still enveloped the lower peninsula of Michigan during March. Oh, he would miss it alright. Leah sensed a change in him and thought perhaps he was upset with her. She felt maybe she had gone too far with her questioning. Leah thought they were friends, yet she knew so little about him. He interested her, particularly because he treated her with respect. She suspected he was a bit wealthy from seeing the vehicles he drove, yet he never flashed his money, always paying in small bills, yet giving her very generous tips. It puzzled her at first when he did not hit on her or ask her out like most of the single men in town, but she valued him more because of it. "I'm sorry if I pried too much," she said quietly, breaking his thoughts. "It's a bad fault of mine." "You weren't prying. I don't mind talking about myself or my career. It just kind of surprised me you didn't know I was a ballplayer. Most everyone in town knows that." "I guess I'm not everyone," she replied. "No, you're certainly not," he agreed. Tom liked talking to her. He liked her self-confidence, but she had nary a hint of vanity. She wore very little makeup and almost no jewelry save the gold studs she wore in her lobes. Leah wore no rings, something Tom had noticed quickly, although he had not asked her any questions about her personal life up to that point. The idea of asking her out had crossed his mind, but he did not want to come across as the usual ballplayer trying to put the moves on a woman. He was past that game. There were times in his younger days when he used his status to meet, date, and bed women, but looking back, he realized how stupid and immature he had been. It was fun at the time, but it was nothing sustaining or nurturing. He thought he got it right when he met Karen, an executive in his agent's firm in Washington D.C. They dated for almost a year before marrying in a simple ceremony in Baltimore. Things went well for them until he was traded to Oakland. Trying to sustain a marriage across the country proved fatal. She liked living in D.C., was established in a well-paying position, and did not want to move. Tom had no choice in the matter of what team employed him, so his only option was to retire, but he was not going to do that, not when he was in the prime of his career. They tried to work it out over the course of his first season on the west coast, but in the end, they both knew it could not work. He thought about her from time to time, and it amused him that she popped into his head at that moment. Leah noticed the smile and looked at him curiously, not knowing what to think. Within seconds, he shook the thoughts out of head and looked at her. "Are you back with us, hon?" she asked, smiling. "Did you leave for awhile?" "Sorry about that," he replied sheepishly, embarrassed. "I was just thinking about some things." He looked out the window momentarily, watching the light snowfall that had begun to blanket the streets. Looking back at her, he asked, "So, what do you do when you're not working here?" "Not much," she replied, eyeing her other customers and knowing she was somewhat neglecting them. "I better get moving or I won't have a job to worry about!" "That's okay," Tom replied. "We'll talk again." He placed a five dollar bill on the counter to cover his orange juice and eggs. Tom shrugged on his coat and looked at her once again as she busied herself behind the counter. He would have to ask her out sometime, he knew that, but he did not know when. Waving to her as he reached for the door, Tom stepped out into the chilly morning as the snowflakes softly pelted the earth. A few days later, a Sunday to be exact, Tom woke early for no particular reason. Since the season ended, he had stayed in his normal routine of sleeping late until nine or ten before getting up. Most of his games, when he played, did not end until after ten-thirty or eleven and by the time he would get home, or to the team hotel if they were on the road, it would be after one, so sleeping late was a habit for him. He remembered passing his old church a few times and glancing at the times posted for Sunday services. As busy as he was during the season, he still tried to attend some type of service whenever possible. However, he had been so busy during his first month back that the thought of attending services kept slipping his mind. That day, though, he had no excuse. After taking a shower, he ate a bowl of cereal and drank a glass of grapefruit juice. He changed into slacks and a shirt and tie before making the drive into town. A strange feeling came over Tom as he entered the small church. The last time he had been in the church was for his father's funeral and it brought back sad memories for him. It was a small church, having twenty rows of pews on each side bisected by an aisle. Tom chose a seat near the front on the right hand side and waited for the service to begin. A few minutes passed when Tom noticed Leah standing on the left side of the pulpit with a small group of people and he immediately deduced they were the choir. They were practicing