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“Thank you.”

“Also, he asked me to make sure you got that,” he pointed out uncomfortably at a package wrapped in white paper with an awkward-looking bow sitting on the end of the table. A table buried in more food than River’s whole baseball team could possibly eat in a week.

“Thank you,” I repeated.

He slipped silently out the door, and I turned to see River reaching for a handful of chips.

“River!” I scalded.

“What? They’re here and free.” He shrugged, stuffing some in his mouth and crunching loudly.

My stomach rumbled at the sight. Fresh vegetables, cheeses, deli meats, and platters of fried food.

“How many other people are joining us?” I asked no one.

“I think it’s just us,” a soft voice answered, and I spun around to see two women standing in the doorway wearing matching jerseys.

“I hope so. Cody promised it would only be family,” the older woman commented, and my hunger dissipated, replaced by nerves.

“Family,” I whispered under my breath, but obviously not quietly enough.

“You must be Tillie,” she added.

“I am,” I confirmed.

“Where’s this River we’ve heard so much about?” the older lady asked.

It took a while, and I was slow on the uptake, but then the pieces fell together. Two older women. Both wearing jerseys with Cody’s name on the back. They knew my name, and they knew about River.

“You’re Cody’s Mom,” I declared, and she nodded.

“I am.”

“So you must be his grandmother.”

“I’m so glad we finally get to meet Tillie. Cody has told us so much about you and River. You’ve really inspired him,” his mom gushed, and I felt my cheeks burn.

“Well, he failed to let me know about this little reunion.” I snickered.

His grandmother tossed her head back and laughed loudly. “Sounds like Cody. He always loved surprises. Have you ever been to a game before?”

We fell into an easy conversation, keeping things light. I don’t know why it mattered to me so much, but I desperately wanted these women to like me. Maybe it was because I knew how important they were to Cody.

“Mom! Mom! Come look. It’s Cody!” River interrupted.

He was standing outside staring down at the field.

“Come on,” his mom encouraged, taking me by the elbow and guiding me out the door.

I stepped into the sunshine and settled my glasses back over my eyes, blocking out the glare. The scent of freshly mown grass was overpowered by popcorn. Cheers erupted as the teams stepped out onto the field and lined up. My eyes found Cody immediately. He looked good. I mean, he always looked good, but standing in the middle of the field in his tight blue pants, ball cap, and jersey, somehow, he was even hotter. And from the moans and groans echoing around the stadium, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

“Tillie?” his grandmother called out.

“You don’t have a jersey?”

I glanced down at my simple white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, and suddenly felt underdressed. When we’d left Cody’s apartment, I thought I was dressed appropriately, but now that it had been questioned, I was second-guessing everything.

“I don’t. Honestly, I didn’t even think about stopping to get one,” I confessed.