Free Last First Kiss by Kimberly Killion, Lori H. Leger Page B

was over, Lexie’s team took to the field. Jackson and Bill spent the next three hours watching the morning games of all the children, whooping and hollering when any one of them made a good play.
    “I’ve never had so much fun in my life,” Jackson exclaimed, after the last morning game. “How many have second games?”
    “They all do. The second round starts at one-thirty. We have two hours to feed this mob,” Lauren told him.
    “Let me call your mom,” Sam told her. “Carrie said something about cooking lunch for everyone.”
    Ten minutes later, they all piled into Carrie and Sam’s home. Carrie was in the kitchen putting out the last of the hot dog fixings.
    “Hey Bill...Jackson. What’d you think of opening day?”
    Jackson gave her a huge grin. “I can’t wait for the second round to start. I’m having a blast.”
    “I’m glad you two are enjoying it. I grilled hot dogs for lunch. Grab a plate and serve yourselves, buffet style.” She pointed to a cooler. “Canned drinks are in there.”
    “Thanks, Carrie.” Jackson leaned in close. “How’s Giselle?”
    Carrie shrugged and opened a pack of hot dog buns. “She’s about the same, and I’m starting to worry. She wasn’t the least bit interested in today.”
    “Has she tackled the master bedroom yet?” he asked.
    Carrie shook her head. “She won’t even open the door.”
    “Maybe she needs more time.”
    “Maybe she needs to be reminded that she has two daughters who need her,” she said. “I was going to bring the girls back home to rest for awhile until it’s time for their next games. Would you and Bill want to bring them after lunch for me?”
    “Sure, as soon as we finish eating,” he told her.
     
    <><><>
     
    Thirty minutes later, Mac and Lexie dragged the two men through the kitchen door of their home.
    Giselle looked up from drinking her cup of coffee. Jackson noticed the dark circles accenting her pale, thin face. She looked childlike without her makeup, but so tired and unbearably sad, it nearly broke his heart. The girls were noticeably subdued the moment they walked through the door.
    Bill sat beside Giselle at the table and took her hand. “Hey Hon, how are you feeling?”
    “Hi Bill. I’m okay.” She turned to her daughters. “How were the games?”
    “They were good, we both won,” Mackenzie said, quietly.
    “Yeah, we both won,” Lexie repeated. She lifted her shoulders and let them drop, as she released a deep breath.
    In all fairness, Giselle made a valiant effort to smile at her daughters, but Jackson noticed that the smile she gave them never seemed to reach her eyes. No doubt her daughters did too.
    He sat at the table across from her. “Maybe by next week you’ll feel well enough to make one of their games.”
    “Maybe so.”
    “Mac hit two home runs, and I hit the ball off the tee twice, momma,” Lexie told her.
    “That’s great, sweetie.”
    “Jackson said that daddy was watching, so we did it for him. Ouch!” Lexie turned, ready to fuss at her sister for jabbing her in the ribs. She stopped when her mother got up from the table. The other four occupants of the room watched as Giselle walked into the guest bedroom, and closed the door.
    “I told you not to talk about daddy,” Mac hissed at her sister. “It makes her cry.”
    Lexie’s little face crumbled as she turned to Jackson for comfort. He picked her up and seated her on his long legs as she turned her face into his broad chest and sobbed. He held her close, and gently ran his hands through her silky curls, inhaling the scent of her children’s shampoo. “Don’t cry Lex. Your mom’s just hurting right now.”
    “I’m s..so..orry Jackson, I th..thought she’d b..be happy that daddy was w..wa..watching us..s,” Lexie sobbed into his shirt. “I won’t s..say d..daa..dd..dy a..g..gain.”
    “Maybe, just for now, Lex,” Jackson told her.
    Bill grunted and gave his nephew a disapproving look.
    “Uncle Bill,” he warned sternly,