“Can we get a dog?” Micah asked as the golden retriever roaming the middle school bleachers wandered up to them for either pettings or snacks, whatever it could get.

“No,” Connor said immediately.

“Why not? Look how cute he is!” She buried her hands in the ruff of yellow fur at the dog’s neck.

“He’s very cute. But I’d end up taking care of him like I do Mac and Cheese, and I don’t want to take care of a dog.”

The man sitting near them laughed. “You are one hundred percent right about that.”

Connor recognized the man. People seemed to sit in the same spots for every game.

“Dan Clark,” the man said, holding out his hand. “You’re Fiona’s brother, right?”

Connor nodded. “Connor Casey. Nice to meet you. Which one is yours?”

“Third base. That’s my Savanna. She speaks mighty highly of Fiona.” He glanced over at Sean. “I know you, too. You’re Sean Bennett, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Sean said.

“I go to all the football games. Seen you play a lot. You play baseball, too, don’t you? You keep up your game, you’ll go far. Where are you thinking about college?”

Sean shrugged. “I don’t know, sir. Depends on who offers more, right?”

“Just be careful. There are some slimy people out there who like to take advantage of you kids,” Dan warned. “I got a kid playing football at USC, so I’ve seen it. Especially the agents. They aren’t supposed to talk to NCAA athletes, and they can’t give you money directly. But they can, and will, give your family money, so keep that in mind. They’ll offer to take you to all kinds of parties and stuff that can get you in big trouble. Just watch yourself, ask someone if you’re not sure, and you’ll be okay.”

He fished a card out of his wallet. “This is my brother-in-law. He’s a sports lawyer, deals with this kind of thing all the time. Give him a call if you have any questions. Tell him I sent you, and he won’t charge you.”

Once again, Connor was struck by just how much he didn’t know. College had never really been in the cards for him, so he hadn’t put any time into researching it. Now that Sean and Fiona were starting to think about it, he didn’t have a clue as to how to help them. He needed to make a list of people to contact about things.  

“Hey Con, I’m gonna go hang with Gray and the guys,” Sean said.

“Where?”

He pointed to a group of boys sitting high up in the bleachers.   

“Okay. Just be back before the game ends. We’ll have to hustle to make your game.”

Dan held up a thermos of coffee. “You want some?”

Connor took it gratefully. “I never remember to make it and I’m always dying for a cup. I swear, Saturdays are more work than weekdays.”

“You work at Peggy’s shop, right?”

“Yeah. You been?”

“Not yet, but I hear good things.” He pulled out an orange from the cooler and started to peel it.

“Well, look for me when you’re there. I promise we’re completely above board. No looking for things to charge you for.” Most people had strong opinions when it came to mechanics. Kind of like they had strong opinions about him.

“I believe you,” Dan said.

The day was warm for mid-March, a nice, soft spring day. The crowd sported T-shirts and a couple had even broken out shorts, though Connor found that a bit optimistic, especially with the slight breeze in the air and the clouds in the distance hinting at afternoon rain.

Fiona’s team was in the field, Fiona watching the plays from the shortstop position between second and third base. The other team had a runner on first with one out.

The pitcher checked the bases to deter any would-be steals, aimed her steely glare at the catcher, and then wound up, hurling the ball towards the batter.

The batter swung, catching the edge of it and sending it into the ground behind the pitcher. Fiona was on top of it. Scooping it up after the first bounce, she made a perfect throw to the second baseman, who caught it easily and then whipped it toward the first baseman. It slapped into her glove a full two seconds before the batter crossed the base. A perfect double play.

The crowd cheered loudly as the teams switched position. Micah and Benji jumped up from their seats, waving their posters.

“She’s a monster,” Dan said, grinning.

“Too bad women’s sports pay crap.” A woman, presumably Dan’s wife, slid into the bleachers next to them holding a plastic tray of nacho chips and a blob of yellow liquid cheese. “Still, she should be able to get a scholarship. Any idea what she wants to study?”

It struck Connor that he didn’t know. Even with all he’d learned over the past few months, there was still so much he didn’t know about the kids. “No. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was her age,” he said, surprising himself. He’d never admitted that to anyone outside his family.

“Why didn’t you?” Dan’s wife asked.

Connor shrugged. “Money. Life. I was a stupid teen. You know how it is.”

“Never too late. I got my bachelor’s at thirty-eight.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Beth, by the way.”

He shook the hand she offered. “Yeah? I’ll think about it.”

“Start small. Community college for a bit. Get your pre-reqs out of the way for cheap.”

