The man had a languid grace on the mound. That slow, easy smile that lifted his lips whenever an Egg Harbor player stepped up to bat was oh-so-familiar.
Conscious of the scrutinizing gaze of the woman next to her, Charlotte was careful to keep her expression blank. Still, she couldn’t help cheering with everyone else when Adam pitched a shutout in the last inning, ensuring a Good Hope win.
Gladys’s gaze narrowed on Charlotte’s face. “The man throws pretty well for a farmer.”
Charlotte only smiled and nodded.
Disappointment flickered across Gladys’s face. With an audible expulsion of breath, Gladys pushed to her feet. The quick movement had her swaying ever so slightly.
Charlotte reached out to lend a steadying hand.
“Thank you, Charlotte.” Gladys spoke warmly before shifting her gaze to the other woman. “Good to see you again, Piper.”
Gladys hadn’t gotten halfway down the bleacher steps before she was surrounded by two women Charlotte thought of as her posse—Ruby Rakes and Katherine Spencer. A recent addition to the group, Oaklee Marshall, a woman in her twenties with hair the color of ripe cherries interspersed with silver, quickly joined them.
From her vantage point, Charlotte could see there had been plenty of available space where the women had been sitting. That confirmed Charlotte’s suspicions. Gladys was definitely looking for someone to match.
If she was considering Piper, that was all well and good. But if Gladys was looking at Charlotte for the next match, she’d best move on. Charlotte wasn’t interested in finding a man.
She had two goals. First, get her new business up and running. Then, once that was done and her coffers replenished, she’d move on to making a baby. IVF was expensive, so it wasn’t happening anytime soon. Still, she’d turned forty-one last month and couldn’t wait too much longer.
Leaving the stadium grounds, Charlotte and Piper were swept along by the crowd. No one sauntered or strolled. The parade was about to start, and everyone was eager to secure the perfect spot on the route.
Once she spotted a way to step out of the mad dash, Charlotte took it.
Piper followed.
As they slowed to a stroll, Piper slanted a sideways glance at her. “I got the impression Gladys wants to match you with Adam.”
“Hopefully, I disabused her of that notion.” Charlotte laughed and held up her hands. “Adam and I are complete opposites.”
Piper’s expression turned teasing. “Surely you’ve heard that opposites attract?”
“I suppose it happens.” Charlotte thought for a second, then shook her head. “I believe that kind of mix working out is rare. My parents were opposites, and their marriage ended up being a disaster. And my ex-husband and I were a total mismatch, though I was too young and immature to see it at the time. It didn’t last.”
Surprise skittered across Piper’s face. “I didn’t realize you’d been married.”
Charlotte waved a dismissive hand. “Ancient history.”
“What happened?” Curiosity had Piper pressing.
“We weren’t a good fit.” That was all Charlotte was prepared to say. Thankfully, a Sousa march played by the Good Hope marching band wafted toward them. “We better hurry, Piper. It sounds as if the parade is underway.”
The Independence Day parade was the crown jewel in the town’s annual celebration. Charlotte admitted by the time a clown troupe appeared near the end that she’d enjoyed this Good Hope gem.
Like most everyone else, she and Piper visited booths set up in the center of town. Piper continued eating her way through the town square. She’d already devoured two chunks of homemade fudge and was in the process of chowing down on a turkey leg.
Though Charlotte didn’t know Piper well, she knew something was definitely off. The Piper she remembered had been into healthy eating. So far today, she’d consumed at least three days’ worth of calories. And her friend had been quieter than usual.
“Is everything okay?” Charlotte didn’t want to pry, but if she could do something to help, she would. Even if it was only lending a supportive ear.
“Why do you ask?” Piper tossed the remnants of the turkey leg into a trash can and wiped her greasy fingers on several paper napkins Charlotte had handed her.
“Well…” Charlotte wasn’t about to bring up the food. Perhaps this was the way Piper ate at festivals. She knew others who binged on holidays. “You seem a bit stressed.”
“I’m fine.” Piper’s immediate response and the bright smile didn’t fool Charlotte. “Oh, look, Izzie doesn’t have a line. You should do it, Charlotte. Having her do a caricature of you would be a fun memory.”
As if hearing her name, Izzie Deshler glanced up.
Piper gave her enough of a shove in Izzie’s direction that it had Charlotte stumbling. When she righted herself, Charlotte found the artist staring expectantly at her.
What could she do? She certainly couldn’t walk away. That would be a slap in Izzie’s face. “Do you have time for me?”
“You bet. Have a seat.” Izzie’s smile was a warm welcome.
“I’m going to grab a funnel cake,” Piper said. “Can I get you one?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
Piper turned to Izzie. “What about you, Iz?”
“I’m good.” Izzie picked up her pencil. “Thanks for asking.”
Piper gave a jaunty wave and hurried off.
Taking a place on the stool in front of Izzie, Charlotte relaxed. The sun warmed her face. Laughter floated on the breeze. Though she’d always considered herself to be more suited to big-city life, she was enjoying today immensely.
Until she noticed Adam heading in her direction and realized she was trapped. She couldn’t just get up and leave. Not with Izzie in the middle of her sketch.
Charlotte’s heart picked up speed.
Her eyes met his.
The urge to flee disappeared.
Adam shot her a wink, then stepped behind Izzie to watch the artist at work.
Instead of moving on once he’d checked out Izzie’s work-in-progress, he remained where he stood. Adam watched Izzie draw while accepting congratulations on his pitching from those strolling by.
Piper returned, the trace of powdered sugar on her lips the only remnant of the funnel cake.
Charlotte narrowed her gaze. “Are you okay?”
When they’d been at the ballfield, Piper’s eyes had been bright, and her face had held healthy color. Now, her skin had a green tinge.
“My stomach is super upset.” Piper bent close to Charlotte’s ear and spoke in a low tone. “The funnel cake was a mistake.”
“You’ve had a lot of junk food today.” Charlotte kept her tone matter-of-fact, more observation than condemnation.
“I think that’s why it’s upset.” Piper laid a hand on her stomach. “Can you hear it gurgling?”
“No, but it’s noisy here.” Charlotte knew that if she’d been able to hear Piper’s stomach churning, that would be a bad, bad sign. “Have you thought about trying some 7UP or ginger ale?”
Piper covered her mouth and burped. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to head home and call it a day. You stay and have fun.”