by Felicia Lynn
“You’re not worried that seeing her could bring up old anxieties?” he asks.
“No. And that’s just it. I don’t care anymore. What she says and thinks doesn’t make or break my day anymore. I love my life, no matter what anyone believes. I don’t need their approval to know I’m making the best decision of my life.”
“Charlie, no matter what you decide on this, you know that I support you one hundred percent. We’re in this together. I think I know what you want to do. Would you like to make the call together?” he asks, ever so sweetly and supportive. Coming to sit beside me on the edge of the bed, his lips go to mine, and his hand covers my growing belly. It’s not massive, but it’s certainly noticeable and obvious at this point.
I smile and nod, resting my head on his shoulder as I pick up my phone and dial the number. My father answers on the first ring. “What a nice surprise, sunshine. How’s the blushing bride and, more importantly, the mother of my first grandchild?”
Tyler speaks before I can respond, not surprisingly. “Hey Ronald, you actually have both of us. Hope that’s okay.”
“Hi, Dad. I’m feeling great. I’m excited about the next couple of days.”
“I’m so glad, sunshine. To what do I owe the pleasure of getting both of you?”
I look at Ty, not really knowing how to start this conversation. Thankfully, he takes my cue.
“Charlotte has been doing some thinking, and we’ve talked it through,” he begins.
I interrupt when he pauses. “Dad, I received the letter from Mother. I know I originally said the invitation wasn’t extended to her, and at the time, I did mean that. But I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to make a big deal of this, and the family reunion isn’t the purpose of the day, but if she’d like to come, she’s welcome.”
“Charlotte, I don’t know what to say. You know you don’t have to do this? Your mother understands, sunshine. She doesn’t want to detract from your happiness on your special day.” He pauses when his voice breaks a bit. “My god, where did that beautiful heart of yours come from? I’ve never seen anything more incredible.” My eyes well up with the sentiment.
Tyler steps in. “Ronald, however you want to handle this is fine with us. Sandra is welcome to attend, and if she means that she doesn’t want to detract from Charlie’s happiness, she won’t. At the end of the day, the choice lies with the two of you. My bride does have a magnificent heart, and she’s a far better person than any of us deserve, but I’m selfish, and I’ll never let her go.”
My father laughs. “I understand your selfish plight, son. Just keep taking good care of her. Honestly, thank you for this chance. I can’t tell you how much it means. Charlotte, I love you,” my dad says freely as he does each time we speak. It’s crazy, but it still makes me giddy to hear it.
“Love you too, Dad. See you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Ronald. Text me if you need anything. My bride looks sleepy from traveling, so I’m going to tuck her in for a nap,” Tyler tells my dad, but there’s a mischievous glint in his eye. I really am exhausted, though.
We disconnect the call, and only minutes later, when I’m taking my shoes off to lie down and relax while my husband orders room service, my phone chimes with a message.
Dad: I cannot begin to express to you my adoration and thanks for extending this invitation to your mother in spite of the nasty history. I didn’t think I could ever be more proud of you, yet I am. I have delivered the news, and as I expected, she’s overjoyed and grateful. We will both see you tomorrow. We love you, sunshine. Rest up.
(3 years and a few months later)
THE STADIUM IS EERILY quiet, considering the stadium has close to forty thousand people packed in here for this sold-out game. It’s the top of the ninth, and there’s one out. Tyler is pitching for the Braves tonight, and almost the entire family is here to cheer him on—with the exception of my parents, who are watching the game live via television from the White House. It’s unfortunate they’re not able to be with us, but we do understand the challenges of traveling and attending public events as the President and First Lady of the United States.
We’re all seated in the family section, but it seems we’ve pretty much taken over. Audrey Elizabeth Stone, her daddy’s little starlight, couldn’t care less that her daddy is giving the performance of a lifetime and is antsy on my lap. She knows her older cousin Maisey a few seats down has blue cotton candy, and since she’s convinced it’ll taste different from her pink fluff of sugar, she wants in on the action. Normally, I’d be concerned about the consequences of her sugar binge but not today. I’m trembling.
Everyone has kept their distance from Ty the entire game. The superstitions in baseball are odd, but after living this life with my sweet hubby, I’ve somehow adopted them myself. Snapshots of the dugout at the bottom of all the innings showed the team giving him a wide berth.
