Gerri Hill - One Summer Night

"Where are we going for dinner?" she asked.

"I think Gordie's Sports Pub," Janis said. "At least, that's what Deb said."

Jo nodded and her glance found Kelly as she was throwing with Kay. She had missed watching her play softball. She was so confident, so strong. Jo watched her and smiled.

"How are you two getting along?" Betsy asked, following her gaze.

Jo looked away quickly. "Okay."

When the team took the field, Jo's eyes followed Kelly to third base, watching as Kelly smoothed the dirt with her foot, a ritual that never failed to amuse Jo. Her eyes followed Kelly’s every movement, and she saw Kelly watching her. Jo silently scolded Kelly for not paying attention to the game, but when a ball was hit sharply to third, Kelly grabbed it easily and threw a strike to first. Jo clapped, and Kelly grinned at her.

Kelly hit two home runs, both to deep center field and Jo stood and cheered as she rounded third, stepping on home plate for the second time. Kelly met her eyes and winked as she passed by, and Jo grinned back.

The only damper on Jo's evening was when Lucy showed up. She sat on the other side of Kerry and Shea. Jo glanced at her several times, knowing that Lucy's eyes were glued on Kelly. She felt a stab of jealousy but ignored it.

171

Lucy was nothing to Kelly, nor had she been. She believed Kelly had told her the truth.

They finished the season undefeated and Jo joined the others behind the dugout after the game. Deb came up to her immediately and asked how she was doing.

"Okay," she said and smiled.

"Are you going to dinner with us?" she asked.

"Yes, I think it'll be fun."

"Listen, do you want to ride with me? I'll bring you back for your car afterward," Deb said.

"Oh, no. I came with Kelly," Jo told her.

"Oh. Is she still hanging around?"

"Yes."

"Well, I guess what with your grandfather and all...."

Jo refused to acknowledge her remark. She and Deb had been friends for years. She didn't think that Deb actually meant what she said.

"Thank you for the flowers, by the way. They were lovely," she said.

"If you need me for anything, Jo, I'll be there," Deb offered.

"Thank you. That's very kind," she replied, but her eyes were drawn to Lucy, who had walked up to talk to Kelly. Jo watched them intently, her eyes moving from one to the other, but she saw no sign of any intimacy between them and was relieved.

Deb followed her gaze. “She dropped her like a hot potato, I guess.” She turned to Jo. “What do you see in her?

My God, she’s slept with half the softball team!”

“Stop it!” Jo snapped. Then her voice softened. “Deb, my relationship with Kelly is my business,” she said, tapping her chest. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

172

“You’re making a mistake, Jo.”

“Perhaps.”

Deb shrugged. “When she’s through with you, give me a call. I’ll still be around.”

Jo refused to get angry, and she let Deb have the last word. Walking away, Jo realized the distance between her and Deb was nearly insurmountable.

Kelly was waiting for her, and Jo pushed thoughts of Deb aside, greeting Kelly with a smile.

"You had a wonderful game, as always," Jo told Kelly as they walked to the Explorer.

"As always?"

"Well, every game I've seen," Jo said.

"Maybe you should come to all of them, then. I seem to play better when you're around."

"Were you showing off?" Jo asked with a smile.

Kelly shrugged. "Maybe."

She drove over to the restrooms, where most of the others had gone, to change out of her uniform. Jo waited and soon she came back wearing faded jeans and a sweater.

"Better?"

"Yeah. Though a shower would have been wonderful,"

Kelly said.

They drove down Riverside to Gordie's Sports Pub, famous for its half-pound burgers served on giant buns baked on the spot. Kelly parked and turned off the engine, but before she could get out, Jo stopped her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Kelly said.

"It's about Lucy," she said.

"Oh. I saw you talking to Deb earlier. What did she say this time?" she asked.

"Nothing about Lucy, really. She said the only reason you were still around was because of Harry.”

173

"God, Jo, you don't believe that?" she asked softly.

Jo met her eyes. "No.” She looked away. "When you said that you and Lucy had gone out, what does that mean, exactly?" she asked.

"Jo . . .” Kelly gripped the steering wheel and let out a heavy sigh.

"I’m not trying to pick a fight with you, Kelly. I just need to know. You obviously had some sort of relationship with her.”

"When I first moved here, we went out a couple of times.

I guess you’d call it a date. But the last month or so, whenever we went out, it was as friends. On my part, at least.

Movies, dinner, things like that. I haven't been out dancing with her, if that's what you mean."

"And when you kissed her, was it on the cheek?"

"No."

Of course, Jo knew that it wasn't, but she was filled with such jealousy that it scared her.

Kelly took her hand and made Jo look at her. "Do you remember that first time we kissed? While we were dancing?"

Jo nodded.

"Now that was a kiss," she said softly. "It nearly brought me to my knees.” Kelly looked away and released Jo's hand.

"You didn't want me. Lucy did. But when I kissed her I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Jo stared at her profile, knowing she was hiding the hurt in her eyes for all the times Jo had sent her away.

"I'm sorry you thought I didn't want you," she whispered.

Kelly turned back to her and looked into her eyes. "Did you?"

174

Jo nodded and she wanted very badly to kiss her now.

"I won't bring up Lucy again. I just wanted to know how involved you were with her."

"You're the only one that I've wanted, Jo."

They stared at each other for a long moment, then Kelly looked away. "We better go in," she said.

Jo nodded and got out, closing the door just as Deb drove up with Lucy. She silently cringed and managed a smile as the two of them got out. Lucy glared at Jo, who suddenly felt like the "other" woman, and she hated it. She watched as Lucy's glance slid to Kelly, and Jo could see the hurt in her eyes.

"Hey, you two," Deb greeted them, and Jo could tell how forced it was.

Kelly grabbed Jo’s arm, stopping her. “I forgot my money. I’ll catch up.”

She was gone before Jo could stop her. She had enough money for both of them.

Jo didn’t miss the irony of her situation, and she smiled apologetically at Deb and Lucy, as they all continued walking.

“Well, congratulations,” Lucy said sarcastically. “I guess you’ve won.”

Jo bristled. “I didn’t realize there was a contest.”

Lucy’s laugh was bitter. “She’ll fuck you over just like she does everyone.”

Jo refused to be baited.

“But she’s good, huh?” Lucy continued.

“How would you know?” Jo asked.

For a second, Jo thought she was about to be slapped, but Deb pulled Lucy away.

“Let’s go inside,” Deb suggested, but Lucy jerked her arm away.

“I love her,” Lucy spat.

175

Oh, she’s so young, Jo thought. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.

“Fuck you.”

Lucy hurried inside and Jo wondered how such animos-ity could be between them when they hardly knew each other. It wasn't fair.

She turned to Deb. “I’m sorry.”

“She’s just hurt.”

“I know,” Jo nodded. “I’ve been there.” She motioned to the door. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for Kelly here.”

But Kelly was already walking up.

“What happened?”

Jo shook her head. “Nothing.”