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By the time the next season rolls around, Carson is an excellent spanish scribe and cobbler extraordinaire. With her coach privileges, she’s able to get into the house a few days before the rest of the girls. And while she was never much a homemaker, she thinks she knows the girls well enough to spruce up the house. She puts the coasters she found with peaches on them around the house. The long shoe rack she found by a dumpster is put outside so they have a place to air out their cleats. And finally, the notes she wrote all the players are put on their respective beds.
The note on Esti’s bed is accompanied by the letter Carson didn’t have the time to send before the young girl returned to the States. The two of them had sent each other letters throughout the off-season. Esti’s in english and Carson’s in spanish. The two would correct each other's letters and send them with their response.
On the day the Peaches arrive, Carson awaits at the train station with her new blue truck. Her first group of peaches she’s picking up are Jess, Lupe, Ana. Carson accepts being pushed around the group as they take turns hugging their shorter teammate. Anna even goes as far as ruffling her hair.
“Heard you are a fluent speaker now, Shaw. The kid won’t shut up about it.” Lupe tells her as they all throw their luggage in the truck.
Carson shrugs, “Not really.”
“Not really my ass,” Jess slaps her shoulder, “take a fucking compliment.”
“No really. Speaking is not my thing. But I can read and write! Esti is a rigorous editor.”
“Bullshit.” Lupe laughs, “Say something. Right now.”
Carson sighs in defeat, “Si te ríes de mí estás corriendo vueltas.” If you laugh at me you're running laps.
Lupe stares at her, a toothpick hanging loosely from her lips, “Yeah that was horrible.”
“Almost as bland as that meatloaf you made last summer.” Jess comments with a grin.
“Ok, well not all of us can shack up with spanish speaker all season.” Carson grumbles as she gets in the car. Jess slides in next to her, then Lupe, and finally Ana. It’s a tight squeeze, but the drive is short.
“Shut up. You’re lucky it’s just Ana in the car with us.”
Carson grins at Lupe, “So did you two tie the knot? Maybelle and I made bets.”
Jess has to take Lupe’s hand that was reaching to hit Carson.
“Aww, look. They’re holding hands.” Ana laughs.
“I hate you guys.” Lupe fumes but doesn’t remove her hand from Jess’s.
“¿Qué? ¿Estás enojado porque no tuvimos tiempo para casarnos?” Jess ask with an easy smile. What? You mad we didn't have time to get married?
“She. Can. Understand. You.” Lupe hisses, her cheeks turning a deep red.
“I can.” Carson agrees, only because Jess is still a new speaker but they don’t need to know that. “And Ana how exciting, we might have a Peaches marriage in the near future.”
“As soon as my hands are free I’m strangling you. I’m picturing it as I speak.” Lupe tells her.
“Kinky.” Anna jokes, “Nice accent Jess. I’d almost believe they spoke spanish instead of french in that frozen tundra you call home.”
“What can I say, it’s all in the tongue and lips.” Jess kisses a still blushing Lupe’s cheek.
“Poor Greta. Hopefully, your finger game makes up for it.” Ana winks at Carson before joining in laughing with Jess and Lupe.
Carson rolls her eyes.
She had missed her girls.
///
Terri, Shirley, Dorothy, and a new girl who was traded to the team are in her second group. Shirley had insisted that she stay behind so they could all safely be transported back to the house. And instead of arguing Carson just let it happen.
When Carson returns, Shirley is literally in the spot she left her in, but she didn’t expect any different. She’s given a longer, tighter hug than the one she was given earlier.
“Didn’t want to come off too queer to the new girl.” Shirley confides in her friend as she slides into the truck. She presses against Carson’s side and grabs her friend's hand.
“So a little queer is ok?” Carson jokes as she impressively turns out of the parking lot with one hand.
Shirley bites her lip and looks away, “I think so.”
“OK. Yeah. Whatever works for you.” Carson tells her while she gently squeezes Shirley’s hand.
Shirley nods, “Missed you.”
“Missed you too Shirl.”
///
Helen and Nancy come in together. Which is odd because Carson knows they live on different coasts. But sure enough, they come in with tans and secretive smiles.
