A Heart Reborn

by BK Harrell

  Sarah watched as Harry trotted out onto the field after most of the players headed to the clubhouse. It seemed that only Coop, Rhett, Coach Giles and another guy Sarah didn’t know stayed behind. She watched as Coop and Coach Giles worked with Harry on his footwork and fielding grounders. She was impressed with the improvements that he’d made since Thanksgiving. He seemed quicker to the ball, and his throws seemed crisper. Then they brought the batting cage back out and the hitting coach came out to work with Harry. Apparently, Coop had ordered wooden bats for Harry, and watching him hit with them was a thing of wonder. She applauded each hit like a proud momma.

  Coop stood off to the side of the cage speaking with the hitting coach as they watched Harry swing. After about twenty pitches, they took a break and talked to Harry about his swing. Then they started working on him hitting curve balls and hitting to the off-field. Coop smiled as he watched Harry. He had never seen someone who was such a natural at hitting. His swing was a thing of beauty, and he took instruction extremely well. When he had hit a hundred balls, they called it a day. Coop led Harry back to the clubhouse and they completed their post-practice routine.

  Sarah sat in the stands enjoying the sun, while she waited for Coop to text her that they were ready. While she sat there, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to see Alexa standing there with Emily. She couldn’t believe how big Emily was getting. “Hey you guys. I didn’t expect to see you down here.”

  “Emily wanted to see her daddy. We thought we would surprise him. I know he misses her.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be surprised,” Sarah said as her phone chimed with a text. “Why don’t we go surprise him, since we were all going to eat together.”

  They got up from the stands and headed to the players’ entrance. When she saw them emerge, all Sarah could see was the huge smile on Harry’s face. Then she saw the moment Rhett recognized Alexa and Emily. He took off at a sprint towards them and threw his arms around them both. Sarah smiled as she watched the unexpected surprise reunion. Not wanting to intrude on their private moment, Sarah walked over to her two guys and threw her arms around them. “You did such a great job today, both of you. I hope that I didn’t embarrass either of you.”

  “Nope. We both love you, and you couldn’t embarrass us if you tried. It looks like Rhett has other plans, we might as well head to dinner. Tomorrow, we have our first game, so the schedule will be a little different. We’ll follow a normal game day schedule with some practice time afterwards.”

  Dinner was great. Coop enjoyed having the people he loved around. It was so much nicer to have dinner with them and have meaningful conversation. He was excited after watching Harry today, and looked forward to spending more time with him as he developed.

  Getting Harry to go to bed had been a feat, but afterwards, Coop didn’t waste any time getting Sarah naked in his bed again. Even though Coop wanted to make love to her all night, he knew he needed to be ready for the first preseason game. Pulling Sarah into his chest, they both fell asleep.

  The day dawned perfectly as Coop stood in the kitchen drinking coffee, looking out over the patio Coop took in a deep breath, thinking of everything he had gained in the last year. Even though he had fallen asleep easily, his mind went to work and he woke up before the sun. After all, this was game day. Even after all the years of playing, the first game of the season whether pre-season or regular season always excited Coop. This is where they would all start to come together as a team, and see if they could make a playoff run. Coop felt Sarah’s arms embrace him from behind and her chin nuzzle into his back.

  “Sorry to wake you up,” Coop said, turning around in Sarah’s arms to face her. He planted a big kiss on her lips, holding her close.

  “You didn’t, the smell of the coffee did.” Sarah said with a smile.

  “What time does your mom get in?”

  “Nine-thirty. We’ll have plenty of time to get her and get to the stadium. If you don’t mind, Harry can go with you, unless you’ll be too busy.”

  “No. I was going to suggest that anyway. I think he’ll have more fun going to the ballpark than the airport. What time does he usually get up? We have to be there three hours before the game so we need to leave here by eight.”

  “I imagine he’ll be up shortly. He’s excited about the game. He doesn’t sleep late when he has something he wants to do.”

  Just as Coop started to kiss Sarah, Harry came bounding into the room. “Seriously. You guys have a room.”

