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you—being a police officer—allowing him to do this, made it okay in his mind.”
    â€œBut I gave it to him. That’s different.”
    Joey’s dad stroked his chin. “It is different. Yes. But the fact remains that the precedent was set and you—or I—never told him, ‘Joey, this is something that’s okay only when we give it to you.’ We never said that.”
    â€œIt’s implied .”
    Joey’s dad crossed the kitchen and put his hand on her shoulder. “Honey, it’s the championship. He’s nervous about it. He was exhausted and desperate and the only other time he was like that before, we gave him a Valium. Please, let it go.”
    Joey studied his mother’s hardened face.

10
    Her shoulders relaxed. She didn’t smile, but her lips disappeared and her mouth became a flat line before she spoke. “Okay. I get it. You’re right.”
    Joey’s dad hugged her and kissed her forehead. “You’re the best cop I ever met.”
    â€œOf course I am,” she said. “Go on, Joseph. Get dressed and let’s get you to the ball game.”
    Joey was careful not to whoop with joy because he sensed the delicacy of the truce between his parents. It wasn’t often that his mom backed down, and he’d never seen her reverse a punishment. It made him giddy and his feet seemed to float above the carpet as he scooted around the corner and up the stairs to get ready.
    They drove to the ball field together, Joey riding in the back of his dad’s Jeep with Martin strapped down in his car seat. The sun had burned off the early morning fog, washing everything in its golden glow. High, puffy clouds dodged about the blue field in a breeze so weak the flag hung limp on its pole beside the scoreboard. Half of Joey’s Blue Jays team was already there, tossing balls back and forth in front of their dugout. Joey narrowed his eyes as he climbed out of the Jeep and saw Zach unloading his bat bag in front of the bench.
    â€œGood luck.” Joey’s father held out a hand and they shook before Joey headed for his team.
    Zach leaned his bat inside the dugout wall and turned to see Joey. Zach hugged him and messed his hair, knocking off his hat.
    â€œTake it easy.” Joey looked around.
    â€œHow good is this? Me being here? And I owe it all to you. Our whole team owes you.” Zach turned to shout to the rest of the team. “Hey, guys—”
    Joey grabbed Zach by the shoulders and spun him around. A couple of teammates peered curiously but went back to warming up.
    â€œStop that. Keep it down. Act normal. I almost got grounded.” Joey leaned close and whispered the story about his mom and the pill.
    â€œThat’s how you shut down Kratz’s crazy mutt?” Zach’s eyes widened. “Man, you are so smooth. That is so bad . You’re my hero, bro.”
    â€œShh. Just stop. Let’s get out there. We can talk out on the field.” Joey dumped his bat bag in the dugout and began to arrange his equipment the way he liked it, bat leaning in his lucky corner, batting glove hanging over the edge of the dugout, and the helmet he liked on the spot at the end of the bench where he always sat.
    â€œHey, Coach Cooper.” Zach nodded at the assistant coach.
    Joey said hello, too, while he wormed his hand into his glove, and then they took the field.
    â€œNow,” Zach said before they reached the pitcher’s mound, “stop right here and I want you to look into the stands, because one good turn deserves another. I’m like that, you know, and so . . . I have a monster surprise for you. Go ahead, turn and look.”
    Zach pointed up into the stands.
    Joey turned and couldn’t believe what he saw.

11
    If there was anything that rivaled baseball in Joey’s heart, he would have to admit that it was Leah McClosky. Her hair, dark as licorice, fell like silk around her pale face