Good for them.
…
And then Carson remembers they’re rooming together this season.
Good for them.
///
Maybelle comes in next, all shoulder shimmies and smiles. She throws the cards the kids had made Carson on the dashboard and immediately turns on the radio.
“You know I love my kids Carson,” Maybelle starts, “But I will lobotomize myself if I don’t get a smoke and slow dance soon.”
“You don’t feel like doing the jitterbug anytime anymore, huh?” Carson jokes, “She pulls a flash out of her pocket and passes it to Maybelle, “Figured you’d want to get the party rolling as soon as you got in.”
“And you assumed right!” Maybelle squeals before downing the entire flask, “Yeah, if I don’t have my thighs around someone’s waist within the week, I’m going to be dangerous.”
“Jesus May.” Carson turns into the driveway where Lupe and Jess are waiting on the porch.
The car isn’t even parked when Maybelle jumps out of it and flies up the stairs. Lupe and Jess sport wide grins as they pull her into a group hug.
“My rascals!” Maybelle smothers the two in kisses, “How did you two get even more handsome?”
Jess sniffs the other blonde, “Smells like you need a smoke to go with that drink, Belle.”
“Only if you’re offering.” Maybelle looks down at their hands and frowns, “Damnit, I owe Carson.”
Lupe throws up her hands, “We wouldn’t even have rings.”
“We wouldn’t?” Jess tilts her head to the side. “What not?”
Lupe stalks off into the house as Carson brings Maybelle’s things up.
“Are you sure Macy didn’t sneak in here?” Carson asks as she reaches the front door.
“Had to double-check myself. It was a close call.” Maybelle laughs.
“What, she’s 12? Give it four years and she can be on the team.” Jess tells her. She takes the bag from Carson and leads Maybelle into the house, “You gotta see what we did for Esti’s room. She’s gonna love it.”
///
Greta comes in at 12:30 sharp. A proper time for the two teammates to get lunch before heading to the house. And if Carson happens to show Greta the new upgrades to the pitch and the locker room… well that’s just their business.
///
The last pickup is Esti. And Carson has to fight Lupe and Jess from coming with her to pick the teen up.
“We haven’t seen her in months. We’re going.” Lupe tells her as she tries to push her aside.
“Look, I need you guys to stay here. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“It better be a good surprise.” Jess glares at Carson before taking Lupe by the shoulders and walking to check on Esti’s side of the room again.
Ana stops her as Carson walks onto the porch, “Esti and who else?”
“What?”
“We’re missing a player. They new?” Ana smiles at Carson like she knows who’s coming back. And, of course, she does. She and Carson share a catcher connection– or something.
“Coach secret. Sorry.” Carson jokes, “But if you could make sure the girls don’t drink all the alcohol before I get back, that would be great. Oh and stay inside.”
Ana salutes her, “Will do, Coach.”
///
At the train station, Carson bounces on the soles of her feet as she holds up a sign that reads ‘¡Bienvenida de nuevo Esti!’. It’s a simple message, ‘Welcome back Esti!’, but it’s the thought that counts right?
Carson spots the teen in her signature pastel cardigan and wide eyes.
“Esti!” Carson shouts, and the teen finally notices her. When she sees the sign she drops her luggage so she can jump and clap.
“Carson! Estoy tan contento de verte!” Esti cheers as she throws herself onto her pen pal. I am so happy to see you.
Carson returns the hug, “I will not be embarrassing myself again by speaking spanish. But I missed you too.”
“Lupe?” Esti asks with a smirk.
“Lupe. Doesn’t help that Jess is a natural.” Carson shrugs, “But it’s whatever; now that you’re here, I’ll have a proper, nice teacher.”
Esti nods, “I am very nice.”
“Ok, we are waiting on one more person and then–
“Already here, farm girl.”
Carson turns and, without thought, throws her arms around Jo De Luca. When Esti notices who it is she also jumps onto the other woman. Jo stumbles back with the added weight but soon drops her luggage to hug her teammates.
“Howdy Peaches.”
“Jo! You came back. No more Blue Sox.” Esti says happily as she pulls back. “Good. You are a Peach girl.”