  Sarah laughed and whispered, “Welcome to parenthood.”

  Coop quickly kissed Sarah and left to get a shower and get dressed. Apparently, Harry was quicker, and was waiting on Coop. When he came back downstairs Harry was bouncing off the walls ready to go. “Come on, slugger. Let’s go get some breakfast before we head to the stadium. I’ll teach you how to eat before a game.

  Coop drove them to the IHOP for breakfast. “The key is carbs before a game along with some protein. I like a big stack of pancakes for an early game and a double order of bacon along with juice and water.”

  The waitress came and took their orders. Coop wasn’t surprised when Harry ordered the same thing, but he was surprised when he cleaned his plate and hinted at wanting more. Coop just shook his head. One day his metabolism would slow down a little bit. Coop paid the bill and they headed to the ballpark.

  Coop felt great as the game started. He didn’t remember feeling this loose and ready in years. As he stepped up to bat, he heard Sarah and Harry screaming his name and he smiled. He remembered his dad always telling him to swing as hard as he could at the first pitch of the season. His thought was worst-case scenario it was a strike. Coop took a few a practice swings before he stepped into the batter’s box. As soon as the pitch was thrown Coop knew where it was going and the crack of the bat told him everything he needed to know. As soon as the bat made contact, Coop watched it sail high and deep over the center field wall. He trotted around the bases smiling with every step. The third inning rolled around and Coop was two for two with a homer and a double. Coop was rewarded with watching the rest of the game from the bench. Even though they had a 7-1 lead it got dicey towards the end with the rookies playing they pulled out a ten to five win. After the game, Coop headed over to the practice fields for a simulated game and some more batting practice before working with Harry.

  The week preceded the same way as Monday, with the Braves winning all of their games by a wide margin. Coop hoped that they continued this through the pre-season and into the regular season. The worst thing about today’s game was that Sarah and Harry would be leaving in the morning. They had tomorrow off, so he could spend the morning with them before they left. Even though they’d be back in a couple of weeks for the weekend it would still be a lonely couple of weeks.

  Sunday morning, Coop took them all to breakfast and they enjoyed a fabulous meal at the Grand Floridian hotel. He had enjoyed his time with them this week. He felt like they were making huge strides towards becoming a family, and that ring seemed to burn a hole through his shirt more and more every day. He wouldn’t rush things though. Coop needed to make sure that he and Harry were solid. He didn’t want this all to be a case of hero worship on Harry’s part and then him not live up to his expectations as a father. After breakfast, Coop drove everyone back to his apartment and helped them pack before a prolonged goodbye. Coop stood watching them drive away with a tear in his eye. Harry had become part of him and Sarah was his other half.

  The rest of spring training went much like the first week. Coop was hitting the ball harder than he ever had and his stats showed that he was on track to have a great year. Not that last year was bad, but he knew he could do better. He packed up his gear and returned the keys to the rental office, before heading back to Atlanta. They had a couple of days before the last preseason games and the start of the new season.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Coop woke up early and excited. It was opening day and he couldn’t wait to start the s
eason. He was going to be playing for himself, his son, and Sarah. Coop bounced out of bed and got ready for his day. He had to be at the stadium by ten for the one o’clock game. Showered and dressed, he headed to the IHOP for his pre-game meal. Coop ate and even though he was excited, he wasn’t nervous like most opening days. Coop paid the bill and left for the stadium.

  Sarah and most of the staff had the day off for opening day. She was excited that the regular season was finally here. Harry had barely been able to sleep the night before, and was already bouncing off the walls. Sarah probably should’ve sent him to school today and picked him up, but it would’ve been a waste of time. They were all going to be seated next to the dugout for the game. Sarah had never been that close to the field before and was excited herself. She grabbed Harry, and they headed to the stadium for the game. Harry wanted to be there for batting practice, so they needed to be there two hours before the game started.

