Just a Little Hope Read online

  “So he did find you.”

  “Yes. He did. And I forgave him.” Tori continued to wind and unwind the thread around her finger. She guessed she’d forgiven him. He’d gotten under her skin. And she wasn’t sure it was such a bad thing.

  “So you all are okay now.”

  Her heart pitter-pattered in a way she didn’t expect at the thought of his compliments. “Yes. We are.”

  Pax reached over and placed a hand on Tori’s arm. “Why are you turning red?”

  “What are you talking about Pax?”

  Seb snickered. “She’s right, Tori. Your cheeks are getting all pink. What happened when Carter found you?”

  She released the thread and stood up. “Nothing. He apologized. After a few minutes, I decided to forgive him.”

  “It’s embarrassing because…”

  Tori refused to look them in the eyes. Carter’d said something nice and she acknowledged it. That was it. It meant nothing. Except it meant everything and she knew it.

  “Tori… Give it up girlfriend.”

  “He might have mentioned I have beautiful eyes.”

  “Aha! Now it’s become clearer. You, my dear, have quite a crush on Carter.”

  Heat continued to fill her face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Seb.”

  “Oh. I think I do.”

  Tori breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse entered the room pushing a cart. Hurrying toward her, Tori patted the nurse on the back. “Let me take that for you.” She grabbed the cart and began filling it with the cards and flowers, which had accumulated in the room over the past several days.

  Anxious to get away from their interrogation, Tori concentrated on pushing the cart down the hall. Navigating this thing is as precarious as a unicycle. The wobbling wheels refused to move in the direction she desired, and she gritted her teeth while manhandling the obstinate object.

  They stopped for a few seconds until the ping announced the elevator’s arrival. Seb, carrying Tori’s overnight bag, and the nurse pushing Pax stepped inside. Tori started to push the cart into the elevator when Pax looked in her direction. “I just remembered something. Did I hear Carter correctly? Did he say you ran into his car this morning?”

  Tori closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, raising her eyebrows. “Well, looky there. I don’t think we’ll all fit in the elevator at the same time. You go ahead and I’ll wait on the next one. And you know, I’ll just put this stuff in my car and drop it by Seb’s place later. See ya’!”

  As Pax protested, Tori stepped back into the hallway and waved at them as the elevator doors closed.

  ****

  The chirping of grasshoppers in Sebastian’s wooded property filled Carter’s ears as evening approached. He locked his gaze on the welcome mat mentally tracing each letter on the mat before raising his eyes to meet Sebastian’s face when he answered the door.

  “Well, hey, man. We didn’t know what happened to you.”

  Carter glanced to the side before returning his eyes to Seb. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. Did Pax get settled okay?”

  “Yep. She’s actually taking a nap, so come on in.”

  Carter paused at the entrance to Sebastian’s home. “Is Tori coming over? I think we parted on okay terms, but I don’t want to create a scene or anything.”

  Seb’s raised eyebrows didn’t escape Carter’s attention. “Nah. She called and said she’d come over tomorrow, I think. And don’t worry about Tori. She’s gets riled up but then calms down after a little bit.” Seb swung open the door and stepped back into the foyer. “So, you coming in?”

  “Yeah. I guess.”

  Seb bumped him with his shoulder. “Well, don’t be so excited about it.” Carter smiled in response and entered, closing the door behind him.

  Seb led the way through the back of house, pausing when Pax’s mother, Janet, came out of the master bedroom.

  “She still sleeping?”

  “Yes, thank goodness. The trip home wore her out more than she thought. I suspect we won’t hear a peep out of her for a long time.” Her glance shifted in Carter’s direction. “How are you doing today, Carter?”

  “I’m fine, Mrs. Taylor. Glad to hear Pax is home safe and sound.”

  “We are, too. I think I’m going to take advantage of the quiet while I have it and grab a cup of coffee and call Pax’s father. I’ll be in my room if you need me, Seb.”