The whispers of a no-hitter and possible perfect game make me itch, but I refuse to acknowledge it verbally. However, I’m flipping out on the inside. I’m so damn proud I want to stand up and tell everyone that’s My Guy, but they know. And he has two batters left to pull this off. He can do it. I can see it on his face. He’s determined. He’s already decided how this game will end, and by God, I feel sorry for anyone who tries to stand in his way.
The batter steps up to the plate, and my legs shake, which Audrey thinks is for her benefit, but I’m nervous. I don’t even know why I’m nervous. Pending any major tragedy, the home team will easily win this game with six runs on the board already. Clinching the playoff spot is pretty much wrapped up. I’m proud of him regardless of what happens with these next two hitters; but Tyler wants this, so by default, that makes me want it, too.
The batter swings—two strikes, one ball. Mama Sue holds out her arms for the almost three-year-old in my lap, and Audrey takes the bait and escapes to her grandmother, getting her that much closer to the blue fluff. I’m whispering to myself, hyper-focused on the field. “Come on, hotshot. You’re doing great.”
What no one else in this stadium realizes is Ty and I have our own motivation for this to work out. At the start of the season, Ty started taunting me, wanting to grow our family. Audrey is growing way too fast, and we both knew it was time to think about expanding our lil’ responsibilities. I was never opposed, but I like to travel with Ty to see him play. The back and forth between our home in Florida and our condo in Atlanta was already exhausting with a toddler. Then throw in the away games we’ve attended, and it’s a lot. And pregnancy is also exhausting. When I was pregnant with Audrey, sleep was a priority. I didn’t want to be limited this season by my prenatal condition.
So Ty set his mind to it. He negotiated. Stupidly, when I agreed that if he threw a no-hitter this season, we’d start right away; otherwise, we’d wait until the end of the season when we’ll have a few months of downtime in one place.
The crowd cheers. Two outs. Oh. My. God.
Now, here we are. Ty looks up into the stands over to our section, and I see him search the faces around us. I’m surprised and worried he’s going to lose focus. In my head, I’m screaming at him to pay attention to the batter walking up to the plate. Head in the game, Stone.
When he finally spots me, he smirks and crosses his middle and pointer fingers nonchalantly. Then he nods when he knows I caught it. To most people, it probably looked like he could have been responding to sign from the coaching staff. Love plus, hotshot.
The twenty-seventh batter takes his position. I think I can feel the pulse from my heart rate in my skull. It feels like there could be a drum line in my ear. He throws, and it’s a strike. I wish I could stand up. Walk around. I need to get some blood flowing to my feet and release some of this nervous energy, but I’m not moving. No way am I going to be the one to jinx this. Nope. Thankfully, I don’t think these superstitions apply to toddlers.
In position again, the batter looks mad. But I’ve learned a thing or two from my hubby. I also see fear. This guy has
a chance to be a hero, and he wants it. Anything less would be a jab to his ego. Tyler doesn’t look scared, on the other hand. He’s having the time of his life. Cool as a cucumber. “You got this, babe.”
He winds up and throws. Strike two. Hell, yes!
He kicks the dirt around a little with the toe of his cleat and turns. It almost scares me for a minute when I think he’s going to look back this way. But he doesn’t. He wipes his palm and then nods at the catcher before getting in position. This is it. Win, lose, achieve, fail. It doesn’t matter. Tyler Stone is definitely getting a reward tonight.
He winds up and throws. Holy shit. Oh. My. God. He did it. The batter is caught looking. STRIKE THREE, HOTSHOT! The team rushes the field. They hoist him up on their shoulders and jump around cheering, but his eyes are on me. This may not be the World Series Championship, but it certainly feels like it to me.
To think a few years ago, he was willing to give all this up for me, but really all he needed was a team player at home as well. Every second of struggle with his career is worth this moment. “He actually did it!” I laugh, hugging the family surrounding us.
My guy. Completely focused and determined to do his job to the best of his ability, as always. But this time, the clubhouse wasn’t the only thing he was playing for. This is love plus, all the way.
To my family: I love you both more than I ever thought humanly possible. I’d be lost with you. I know it and I promise to never forget it. You’ll never know how much your love and support means to me.
To my readers. My world would be nothing without your support. Thank you for every minute you spend reading my words. Thank you for every share, tag and like in the social media madness. Thank you for traveling to meet me at signings; meeting you means so much. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU again and again and again. You make writing possible and that is the most amazing gift possible.
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Table of Contents
Prologue 1
Prologue 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue 1
Epilogue 2
Thank Yous