Page 30 of Pitching for Keeps
"Works for a boy or a girl. Tracy Jr. TJ for short. TJ Talley. Great pitcher name."
"We're not naming our kid based on how it sounds in a starting lineup!"
"Fine." He's quiet for a moment, hand still resting on my stomach. "How about something that means something to both of us?"
"Like what?"
"River."
It takes me a second. "Like River Park?"
"Where we spent so much of our college years. The place you sat behind home plate and recorded all my stats." His voice goes soft. "College was the best time of my life until now."
"River Talley," I test it out.
"Great athlete name."
"Great any kind of name."
"So it's not weird that I already want to sign our kid up for Little League?"
"The baby’s a raspberry, Jay."
"A raspberry with potential!"
I laugh, snuggling into his chest. "No more sports talk until we have a toddler.”
"River." He tests it out again, smiling.
"Who can be anything he or she wants to be."
"Anything," he agrees. "As long as our baby's happy."
"And healthy."
"And maybe knows how to properly grip a four-seam fastball."
"Jay!"
"That's just basic life skills! I love you," he says quietly. "Both of you."
“I know.” I can’t stop smiling.
"Okay, but can I just say one more thing?"
I sigh. "One thing."
"The 2040 Olympics are in Brisbane. Our firstborn will be seventeen. Perfect age for a debut?—"
"Jay!"
His laughter fills our apartment, mixing with mine, and I think about our children growing up with this sound. With his determination and my organization and all the love two former college sweethearts can give.
Our first child can be anything he or she wants to be.
But if this child happens to have a killer changeup, well. That would be okay too.
"Stop thinking about her changeup," Jay says, because he knows me too well.
