by Trio, L. M.
***
(Mikey)
We finally leave the condo late in the afternoon to see the house. I have to admit, I can’t wait to see what she did with it. As we pull up in the drive, she makes me wait outside while she goes inside and checks everything out since it’s been awhile since she’s been here. The last time I had been here was the day the four of us stood in the kitchen and I gave her the go ahead to decorate.
“Okay, you can come in,” she calls excitedly from the door.
The crazy thing is, I’m actually just as excited as her about this. I’ve got the whole electric shock, chills thing going on. Shit, I really need to get back to hittin’ balls with the guys again. Thank God spring training starts tomorrow. I laugh to myself.
“Wait, close your eyes,” she says before opening the door all the way.
“How am I gonna see if my eyes are closed,” I answer dryly.
“You can open them when I tell you,” she says. I obey, as usual, and she takes my hands to lead me through the front door.
“Okay… now.”
As soon as I open my eyes, the first thing I see is her beautiful, smiling face, so before I look at anything else, I bend down to kiss her lips. Then my eyes scan the room, and I instantly feel as if I stepped into… home. The house is decorated in warm earth tones; it’s inviting and relaxing. She made it a place that makes you feel settled and content. I’m in awe as I take it all in.
“Well?” she asks, looking up at me.
“I’m amazed. How did you pull this off so quickly?” I beam. She takes my hand and shows me around.
“I used JJ and Luke’s painters. I ordered everything from the same store; the furniture, the pictures, paintings, vases… everything. Also, I got a really good deal because I bought everything through them,” she says proudly as she leads me to the kitchen.
I spot one of my favorite paintings from JJ in the dining room.
“She said it’s one of your favorites and told me to take it. She had a stack of paintings in her studio and said I could take whatever I wanted.”
She guides me from room to room and I’m continuously blown away by the detail she put into this. It looks as if someone has lived here for years. I notice a few more of JJ’s paintings, along with huge terra cotta pots holding trees; they combine to add color to the rooms.
She leads me to the covered lanai. This room is fun, with a bar, flat screen TV’s on the walls and a lot of mine and Luke’s sports memorabilia framed and hanging on the walls. The patio furniture is gathered around a gas fire pit and the double chaise lounge faces the canal, next to the pool.
The spare bedroom with the private bath sits on the other end of the house. This room is also decorated. She said she decorated this room in case I have company. There is more privacy since it sits alone. The two rooms near the master bedroom are the only two rooms in the house that are untouched.
“I left these two rooms alone. I thought you might want an office or a gym maybe?” she questions.
I smile because my first thought is that they’re in a good spot for the kids. “The garage is huge I could always put a gym out there,” I answer, giving her a smile. “So, I guess this leaves the master bedroom?” I ask, taking her by the hand.
We enter the master bedroom and again, she has spared no detail. It’s calming and intimate. The dark-cherry wood sleigh bed sits high, covered in pillows, it’s warm and inviting and there’s nothing more that I want right now than to show her how much she means to me and how happy I am.
“Well, what do you think? Are you going to move in?” she asks cheerily.
“I think it’s unbelievably amazing, but I’ll only move in on one condition... if you stay with me? I don’t want to live here by myself.”
“Mikey, what will people think? It’s too soon for us to move in together.”
“DeDe, are you kidding me? We’ve lived together more than half our lives. It feels weird not living with you.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” She laughs.
“So…”
“Well, I don’t want people to think I decorated your house so now I have to move in.”
“What are you talking about? What people are we talking about?” I laugh at her. “We need to talk about why I bought this house in the first place.” I push her back towards the bed as I lay her down comfortably on the cushy pillows and cover her body with mine. I kiss her deeply before continuing, “Do you know exactly how much you mean to me?” She looks affectionately into my eyes. “This has always been about you. I always hoped that one day you would feel the same way about me as I have always felt about you. I could never have anyone here with me besides you. You’re going to think I’m crazy right now, but I have never had a girl back to my place before.” Of course, she looks at me as if I am crazy, just as I expected her to. “I swear to you. I’m weird about that stuff. Even when I was seeing Lora Rae, the one time we flew into Tampa, we stayed at a hotel. I didn’t bring her to my condo. I went by myself to get my clothes.” I laugh. “I never wanted anyone to be a part of my private life. Only you know me in that way, and that’s how I always wanted it to be. You are the only person I would ever give myself to completely. I let down all of my barricades with you. I’ve known for a long time that you are the only person I can ever love.”
“Mikey, I promise you that I feel the same way. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from me since the day you told me you loved me. I know you think that I’ve been in love before, and I guess that I thought so, too, but now I know I wasn’t since it felt nothing like this. After what happened to me in high school, I played it safe. I always got involved with guys that I knew would not hurt me. You and I always had a strong connection between us, yet I was scared of the kind of feelings I had for you. You were always running around with other girls. I knew you loved me, but not in that way. I told myself that it wasn’t that kind of love and I made myself believe it. You are the only person I trust with everything that I have, though. I want to give every part of myself to you. I want you to always want only me.”