  “Enjoy yourself, Janet. And thanks for everything.”

  “No, Seb. Thank you. I don’t know what we’d have done if you hadn’t offered to let Pax stay here.”

  Seb shook his head. “It’s my pleasure.” He nodded in Carter’s direction. “We’ll be out on the deck. Call if you need anything.”

  “You want something to drink or eat? I’m not sure what I’ve got but we can snoop around and see.”

  Carter shrugged his shoulders. “Only if you’re getting something.”

  Seb detoured toward the kitchen. “I think I could eat. Let’s see what we can find in the cabinets.” He opened up the pantry and stuck his head in, mumbling something.

  Carter stepped closer. “What did you say?”

  “It looks like I can make you a mean PB and J. Okay.”

  Carter laughed. “Sure. Sounds pretty good.”

  “Then make yourself useful, and pull some jelly out of the fridge. While in you’re in there, might as well grab the milk. Some things just go together.”

  “You bet.” Carter rummaged around in the refrigerator and found two kinds of jelly and a gallon of milk while Seb retrieved the peanut butter and bread from the pantry. Carter set his items on the counter and noticed Seb giving him a look.

  “What?”

  “I think that’s the question I should be asking you. You wanna tell me what brings you over here tonight?”

  “Who says something brought me over? Can’t a guy just come and hang out with a buddy?”

  Seb leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “The team actually has an off day, and you spent yours at the hospital and now over here. Spill it, Carter.”

  “I, uh, actually came to talk to you about Tori.”

  “Now we’re getting to the root of the matter. What do you want to know?”

  Carter played with the twist-tie Seb’d removed from the loaf of bread. “Is she… uh, seeing anybody?”

  “I don’t think so. But you could ask her yourself, you know.”

  Carter swallowed hard. That’s what he figured Seb would say. “I know. I just don’t wanna get myself all geared up for nothing.”

  “Do you want to ask her out?” At Carter’s nod Seb continued, “Then like I said bro, ask her yourself. All she can do is say no. I promise it won’t be the end of the world if she does.”

  Carter pulled out a bar stool and sat down. Just thinking about asking Tori out made his palms sweat. He felt like a kid in high school. How crazy was that? He was a major league baseball player for crying out loud. Shouldn’t that make a difference?

  “Is that how you felt when you asked Pax out the first time?”

  Seb’s face lit up. “I was nervous. Probably more so than I had been in a long time, but it was worth it. Relationships are risks. You gotta jump in with both feet. Just have a little hope.”

  A weight lifted from Carter’s shoulders. “I reckon. She’s a feisty little thing, and I think she might be quite a challenge.” He couldn’t remember the last time he had wanted to get know someone as much as he did Tori. Something about her smile and playful attitude made him feel more alive than he had in a long time.

  “Which is exactly why you are attracted to her. You aren’t where you are today because you’re afraid of a challenge, right?”

  Carter stared off in the distance, his thoughts straying to a time long before when he was no older than seven or eight. Shaking his head he replied, “Nope. I’ve never backed down from one before. I guess I shouldn’t start now.”

  “Good plan. Let’s get these sandwi
ches made and head outside. We need to enjoy this crazy non-July-like weather while we can.”

  Chapter Six

  Mondays were never good for Tori. Actually, the more she thought about it, mornings in general never seemed to work. Grabbing her car keys, she then hurried down the steps of her apartment building to her vehicle. Tori skidded to a halt. She’d forgotten the keys to Pax’s apartment. She needed to check in on things at her friend’s place and make sure her cats were okay.

  Daddy always said I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on.

  She climbed the steps back to her apartment, unlocked the door and found the keys among a growing pile of unopened mail on her dining room table. “I should probably go through this soon. Like before the next century.”