quietly, singing in hushed tones as Tom looked on and listened with interest. The service was thankfully not too long, although Tom enjoyed it. The choir was very good, too, but much to Tom's chagrin, he could not hear Leah's voice. He thought he would like that. After the service, Tom was greeted by some old friends whom he had yet to meet since he came back. Leah had seen him during the service and approached him after she put away her music, patiently waiting behind him as he conversed in animated tones with his friends. Her two girls had already left and were walking home since they lived but a block or two away. Once the reunion broke up, Tom reached for his coat in the pew and saw Leah standing behind him. "They'll let anyone in this church, won't they?" Leah grinned, teasing him. "Oh, I guess so," he replied as he put on his coat. "Your group sounded really nice," he added. "We do our best. What brought you to our church today?" she asked. "I used to come here. I actually woke up early enough today, so I decided to come. I think I'll have to set my alarm from now on." "Will you now?" "Yeah." Just then, thoughts of his father's funeral flashed before him. He could almost see the flag-draped casket in the aisle. Tom's eyes instantly turned misty before he blinked furiously to rid himself of the tears that threatened to fall. "Are you okay?" she asked, worried upon seeing the strange look on his face. Tom shook his head to clear the image. "Yeah," he said softly. "I was just thinking back to the last time I was here." "Was that your dad's funeral?" Tom nodded. "I was here, too." "You were?" Leah shifted her feet nervously. "I sang with the choir. I remember you, too. I don't know how, but you stood out. It's funny how I didn't know you when you came back, but I distinctly remember you at the funeral." "I don't remember there being any singing that day, I'm sorry." Leah shrugged her shoulders. They stood in an awkward silence as the small church began to empty. Leah placed her hands into her coat pockets and looked around to see they were almost alone. "So," she said slowly, "do you have any plans today?" Tom's face brightened at the slight hint. "No, no plans, really. I was just going to vegetate and maybe watch the Lions game this afternoon, although I don't know why I want to punish myself. They're really horrible this year." "No different than any other year," she teased. "That's the truth," Tom replied. "Well, if that's the case, would you like to join me and my girls for lunch? It's nothing fancy, believe me," she added as Tom began to protest. "What if I take you and your daughters out to lunch?" Tom countered. "Don't you think it's about time someone waited on you?" He smiled and cocked an eyebrow. "Besides, I haven't taken out three pretty women at the same time before." Leah smiled at the compliment. "You haven't met my daughters. How do you know they're pretty?" "If they look anything like you, there's no doubt how pretty they are." "Stop that, Tom," she protested, tapping his arm lightly. "You'll have me blushing like a school girl!" "Well, what do you say?" he asked patiently. "Come on, you know you'll enjoy it." Leah really wanted to, but she did not know how her girls would react. She did not want them thinking that Tom was anything more than a friend or that there was anything going on between them. Their father had regular visitation privileges and she was grateful he was part of their lives. But, the more she tried to make excuses not to go, the more absurd it sounded to her. He is just a friend and they will not think anything of it, she kept saying to herself. "I'd love to go," she said finally. "Great," Tom said, "let's go, then." It was a very pleasant drive to the restaurant. As Leah had hoped, the girls thought nothing of going out to eat with their mother and Tom. The eldest, Emma, seemed more interested in Tom's career as a ballplayer more than anything else. "Maybe you could help me next spring. I'm terrible at softball," she said after asking him questions about where he played, what positions, etc. "I'm sure I could do that," Tom said from the front seat, "but maybe your coach would want to teach you herself." "I don't know," Emma replied, "she's just one of the mothers who volunteered to coach since no one else wanted to do it. She doesn't know a lot about softball." "I'm sure she does a fine job," Tom tried to reassure her. They stopped at a Bob Evans that was about ten miles outside of Hastings towards Battle Creek. It was not too crowded and they had a very enjoyable time. The girls chatted amongst themselves while Tom and Leah talked about general things. "You'll have to stop by sometime and see the house. I've got it pretty close to where I want it now," Tom said between bites. "I can't wait for spring to come so I can fix the dock and get that swimming area in shape. I know all my nieces and nephews will want to go swimming once summer hits." "How many do you have?" Leah asked. Tom thought for a few seconds trying to remember all of them. "Twelve," he answered. "Now