I nod my head and hear Tucker in the next room.
“I don’t wanna do this. They’re not who I want! It was supposed to be Savannah!”
I guess Mary still didn’t tell him the name of his foster family because when he rounds the corner and he sees Jackson and I standing in the foyer, his jaw drops.
“Savannah?”
“You ready to go home buddy?” I ask bending down to the floor.
His face breaks out in a smile and I see tears starting to fall down his cheeks as he runs towards me, jumping into my embrace. His little arms are wrapped tightly around my neck and I wrap my own around his small body.
“It was you. You’re the one that’s takin me?” he asks in his small voice.
“We are, Jackson and I, Lacey too. You’re also gonna have a little brother or sister.” I say putting him down on the floor.
He eyes my belly and looks up at both us smiling.
“Some of the kids here told me where babies come from. That is kind of gross, but I’m kind of happy.”
Jackson and I both look at each other and burst out laughing. Tucker grabs onto Jackson’s leg and Jackson kneels down next to me.
“Listen buddy, I just want you to know that Savannah and I are going to take really good care of you. I was in an orphanage too and no one ever came for me. I never had a home and when I became an adult, I went out by myself. I got my own place to live and my own food and I played baseball to get some money.”
“Really?” Tucker asks looking over to me for an answer.
I nodded my head and put my hand on Jackson’s back. I could see his eyes glistening and I start to rub circles across his shoulders.
“We are gonna be the best parents you’ve ever had, you hear me? You won’t ever have to do anything on your own, unless you want to. I promise you that, okay?”
Tucker nods his head and presses his small body into Jackson. Jackson kisses the top of Tucker’s head and I feel my face dampen with tears.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Tucker whispers to me.
“Sure buddy, what’s up?”
“I call you mama.”
“What do you mean bud?”
“Whenever you came to visit me, I would call you Savannah but in my head I would call you mama. Can I call you mama out loud now?”
I laugh through my tears and reach for Tucker, holding him close on my hip.
“Of course you can baby.”
I kiss his cheek and then he looks up at Jackson.
“And can I call you daddy goner?”
Jackson shakes his head laughing, a deep throaty laugh as he wipes at a stray tear on his cheek.
“You can call me whatever you want to bud.”
Jackson grabs Tucker’s bag from the floor and I wave to Mary as we make out way out to the car. Walking out of Second Chances I can’t help the bittersweet feeling. I know we are giving an amazing home to Tucker, but there are still so many kids that won’t get that. One day at a time Savannah, you gave Tucker a home. My mind immediately races with ways to get more attention to the orphanage so more kids can leave the way Tucker is leaving. Hand in hand with two people that will stop the world for him, and a big smile across his face.
***
I walk into Andrew’s office with determined steps and my head held high. This is it, this will all finally be over.
“Hey Savannah, how are you feelin’ today?”
“Honestly, great. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me Andrew, but I’d really not like to see you for a very long time, if ever again.”
He laughs and we continue to walk down the hall.
“How’s Tucker adjusting?”
“He’s doin’ great so far. Only been a couple of days, but he seems really happy. Thank you for everything you did and all the phone calls you made. Jackson told me. We really appreciate it.”
“You deserve happiness Savannah, you’re a great woman.”
“Thank you.”
“You ready?”
“Let’s get this shit over with.”
He opens the door to the conference room. My eyes immediately lock on Hugh’s and he looks like shit. I smile knowing that he is finally getting what he deserves and he looks down my body and his eyes widen at the sight of my small belly.
“Well that’s new. When my lawyer said we should meet I thought you finally came to your senses, but here you are. Went through treatments huh? Jackson knows what a crazy bitch he’s dealin’ with?
“Fuck you Hugh. This happened all on its own and I know all about the shit you pulled. We’re here today because you’re going to jail. Extortion, falsifying documents, drug possession, theft...am I missing something Andrew?”
“Domestic abuse,” Andrew says.
Hugh gets to his feet and slams his hand on the conference table.
“All of that is bullshit! You have no proof of anything!”
“You’re done destroying people’s lives Hugh. Your girlfriend came forward, everyone you’ve ever taken advantage of throughout the years gladly spoke their thoughts of you. You’re done.”
He walks over to me briskly and before I could think, my fist launches out and punches him right in the face.
His hand goes to his nose and he examines it, blood coating his fingers and he curses.
“You fuckin’ bitch. I did everything for you. This is how you treat me? You’re done, I’ll destroy everything you have, I swear to it Savannah.”
“We’ll add threatening to that list and attempted physical assault. Keep it up Millers,” Andrew says from behind me.
