Free New Balls Please (Ball Games #3) by Andie M. Long Page B

to help him cope with seeing his only daughter locking lips with her future husband.
    Later, Cam corners me in the ladies. 'Are you sure you won't change your mind, Mum? We could have a double wedding.'
    'No, love. You enjoy your time in the spotlight.' I embrace her and kiss her cheek. 'You're going to be a beautiful bride.'
    'Thanks, Mum. Are you and Dad going to be okay?'
    'I think we will be, Cam. I've had an idea.'
    'Oh my God, Mum, not something from a book, please.'
    'No. This is from Grey's Anatomy. I will marry your dad but not officially. I'll marry him via a post-it.'
    Cam, who watched the series herself, laughs. 'Do you know, for you and my dad, that's perfect.'
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    Dora
     
    Tim walks in from work on Tuesday evening and sees me sitting with a post-it note, a picture frame, a pen and a screwdriver.
    I'd talked to him last night about our post-it wedding. He apologised for proposing, said it was a reaction to seeing Cole's arms around me on the tennis court. I told him commitment went beyond a piece of paper but if he wanted one, a post-it was all he was getting. Meredith and McDreamy did this on Grey's Anatomy. They wrote their vows on a post-it, then signed and dated it and placed it in a frame above their bed headboard. This is exactly what we're going to do tonight.
    'Let's eat first,' I tell him.
    After our meal, we sit in the lounge and talk about what to put on the note. I get a separate piece of paper so we can brainstorm.
    'Okay,' I tell him. 'I want a cleaner to come once a week.'
    Tim looks perplexed. 'You want to work as a cleaner so we can pay another cleaner to clean our house?'
    'I know it seems stupid when I say it like that, but yes. Just for the floors and windows and to take the ironing, which I hate.'
    'Dora. Why don't you find another job if you hate cleaning so much? You worked because the extra money came in handy with the kids but they're grown up now. Even Tyler's becoming responsible.'
    'It would be nice to not feel dirty after cleaning up other people’s mess.'
    'Well, why don't you pack your job in and clean our house?'
    'Because I'd not do it, Tim. When I'm at work, I have to clean or I'd get the sack. Here, it's too easy to get the laptop out.'
    He nods. 'I suppose so.'
    'I will look around. I think Asda needs extra staff.'
    'Well, I'm behind you on changing your job, Dora.'
    'Thank you.'
    ‘About the cleaner. Get the ironing done by someone, but I'll do the floors and windows every Sunday.’
    ‘Okay. Thank you.’
    Tim clears his throat. 'Now, my turn. No spending our joint holiday money without agreement by us both. In fact, I want the account changed, so it requires permission from both of us to withdraw the money.'
    'Agreed, and I should search for a job that pays more so I can pay back what I spent.'
    ‘We’ll manage to save it back up. I’ll tell you what, will you carry on doing my pack-up? It's been lovely these last couple of days and saves me spending at the shop.’
    'Yes, I quite enjoyed that to be honest.' I'd made lovely little sandwiches. I could add home-baked stuff like cookies too.
    'Dora, please don't run away again. If there's a problem you need to bring it up for discussion.'
    I nod. 'Okay.'
    'Now. The next is controversial, but I’d like Sunday dinner at the pub every week. Their Yorkshire puddings are amazing. It’s not worth all the effort you put yourself through.'
    I sigh. 'Fine. At least it means we get extra time in bed on a Sunday morning.'
    His face lights up. 'Which is a bonus but don't expect any alpha moves on my part.'
    'Or submission on mine.'
    He winks. 'I like a woman who can dominate me.'
    I shake my head while I chuckle.
    'Is that it?' he asks me.
    'I'm going to tell the kids to ring me one night in the week, but I'm not demanding the day they do it. Also, they can join us for lunch on a Sunday if they want to, but I'm not forcing the issue. They're growing up and it's not fair to guilt them into keeping contact.