“Three.” I answered.

“They will never testify.” Caroline gloated. “Those girls would be far too embarrassed if their families found out.”

“I don’t know three of them one of them might be just angry enough with you to do that.” Chris noted. “As for sexual harassment what is your basis for that claim?”

“Dr. Grant was constantly making sexual overtures to me and when I refused her advances she used her influence to have me fired.” Caroline stated in a hurt tone.

My jaw dropped as I realized that this woman was using me to get to Allison’s mythical fortune. Chris simply laughed in her face. “Miss. Jennings you are not filing any lawsuit.” Chris stated very calmly.

“And why not?” Caroline snarled refusing to back down.

“First off that podunk town I’m from is New York City. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?” Chris stressed. “I’m with one of the top firms in the country and I am very good at what I do. For starters all I need is the statements those three statements have already made. Then I’ll look into your past I’m sure out there somewhere is an old colleague who would love to expose you for the lying bitch that you are. After that it shouldn’t be too difficult to prove the only mistake the University made was to hire you in the first place. Now as for Dr. Grant I will personally love to testify about how I found you in her apartment tearing your clothes off in a drunken stupor while she was yelling at you to leave.”

“You won’t do that.” Caroline cooed in a confident manner. “If you do then I’ll be forced to call Professor Kendell and tell her that you spent the night.”

“And?” Chris asked in confusion. “She knows that and she also knows that I slept on the couch.”

“What?” Caroline sputtered in a shaky voice knowing that her bluff had been finally called.

“You know it is women like you that give the rest of us a bad name.” Chris said bitterly. “Now as I was saying you are not being asked to leave this residence but you are free to go.”

Caroline stomped off in a huff and slammed her apartment door. Chris turned to me shaking her head, “That woman makes me look like a virgin.” Chris had made her point and Caroline Jennings was gone for good. By the time I returned home from work that evening she had packed and disappeared. None of us ever heard from her again. I had to ask myself how it was that at one time I had found that woman attractive? Granted it was a long time ago but that kind of warped personality just doesn’t pop up over night. I also had to ask myself if her recent advances had were so she could somehow gain some kind of leverage for herself. Was I a ticket into Haven or to Allison? Perhaps I was just another conquest?

As the weeks passed I forgot about Caroline. It was spring and that mean that Allison would be home soon. It also marked the start of the softball season. I was pitching and doing fairly well so Maureen was thrilled. I didn’t understand why she was so happy since we were ranked number nine out of fifteen teams. Stan (who played left field), explained to me that we had never finished above last place.

On an usually hot day in April I was standing on the mound. We had won our last three games and now it was the top of ninth and we were tied at five all. If we could pull this win off the team would move up in the rankings. Maureen had been ready to explode throughout the entire game. I had struck out the first batter and I had one ball and two strikes against the second batter. I took my stance and was just about to release the ball when I spotted a familiar face peeking out from behind the backstop. I released the ball, which sailed off nowhere near the plate.

I tried to calm myself as I watched her make her way over to the bleachers. I took a deep breath and tried to focus. My next pitch faired better but not good enough. “Ball three the umpire called out.” “Okay this is not the end of the world. So it’s a full count with the score tied in the last inning no problem! Just don’t look at her and you will be fine.” I heard Maureen call for time as she ran over to me from first base. “Stephanie?” Her voice squeaked. “Are you all right?” I simply shook my head in a negative response. “Damn. I knew I shouldn’t have let you pitch all nine innings.” She chastised herself.

“It’s not that.” I laughed slightly as I stared at my feet. “Look over at the bleachers.”

“Why?”

“Look who just showed up.” I smiled as I pointed over to Allison. “My God she looks good.”

“Oh she came home early.” Maureen sighed and then snapped back into her coach mode. “No time for that. Just don’t look over there.”

“I can’t help it.” I pouted. “It has been a long time.”

“Let me put it to you this way.” Maureen spoke carefully. “Two more outs and you are that much closer to taking her home.”

“Get your ass back on first base.” I ordered her firmly. Maureen ran back to first and I threw out my next pitch. A swing and a miss. The next batter went down in flames. Three pitches and three strikes. What can I say? I was suddenly motivated. Maureen ran over and hugged me. I started to head towards the bleachers when Maureen grabbed me.

“Not so fast hot stuff.” She tugged my shirt. “You are up. Remember?” Reluctantly I tossed my glove in our dugout and grabbed my bat. Once the warm up was completed I turned to Maureen. “We are not going into overtime.” I spat out as she laughed. I stomped over to home plate like a woman on a mission. The first pitch was perfect. I knew the moment the bat made contact with the ball that my prediction had been accurate. I flung my bat to the ground and rounded the bases with ease. Once I crossed over home plate my teammates surrounded me. I knew they were happy but I had other things on my mind as I tried to pull myself away from the celebration.

I looked for her in the crowd until I found her carefully putting my gear together in the dugout she stepped out onto the field with my equipment bags tossed over her shoulder. I pushed my way over to her and without saying a word and not caring who was watching, I reached up and pulled her to me. We greeted one another without words as our lips met and we kissed deeply.

Once the need to breath overwhelmed us we parted. I reached down and tugged on her belt and pulled her to me. “Let’s go home.” Was all I said. She nodded in agreement with a misty eyed look.

EPILOGUE

Well that is it. That is how my journey began and ended well not quite how it ended. It is now a year later. September in fact and classes are starting in a few days. I find myself standing on the pitchers mound once again. This time at the end of the season in the championship game. I feel good we are one strike away from walking away with the title for the first time. But it is not the game that is making me smile. It is one face looking out from the crowd. I smile in her direction and then turn my attention back to the task at hand. I know the instant the ball leaves my hand how good it is. The batter swings and misses. We win. My teammates already know I won’t be joining them for the celebration. I need to get my girl home.

You see yesterday we found out that she was carrying twins. Of course we already suspected that. Gaia told us last year. Even though she left us months ago before Allison got pregnant we can still feel her with us. Oh and if you are wondering it was window-shopping. Allison and I had been walking around Boston. For some reason we found ourselves standing in front of Maternity shop holding hands and watching the people inside. Without speaking we knew what we wanted. What we wanted was to complete our family.

Soon we will. I just wished that Gaia had warned me what life going to be like with a very pregnant Allison. It doesn’t matter I would have found my way to her and our children anyway. It is where I belong. It is my home.

The End




* * *

Although Stephan James Ballister, Haley Ballister and Anna Moorehouse are fictional. The Louisiana Tigers Company B was quite real. All references other than those involving fictional characters are accurate (Such as dates and battles the company was involved with). The company consisted mostly of foreigners and right or wrong the members of the company received an unfavorable reputation. The Louisiana Tigers were also known as the River Rats. Two of their members O’Brien and Corcoran the first members of the Confederacy to be executed by the Confederacy. My apologies if anyone takes offense to my story suggesting that a member of the company was a woman. Although there were several woman who were involved with the American Civil War, some openly as female and some disguised as men. There is no evidence to support the claim that any member of Company B was female. So all of you nice folks down south just keep repeating “Well what did you expect she’s from Boston. Damn Yankees!” Of course when we say that here we are talking about Baseball. F.Y. I Company B is still active today. If you would like more information check your local library or on line. Hey I did my own research so can you. :)