Lucky 33 (Love in the District #2)

6. Abraham Lincoln

CHAPTER 6

AbrAHAM LINCOLN

P izza stain do-overs, 33s, oh my. Amy’s awareness of the world around her was getting sharper, but she wasn’t sure what to do when she saw the number 33 or something seemingly crazy happened. Mystic Natasha mentioned the number and the impossible turning possible, but what is it all supposed to mean? She left that part out. Overthinking was a Mansfield family trait, so she had been analyzing everything, which was exhausting because she'd yet to find an answer.

Luckily, Amy could just relax and enjoy herself that afternoon. She was meeting up with Belinda, her husband Greg, and their adorable toddler, Ollie. She arrived at the Arboretum and made her way to the ultimate picnic spot in the city, the National Grove of State Trees. Belinda had already claimed a coveted picnic table and was setting up while Greg carried little Ollie around to look at the nearby trees.

“Hey,” Belinda said, coming over to hug Amy. “Good news, Ollie is on his best behavior today. Hopefully, it makes up for his horrific behavior at Chipotle last time.”

“I love that little monster in all his forms,” Amy laughed. “But this is my preferred form. ”

“You and me both,” Belinda sighed. She waved Greg over to the picnic table. He put Ollie down and greeted Amy.

“Me-Me,” Ollie cheered, grinning at Amy. She hoped he never learned to say Amy and always called her Me-Me.

“Hi, Ollie-Wollie,” she said, bursting with love for the little guy. Greg pulled Belinda to his side, the two of them watching on with pride.

Amy felt the slightest tingle of envy every time she saw them. She wasn’t at the point of wanting a family, but she wasn’t opposed to getting the ball rolling with the right guy. There was something about the ease she saw between the couples in her life. It was all so appealing to her. Amy wanted that ease and support, too, and she had it from her friends and family—but she wanted a romantic partner. I deserve it, too, right? She figured it was her fault for being married to her business, but Sparkle and Shine brought her so much happiness.

Despite a fun afternoon with Belinda’s family, she felt so melancholic at home that evening. Witnessing Brit and Harrison’s relationship progress and spending the day with Belinda’s happy family highlighted her loneliness. Beyond the problem of not having a boyfriend, there was only so much she could ask of others in her life for intimacy and support. Recently, Amy had an overwhelming need for more in her life. She couldn’t rely on Laura as her constant companion like she used to, and her other friends had busy lives. Throwing herself into her work was losing its appeal as she took in the love that others had in their personal lives. She had been uncomfortable with sitting with these feelings in the past and had busied herself with other things until those feelings retreated into the background once again. She had a habit of dwelling on things and had worked hard over the years to find ways to distract herself, but lately, she hadn’t been able to do that. Her need for a partner had been turned on and couldn’t be turned off.

“Chili dogs, ladies?” Jake asked, stretching up from his stadium seat in Nationals Park.

“I’d never say no to one,” Amy responded, lifting the brim of her baseball cap to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead.

“You know chili dogs and my stomach don’t get along,” Laura groaned. “I’ll go with nachos with all the fixings.”

Jake saluted the sisters and made his way down their row.

The stadium was packed that day for the first game in the series against the Nats’ division rivals, the Phillies. The park had given out souvenir mini bats to children, which was a clear mistake, as children around the stadium whacked their siblings, parents, and anything in reaching distance with the bats.

“We would have destroyed each other with those when we were little,” Laura said, watching a particularly brutal sibling battle.

“True story,” Amy agreed.

They had always been best friends, but the lure of a bat battle attracted anyone.

“Jake sure has ants in his pants today,” Amy observed.

“Yeah, more than usual,” Laura nodded. “Wonder what his deal is?”

The Phillies ran off the field as the Nationals’ batter struck out, ending the inning. “Attention Nationals fans, I’d like you to direct your attention to the big screen for a special treat.”

Amy and Laura dropped their conversation and squinted in the bright sun at the big screen. There was Jake, surrounded by mascots: Screech, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Amy gasped and turned to her sister, who seemed just as shocked to see Jake kneeling on the pitcher’s mound, microphone in hand. “Laura Mansfield. Hey. Laura! Hi.” He waved to her in the stands. Laura continued to stare at Jake in confusion.

“I thought he was getting me nachos,” Laura mumbled, still looking at the screen .

Amy shook her sister’s arm and pointed to the pitcher’s mound in front of them.

“Laura, can you come closer? Hop over the railing and get down here. Security don’t zip-tie her. This is approved.”

Classic Jake.

Laura looked like a zombie crawling across the people in their row and down to the railing. Abraham Lincoln came over to catch her as she jumped to the field. He carried her like a bride over to the mound.

I should take pictures before I miss the whole thing! Amy couldn’t believe Jake pulled this off. She got her phone out of her back pocket, started the video, and stumbled across everyone's legs in her row to get to the railing for a better view.

“Laura, since the moment I saw you on our disastrous first date, I was convinced you were tailor-made for me. I don’t want to spend another moment without locking you down and making sure none of these DC hotshots steal you away. Will you marry me?”

The microphone that George Washington held up to her was unnecessary. The entire eastern seaboard could have heard Laura screaming yes.

Amy’s face was soaked with happy tears. This is the best day ever! She did notice just the tiniest prickle of jealousy from deep in her heart. Will I ever have this?