by Jean Joachim
The door to the back room opened, and the man with the gray hair came out, holding some things covered in black velvet in his hands. “I think I’ve got just what you want,” he said.
Matt, in shock from listening to Dan and Holly, looked up. Fear coursed through his veins. Are we gonna fight like that about a wedding? He recalled that his mother was out of the picture, and his father probably wouldn’t give a damn. So, Dusty could do whatever she wanted, and he wouldn’t object. Relieved, he let out a breath.
“Come, young man. Take a look at these. This one is particularly apt. See, two diamonds hugging together, then two baguettes on either side. They represent your union, the two of you becoming one, and then the little ones.” Sam’s eyes twinkled.
Matt sensed a blush forming and took his gaze away. Leaning over the velvet display, he fingered the ring Sam had described. Its beauty took his breath away. Holly joined him. He watched her look over the half dozen rings resting in the box.
“I think he’s right, Matt. That’s the best one,” Holly said.
“Would you try it on?” Matt asked.
She glanced at Dan. “I have to take yours off to try this one on. Is that okay?”
“Of course. I bought you the ring, you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”
Holly rested her hands on her hips. “Aren’t we being pissy? You tagged along, knowing it was about helping Matt. And now, you’re throwing a tantrum because I have to take your ring off for forty-five seconds?”
Dan looked away, color seeping into his neck.
“Look, Dan, if this is fucking with your head…” Matt said.
The old man’s head snapped up.
“Sorry, Sam. Dan, it’s okay. I can decide on my own.”
“Listen to yourself! It’s not like I’m getting engaged to Matt. He doesn’t even own the ring!” Holly raised her voice.
“And I’m already married,” Sam piped up, hiding a smile.
The three faced him and stopped. Matt cracked up first, followed by Holly, then Dan.
“Okay, okay. Try it on,” Dan said. “I’ll hold yours.”
Holly handed him her ring. “Don’t you dare drop it.” She slid the double diamond on and held her hand out flat. The jewels glittered in the light. She held her fingers this way and that, staring at it.
Matt looked down at it, then up at her face, his brows knitted. “So?”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“You really like it?”
“I love it. Of course, I like mine better,” she said with a glance at Dan. “But this would definitely be my second choice.”
“Of course, it won’t look the same on her. She doesn’t have fancy fingernails or anything. She’s a ball player. Can’t have that. But after we get married, she’ll quit softball and have long nails. So, I guess it’ll look almost the same then.”
Holly and Dan exchanged glances before she slipped the ring off and returned it to Sam.
“How much is it?” Matt asked.
“Ten thousand. But for a friend of Dan’s? Only eighty-five hundred.”
“I’ll take it.” He whipped out a check and made it out.
“Get it certified and come back. I’ll clean the ring and have it ready for you.”
Matt nodded. His heart leapt as he followed his friends out of the store. They were still bickering about their wedding as they headed for the bank. Matt didn’t hear most of what they said, his heart beat had tripled at the thought of giving the beautiful token of his love to Dusty.
He chuckled to himself at how surprised she was going to be. Hell, he’d surprised himself. The guys’d probably think he was nuts, but he didn’t care. He’d been going his own way for a long time, and this was no different.
An hour later, Sam handed the ring to Matt, who closed his long fingers around the midnight blue, velvet box. He slipped it in his pocket, but kept his hand on it to keep it from falling out. The three returned to the car.
Matt called Dusty on the ride back to the stadium. “Can you meet me for dinner tonight?”
“Sure. I thought you were going on the road tomorrow?”
“I am. But I want to see you tonight.”
“What’s up?”
“It’s a surprise.” He slapped his palm over his mouth to keep from spilling his secret.
“Fine. Where?”
“Chez Maxim. It’s French. In the West fifties.”
“Great! Sounds fancy. Should I dress up?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of a special occasion.”
“Okay. See you then.”
“See you, beautiful.”
He thought his heart was going to fly out of his body.
Chapter Thirteen
Matt’s hands were shaking so badly he could hardly tie his tie. After a string of curses, he tried again, this time facing the big mirror. He wore a charcoal gray suit, white button-down shirt, and this lousy gold tie.
