Scoring Position Strike Zone Series Book 3

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Kayleigh

      Jenna Segler is a force to be reckoned with. Nate's mother has been with us for the last few weeks. I love her. She knows exactly what I need. I have a feeling she's been wanting to plan a wedding for a while, but I think she thought it would be Molly's before her boys.

      She understands that I want certain things and isn't pushing her opinion on us at all. She understands I'm not the big, flashy wedding kind of gal and that I just want something simple and small. So we are getting married in a week. That doesn't give us a lot of time, but since we are having it really small and intimate, we don't have as much to do.

     "It's the size of a nice dinner party," Jenna says as she takes a bite of her salad. "Small, intimate, and completely romantic with the location. I think it suits the two of you perfectly!"

     "Yeah, Nate's a private person. He always hated all the promo stuff the crazy bitch made him do for her." Molly mutters with an annoyed tone, then looks up as Jenna and I just stare at her. "Sorry.... Old habit."

     "Well, you aren't Carla, thank God. Nate is better off." Jenna smiles, trying to smooth over Molly's statement. "You make him happy. That's all I want for my kids. For all of them to find someone who can make them happy."

     It doesn't bother me as much as it did when Carla is brought up. I know Nate had a long and really bad past with her. I also know he wants nothing to do with her now. Her and I couldn't be more different. It's like night and day. I know Nate loves me, something he never felt for Carla. I'm not worried about it. In fact, for the first time, I feel really confident in this relationship. I feel confident in Nate. I have everything I've ever wanted with him.

      "This wedding will be perfect, Kayleigh." Molly reaches over and squeezes my hand. I can see the sadness there, but I don't ask. I don't think she's ready to talk about it just yet.

     "Absolutely! I'll make sure of it, honey. Nothing will ruin your day. The ceremony, dinner, cake, all of it. You two need some happy time together." Jenna smiles and looks at her daughter as if she's applying the same sentiment for her.

      I'm really glad she feels this way for us. I would hate to go against my mother-in-law-to-be, but I'm not planning on having another wedding. I want this to be right. And Nate agrees with me. At least, he says he does. I don't think it's the ceremony that really matters to him, it's that we will be married. He's been great about the whole planning thing. I know his mother sort of barged in on us and ruined what plans he had going.

      She didn't seem phased by his pouting over her extended visit. In fact, she was more than happy to cook, clean up what mess he had made, and dote on him as I'm betting she's always done. By dinner, he had turned his attitude around and was back to his happy self. I'm glad, because I couldn't even think about doing this without her.

     Having been without a mother all my life, it's nice to finally have one. It makes me wonder what kind I will be. I've not had any good examples of parenting in my life and I've never been around little kids. I could be horrible, or worse, treat them as I was treated.

     I don't think I could live with myself if I ever treated a child as if they didn't matter. No, I wouldn't be that kind of parent, but I would need help. A lot of help. Thinking about this, I look around the restaurant and see a baby eating cheerios in a highchair and smile. A soft, dreamy smile that makes me think about Nate as a father. I bet he'll be great. And I know, boy or girl, his child will be playing ball with him.

     "What was Nate like as a child?" I wonder, more to myself than anyone.

      Jenna smiles and looks over at the baby I'm watching. "Oh, I remember mine at that age. Molly was the cleanest baby in the world. She hated to get her hands dirty and would wash them constantly.