Page 63 of Grand Slam

I love to tease him. In fact every one of us; me, Gran, and Liz are constantly referring to the baby as him. I even managed to get half the guys on his team to go along with the boy theme.

Honestly I will be happy either way because I know regardless the child will be the luckiest kid out there because their daddy is going to be so present and attentive. I can’t wait to meet the person Kelton and I have created. It may have been unplanned, all of this may have been, but I believe that everything we went through to get here was only to make us stronger. It was the building process to ensure he and I were stable enough to handle the amount of life we’ve been blessed with.

And they were right, January would be here before we knew it.

My parents were planning a visit once the baby arrives. They are both ecstatic about becoming grandparents. They’ve been traveling the world, telling everyone all about how their daughter is marrying a professional baseball player. I’ve never corrected them because the first time they said it Kelton was on the phone with me and them and his quick response left me speechless.

“Marrying Emerson will be one of the best days of my life, running head to head with the day she makes me a father.”

Looking down at the ring on my finger I smile, because it still feels foreign. But after his double header last week against the Geneva Grands, exhausted and with dirt on his face he dropped to his knee just outside the locker room and asked me to marry him. With his team behind him and me staring down at the box in his head I nodded my head and felt the tears drip on our joined hands.

It was the perfect proposal from the perfect man on the perfect day, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I wouldn’t change a single second. I don’t need fancy dinners with flowers and candlelight. I need real, and that night the man I love had nothing but raw emotion when the moment hit.

As if Kelton knows what I was thinking he walks over, bends down and kisses the top of my head. “Love you, sweetheart,” he whispers and I lean back taking the second kiss he offers.

“Love you,” I say in return as Liz makes gagging noises at our side triggering us both to laugh. She may act like it grosses her out but I know without a doubt she loves seeing us happy.

EPILOGUE

Kelton

“I don’t know,”I say as I pace the waiting room. My heart feels like it’s being squeezed. I can barely breath and I know everyone is concerned but I don’t have any answers. I look up when the doors slide open and two people in scrubs step out.

“Kelton James?” the male says reaching out to shake my hand.

“How are they?” I hold my breath bracing for the worst.

I’d been out of town for a fundraiser with a few of the guys when I got the call. It was December, about a month before Emerson was actually due, and both Gran and Liz were with her. In fact Gran had finally decided to come live in Tennessee. Refusing to live with us she found a small condo on the edge of town but having her here was all I’d hoped for.

Now more than anything I was glad to have her here. I needed her support.

“Your wife is in recovery,” he states. “The delivery went well, when she fell she lost consciousness.” I nod feeling unable to form any words. I was destroyed knowing I wasn’t here with her. I’d looked forward to sharing the moment of the birth of our child, imagined cutting the cord and being introduced to our little one together. But now, here we are, and all I want and need to know is that they are both safe.

“Tell me they are both going to be okay.” I need those words more than anything.

Emerson fell trying to hang shit in the baby’s room, and Liz found her. We don’t know how long after the fall she found her. Her breathing was labored, her pulse weak, and she was in a pool of blood. Blood from the head wound as she collided with the corner of the dresser.

“Your daughter is strong, and though she is a month early, she is doing amazing.”

Daughter.

I feel Liz and Gran flank me, each placing their hands on my arms.

“She is small, but that isn’t stopping her. Five pounds, six ounces, eating like a champ.”

My vision is clouded by tears.

“Your wife required stitches, and we are monitoring her closely, but we do feel she will make a full recovery. She’s in and out but has spoken your name.”

“Can I see her?” I need to be there. Fuck I’ve missed so much already. I’m never leaving her ass again, she and our daughter can ride right at my side to every single away event, games,commercials, whatever it be. I know I’m being crazy, but right now it’s how I feel.

“We are going to take you back,” the woman assures me. “She may be in and out, but we figured you’d want to still be at her side.”

“Yes.” I step forward and look at Liz and Gran.

“Go.” Granny June nudges me along. “We’ll be right here waiting for news on momma and our chance to meet your little angel too.”

I have a daughter, I think smiling through the tears as I’m led to the back.

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