that I'm home and got the space, I hope they all can come down once or twice a month." "That'll be a houseful," Leah remarked. "Yeah, but it'll be great to see them all again." It was almost two o'clock when Tom pulled up in front of their home. It was a modest two story frame house, painted gray with green shutters "Come in for a minute?" Leah asked once the kids had left the car and closed the door. "Thanks, but I think I'll just head home," he replied. "The Lions are calling you, aren't they?" "No," he laughed, "I just have some things to do around the house." "You're retired, remember? You can do it tomorrow." Tom smiled and looked away shaking his head. Looking back at Leah, he said, "Alright, I'll come in for a minute." "Good," she said flashing a wide smile. The girls had already gone upstairs to their rooms to change by the time Leah and Tom came inside. They entered into a small living room and Tom could see the dining room and kitchen to the left. It instantly reminded him of his aunt's home in Saginaw, its warmth and coziness coming through. "Here, let me take your coat," Leah said reaching forward. Tom pulled off his coat and handed it to her where she hung it in the closet next to hers. "Well, come on in and make yourself at home. It's not much, but it'll do." "It's nice," Tom remarked. Pictures of the girls were everywhere along with other photos. Tom sat in a nearby chair and Leah sat across from him in a recliner. "I was curious, Tom," Leah began, "what are you going to do with yourself once baseball starts again? Don't you think you'll go a little stir crazy in this small town?" "Oh, I don't know. I think there's enough to do around the house to keep me occupied. I'll be visiting my brothers and sisters and their families and they'll be coming down here, too. I guess it's possible that I may get a bit bored, but I could use some boredom." He leaned forward with his hands clasped in front of him. "You see," he continued, "I've been on the road and away from home for almost fifteen years. I've missed a lot of birthdays, graduations, weddings, and other special events so I want to make up for that and enjoy my family again." "I guess it got pretty lonely being away from home." "It wasn't like I didn't visit when I was in Detroit for games or in the off season, but I missed my brother's and my sister's wedding, numerous births, plus I wasn't there when my dad died. Those kinds of things hurt and I can't get them back. But, yes, it did get lonely at times, especially since I haven't been married for almost ten years." Tom eased back in the chair and sighed. Leah was easy to talk to and she seemed to understand him. She was becoming a good friend and he was beginning to believe she was someone with whom he could trust. He had been burned a few times by women who appeared sincere, but were only after his money or the prospect of being a ballplayer's girlfriend or wife. Of course, he had been guilty of using women, too, so it sort of evened out in his mind. But, he was finished with skirt chasing and bed hopping and had been for quite a while. He just wanted to settle down and enjoy the peace and quiet of small town living. Leah never gave him the impression she was after anything but his friendship. Leah, too, was at ease, but was having a hard time trying to figure out Tom. He was so unlike the other men in town, or for men in general. He came into the diner at least three times a week ever since he arrived from St. Louis and they talked quite a bit. Not once had he made an inappropriate remark or even tried to flirt with her in all that time. He was quick with a smile and his laugh was genuine. Even though his tips were far more than generous, he never asked for anything special in return; a larger piece of pie or a bigger helping. She was amused to find him reluctant to come into her home for a few minutes, but there they were talking like old friends. "Can I ask you something?" he asked out of the blue. He hoped he was not out of line. "Sure." "Why hasn't a pretty woman like you remarried? Surely there's someone in this town who's struck your fancy." "Wow," she said, blowing air through her nostrils, "I wasn't expecting that!" "If it's too personal, I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have asked," Tom said hurriedly. "No, no," she said, waving her hand at him, "I'm fine with it. I just wasn't expecting it, that's all." Leah pondered his question for a minute, trying to say what she really felt instead of just a pat answer of not finding Mr. Right. "Part of me likes being single and independent," she began, "but there's more to it than that. I guess when it really comes down to it, I just haven't found anyone who will do right by them." Leah pointed to the ceiling where her daughters were. "I think if I could find someone whom I could trust to be a great step-dad, I would have no trouble remarrying. Until I find that person, I have no problem staying single." "That's the best reason I can think of," Tom replied. "I hope you find him someday." The girls bounded down the