  Coop walked out onto the field and smiled. The smell of the grass, the promise of a new season. Everything about today excited Coop. He made his way over to the dugout wall to sign autographs. He saw Sarah and Harry settling into their seats and waved them down. He signed autographs for the fans, and took selfies waiting for them to get to him. He hugged Harry and high fived him, before getting a kiss from Sarah. After signing a few more autographs, he made his way to the batting cages. His swings seemed fluid and smooth. He drove ball after ball over the outfield wall and finished off with a few well-placed bunts.

  The National Anthem played, and the players were introduced, ending the pre-game festivities. After a quick top of the first inning, Coop came up to bat with two men on base and nobody out. He stared down the pitcher and he saw the rotation on the curve ball as it left the hand of the pitcher. He knew it was going to be a high hanging curve ball and he swung as hard as he could. The crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd told Coop all he needed to know. With a flip of the bat, Coop trotted around the bases. This was what he lived for, and the smiles on the faces of Sarah and Harry made it more worthwhile.

  The game ended in a seven nothing shutout. Coop went four for four with a homer, two doubles and a single. He’d never had a perfect batting average after the first game. Coop couldn’t wait to see Sarah and Harry. As Coop emerged from the players’ entrance, he saw Harry running towards him and jumped into his arms.

  “Awesome, dad. Keep it up and you’ll have an awesome year. You’ll be playing late into October.”

  “Don’t get too excited. It was just one game, but I’ll tell you this, it felt different today.”

  Coop walked over and gave Sarah a quick hug and kiss, being cognizant of Harry and his predilection to public displays of affection. He loved seeing the smile on her face. It reminded him of college, and the post-game celebrations they used to have. They had come so far from those days, but they seemed to be back on track. Hopefully, by the end of the season, they would have cause to celebrate an engagement and quick wedding. Not that he would ever deny her the wedding of her dreams, but he didn’t want to have to wait another year to get married.

  “Oh, my God, Coop. I can’t believe how great you played. You brought it back from Florida with you. I’m sure it’ll continue throughout the season. I have a great feeling about this year. You looked so relaxed and calm out there. I’d swear the ball was the size of a beach ball the way you were hitting it. I can’t wait to see where this goes. I love you, remember that when you’re playing.”

  “I can’t forget it. I love you, too. It makes a difference having somebody to play for. Harry reminded me, this is a game I’m lucky to play for a living. I want you two to be proud of me.”

  “Coop, we couldn’t be prouder of you, even if you weren’t a professional ball player. The man you are and the father you’ve become speaks volumes to anyone who can see you.”

  “Thanks. I have a great inspiration, and I want to be the best man and father I can be for the two of you. Let’s go eat dinner.”

  The next two weeks went much like the first game for Coop. The Braves were on a thirteen-game winning streak before finally dropping a game to the Dodgers. Coop was hitting over five hundred in the first two weeks of the season and he knew he couldn’t keep it up, but he was going to have fun while it lasted.

  ***

  The All-Star break was looming for everyone. Coop hated that he’d been on the road as much as he had for the first half of the season, but the good news was they would be home much of the second half of the season. The All-Star game was in San Diego, and Coop had planned a family vacation. He had to go since he got a big bonus for making the All-Star team and was selected for the homerun derby. Coop had everyone’s bags packed into his SUV. He was ready to go as soon as he finished his postgame interviews, and changed clothes.

  Sarah and Harry were waiting for him at the players’ entrance when he came out with big smiles on their faces. They both ran to him, and engulfed him in a big group hug. Coop smiled as they embraced him. He was ready to show them the world, and it started in San Diego. He was excited that he would get to take Harry on the field with him for practice and the Homerun Derby. Everything about the last few months had called to his inner domesticated god. He loved spending family time with them, but their combined schedules had prevented a road trip with the team. After the All-Star Break, they were going to travel with the team for a week before heading home. “All right everyone. We are on a time crunch, since we scored so many runs today.”