“Yep,” Jo grins at Carson, “and Coach Shaw made sure of it. I don’t know how, but I’m thankful.”
Carson shrugs, “Just did the right thing.”
“Will you just take a compliment?” Jo groans.
“You two are the last ones in.” As they walk back to the truck, Carson tells them, “There’s food waiting back at the house. So be ready for a party.”
“Dancing!” Esti cheers, “Candy?”
“Yeah, I think I saw Jess sneak a few bags of chocolates in your dresser when Lupe wasn’t looking.” Carson tells her, “You’re rooming with her this year. You’re with me Jo.”
“Special preseason trade and rooming with a Coach? Wow, I feel important.” Jo jokes.
Esti pats her shoulder, “You are important Jo.”
“Thanks kid.” Jo hides her smile by looking out the window.
As they pull into the neighborhood, Carson says, “I didn’t tell anyone that I got you back, so I would prepare for a whole bunch of screaming and hugging Jo.”
“No one?” Jo repeats, and Carson knows she is asking about Greta.
Carson shakes her head, “No one.”
Esti bats her eyes at Carson and grins, “Ohhhhh. Greta is going to give you sooooo many kisses when she finds out.”
“What?!” Carson shrieks as Jo begins to laugh uncontrollably.
Esti only continues to make kissy faces at Carson until the car is parked. Like Maybelle, Esti jumps out of the car, kneeing Jo in the process, as she crawls over her and runs up to the house.
“Jess! Lupe! ¡Estoy en casa!” The teen yells as she enters the house. I’m home!
Carson meets Jo at the side of the car and nudges her up the stairs, “You heard her, you’re home.”
Jo rolled her eyes, but Carson would swear on a month of ration cards that she saw tears in her eyes.
“Carson get in here.” From still inside the house, Greta says, “Shirley is trying to bully Sarge into switching rooms so you two are together again.”
As Jo steps into the house she drops her luggage at the door, “Sorry Shirl, I get Carson this year.”
The only noise in the house is the quiet music from their shitty radio. All of the girls are frozen as they take in their third baseman standing in the foyer she had been escorted out of months prior.
Jess breaks first and jumps onto Jo, “Fuck yeah!”
Lupe follows Jess’s lead and nearly brings the two women down with her hug. Terri, ever the practical one, hugs Jo from the back to supply some support. After that, all the girls fall in line to hug their friend.
All except two.
Greta walks to Carson and throws an arm over her shoulder, “I knew you were hiding something.”
“A good something?” Carson asks sheepishly.
“I think you’re only capable of good, Carson Shaw.” Greta leans down to bite Carson’s earlobe and whispers, “Such a good girl.”
Carson lets herself lean back into the wall, “You can’t just do that Greta. You know I can’t concentrate!”
“Don’t worry. After this, you won’t need to concentrate on anything baby. I’ll take care of you.” Greta pulls away, “Oh look, it’s my turn to hug Joey. Bye!”
Lupe and Jess walk up to her and slap her back simultaneously. Carson’s legs buckle and they laugh.
“You did good, Shaw.” Jess tells her.
Greta laughs, “I was just telling her the same thing.” She walks away with a wink.
Lupe stares at Shaw and gives her a once over, “Figures that's your thing.”
“Oh, shut up.” Carson grumbles.
“But really, Good looking out.” Lupe tells her with a smile. She gestures to where Jo and Greta are rocking back and forth as they hug.
“Who turned down the music?” Maybelle shouts from the landing, “I thought we were having a party?”
Esti jumps the last three steps, much to Sarge and Lupe’s displeasure, and is followed by Maybelle.
When Maybelle enters the room she doesn’t freeze like the rest of the girls did, but runs full speed to Jo. Her legs easily wrap around Jo’s waist as she cries, “Josephine!”
Jo spins her as she laughs, “Hey, roomie. Miss me?” She tries to put Maybelle down, but the blonde won’t budge.
“She’s had a few drinks,” Greta tells Jo, “How about we take her upstairs so she can freshen up? Alright everybody, crack open those drinks and dig into the food. This party is back on track!”