“Huh. I’ll look into that. If it’s not too much, could I maybe ask you for help?” He was getting better at asking for help.

Beth reached over and squeezed his hand. “Sure thing, honey. You’re doing a great job with those kids. I’m so sorry about your momma. We weren’t close, but my heart breaks for you and those kids.”

“Thank you, ma’am. That means a lot.”

He turned back to the game as Fiona stepped up to bat. Two of her teammates were on base—one on first and one on third after a nice steal by the second batter.

Behind Fiona, the catcher was obviously talking trash at her. She slapped her fist into her catcher’s mitt and jerked her head at the bleachers. Fiona ignored her, staying focused on the pitcher. Good girl, Connor throught.

She read the first pitch right and didn’t swing. Ball one.

“Good eye, Fee!” Micah shouted. “Way to watch ‘em.”

The pitcher wound up for the second pitch, rejecting the first call from the catcher.

The ball burst from her hand, a blazing fastball Connor wouldn’t want to be facing. Fiona tried for this one. A swing and a miss, the ball landed squarely in the catcher’s mitt. Strike one.

“You got this, Fee! You can do it!” Benji shouted while Micah jumped up and down.

“C’mon, Fiona!” Micah yelled.

The third pitch was way inside, almost hitting Fiona. She jumped back, out of the batter’s box, her face a mask of concentration.

The catcher walked over to get the ball and on her way back, said something to Fiona. The umpire shouted something Connor couldn’t hear at both of them.  

Fiona tossed her bat into the dirt, and then shoved the girl with both hands. When the catcher laughed, Fiona tackled her to the ground, her batting helmet going flying.

The crowd jumped to their feet. Both coaches ran toward the girls as the umpire tried to pull them apart.

“Stay here!” Connor ordered. He rushed down the stairs, getting a clearer picture the closer he got to the field. The catcher swung her mitt wildly, trying to get Fiona off of her. Fiona had her fingers on the catcher’s mask, using it to slam the girl’s head into the ground.

“Fee, stop!” he shouted.

After a few seconds, Fiona’s coach managed to pull her off, half-leading, half-dragging her to the dugout. Connor met them there.

“—gonna fucking kill that bitch! Let go of me. Let go of me!” Fiona tried to jerk her arm free, but the coach held firm.

“Sit,” the coach barked to the rest of the team. “All of you. Sit the fuck down.”

She pushed Fiona toward Connor. “Get her out of here,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’re out of the game. And we will talk about this later.”

Fiona glowered. “I’ll kick her ass again.”

“No, you won’t.” Connor yanked Fiona by the arm. “I’ll take her back to the stands. Sorry, coach. This isn’t like her.”

Just what he needed, Fiona getting into a fight. Social services would have a field day with this.

“I know. That’s why she’s still on the team. Now, Bennett, get your stuff and get outta my sight for a few minutes.”

“She called you a fag, Con!” Fiona protested. “Said you worked for a dyke and…and…all this other stuff.”

“Really?” The coach peered over at the other team’s dugout.

Fiona nodded.

“You think the ump heard?”

“I know he did. She was saying it while I was at bat. He’s right behind her.”

The coach looked over at Connor, and he could see the question in her eyes. He nodded.

She nodded back, patting him on the arm. “I’m a friend of Peggy’s,” she said, meeting his gaze. So she was gay, too. The coach turned back to Fiona. “I know Peggy can fight her own battles. And so can your brother.” She dropped her voice and leaned in. “Don’t let the haters get you, Fee. Screw them.”

Sean came running into the dugout with a friend, panting, his face red. “What the hell, Fee?”

“I’ll explain later,” Connor said. “Thank you, Coach Welch.”

“No problem.” The ump walked over to the bench with the coach from the opposing team. “You’d better go. I’ll handle this.”

“Thanks again.”

All eyes were on them as they walked back to the bleachers. Connor knew what they were thinking. Of course, those Bennett kids were wild. Their brother was wild, too. There’s no way he could control them. The oldest is turning out just like him, and now Fiona?

“I’m sorry, Connor,” Fiona said, her voice small.

Connor shook his head and draped his arm over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll all be okay.”

When they reached their blanket, Micah and Benji jumped up. “What happened, Fee? Why’d you hit her?” they demanded.

“That bitch called Connor a fag and talked shit about his ‘blue-haired boyfriend.’” Fiona opened the cooler, digging for food.

Great. That rumor was going to spread like wildfire now. Connor had been running from it since high school. He met Dan’s eyes over Fiona’s bent-down back.

