storm surge | Page 8

straightened back up, holding her bar in one hand. “Share?” She ripped the plastic off the snack and broke it in half, handing one part over to her reluctant companion. “It’s the peanut butter one you like, Dar. C’mon.”

Dar’s brows lifted, and she accepted the offering, sniffing it. “Mm. Okay.” She bit into the bar. “Ready?” She indicated the gathering crowd, some of whom were looking curiously at the Lexus. “Before we become the entertainment?”

“Aren’t we always?” Kerry stuck her granola bar in her mouth and opened the door, hopping out and taking a breath of the hot air. “Whoo boy.” She tugged her sleeveless muscle shirt away from her body and spared a grateful thank you to Dar’s suggestion they change into shorts before coming out to the park.

Dar joined her, sticking the door opener in her front pocket and letting the key hang down outside it. She munched her half of their snack as they walked towards the group of people. “You up for a swim after this?”

Kerry made a small groan of agreement. “Hi Mari.” She greeted the HR VP, who had just arrived in a neatly pressed pair of walking shorts and a crisp, white short sleeved shirt. “Looks like you had a great turnout.”

“Sure does.” Mari agreed. “However, it was forcefully brought home to me that if you call a meeting at dinner time you’re obligated to provide dinner.” She gazed pointedly at Kerry’s granola bar. “I don’t suppose you brought enough to share, did you?”

Caught in mid chew, Kerry shook her head slightly. She swallowed hastily. “Sorry.”

“Hmph.” Mari sighed.

“Hey, she shared with me.” Dar licked the last crumb off her fingertips. “Tell everyone to go out and find a pizzeria after this. No one’s gonna starve.”

Kerry gave her a wry look, receiving an innocent bat of Dar’s dark lashes in return. She chuckled and shook her head, as she followed Dar over to the big group, feeling the sweat start to gather already on her skin.

“Hey Kerry!” Mark waved at her as they approached. “Hey big D.”

“Hey.” Kerry glanced around, seeing quite a number of people from their own department mixed with others from the office. “Hey guys.” She waggled her fingers at two of the junior accountants. “So here we are.”

“Hello, Kerry.” Mayte appeared. “I am glad you were able to come here. This should be fun. No?” She had her hair pulled back into a neat tail like Dar’s and she was smiling. “I have never played baseball.”

“Me either… but I think it’ll be a blast.” Her boss went over to the rows of wooden, weathered, bench seating and carefully eased down on one of the less splintered planks.

“Really? You never did?” Mayte sounded surprised. “Mama thought surely you were a superstar at the least!” She took a seat next to Kerry.

“Really.” Kerry rubbed her temple, trying to stifle the blush she could feel coming on, not being helped at all by her snickering partner. “Your mama is way too nice. Sometimes.” She added. “Actually, Dar was and is the superstar athlete in the family.”

Mayte peeked past her to smile at Dar, who shrugged modestly. “I’ve never played softball either.” The dark haired woman clarified. “But I’ve done other things.”

“Did you know Dar still holds her high school’s record in the broad jump?” Kerry asked, split seconds before her mind realized what she’d just said and she nearly fell off the bench when Mayte’s eyes widened almost into the size of golf balls. “Not.. ah.. it’s a track and field event.”

Dar put her head down on her folded arms resting on the plank and started laughing.

“Jesu.” Mayte covered her eyes. “I was thinking schools have changed so much it is amazing.”

Kerry sighed. “Sorry about that. If it’s any consolation, I went to an all girl Christian high school, and we didn’t have.. that.. event either.” She paused. “That I know of.”

The rest of the crowd joined her and settled on the ominously creaking structure. Dar eyed it, then decided to remain standing next to Kerry, just leaning an elbow on one of the planks.

“Thank you all for showing up on time.” Mari took up her familiar role standing on the dusty ground in front of the stadium seats. “I really appreciate it. This won’t take too much time, I just wanted to go over what the schedule is going to be, and what’s expected of us.”

“And give out hats.” Dar supplied, after she stopped speaking.

“Do you have a fixation on those hats?” Mari asked, giving her an exasperated look. “I’ll have cows horns put on them in a minute.”

The crowd chuckled, a lot of heads turning to look at Dar’s distinctive profile.

“Moo.” Dar promptly responded. “I like cows. They produce my two favorite foods, cheeseburgers and milk.”

Mari cleared her throat conspicuously. “Ahem.”