  Coop drove everyone to the airport and couldn’t wait for their trip to begin. Unfortunately, he had to carry all his equipment with him since this wasn’t a team trip. Once they were settled in first class, Coop was able to relax because they’d been so pressed for time.

  They had a smooth flight and landed in San Diego just as the sun was setting. They were staying at the Hotel Coronado on North Island. He loved the classic look of the hotel and the service was always phenomenal. They checked into the hotel and made their way to their suite overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He was looking forward to the game, but he was excited to have an extra day to spend time showing them the sites around San Diego. Having had a long day, they had a quick dinner before turning in for the night.

  The day dawned bright and early for Coop. He marveled at Sarah and Harry’s ability to sleep through the time change, but he was up with the sun. Coop decided to take a run on the beach as the sun rose. As he was out for his run, he passed a Navy Seals BUDS class out for their morning run. Looking at them, he wasn’t sure they had been to sleep yet. He admired their dedication to defend their country, and it was one of the reasons he donated so much to Wounded Warriors Foundation and Disabled Vets of America. Coop finished up his five-mile run and was glad to see Sarah and Harry up and ready to go when he returned. After a quick shower, he took everyone to Richard Walker’s Pancake House for breakfast. They had awesome pancakes and he knew Harry would appreciate the extra-large portions.

  Breakfast was wonderful, and Harry ate everything he ordered, and what his mom had left. Once they finished, Coop took Harry to the stadium for practice and Sarah went to meet Alexa back at the hotel. Coop and Rhett had arranged spa days for the ladies, since they would be busy most of the day.

  As they walked into the clubhouse, Coop watched Harry’s eyes go wide as they were surrounded by the best players in the league. “Wipe the drool off your chin, son. You see most of these people when they come to town.”

  “I know, dad, but it’s still pretty cool.”

  Coop got dressed for practice and settled Harry into the dugout. They were scheduled for a light practice, but by the time practice was over with, they wouldn’t have any free time due to the Homerun Derby and other All-Star activities.

  Practice ended and Coop took Harry out for a quick meal in the Gas Lamp District, before they had to be back at the stadium. As they arrived back at the stadium, they were met by Sarah, Rhett, and Alexa. A few quick hugs and some well wishes later they were off to the clubhouse since both
he and Harry needed to get changed.

  The Homerun Derby was full of excitement and the finals came down to Coop and the Indians power hitter Jose Perez. Luckily, Coop had the most homeruns going into the finals and got to go second. He needed sixteen to walk away with the title. Coop was down to his last three outs and still four down when he looked over at Sarah and Harry. Suddenly, all his nerves disappeared, and Coop stroked five straight homeruns to win the title. While he was ecstatic to win the title, he felt like a god being able to share it with Harry on the field. With all the pomp and circumstance over with, they headed back to the hotel. Coop was ready to fall into a deep sleep, the adrenaline of the evening finally having worn off.

  Even though he was exhausted, once they put Harry to bed, he made love to Sarah with the balcony doors open and the sounds of the Pacific waves crashing into the shore. Once they were both sated, Coop rolled over and tucked Sarah beneath him. They fell asleep in each other’s arms. The last cognitive thought Coop had before drifting off was that this could be his life.

  The next day dawned bright and chilly as the Pacific breeze blew gently through the open doors causing Coop to stir out of his sleep. Sarah was there just as he had left her cuddled to his chest with her arms wrapped around him. He felt so safe and loved with her in his bed and life. He managed to stealthily disentangle himself and get ready for his run. Coop was surprised to see Harry up and dressed for a run as well when he entered the living area. “What are you doing up so early this morning?”

  “If you don’t mind, I thought I’d go running with you.”

  “I don’t mind, but you know I run five miles in the morning.”

  “I know. I promise not to leave you behind.” Harry said with a smirk.

  “Okay, stud. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  They headed to the beach and stretched before starting their run. They ran in companionable silence and paused at the halfway mark to watch another BUDS class struggle down the beach. Coop looked over at Harry and said, “I need to talk to you about something. Do you mind if we sit down for a few minutes and talk?”