“Is it true?” Dan asked flat out.

Goddammit, Connor was tired of hiding. “Yeah.”

Dan nodded slowly. Fiona stood up with a Gatorade and glared at him, daring him to make something of it.

“You should’a hit her harder,” he said.

Connor laughed.

Below, the game continued. The player on second had made it back home. “Do you want to stay?” Connor asked Fiona.

“Am I allowed to?”

Connor shrugged. “Guess so. No one’s said anything.”

“Then yeah. I want to watch us kick their asses.”

Hidden Creek did, in fact, win; it was a hard-fought game that ended seven to six.

As Dan packed up, Beth turned back to them. “We’re going to Rocket to get some ice cream and try to get some real food in the kids. You guys coming?” she asked.

“Ice cream?” Benji asked, staring up at Connor.

Beth smiled. “Aren’t you just the cutest? Savanna was so sweet at that age.”

“We got Sean’s game,” Connor said.

“I’ll be okay,” Sean said. “Just drop me off at the high school. You guys go to enough of my games. I’ll survive one all by myself.” He smiled at Connor. “I’ll call you when it’s over.”

Benji and Micah looked up at Connor expectantly, and even Fiona had a pleading look in her eye. Connor sighed. “Okay fine.”

Sweet Jesus, had every person in town decided to come to Rocket? Every girl on the team was there, along with most of their parents and siblings. Apparently, it was a post-game tradition.

A few parents avoided him, shooting him dirty, scathing looks, and he was sure he’d be the subject of more than a few conversations and the unknowing recipient of prayers for his and the kids’ souls.

But as time went on, more and more people made a point to come up to Connor and introduce themselves. They all expressed their sorrow for his loss and apologized for not approaching him sooner.

After they ordered, Dan slipped outside, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Connor couldn’t help but look longingly out the window. It had been more than a few days since his last cigarette, and with the stress of the morning, he could use one.

“Just go,” Fiona said.

“I’m quitting, I swear,” Connor said, even as he was pushing his chair back. “Tomorrow.”

Fiona laughed. “Right.”

He ducked outside, quickly finding Dan. “Hey, can I bum one of those? I’m trying to quit, but I really could use one.”

“No problem.” Dan shook one out of the pack and held it out to Connor.

“Thanks, man.” He lit the cigarette and took the first drag that always felt so good. Sometimes Connor thought he should just take the first one and leave it at that. But it was more than just the nicotine. It was this. The ritual of lighting the butt, standing with a buddy, and having something to do, some break he could take when life got hectic.

“Glad you came out,” Dan said.

“Have I been that unfriendly?” Connor asked. “No one talked to me before.”

Dan scrubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “I think people don’t know what to say. What happened to your family…” He shook his head. “That breaks people. We’ve known Fiona since kindergarten, but even Beth didn’t know what to say.”

“Yeah.”

Dan turned to him. “You’re doing a good job. You know that.”

Connor shook his head. “It’s so hard. I don’t have any idea what I’m doing and half the time, I think I’m just making things worse.”

Putting his hand on Connor’s shoulder, Dan laughed. “That’s parenthood. We’re all just taking it day by day. Trust me. Look at those kids. They’re functioning, they’re in school, and having a normal life. They’re not curled up in a ball on the couch or running wild, acting out or failing at school. And they love you, I can tell.”

Connor relaxed. It was one thing to hear it from Peggy, who was his friend, and Beau, who knew even less than Connor did about kids. But it was another thing to hear it from a stranger, an actual grown-up parental stranger who knew he was gay and yet was still touching him in public. “I miss them,” he said quietly. “Every day.”

“I’m sure you do. I knew them, of course, from school and softball. Your daddy always talked real good about you and what you were doing.”

“Brent wasn’t my real dad.”

“He didn’t see it that way.”

The words hit him like a truck. “I was kind of a dick to him.”

“I don’t know ‘bout that. He never said.” Dan took a final drag of his cigarette. “But I tell you what. He’s watching you from up there.” He pointed to the sky. “And I know he’s proud of you. Your daddy would be real proud of you.”

Connor couldn’t speak, just nodded and put the cigarette to his lips again. Please let him be right.

Dan seemed to understand what Connor was thinking. He gave him another pat on the shoulder, then walked back into the restaurant to let Connor have a moment to himself.

Staring out into the traffic, Connor took a deep breath. He wasn’t much for church, and he wasn’t sure what he believed, but he couldn’t help praying in his head sometimes. Please, help me do good. Brent—Dad—I’m sorry. I’m trying. I think I’m doing okay, maybe? You want to give me any help, just do it.