“You are the only person I will ever want,” I say as my lips cover hers and I taste the warmth of her mouth. Her arms wrap around my back, pulling me close. My hand slips under her shirt—
“Yo, Mikey… are you here?!” Luke calls from the front of the house.
De pushes me off her and pops up. I roll onto my back and let out a deep sigh. “Can you believe this? This is payback for all of the times we did this to them growing up,” I say, letting out a chuckle as she tells me to get up. “Remind me to start locking the doors.” She shakes her head and again signals for me to get up.
“We’re right here,” she calls out, rushing out of the room. “I was showing him the house, it’s the first time he’s seen it,” I hear her saying nervously.
“Sorry we burst in here, but we have big news,” JJ says excitedly.
“You’re pregnant?” I say dryly, coming out of the bedroom.
“No, I’m not pregnant,” she says, laughing.
“What?” De and I ask simultaneously.
“Guess who’s joining you tomorrow at spring training?” Luke says.
“No way, are you serious?” I ask eagerly.
“Yeah, I just got the call while we were at the beach. They said they want me to start working out with the team.”
“Oh my God, what does this mean?” De asks happily.
“It means, for one, I’ll be staying put, and two… I gotta knock them dead the next few weeks so they’ll keep me around,” he says, laughing.
We celebrate the news together. I can’t wait to finally get back on the field with him again. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to show them how unstoppable we are together.
I think of how our lives have ironically been filled with so many game changers over the years. Although some may have been difficult, maybe we had to go through them to get here. At this moment, it seems as if our lives can’t possibly get any better.
“Aunt DeDe… Aunt DeDe…” I hear my adorable three-year-old niece call excitedly from behind just as I put the baby in his carrier and he’s about to fall asleep. “I feed baby Mikey!” she screeches.
“Hey, Livvy,” I say as she climbs across my lap, making herself comfortable. “Shhh… Baby Mikey’s gonna go to sleep. Next time you can feed him. Where’s Mommy?” I ask, looking at the baby who is now wide-eyed and smiling at one of his favorite little cousins.
“Changin’ Lukey’s diaper,” she says, fidgeting on my lap as her pudgy little hands tickle the baby.
“Olivia Maria DiAngelo, what did Grandmom tell you about running ahead?” My mom calls out from behind, sounding winded and trying her best to sound stern. “You’re too little to be running off by yourself.”
“Grandmom’s mad at me.” Olivia pouts, smushing her angelic face against mine.
I match her pouting face. “Yeah, I know. Grandmom always uses the middle name when she’s mad at us,” I say, looking up at my mom, smiling.
“I not a baby. Lukey and Mikey are babies. Daddy says I a big girl.”
“Yes, you are,” I say, kissing her tiny, little nose.
“Just like her father, always running,” my mom says, catching her breath and sitting beside me. She takes Olivia from my lap and squeezes her tightly. “What is Luke still doing out there?” she asks when she finally looks to the field.
“I know. JJ better get her butt out here. They kept him in.”
“Oh my God, Daddy and David must be going crazy. They’re down by the field,” my mom says.
It’s the top of the ninth, game six of the World Series. We’re up three games in the series and we have a chance to end it here, right now, or fly to San Francisco for game six. We have a 3-2 lead.
“They kept him in?” JJ asks breathlessly. We figured Luke would be pulled after the 8th when a two-run homer was hit.
I turn to see my sister-in-law looking as pretty as ever, although frazzled as she hurries to her seat with the baby attached to her hip. Poor girl, if we didn’t know she carried those babies for nine months in her stomach you would never know they were hers. They’re the spitting image of my brother all the way.
“What’d I miss?”
I fill her in as we watch the batter send one out to center field. Thankfully, it’s caught, leaving us with one more out to go. We cheer, and then hold our breath, anticipating the next out.
“You girls better get down to that field with those kids,” my mom advises.
We nod in agreement, realizing we are only one out away from being World Champions. We don’t want to leave just yet, though. The game can change very easily with two men on. The security guard knows us well and is standing by, ready to take us down to the field when and if the final out is called.
Luke is making us sweat it out. The current batter has a two-two count. Luke’s next pitch is wild and it bounces off the dirt. Mikey throws off his mask, chasing it down, prepared to throw a player out if he dares to risk the chance to steal. He’s known for his aggressiveness behind the plate and most players in the league are unwilling to take the risk on a normal day, let alone what’s at stake right now.
We’re all on edge as my husband calls a time out. He meets with Luke on the mound.
“What’s Uncle Mikey sayin’ to Daddy?” Olivia asks, tugging at my shirt.
JJ and I look at each other and nervously laugh. “Who knows?” JJ answers.
