We've Only Just Begun

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They'd settled in the car and were on their way to Brookden Park, the park closest to their house. They could have walked, but they would want to get some lunch and ice cream or both because even though her son said he didn't mind that she worked such odd and long hours, she knew that he loved milking every second out of her that he could. He would go and go until he had nothing left, exhausting himself, making her do the same thing. "So, after we finish our day, Eli and I are going to have dinner with The Chief and you're going to go over to Aunt Callie's," Miranda said rushing the words out hoping that he wouldn't hate going to his godmother's house when his third favorite person in the world, besides his parents, visited his home.

"The Chief! Mommy, can I eat with you guys?" He asked and she avoided looking into her rearview mirror into his brown eyes that were so much like hers. Looking into them, she'd change her mind about everything.

"But you're going to Callie's with Arizona and Sofia."

"But she's a little kid," he said. Bailey snuck a peek at him in her mirror. He was sitting in his booster seat and he had his arms crossed and his lips poked out. When he did, she recalled that her mother, Elena, had said she used to do that exact thing. Miranda checked her side-view mirror and smiled.

They arrived at Brookden Park. Miranda exited the car while Little Tuck unfastened himself and got out of the car. He ran to the back of the car to get his basketball and waited for his mother. There were four full-sized basketball courts along with a tennis court and the other amenities of a regular park. Because it was a school break, all of the courts were nearly packed. There were three full-court games and one half-court game. The one half of court that wasn't occupied was the only one without a net. Miranda walked to the empty side and started to stretch. Maybe she should have worn shorts, she thought to herself. Always ready to play, Tuck ran to the half-court game and called "next". That made him next in line when the game finished. He ran back to Miranda. She noticed that he was getting taller and glided just like his father, a true ballplayer. "I called next for us," he said tossing up a shot.

She rebounded the ball. "Excuse me, what? Us? I'm not playing, Tuck! Unh-uh! No," she said and she passed the ball back to him.

He stared at her and took a couple of dribbles. "C'mon, mommy. It's only half-court and we'll be on the same team," he said. He put the ball between his legs and shot. He was getting pretty decent. She was glad that her ex-husband had convinced her to let him buy their son a hoop for his 7th birthday which was three months ago. Eli had helped her install it when it arrived the morning of his birthday all wrapped up, no doubt by Tucker's new wife, Jaida. Miranda had met her a few times. Miranda liked her enough. She was a nice girl. A girl because she was in her mid-20s while Tuck was pushing. She shook those thoughts from her head. As long as he was happy, right?

"Mommy!" Tuck said and Miranda turned to look at him and a ball hit her in the back of the head.

"Damn it," she said as she rubbed the spot. Tuck ran to her. "Damn it!!" She really hated cursing in front of her son, but it hurt like hell.

"Are you okay?" He asked. His face was so full of concern. Miranda started to nod her head, but every part of her head hurt. "Are you going to be able to play?"

"I didn't want to play in the first place, Tuck," she said slowly.

"But, I wanted you to," he said picking up the ball.

Miranda forgot about her pain for a second and took a deep breath. "I'm okay. And if you really want me to play, I will."

He pointed to the other side of the court. "Okay, well, if the guy with the white t-shirt's team scores, they win and we can play." Miranda followed his gaze and looked at the eight people moving about on the basketball court. One guy looked really familiar. Maybe it was her head that was still kind of throbbing that made her think that she might know him. "Yes! Let's go!" Tuck said grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the finished game. "We got next, Alex" he said gesturing from himself to his mother. Someone giggled. Miranda ignored them.

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