steps before Leah could reply, their hair flying in all directions and giggling and laughing when they came into the room. "Hey, hey," Leah said sternly, "you're interrupting me and Tom." "Sorry," Christina said solemnly. "Me too," Emma added. "Do you have your homework done?" Leah asked. "No," they answered in unison. "Then march right back up and get it done. You know the rules." Leah pointed to the stairs. "I should be going," Tom said quietly, not wanting to interfere with their routine. "You don't have to, Tom. They know the rules about homework." Leah was enjoying his company and did not want him to leave so soon. "No, I really should...." "Can I ask you something?" Emma said, interrupting Tom. Leah glared at her for her impertinence. "Sure, you can, Emma," Tom said before Leah could rip into her. Tom and Leah "Will you be our coach next year?" "Emma!" Leah exclaimed. "You shouldn't ask him something like that. He's only been here a few weeks and you've just met him today." "But mom...." "I'll tell you what," Tom said, "when March comes around, you ask me again and I'll give it some serious thought. Okay?" "Great!" Emma exclaimed. "Thanks Tom!" she said before bounding back up the stairs with her sister trailing behind. "Tom," Leah said quietly, "you really don't have to do that. There are parents who can be the coach." "It might be fun," Tom explained. "Who knows? We'll see." He got up slowly from the chair, his knee creaking audibly. He winced from the pain. "That's another reason for retiring." He smiled wanly. "My knee is a lot older than thirty-six. Maybe sixty-six!" He moved away from the chair as Leah went to the closet to retrieve his coat. While handing him his coat, she said, "Thank you for lunch. You were right. It was nice to be waited on instead of being the waitress." She helped him into the coat. "I thought you might like that," he said, looking into her eyes. They reminded him of the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean. If he was not careful, he might get lost in them. Forcing himself to look away to search for his keys, he continued, "You've got really nice girls. I'm sure you're proud of them." "Of course I am. I'd be crazy not to be." She looked at him thoughtfully. "You know, my invitation for lunch is good for next Sunday, too." "I might just take you up on that." He looked at her and found her staring at him. "I'd like that," she replied softly, not taking her eyes off him. The color of his soft brown eyes seemed to be getting lighter by the minute. "I had a really good time this afternoon," he said, turning slightly towards her door, but still looking at her. "I guess I'll see you at the diner sometime this week." "You better come in," she warned, "you're my best customer." "I will," he smiled, breaking the slight tension that was starting to build. "See you later," he said as he grasped the door knob to let himself out. Leah patted him lightly on the shoulder before reaching to hold the door open for him. "You be careful driving home, you hear?" Tom nodded and slowly made his way down to his car. Once his car left the curb, Leah watched until he was out of sight and only the soft falling flakes could be seen. IV. Time went by slowly for Tom that early winter as he knew it would. Christmas came and went with a visit from his entire family. It was a festive day, one filled with laughter and tears and many memories. Even with over twenty people in his house, it never seemed crowded and everyone had a wonderful time. Tom got to know his nieces and nephews all over again and his siblings shared Christmas and other stories from years past. More than once, it was remarked to Tom how glad they were that he bought the old house and even more happy that he was home for good. He did not visit the diner nearly as often as he would have liked. The Michigan winter was even more brutal than normal that year and he did not venture out unless it was absolutely necessary. Whenever there was a break in the weather and the roads were marginally passable, Tom would throw his pickup into four wheel drive and travel the six or seven miles into town. A big smile from Leah greeted him on those days when he appeared and she found herself looking to the door whenever it opened in hopes of seeing him. Almost without fail, they would dine after church on Sunday, either at her house, in a restaurant, or on rare occasions, at his house. The girls seemed to enjoy the times at his house, especially after seeing the lake freeze over. They begged him unmercifully to let them ice skate on the lake, but he refused each time, telling them it was not safe no matter how cold it was. They especially liked the large stone fireplace that took up most of his west wall. He would fire it up specifically for them when they visited. You could not really call Tom and Leah a couple, although they were never seen with anyone else and a lot of the townspeople assumed such. They had not had a real date, seeing each other only at the diner and at church. Each were happy with the way their relationship was