We watch the two of them on the field, their gloves covering their mouths as they speak. I can see a smile in Luke’s eyes and he’s trying to conceal it, so I can only imagine what is being said. I can guarantee, though, it probably doesn’t have anything to do with the next pitch. Mikey gives him a pat on the back with his glove and takes his place behind home plate.
Luke throws a fastball down the inside corner and the ump calls the third and final out of the game. Mikey throws off his mask and charges the plate as Luke and he jump into each other’s arms, soon followed by the rest of the team as they pile on top. Tears of joy pour from our eyes as we watch the celebration.
***
(Luke)
“We did it!” Mikey yells, jumping into my arms. The feeling is incredible and it’s almost as if I’m in a dream as the rest of our teammates pile on. As large amounts of people storm the field, we begin to break away from our pile as reporters pull at us, hoping for an interview. I’m handed a hat and t-shirt which I proudly put on as I’m being interviewed. I’m barely able to concentrate on what is being asked, but I try my best to answer. Everything at this point is a huge blur.
I spot my sister carrying my nephew, making her way towards Mikey. He sidesteps the reporter interviewing him as he takes her and the baby into his arms. My mom and dad are not far behind.
“So what was going through your mind during the last inning with two men on and a three-two count? How do you remain focused at a time like that?” the reporter asks.
“Well, Mikey and I grew up together. Havin’ him out there with me is definitely a plus. He knows the right thing to say in those situations—” I’m distracted by my beautiful wife and kids joining me. I pick my sweet baby girl up in my arms, pulling my wife and son into my other arm.
“I’m so proud of you. I love you,” JJ whispers in my ear.
“I wouldn’t be here without you,” I whisper back, kissing her lips while the reporter waits patiently for me to complete the interview.
“You’ve had a phenomenal career so far and each year seems to get better. How are you able to maintain that level of play?” she continues.
“First off, I got a great team backing me up. I keep working on things I’d like to improve. My wife makes it possible for me to come out here each day with a clear head. Knowing she is taking care of our kids and family is important to me. She’s supportive, making it doable for me to come out, be focused and do my job.”
“And, a job well done. I congratulate you, your family and your teammates. Great job, go celebrate.” She wraps up the interview.
I thank her and the four of us make our way over to the rest of our family as Mikey finishes up with his interview. My mom, dad and David congratulate me. Mom is still crying as Mikey, De and the baby join us.
“Livvy wanted to know what you and Uncle Mikey were talking about on the mound,” Deanna says, smiling as Olivia is busy taking my hat on and off my head, repeatedly replacing it in different directions while giggling.
“He asked me if Mom was watching the kids tonight,” I say as we all burst into laughter. “Over forty thousand people are in the stands watchin’, not to mention the nine or ten million watchin’ on TV and he’s askin’ if we have a babysitter so we can celebrate. Meanwhile, I got two guys on the bags and a three-two count.”
“We saw you trying not to laugh,” JJ says.
“I know I wanted to kill him,” I reply.
“Anyway, are you taking the kids home with you tonight?” Mikey asks, turning to Mom and laughing.
“It’s all taken care of,” my mom answers, shaking her head at him. “David and Cheryl are taking Livvy and Lukey and Daddy and I are taking Mikey. You kids have a good time,” she tells us as she pulls us into her arms.
David moved out here shortly after JJ and I were married. He and Cheryl bought a house together. Although they’ve never married, they are happy together. I don’t think David will ever be able to marry again. Olivia was it for him. I know the feeling all too well.
My mom and dad bought a house while JJ was pregnant with Livvy. Mom wanted to be close once our baby arrived so she could help out.
Even though we can now afford to buy bigger homes, we choose to stay in the first homes we purchased on our own. Obviously, we’ve got a lot more stuff than we originally could afford, and their have been some major renovations, but it’s got a sentimental value that nothing can compare.
It helps the girls being close to each other while Mikey and I
are on the road. Plus, it’s a great family neighborhood for the kids to grow up in. We all feel a familiarity to our neighborhood in Bay Point, and of course, Mikey and I built a huge custom side-by-side there. It’s our home… where it all began. We try and get there as much as possible.
JJ and I have our own private dock and we still enjoy sitting out like we used to, watching the sun come up. Something about the smell of the salty ocean air in Jersey is different than the smell of it here. It’s nice going back home once in awhile.
AcknowledgementsI would like to say thank you to my husband and my two amazing boys, who support and encourage me always, in spite of all the time I spend locked up in my room writing. I love you.
Especially to Alizon & Kristin, my editors at C&D Editing; once again, I can not thank you enough. I could not do any of this without you. Your support, comments, suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated. Besides being lucky enough to find your editing services, I have gained two great friends. Thanks so-so much for everything.
To Melody Simmons, my cover designer, thank you for designing another fantastic cover.
And to the rest of my family and friends who I finally confessed that I actually wrote a book, thank you for all of your support.
