that?”
“Yeah, he goes to seminary at Saint Peter’s, not too far from where we are in the city. That’s where he lives usually. I think what he’s doing now, this Transitional Diaconate period, is like an enforced time of reflection before he takes his vows.”
Doing quick math in her head, Sam discerned that Colin was almost thirty. The minute Maureen announced he was becoming a priest Samantha was certain she was going to hell. Not thirty seconds before the proud announcement, Sam was picturing the man naked and begging her imagination to make him drop the towel.
Worse, after the revelation of his holy rank, her dirty mind couldn’t help imagining him like a Chippendale dancer, but instead of a bowtie, he wore a priest’s collar. Yes, she was definitely going to hell.
They walked through the lot of cars she recognized from the house and some she did not. Katherine was sitting beside her mother and father. Her children were running around on the grassy part of the field. Sam was relieved to see members of the family sitting in the bleachers. Perhaps she wouldn’t be expected to play after all.
As they crossed the threshold marked by an opening in the chain link fence surrounding the field, Sheilagh yelled, “Finally, we can pick teams. Jen and I are captains.”
Sam turned and started toward the stands when a sharp whistle sounded. She turned to see Kelly yell, “Where you going, Samantha? The field's this way.”
She stared back at a gaggle of young McCulloughs and some others she didn’t recognize and stammered, “I’m not real good at sports. I’d figured I’d watch.”
Kelly gave her a vagabond’s smile. “No can do, love. Since Kate’s prego we need another player. Come on over so we can pick teams.”
Never one to go against the grain, Sam joined the others by home plate. Everyone was dressed in casual clothes, many wearing kelly-green shirts that said O’Malley’s Bar and Grill. Sheilagh and a young attractive blonde girl with her O’Malley’s shirt tied in a way that showed off her pierced belly button did a quick game of rock, paper, scissors.
The blonde jumped up and down and cheered, “I get first pick! Luke!”
Luke walked over to stand beside the blonde and Sheilagh frowned. “Kelly.”
Kelly joined his sister while the blonde eyed the crowd of players. Sam had a flashback to high school and being picked last. She tried not to take the silly fear seriously.
When the blonde’s eyes landed on Braydon they lit triumphantly. “Bray.”
Braydon left Sam’s side to stand beside the leggy blonde. Everyone turned toward Sheilagh. Kelly whispered something in her ear. She smiled. “Samantha.” Sam looked around thinking surely there was someone else with the same name.
When no one stepped forward she pointed to herself. “Me?”
“Yeah, you. Come on. Welcome to the winning team,” Sheilagh said tugging her between herself and Kelly.
The choosing went back and forth until every player was placed on a team. Jen, the blonde captain, had chosen Braydon, Finn, Luke, her sisters Emily and Taylor, the McCullough’s cousin Pat, and another relative named Giovanni. Sam was confused when Kelly informed her Giovanni was in fact related. She wasn’t sure where the Italian hailed from in the big Irish family.
For their team Sheilagh chose Kelly, Sam, Katherine’s husband Anthony, who everyone called Ant, a cousin named Ryan, a married couple Gina and David, a guy named Tristan, and unfortunately, Colin.
Sam refused to make eye contact with the soon to be priest.
“All right, you picked first so we bat first.” After Sheilagh’s announcement, the other team dispersed onto the field while Sam and the rest of her team lined up in the dugout.
As Sam took the last seat on the bench, she frowned. The blonde girl, Jen, was in the field laughing and pressing her palm into Braydon’s chest.
Kelly sat down beside her and followed her gaze. “Ah,” he said, comprehending what
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