Andrew puts his hand on my shoulder to steady me and I feel slightly light headed but I push through.
“All this time,” I start to say.
My voice wavers but I hold onto all the strength I’ve gotten the past few weeks. Jackson, Tucker, Lacey and this baby. They are the strength I need to push through, to close the door on this chapter once and for all.
“All this time I thought it was me, but it was never me. You’re a monster Hugh, and you’re gonna get what you deserve. You’re a shit person and you didn’t deserve a minute of my time. I gave way too much of myself to you but no more. I’m gonna walk out of this conference room and never think of you again. I hope you rot in there, for the rest of your pathetic fuckin’ life.”
I turn on my heels, ignoring his string of insults and profanities, with a smile on my face. Hugh and our toxic past are in my rear view mirror. Time to focus on my family and my amazing life that I finally have, that I know now, I always deserved.
Jackson
I look out to the crowd of people and smile, adjusting my microphone.
“Hello everyone. I know you’re wondering why you are all here so let me just get down to it and then I’ll take questions.”
I look over to the side stage at Savannah, Lacey and Tucker and smile. If someone would have told me I’d be sittin’ here, about to make this announcement with the woman I love, my daughter, a baby on the way and an adopted son, I would have told you that you were fuckin’ nuts. Never did I think this was in the cards for me but here I am, making the announcement of a lifetime.
“I’m retirin’,” I say as I hear the whispers and talks of the crowd, reporters yelling questions at me and cheers.
“One at a time please,” I say through the microphone.
I point to a reporter and he stands.
“Goner, why the sudden change? You were goin’ to Arizona for the playoffs, you really think you’re done with the game? You led the league in home runs the past three years and are on your way to do it again.”
“I have a family now,” I say glancing to side stage again. “A beautiful woman I love with all my heart, my daughter, a baby on the way in a couple of months and we’re adopting an amazing little boy. A little boy who y’all will see in this league in about 14 years, kid’s gonna be a stud,” I say motioning over to Tucker and winking at him.
He gives me the thumbs up and I laugh.
/> “We tried to work out a deal that so I could stay in Louisiana, but it didn’t work out. I’m so grateful to this organization. They gave me a lot in a time where I didn’t have much of anything. They gave me a purpose and they allowed me to play a game that I love. I would like to move on now with the next stage of my life.”
“Goner, will you ever consider coaching?”
“Not sure about that one, it will be a family discussion for sure. Right now though, I’m just focusing on my kids and my woman. We’ll keep ya updated if that changes. Thank y'all for comin’ I hope you enjoy your Holidays.”
I walk across the stage looking out into the crowd. I am going to miss this like crazy but glancing back over to where my crew is, I know I sure as hell won’t miss it as much as I would miss them.
“You did great baby,” Savannah says to me.
I lean over and kiss her softly on the lips.
“Let’s go Turner’s, we got a Christmas celebration to prepare for.”
Chapter 27
Savannah
I dash around the house running from room to room, trying not to panic. I moved into Jackson’s house the day we brought Tucker home and slowly, it’s starting to feel like my home too. I smell something burning and run from the dining room straight to the stove. I open the oven to a small cloud of smoke.
“Fuck me!”
I pull out the pumpkin pie and curse under my breath.
“I think that's how we got ourselves this little guy,” Jackson says from behind me, putting a hand on my growing belly.
I smile and shake my head.
“I burnt the pumpkin pie,” I whimper.
“I'll call Gabriel to bring another on their way over. We could have catered this princess, why did you insist on cooking when you're seven months pregnant?”
“I'm not an invalid Jackson, I'm pregnant. I can handle this, I just...I want everything to be perfect and my brain is fried.”
He walks over to me and pulls me into a hug, squeezing me tight to him.
“You're doin’ great Savvy. Everything will be fine. It's about family being together, don't worry about the rest.”
He kisses the top of my head and breaks the hug, slapping his hands together.
“Okay! Put me to work! What do ya need me to do.”
I laugh and slap him on the shoulder.
“I got it Jax. Thank you for calmin’ me down.”
“Now what kind of man would I be if I didn't help my beautiful fiance make the most amazin’ Christmas dinner.”
“Fiance..Jackson we ain't-”
My words are cut off by the sight of Jackson getting down on one knee right here in our kitchen. My hand goes to cover my mouth in shock and immediately I feel my eyes start to water.
“Savannah Grace Gavinwood. You have been on my mind for years and years and I guess there was a reason I could never shake you. We were meant to be together, call it cheesy, but it's true. There's a reason we both fell for that little boy with the mop of curly brown hair. We've overcome so many things together already and I want to experience so many more. We're buildin’ our own family so it's only fair you have that kick ass last name like the rest of us,” he says with a wink.