He’d shaved. Scruff may be sexy, but didn’t seem appropriate when a guy planned to propose to his girl. Propose! Just hearing the word in his head gave him palpitations. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he regained enough control to get the four-in-hand tied perfectly.
After brushing off his suit with his palm, he grabbed the little blue box, shoved it in his pocket, picked up his keys, and headed for the elevator. Being the frugal type, Matt didn’t live in a building with a doorman, so he left unnoticed by anyone. His cell dinged. There was a text. Then another and another. The damn thing was going crazy.
His Uber car was waiting for him. He got in and closed the door. Sitting back, he whipped out his phone. Sure enough, it was the infielders.
Don’t blow it
Don’t forget to get down on one knee. You’ve gotta beg to
get a hot chick like her to marry you.
No eff word
No crying. If she won’t marry you without that, please don’t
embarrass the team.
If she says ‘no’, give me her number.
Matt laughed as he read each silly message. He could count on his buddies to say dumb stuff and make him laugh. Sure helped relieve the pressure. He chuckled all the way down the West Side Highway.
He arrived early on purpose. He tipped the maître d’ twenty bucks for a quiet, out-of-the-way table then ordered a bottle of champagne. It arrived in its own ice bucket. The sommelier opened the bottle and poured a glass for Matt. He downed the liquid courage fast. He needed help, and the warmth generated by the bubbly beverage bolstered him.
He glanced at his watch. She wasn’t due for another ten minutes. Time to do what he did before play-offs and World Series games—go through the reasons why this should work, why he should hit a home run, throw out a base stealer, everything he wanted to do. Of course, this time was different.
Marrying a pro ball player means no money worries. Especially with me. I’ve been savin’. I’m a faithful guy. No fucking around. I’ll treat her good, buy her stuff, listen to her. I’ll be nice to her parents, even though they’re probably scumbags. I’ll be a good father.
The last one sent him straight for another flute of wine. How could he be a father, when his was so shitty? What did he know about that stuff? Nothing. But she’d help him. She’d teach him what to do. He took another deep breath, and sweat started on his forehead. He checked his watch again.
As he was searching his brain for new reasons why Dusty should marry him, she arrived. He watched her walk across the room, pride swelling his chest. She was beautiful, graceful, and sweet. And she loved him. How did he get so lucky?
He stood up when she reached his table. Dressed in a dark turquoise dress that appeared to be silk, she was easily the most beautiful woman in the room. He leaned down to kiss her then fumbled with the back of her chair.
“You clean up great,” she said, easing down.
“You look fantastic,” he said, his voice cracking. Matt sank into his seat before his knees gave out. He pulled a handkerchief out o
f his back pocket and mopped his face.
“Something wrong?”
“No. Nothing. Want some champagne?”
“Champagne? This must be a special occasion. It’s not my birthday. Is it yours?”
The sommelier was at Matt’s elbow immediately, pouring for Dusty and refilling Matt’s glass. She sipped the cold liquid.
“The bubbles tickle my nose. So, is it your birthday?”
“No, no, nothing like that. Maybe we should order first.” Matt’s courage failed him. Delaying it wouldn’t help, but his appetite had gone south.
“Okay,” she said, opening the menu.
Man up, asshole! He put his hand on hers. “No, wait.”
She raised her gaze to his. “Something wrong, Matt?”
“No. No. Everything’s right. So very right.”
“Good. I’m starved. Can it wait?”
He squeezed her arm. “It can’t wait.”
“Okay.” She sat still, giving him her full attention.
The speech he’d written and thought he had memorized flew out of his head. He searched his brain for a key word, but nothing came. That wasn’t new to the ace catcher. That’s what clutch hitters do all the time. They pull a rabbit out of a hat. When he saw this situation as the same, confidence flowed again.
“You know how I feel about you,” he started.
“I do. Can we do this over an appetizer?”
“Shh. Let me finish!”
“Okay, okay,” she said, raising her palms.
“You know I love you. Very much. The way you were with me the other night, well, it was more than I expected. Than I ever hoped for.”
He had gained her full attention.
“I didn’t think I’d ever find a girl like you. Didn’t think you existed. But you surprise me at every turn, Dusty. I never knew I could feel this way, but I do. So, I want to make it official.”