He stubbed his cigarette out, throwing the butt into the garbage can. When he slipped inside and into his seat, Benji wrinkled his nose. “You smell like cigarette smoke.”

Connor bopped his nose. “And you have ice cream all over your face, so we’re even.”

They stayed there for the majority of the afternoon until Sean texted.

Sean: Game over. We won. Can I go out with the guys for pizza and then to Gray’s house to watch a movie?

Connor stared at the text. Was Sean seriously asking him? That was progress! Yeah, he was doing okay. Maybe.

Connor: Of course. Congrats on the win. See you at home later.

The good feeling lasted until he got home and saw Preston’s car lurking in the driveway.

“Fuck,” Connor said before he could censor himself.

“What is it?” Micah asked.

“The Walrus,” Fiona answered from the front seat.

“Damn it,” Micah said.

He was really going to have to talk to the kids about their cursing. Then again, he couldn’t get onto her for something he did.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said instead. “He can’t do anything. The house passed inspection. He’s got nothing on us now. Maybe he’s got good news?” Connor pulled up the driveway and onto the grass beside the sedan. He wanted Preston to have a clean exit.

Micah snorted her disbelief.

Connor turned the truck off and climbed out, approaching the Walrus. “Evening, Mr. Preston. What can I do for you?”

Preston glanced over at the kids. “We’ll talk in the house. Away from the children.”

“No, I believe we’ll talk right here. I don’t hide things from them.”

“Apparently not. Not even your deviant lifestyle choices,” he said pointedly.

God damn, news traveled fast in this town. As was his usual M.O. with the Walrus, Connor said nothing. Offered nothing. He’d answer questions and that was it. He wasn’t

going to be put on the defensive.

The Walrus looked condescendingly at Fiona. “And I heard you got into a fight today. Slammed a girl’s head pretty hard.”

Connor held her hand, giving her a little squeeze. Taking a cue from Connor, she said nothing. Preston had yet to say why he was there.

“I knew you’d be a bad influence on these kids. I’ve seen that oldest boy of yours, Sean, running wild around town with his friends, hanging at the park.”

Still, nothing from the family. Preston stared at them, trying to outlast them. It wasn’t going to work. Even Benji was unnaturally still, his hand tight in Connor’s.

Micah sighed and crossed her arms.

Finally, the Walrus cracked. “I’m thinking of reopening this custody case,” he said pompously, “in light of the new information. I think we have a good case that you’re exposing these children to a deviant lifestyle.” He puffed himself up, no doubt sure that he would get a response.

Benji whimpered, and Micah looked scared.

That was enough. He wasn’t going to live under veiled threats and nebulous accusations any longer. If the Walrus wanted a fight, he would get one.

“You mean because I’m gay.”

Preston spluttered as if he had been expecting Connor to deny it. “Yes. That’s exactly what I mean. These children cannot be brought up in a homosexual environment. I will see to it.”

Connor dropped the kids’ hands and walked right into the Walrus’s personal space. He had a good six inches on the man and he used every bit of it. Looming over him, he leaned in close to the old man’s face.

“Let me tell you something, Milton. I have done everything you and your cronies asked me. I’ve jumped through every hoop. I’m done. It ends now. Try to take my brothers and sisters away, try to break up this family, and I will come at you with everything I have. When I’m done, you’ll be lucky to have a job.”

The Walrus shook, his mustache quivering as he blustered, hiding behind his clipboard. “Homosexual behavior is a perfectly legal reason to take a child away. Texas law says I can remove a child from, ah, situations I deem unsafe.”

“Actually, it’s not,” Fiona said loudly..

All eyes turned to her.

“Under Texas state law, any adult may adopt a child regardless of the adult’s sexual orientation or gender identity. And same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2003 when the

Supreme Court ruled such laws unconstitutional in Lawrence v Texas. You don’t have a leg to stand on, you homophobic jerk.”

Connor’s jaw dropped, and his heart swelled with pride.

The Walrus’ face turned red. “This isn’t over,” he said, shaking a finger under Connor’s nose.

“I think it is. Now get the fuck off my property before I call the police to escort you off.”

The Walrus stomped away and the kids cheered, tackling Fiona in a group hug.

“Fee, that was amazing,” Connor said, grabbing her in a huge hug and kissing her on the head. “I’m so proud of you! How did you know all that?”

“Wikipedia.”

“Brilliant!”

Connor’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see Beau was calling. Great. He couldn’t wait to tell him the news.