I laugh as he opens the jewelry box and I lose my breath.
“So, marry us and be a part of this crazy Turner family. I'm a goner princess, I think I have been since that day at practice when you tossed that foul ball back out on the field and hit me right in the nuts. I don't need to be roundin’ home anymore because you're my home. You, Lacey, Tucker and this little guy.”
“I second that,” Lacey says from the hallway holding up her cell phone.
“Me too!” Tucker yells.
“Got it on video for the grandkids,” Jackson says sheepishly. “What do ya say Savvy? Marry me?”
I nod my head through the tears and Jackson jumps to his feet, hugging me tight and spinning me around the kitchen.
“I can't believe you Jax. I had no idea you were plannin’ this!” I say looking down at my ring.
My tears made my vision blurry but now it's clearing and oh my God this ring is beautiful.
“I have been for the past couple of weeks. It's been so damn hard keepin it a secret.”
“You! What about me? I had to work alongside her every day and not spill the beans!” Lacey says shaking her head.
“What about me! I'm five! Everyone knows little kids can't keep secrets!” Tucker says.
We all laugh and Tucker runs over to Jackson, jumping into his arms. Jackson lifts him up as he stands and I swear it looks like he’s holding a doll. If Tucker looks this tiny in Jackson’s arms, I can only imagine what this little guy is going to look like. My mind flashes back to what Jackson said a few weeks ago about kids. Maybe one or two more. I look at him again and his big arms effortlessly holding Tucker is killing me. Shit he is such a DILF. I’m screwed, I am so screwed.
“Princess, don’t give me that look,” he growls.
“What look daddy?” Tucker asks.
“The look your mama has when she wants to have more babies.”
“Uh daddy no! Remember what I said? I know how you make babies. Y'all better not!” Tucker jumps out of Jackson’s arms, running out of the kitchen.
“I thought you said you talked to him about that! He’s five, he shouldn’t know that!” I reprimand him.
“I did! Kid’s too smart for his own good. He knew I was lyin’ before I even opened my mouth.”
“Oh gosh what do we do?”
We both laugh as we hear the doorbell.
“Can you grab it? I'm just gonna go wash up a little. I'm sure I have makeup streamin’ down my face right about now.”
Jackson nods and kisses me softly on the lips, pulling my chin up to look at him.
“You're beautiful princess. I love you so damn much.”
“I love you too fiance,” I giggle.
“God that sounds so sexy comin’ out of your mouth,” he growls.
I slap his chest and walk down the hall to the bathroom. I splash some water on my face, clean up my eye makeup and take a deep breath. I look down at the ring again and my growing belly and smile.
How many years did I not think this was possible and now here I am. Engaged to the best man I've ever known and welcoming a little boy with him in just a few short months. Tucker is officially our foster child and in a little under a year if all goes well, we can officially adopt him. Jackson wasn't kidding when he said he would make my dreams come true. I put a hand over my belly and feel the thumping of our little guy kicking.
I walk back down the hall and hug Charlotte, Gabriel, Avery, Devin and Bella and eye the boy that has a protective hand on her back.
“Aunt Savannah, this is my boyfriend Connor,” Bella says smiling.
I eye him suspiciously and wonder briefly if he's the asshole that made her first time miserable. He's not someone I would have picked out for Bella. A very clean shaved and pretty boy type. I always pictured her with a rugged baseball player, kind of like...nah. If he treats her right, I'm in no place.
“Nice to meet you,” I say smiling shaking his hand.
“Likewise,” he says.
He smiles at me and I swear it's the smile of a car salesman. Sneaky and fake, right before they make you overpay for a piece of shit car and you drive on your merry way thinking you got the deal of a lifetime.
“Where'd y'all meet? School?”
“Yes,” car salesman says. “We got paired up to do a project together in human anatomy class,” he says winking.
What a little shit.
“Aunt Savannah, do you need help in the kitchen?” Bella says interrupting my stare.
“Sure,” I say plastering on a fake smile.
“I'll come too,” Charlotte says quickly handing Avery off to Gabriel.
As soon as we get into the kitchen I whip around.
“Is that the boy?”
“What boy?” Charlotte asks.
I eye Bella
and her brows furrow in question.
“That you had sex with. That made you miserable,” I ask pointing towards the living room.
“Oh my God,” Charlotte grumbles.
“Aunt Savannah!” Bella gasps.
Going, Going, Goner (Double Play Series Book 2) Page 20