“Who caught the fucking ball?” I scream.
“I did,” Travis Kidd says as he throws the white and red seamed rock at me. “You’re welcome!” he yells.
Cashman finally sets me down and I go over to Travis and hug him. It’s a long one, filled with emotion. “Thanks, man.”
“Just doing my job,” he replies. His job or not, he’s cemented my return with this victory.
After I’ve had my press conference and showered, I step out into the hallway to find my family standing there. Matty and Chase rush to me, each taking a side to hug, while Bellamy steps to my middle and gives me a kiss.
“You had us worried.”
“Nah,” I say, as if pitching a shut-out is something I do often.
She laughs. “Nice game, Hawk.”
“Just doing my job.”
“Come on,” she says. “There’s someplace we have to be.” She winks and I squat down so Matty can climb onto my back. I hurt, my body is sore, but she likes to be carried out like this.
By the time we’re to the players’ parking garage, most of the guys are gone. Normally, we’d hit a bar or plan to grab dinner somewhere, but today, we’re doing things a bit differently. There’s a party we must get to.
My family piles in and I slide into the driver’s seat of my SUV. With its heavily tinted windows, none of the fans waiting outside know who we are, that is, until Chase rolls down his window and starts waving at everyone, causing my name to be chanted once again.
“Hear that, Dad?” Matty asks. “They love you.”
And I love you I want to say, but instead I look at her in my rearview and wink. The drive over to the Davenport’s newly acquired home in Beverly takes a little over an hour. In the backseat, the kids are giving Bellamy and me a recap of the game, right down to the last inning, as if I’d ever forget the stress I put myself under. I’m thankful for their enthusiasm though.
I pull along the curb of the residential neighborhood of the who’s who in New England sports. When Ethan gave us the run-down of who would be at his party, he had everyone from the NFL, MLS, NBA, NHL and of course MLB, on his list.
“Hey, look,” Bellamy says as she stands next to the car. “That house is for sale.”
I nod and dread what’s coming next. We’ve been searching for a house, but since the kids have already started school, I’ve suggested we wait until summer. However she wants to move and get settled before our wedding. I can’t say that I blame her.
“Get the number and we’ll call tomorrow,” I tell her. She walks over and pulls the listing sheet from the box. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind living near a teammate, it would make carpooling so much easier.
The four of us walk to the front door, which is open, and enter. The house is decorated in pink — streamers, balloons and a banner saying, “Welcome Baby Girl Davenport.”
“Everyone’s out back,” someone tells us and that’s where we head with gift in hand. Sure enough, the backyard is full of adults and children. Laughter rings out, the sound of splashing from the pool echoes and the kids ask if they can change into their swimsuits to go swim. We tell them yes and watch as they run off, Matty seeking Shea out immediately.
It’s easy to spot Ethan and Daisy, they’re in the corner, under the shade tree. Daisy is beaming as she holds her daughter and Ethan is hovering over the women in his life.
“Congratulations,” I say to Daisy as I lean down and kiss her cheek. The newest Davenport arrived three days ago, early in the morning and on game day, Ethan sent us all a message saying she was in labor and that we’d have to do without him for our game. When he showed up, we wanted to know what the hell he was doing there. “We have a game,” he said. Every one of us yelled until he showed us a picture of Daisy holding their daughter. We tried to encourage him to go back to the hospital, but he assured us this was where Daisy wanted him, saying his mom, sister and Shea were with his wife and newborn daughter. That night, he hit a homerun.
Bellamy coos and gushes over the baby and looks at me. I nod, letting her know that if she wants one, I’ll happily do my best to make it happen. We’ve discussed it and know time is not on our side, so it needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Daisy excuses herself and Ethan follows. They stand in their backyard together as a family, and Ethan calls for everyone’s attention.
“We’d like to introduce you to, Posey Davenport,” Ethan says as he looks down at his daughter.
Everyone around us claps. I put my arm around Bellamy and ask her, “Do you want one of those again?” even though I know she does.
“Yeah,” she says. “We’ll have our own in about seven months.”
My mouth drops open, almost as if I can’t believe her. She takes my hand and places it on her stomach. Her eyes glisten as she says, “We’re going to have a baby.”
As much as I want to announce it to everyone, I can’t. It’s Ethan and Daisy’s moment, and ours will come later. I lean down and kiss Bellamy. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she says, cupping my cheek.
There’s so much more to say, but this isn’t the time nor the place. When we get home and we’re in bed, I’m going to thank her for taking a chance on me and jumping feet first into my hectic life. Until then, I say to her, “I guess I better get you down the aisle, huh?”
“Something like that.”
Yeah, definitely something like that.
If someone would’ve asked me at the beginning of the season how I saw my year going, I would’ve simply said I saw it heading toward the playoffs. Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d have surgery, miss half my season, meet the woman of my dreams, and become a father all in a matter of months. Yet, here I am, at the prime of my life and career with two ten-year-olds, a fiancée who has been my rock and is growing the child we created inside of her, and I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.
Of course, if the Renegades could win the pennant . . .
Yeah, that’s for a whole other story.
As the season comes to an end, we sadly say goodbye for another year. Be safe, good people of Boston, and be sure to say hello to the guys when you see them out and about. They love hearing from their fans.
* * *
We will, of course, update you when we have news of contract extensions and off-season trades and acquisitions.
* * *
Until then . . .
GOSSIP WIRE
We’re excited to announce that Saylor Blackwell-Kidd has delivered a healthy baby boy. No word on his name yet, but the happy father of two had this to say, “Saylor and I are over the moon with the arrival of our son. My wife and son are happily resting at home, while my daughter insists on pancake delivery for her new brother.”
* * *
Not to be the only baby making the news, Posey Davenport made her first public appearance at the BoRe’s last home game, instantly stealing the show on the JumboTron.
* * *
And for those who don’t believe in insta-love, Hawk is a testament to the fact it exists. He will wed his fiancée in November. These two love birds are proof that you don’t need years to make a decision about love. We wish them many years of happiness.
***
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About Heidi McLaughlin
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
When writing isn’t occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketb
all games.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
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www.heidimclaughlin.com
Also by Heidi McLaughlin
THE BEAUMONT SERIES
Forever My Girl – Beaumont Series #1
My Everything – Beaumont Series #1.5
My Unexpected Forever – Beaumont Series #2
Finding My Forever – Beaumont Series #3
Finding My Way – Beaumont Series #4
12 Days of Forever – Beaumont Series #4.5
My Kind of Forever – Beaumont Series #5
Forever Our Boys - Beaumont Series #5.5
* * *
The Beaumont Boxed Set - #1
* * *
THE BEAUMONT SERIES: NEXT GENERATION
Holding Onto Forever
My Unexpected Love
Chasing My Forever
Peyton & Noah
Fighting For Our Forever
* * *
CAPE HARBOR SERIES
After All - March, 2o20
* * *
THE ARCHER BROTHERS
Here with Me
Choose Me
Save Me
* * *
LOST IN YOU SERIES
Lost in You
Lost in Us
* * *
THE BOYS OF SUMMER
Third Base
Home Run
Grand Slam
Hawk
* * *
THE REALITY DUET
Blind Reality
Twisted Reality
* * *
SOCIETY X
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
* * *
THE CLUTCH SERIES
Roman
* * *
STANDALONE NOVELS
Stripped Bare
Blow
Sexcation
* * *
HOLIDAY NOVELS
Santa’s Secret
It’s a Wonderful Holiday
Hawk: The Boys of Summer #4 Page 24