The girls all cheer, and most go to the kitchen to get more booze. Beverly shakes her head as she approaches the three players still near the wall.
“Will one of you make sure to put on some music and turn it up? I have a feeling Ms. Fox is going to make it as hard as possible for me to ignore the going ons of her plans for Ms. De Luca.”
Carson chokes on her drink as Lupe and Jess howl in laughter.
“I am going to bed.” Beverly looks at Jess, “You are in charge McCready.”
Beverly walks away with a small smile.
“I knew she had a soft spot for you.” Carson tells the Canadian.
“What you jealous?”
Carson shakes her head as she walks to the stairs, “Nope, because this means I can get wasted. Have fun being the party police!”
Esti runs into the room, hands sticky and cobbler on her face, “Good pie Carson.”
“Thanks. Go put on whatever music you want Esti.” Carson says, “We’re having a party.”
Esti laughs, “Yeah. So we don’t hear Maybelle and Jo.” The teen makes more kissy faces as she runs to grab the records she brought from home.
Lupe and Jess look at each other in shock.
“Who taught her that?!”
It’s Carson’s time to laugh, “She’s 17. She knows what kissing is.”
Jess shakes her head in disgust, “Not on our watch.”
“Not happening.” Lupe agrees.
“Good luck with that.” Carson tells them as she turns to leave.
Sydney, the new girl, stands by the staircase, fidgeting with her glasses.
Carson stops and smiles, “We’re a lot of energy but a lot of fun. I promise.”
“It looks like it,” Sydney takes a step closer to Carson, “can I ask a question though?”
“Uh, sure?”
“You’re all a bunch of queers right?” Syndey ask.
“Uh, what? No! Of course–”
“You’re a really bad liar, you should work on that.” Sydney tells her with a smile.
“Ok?” Carson doesn’t really know what’s going on here, “But are you– you’re not going to–”
“Oh, I love the ladies,” Sydney laughs, “So this is great! Thanks for the trade coach!” She winks at Carson and makes her way to the kitchen.
Greta is standing at the top of the stairs watching with a smile, “What was that about?”
Carson laughs, “Uh, Sydney called us a big group of queers and then told me she was also queer?”
“We are a bunch of queers, aren’t we? Helen and Nancy?” Greta says as she drags Carson to her room.
“For sure.”
“I caught Shirley staring at Lupe’s ass earlier so…” Greta shrugs, “Looks like this season is shaping up to be better and gayer than the last.”
“Poor Sarge.” Carson jokes.
“Poor Sarge my ass.” As she pushes Carson onto the bed, Greta says, “I handled Vivienne’s personal correspondence, and I saw a few letters from our own Sarge.”
“No.” Carson gasps.
“Yep.” Greta kisses her girlfriend, “But we only have ten minutes at most so let's focus on you.”
///
Carson and Greta join the party twenty minutes later.
Maybelle and Jo make their way back to the party thirty minutes after that.
Helen and Nancy call it a night ten minutes past eleven.
Lupe and Jess put Esti to bed and then disappeared around midnight.
Anna agrees to learn how to use Shirley’s humidifiers around 1 AM and is promptly ushered by Shirley up the stairs.
Sydney gestures to Terri, and Carson shakes her head no. The new player points to quiet Dorothy, and the other queer girls shrug. Sydney sits next to her and they start talking.
Carson calls it a night for everyone around 2. The remaining girls head up to their room. Jo and Carson are only in their room for a moment before their shared door with Greta and Maybelle opens. Greta takes Carson’s hand as Maybelle flops onto Jo’s bed.
“Make sure to lock the door.” Greta reminds them before dragging Carson into her room.
“Why do I feel like I won’t get to spend that much time in my room?” Carson asks her girlfriend.
“Because you are very smart.” Greta tells her, “And kind.”
“Eh,” Carson starts but is pinched by Greta.
“Take the fucking compliment Carson.”
Before Carson can respond, they’re kissing again and her brain, understandably, turns into mush.
Overall, Carson has to say the beginning of the season has started off pretty peachy.
And Carson wouldn't want it any other way.