going and they enjoyed the friendship they shared. January turned to February and the weather seemed to let up just a bit. Warmer weather arrived, sending sunny temperatures in the thirties their way. The snow began to melt, while patches of ice broke on Thornapple Lake showing water around the shoreline. Once again, Tom became a regular guest at the café at lunch time. He usually ordered a sandwich and salad or the soup and salad, but sometimes at Leah's urging, he would order the special of the day. Once in a while, he would arrive later in the afternoon and walk her home, or drive her if the weather was inclement. It was during these times when Leah began to wonder if it was possible for them to be a couple and date. She was trusting him and asking him advice about many things, from home repair to finance, among others. There were times when she sensed he wanted to ask her out, but he would remain silent and the opportunity would pass. This disappointed her more than she thought it would. She felt Tom treated her girls very well and they liked him, at least they said they did, so she did not think dating him would be a problem with them. The main thing was, she liked him very much and wanted to get to know him better, not just chit chat at the diner or with the girls on Sunday. She wanted a real date with him so she talk to him, really talk to him and enjoy an evening with him, just the two of them. Another problem she faced was his money. Leah knew he was quite wealthy, although he never talked about it, and did not want to appear to be only interested in him for his money. On her list of priorities when it came to the masculine sex, money was way down the list and it always had been. She lived comfortably on her salary and her former husband had always been generous when it came to the kids, so money was never a big issue with her. But, she had read stories about athletes, their money, and females who tried to get to both. She wondered how many times he had been faced with that predicament, if ever. "I don't know, mom," she fretted one night to her mother. "I'd really like to get to know Tom better, but I'm probably just some small town girl to him and he's probably not interested anyway." "That's absurd and you know it," her mother replied. "He wouldn't visit you almost every day in the diner and meet you for lunch after church every Sunday if he wasn't interested. You know he's interested, so don't give me that crap." Leah could only sigh and hope her mother was right. A few days later, the phone rang in Tom's kitchen. He looked at it as if it were an alien sound. Tom rarely received phone calls, but if he did, they were always in the early morning or evening. It was about four-thirty in the afternoon and any call was highly unexpected. Tom picked up on the third ring. "Hello. Tom Murphy's residence." "Hi, Tom." It sounded like a young woman, but she spoke so low, he could barely hear her. There was a slight pause. "It's me, Emma." "Well, hi Emma. This is a pleasant surprise. Is there something wrong? Is your mom okay?" "Mom's okay," she whispered. "I just wanted to talk to you for a minute." "Why are we whispering?" Tom asked. "Mom's upstairs taking a nap. She has a headache and she would kill me if she knew I called you." By now, Tom was clearly puzzled. "Alright Emma, what can I do for you?" "Do you like my mom?" she asked point blank. The question caught Tom off guard, but he recovered quickly. "Yes, I like your mom. She's very nice." "She likes you, too." "That's good to hear." The was a pause on her end as she tried to think. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say, but now she was becoming nervous and tongue-tied. Emma knew her mom would skin her alive if she found out. "Why haven't you asked her out if you like her?" It was Tom's turn to think now. Where in the world did that come from? "Well, Emma," he said slowly, "it's not that easy." "It isn't? If you like her and she likes you, it seems simple enough to me." "How do yo know she would want to go out with me?" "I heard her talking to grandma and she said so." "She did?" "Yes." That was great news to him. "What about your dad?" "What about him?" "Don't you think there might be a problem? Would it upset him to know someone is dating your mom?" "She's dated before and he doesn't care. He's married again, anyway." "I didn't know that." Emma looked towards the stairs and listened, but did not hear anything. She turned her focus back to Tom. "I can't talk much longer," she whispered. "Okay," he answered. "Did you see in the church bulletin about the Valentine's dance on Saturday?" "Yes, I saw it." The lights were beginning to come on in Tom's head. "And you think your mom would like to go to that with me?" "I know she would. She loves to dance." Tom thought about his three left feet and winced. How could he be a professional athlete, be smooth and graceful on the playing field, yet be a total klutz on the dance floor? "She does, does she?" he asked, not too enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, she and dad