  Once again she hurried back down to her car. She had just thrown her purse in the backseat when she heard the specialized ring tone of her cell phone announcing her mother was calling. She grabbed her purse and dug through the side pocket, searching for the errant device. “Hang on. I’m coming. I promise. A-ha!” She pulled the phone out and pressed the answer button. “Hey, Mom. What’s going on?”

  “Tori! You sound out of breath, sweetie.”

  “Only because I’ve been up and down the stairs to my apartment about forty-seven times this morning.”

  “Well, dear. I just wanted to let you know your father and I are going to visit your Aunt Caroline and Uncle Brian in Arkansas for the next few days or so. I didn’t want you to worry if you called and we didn’t answer.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.” She pulled down the sun visor and slid open the mirror to give her hair a quick once over. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of dread came over her. “How’s Dad feeling? Headaches any better?”

  “He doesn’t complain, but you know your father. He wants to go on the trip, so hopefully he’s not feeling too bad.”

  Her mom’s tone had a hint of worry in it. But maybe she was imagining things. Her dad had been pushing himself too hard. A trip like this would be just what they needed. Pushing up the visor, she looked for her sunglasses in the glove compartment. “Well, I know you’ll have a great time. It’s never a dull moment when all of you get together.”

  “You’re funny. I’ll give you a call sometime later after we get settled in.”

  After putting on her sunglasses, Tori put the key in the ignition and started the car. “Sounds great, Mom! Give Caroline and Brian a hug for me.”

  “Will do, sweetheart. Love you!”

  “Love you, too!” Noticing the clock on the dash display 7:45, Tori ended the call and dropped the phone in the cup holder on the console. “I’m going to be late if I don’t get a move on.” Throwing the car in reverse, Tori then shifted into drive and peeled out of the parking lot.

  She’d stowed her purse in the drawer upon her arrival at the office when her desk telephone rang.

  Who in the world could be calling this early? Mentally putting a smile on her face, she answered in as chipper tone.

  “Good morning. LLS, this is Tori.”

  “Tori? I thought it might be Jessica?”

  She pulled the phone away from her face and stared at it before returning it to her ear. That voice seemed familiar. It couldn’t be… In an instant she could feel her heart beat double-time.

  “Tori? Are you there?”

  “Um. Carter?”

  “You got it in one. How are you doing this morning?”

  Had she entered the Twilight Zone somewhere between leaving her apartment and arriving at work? She needed to keep herself calm but was finding it more difficult as her palms started to sweat. Oh come on, it’s just a phone call. A simple phone call. With a really nice looking man. Whose voice is making my insides melt. Breathe, girl.

  “I’m fine. It’s Monday, so there’s always that hanging over my head all day.”

  Her heart twitched when she heard a soft snort on the other end of the line.

  “Yeah. Mondays do seem to last a good twenty-four hours.”

  She picked up a pen and began doodling on her desk calendar. Anything to get rid of her nervousness. “Um. Carter, can I help you with something or did you just call to freak me out?”

  His laughter eased her nervousness. “Why would you be freaked out?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t expect to be hearing from you.” Like ever.

  “Well, I thought after the way things went the other day, I owed you at least a phone call.”

  Tori sat back in shock. Still a bit confused over the purpose of his call, she decided to make him squirm. Just a little.

  “It’s okay. I forgive you for the cruel way you taunted me in front of my friends.”

  “Well, yeah. I am sorry. Really I am. And I’d like to make it up to you, if you’ll let me.”

  Now this was an interesting turn of events. “Make it up to me? How would you go about doing that?”

  “Well, what would you say to me taking you to dinner sometime?”

  Tori held her hand over the receiver and took a deep breath. She dropped her hand and answered in a nonchalant fashion. “Dinner sounds nice. It’s the least you could do after how you treated me.”

  A soft chuckle graced her ears. “I guess so. I’m only in town for the next couple of days, and then we’re back on the road for the next nine. Do you have some free time before then?”

  Did she have time to go out with a ridiculously cute professional baseball player? Um. Yes. Did she want to make him work for the date? Yes again.

