They used to keep in close enough contact that Ben wouldn’t have had to ask. “Work’s been about the same.”

“Any change on the little girl who needs a heart transplant?”

“What little girl?” Hadley Jane asked.

“One of the babies I take care of at the hospital.” To Ben, Sebastian said, “We had to take her off the transplant list, but then we put her back on. Now we’re just waiting to see if a heart becomes available in time.”

“I hope it does. I feel for her and her parents.”

Hadley Jane’s jaw dropped. “She’s getting a new heart?”

“That’s the plan.”

“I want a new heart!”

“Your heart is already perfect. That’s my professional diagnosis as a surgeon.”

“But I don’t want this old one.”

“Newer isn’t always better.”

“Yeah huh, it is.”

“How’s your baseball team been doing?” Sebastian asked Ben. Ben had played baseball in college and now competed in a men’s league.

“We’re still dominating.”

“And your strained hamstring?”

“Better.”

Ben probably thought he knew how much their friendship meant to Sebastian. After all, Ben had experienced every minute of time they’d spent together. Yet Ben couldn’t know what his friendship had meant to a heartbroken, lonely kid. He couldn’t know what his dependability had been worth to a boy who’d learned young that the world wasn’t a reliable place. “Has anyone seen Luke here in Misty River since he was released?”

“Not that I know of. I’m planning to reach out to his mom soon to see if I can get his number from her.”

Sebastian nodded. “See you at church on Sunday?”

“Yes, and also Tuesday night, for dinner with Natasha and Genevieve.”

“Right.”

“I’m glad you’re going to be in town for the whole week.”

“Same here.”

“Now pass the child.” Ben reached for Hadley Jane. “You haven’t come over to see me yet, little girl. Which means you haven’t discovered the hidden lollipop I brought for you.”

She squealed and scrambled into Ben’s arms.

Sebastian found Leah and lowered onto the bleacher seat next to her.

Leaning back, she introduced him to the older couple sitting on her far side. They were wearing jerseys and Dylan pins that matched Leah’s.

Rudy grinned at him. “Are you two dating?”

“Yes,” Sebastian answered before Leah could say no.

“Rudy,” Tess said to her husband. “That’s not a very polite question.”

“I can’t help myself!” Rudy replied. “I’m just so happy to see Leah with a young man. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“The pleasure’s mine.”

“Isn’t Leah the best?” Rudy asked.

“The best.”

“She’s the smartest thing.” Rudy’s glasses slipped down his nose. “The sweetest.”

“I don’t consider myself to be sweet,” Leah murmured under her breath to Sebastian.

“But smart you’ll accept?” he murmured back.