used to dance in the living room." There was a pause. "Well, you know, before they split up." "Okay," Tom said flatly. "I know she'd say yes," Emma said, almost pleading. "I'll think about it," Tom replied, although he had already made up his mind. Emma heard movement from above and panicked. "I gotta go, Tom. Bye." The line went dead before Tom could reply. He hung up the phone, thought about what Emma had told him and smiled to himself. She was a sweet girl for telling him. It was Tuesday and he knew he would have to ask Leah the next day to give her enough time to find a sitter for the girls, although he figured her parents could do it. They lived in Coldwater, which was not too far away. They could always take them there before the dance. He looked on his kitchen counter and found the church bulletin. It mentioned nothing about a meal except for refreshments, so Tom had to figure out a place to take her for dinner. There were numerous restaurants in town, but Tom felt something special was needed. After all, it would be their first real date if she accepted. He would have to research that. Briefly, he thought about calling Leah and asking her right then and there, but Emma did say she had a headache and was resting. He did not want to disturb her if she was not feeling well. Besides, he did not want her to get suspicious and accuse Emma of something if he could help it. Tom really liked Emma and Christine and was looking forward to helping Emma with her softball in the spring, although he was not sure about coaching her team. He did not know if he would have the patience to coach that many girls. He truly wanted to take a year off and not do anything. Tom thought he earned that break. Still, the idea intrigued him to coach a team sometime in the future, be it baseball or softball. Truthfully, he thought coaching the boys high school team would be more his speed if the opportunity ever arose. Tom put the bulletin aside and smiled. Leah's image popped into his head, seeing her open mouth laugh and sparkling eyes, her golden hair blowing in the crisp winter, air. He thought she looked better when it was down instead of being pulled up when she worked. In his mind, she was cute either way. She was trim, but not skinny and had that all-American, girl-next-door look about her. She was genuinely friendly and had a good sense of humor. Tom liked her from the start and that was the truth. The only thing he did not like was that he thought she was too strict with her girls, but he did not dare interfere or say anything. It was not his place. The next day, Tom arrived at the diner a few minutes after one o'clock. It was mostly full, but he saw a couple of spots open at the counter where Leah normally worked. Her eyes brightened when she saw him come in and waited for him to get settled before walking over to him. "Hey there, Tom, what can I get you today?" Her eyes were bright and alert and Tom could get a faint whiff of whatever flower scented soap she used that morning. "I think I hear a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and tomato soup calling me today," he grinned. "Boy, you look like you're in a good mood today," she said as she scribbled down his order. "What's the occasion?" Looking both ways, Tom put his index finger to his mouth. "It's a secret." "Well, we wouldn't want to tell any secrets today, would we? Do you want tea to go along with that or do you want to go a little crazy and have a coke?" "Tea is fine," he replied, smiling. "Be right back with it," she replied, returning the smile. "I'll be here." In the few seconds that she was gone, Tom thought about how he was going to ask her to the dance. He still was not sure if he should be serious or not. They had been joking with each other more recently, but he did not know how much, if any, humor he should use. "Okay, what's with the face?" Leah's question startled Tom out of his thoughts. She placed his glass of tea in front of him. "What?" "First, you're being silly, now you've got this studious, serious face that couldn't crack a smile if the funniest joke was told." "I do?" "Yes, you do." "I hadn't realized. That's pretty serious, isn't it?" "Alright, alright, Tom," she laughed. "I've got other customers. Be back in a couple of minutes." She hurried to the other section. Maybe he had not noticed the sweet sway of her hips beneath her skirt because he had not thought about dating her before, or maybe it was because he thought of her only as a good friend, but as she walked away, Tom could only admire her shapely derriere from afar. Leah returned with his food a few minutes later and placed them in front of him. She also put a handful of saltine crackers near the bowl of soup. "There you go, Tom. Is there anything else I can get for you?" "Yes, there is," he replied. She waited patiently for him to say more, but he was silent. "Well, what is it?" she asked impatiently. She had other customers to worry about. "Just say yes," he replied impassively. "What?" "Just say yes," he repeated. "What are you talking about, Tom?" "Just say