  “I’ll have to check my schedule and get back with you, okay? How about you give me a call back before the end of the business day, and I can let you know for sure then?”

  A moment of silence met her ears before he responded. “Uh, sure. That sounds fine. Have a good day, and I’ll call you later on.”

  “You too, Carter. Thanks!”

  She hung up the phone and put her head down on her desk for a second before lifting it up, a smile on her face. Monday appeared to be turning into a good day after all.

  ****

  Carter hung up his cell and walked back into the kitchen of his apartment. Was Tori toying with him? Then again, maybe not. Perhaps he’d totally misread things at the hospital when they parted. He was pretty sure she was flattered by his beautiful eyes compliment.

  Grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, he then entered his den. Carter plopped into his leather recliner. He switched the channel over to ESPN to view the highlights from the previous night’s games, but his mind drifted to the conversation with Tori.

  Her green eyes were like firecrackers when they flashed. Before long he glanced at the TV and realized he’d missed the highlights. He couldn’t go ten seconds without thinking about her.

  What did he know about women anyway? Everyone assumed because he was a major league baseball player he was in fact a “player” in every sense of the word. It couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it was a rare event if he went on a date at all in high school and college. He was picky about the type of women he wanted to ask out. Carter’s parents had raised him to not just date but to figure out if someone could be a potential mate. He was looking for someone who had a spiritual life as well. Most girls who flocked to pro baseball players were only looking for someone to get them some notoriety — and not much else.

  Morning sunlight coming through the window glanced off some photos on his mantle. The flash of light drew Carter’s eyes to the pictures. Climbing out of his recliner, he then moved toward the fireplace and smiled as he gazed at the faces of friends and family.

  One photo in particular stood out, and he grabbed it. It was a snapshot one of his teammates had snapped in the early part of Spring Training. Staring back at him was a photo of Seb and him at their first introduction in the clubhouse. The two stood with arms around each other’s shoulders, Carter’s face awash with joy as Seb ruffled his hair. He remembered the moment like it just happened. Meeting his baseball hero and getting to learn from him had
been the highlight of his year so far.

  Only a few months prior to Carter’s first meeting with his teammate at Spring Training, Seb had lost his ex-wife and two daughters in a car accident. Only his reliance on Pax and then eventually learning to rely on God helped him endure such a horrible tragedy. It was another reason Carter enjoyed having Seb for a mentor. Seb was not only a star athlete, but he also knew the importance Carter placed on his faith. It helped having Seb around for both baseball and spiritual matters.

  His cell phone buzzed to life, and Carter quickly replaced the photo on the mantle before grabbing the phone off the end table. Seeing his Mom’s face on the display, he grinned. He could predict why she was calling. She was like clockwork with her daily check-ins.

  “Yes, Mom?”

  “Carter? How are you, son?”

  “I’m doing fine, Mom. How are you?”

  “I’m good. How’ve you been feeling? Any trouble?”

  “Everything’s great. Really, I‘m doing okay.”

  “Well, you know as your mother I am entitled to worry about you.”

  Carter shook his head and sighed. “I know, Mom. And I love you for it even if you drive me crazy sometimes.”

  His mother’s laughter rang through the phone. “Well, I’m glad we can appreciate each other. How’s things otherwise?”

  “Good. Good. Just getting ready to head out of town again for a few days. Team’s doing well, which helps.”

  “Your father and I have enjoyed watching the games. He’s quite proud, you know.”

  Images flashed through Carter’s mind of his dad giving him his first ball and glove and the smile on his dad’s face when, Carter eventually being able, they played catch in the back yard.

  “I know he is. Tell him he’s not a bad guy to know either.”

  “I will, son, I will. Oh, I need to tell you what Dani did the other day. Your sister, I promise she’ll be the death of me. You would think a twenty-four-year-old would have more common sense, but I don’t know.”