yes. That's all I need." "Okay, I'll play along," she said, a bit exasperated. "Yes." "Good!" he exclaimed. "I'll pick you up at four-thirty." He went back to his meal as if nothing had transpired. "Wait a minute! Whoa, back up the horse here. What's going on?" she demanded. "Oh, did I forget to tell you?" He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Silly me. You've just agreed to go with me to the Valentine's dance Saturday." He resumed taking a sip of tea. "I did, did I? I might have to rethink this." Inside, her mind was in a whirl. She had not been out dancing in ages. Her stomach churned from excitement as she tried to suppress a smile. "I don't know," she continued, drumming the counter with her fingertips. "I might need to wash my hair or do the dishes Saturday. I might not have time to go to a dance." "Gee, that's too bad," Tom replied. "I guess I'll just have to go alone and take my chances with whomever might show up and not have a date." "I don't think so, Tom," Leah smiled finally, unable to suppress it any longer. "I'd really like to go to the dance with you." "Good!" he exclaimed again, smiling. He thought for a second. "You won't have any trouble finding a sitter, will you?" "No, not at all," she replied. "My mom's been aching to have them over for an evening. It should be no problem at all." "It all set then," Tom said happily. "I guess it is," Leah replied, wondering where this date would lead. V. Saturday could not come soon enough for Leah. It would have come even slower except for seeing that certain someone at the diner. For the first time since he arrived from St. Louis, Tom visited the diner every day and once came for breakfast, too. "If you keep coming in," Leah remarked, "people will start talking." "People will talk no matter what," he replied. "Let them talk." He, too, felt the time drag. He had done almost everything he wanted to decorate the inside of the house. Tom would have to wait until warmer weather arrived in order to paint the interior. All other work to be done was to the exterior. He looked forward to eating at the diner and visiting Leah for that short time and hoped he was not wearing out his welcome. The smile on her face that greeted him when he opened the door indicated otherwise. Not one to spend endless hours getting ready, Leah was showered, dressed, and ready to go by two o'clock. She ushered the girls into her car and drove them to her parents home with small suitcases in hand per orders from her mom. "I want you to have a great time without having to look at your watch," she explained. "You can pick them up tomorrow." "I don't want to trouble you," Leah protested. "And I don't want you to cut short a good time. Now, don't argue." Leah relented and packed an overnight suitcase for them. Deep down, she was extremely grateful for the gesture. If things did go well, she did not want to have to be driving after midnight to bring them home. Besides, her folks really did want them to stay since they did not get to see them as often as they would have liked. Once she returned home, Leah changed into black dress slacks and a lime green blouse, its neckline allowing just a hint of cleavage. It was almost four-thirty by then, so she sprayed a small amount of perfume around her neck area before standing back from the mirror to check herself. She nodded her approval just as she heard the doorbell ring from below. Tom waited on the porch nervously, rocking on his heels. All afternoon, he fretted over what to wear. He could not decide between wearing a suit or not. He did not want to overdress, yet he was afraid to come looking like a bum. It was unlike him to worry about such things, but this was different. Leah was different. It mattered what she thought about him and how she perceived him. On most of his previous dates, he would throw on some jeans and a suede jacket and not worry about it, but that would not do this time. He finally decided to dress in gray dress pants with a blue shirt and striped tie. Even though anyone would say he looked great, he still worried about what Leah would think. Leah came to the door seconds later, her straight blonde hair lightly bouncing on her shoulders. She checked herself in the small mirror by the door before opening it. Tom gave out a low whistle of appreciation when he saw her standing before him. "I think I should have asked you out a long time ago. You look beautiful!" "Well, thank you," she replied, smiling broadly from the compliment. "You look darn good yourself. Come on in for a minute." Leah stepped aside, opening the door wide as Tom entered. He shrugged off his black leather jacket and placed it on the chair in the living room. "I'll be just a minute," she said as she mounted the stairs. When she reached the landing, she exhaled loudly. "Wow," she said softly to herself. She thought he looked incredibly handsome that afternoon. She gathered a few basic cosmetics and put them in her purse before descending the stairs for the final time. "I'm all ready," she announced as she came to the living room once again.