His sweaty hand plucked the small box from his pants pocket. He stood, then kneeled next to her chair. Her soft gasp drew his attention. Her eyes widened, and a deep blush filled her cheeks.
“So, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me, Dusty?”
Then, he opened the box, and she gasped louder.
“Please say yes.”
She looked into his eyes, which were level with hers. “Oh my God, Matt! I had no idea…”
“I know. You said you love me. Please, Dusty. Marry me.” His voice softened.
“Yes. I will, yes. Oh my God, I will,” she mumbled, her eyes watering.
Matt slipped the ring on her finger.
“You can get up now, honey,” she said, patting his arm and staring at her hand.
Matt got back on his seat. A round of applause startled the couple. They looked around to see other patrons in the restaurant grinning at them. He’d thought it was a private moment, but after all, they were in a public place. He chuckled with embarrassment.
Matt took her hand and gazed at the ring. “Sam was right,” he muttered.
“Sam? Sam who?”
“Sam, the jeweler. The guy who sold me this ring. He was right. It’s perfect on you. Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it. Adore it. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Wow. It must have cost you a fortune.”
“Nothing’s too good for you, honey.” He took both her hands in his.
As suddenly as it had disappeared, his appetite returned, with a vengeance. He opened the menu. “Let’s order,” he said, scanning the offerings.
“Order? Food? I couldn’t eat a thing!” she said, laughing.
* * * *
The engaged couple spent most of the night making love at Matt’s place. He dragged himself out of bed at nine and barely made the bus to the plane at eleven. Everyone on the team remarked about how exhausted he looked.
“Up all night with your girl?” Jake asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You mean screwing his brains out? Probably,” Skip replied.
“Watch the way you talk about her,” Matt growled, his expression cloudy.
“No one’s aiming at her. We’re taking shots at you, buddy. Too tired to figure that out?” Nat chuckled.
“I take it she said ‘yes’,” Dan said, sliding into the seat next to Matt.
“Yeah.” The catcher shot his friend a tired smile.
Dan stood up, grabbing onto the backs of the seats. “I have an announcement! Matt Jackson is now engaged to Dusty Carmichael,” he shouted.
The men cheered so loud that the driver jumped.
“Thanks,” Matt said, shooting Dan a dark look.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I didn’t mean that, asshole! I was being sarcastic.”
“I know. And I was ignoring that.” Dan laughed.
Matt sat back. Unable to keep his eyes open, he snoozed all the way to the airport.
Dan nudged him until he moved. “Get up, lover boy. Sex god.”
“Wha…?” Matt rubbed his eyes.
“Time to board the plane,” Dan said, yanking the catcher out of the seat.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming.”
“I bet that’s what you said last night too,” teased Skip.
Jake cracked up. “Yeah. How many times? How come you’re not braggin’?”
“He can’t count that high,” Nat piped up.
“Aw, come on. I know he can count to two,” Bobby Hernandez said.
That broke up the team. Bleary-eyed, Matt stumbled off the bus. He straightened his tie and brushed his hair back with his palm.
“There’s press out there. Wake up!” Dan said.
“I’m awake.”
“There he is,” called a reporter, rushing up to the line of players waiting to board. “Aren’t you Matt Jackson, catcher for the Nighthawks?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you get engaged?”
“What is this? Some kind of joke? Come on, guys, lighten up.”
“This is no joke, Mr. Jackson. I’m a reporter for Celebs ’R Us magazine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Here are my credentials.” The man flashed his wallet at Matt. “So, is it true? Are you engaged to Dusty Carmichael, pitcher for the Queens?”
“It’s true. But it’s our private business.”
“When you become a pro athlete, Mr. Jackson, you don’t have private business.”
“Says who?”
“Do you want me to write about your hostile attitude, or are you going to cooperate and give me the story?”
“Look, Johnny, there’s nothing to tell. I got engaged. No biggie. People do it every day.”
Dan ushered Matt along, apologizing to the reporter. Cal frowned at the catcher.
“Don’t leave any bad press, Jackson. We don’t need that now. And get your girl off your mind for this trip. We need you to be with us one hundred percent,” the manager said.
“Right, Cal. I am. I will.”
Bobby grabbed Matt’s arm and escorted him to a seat. “Here, go to sleep. Be ready to play when we land,” the second baseman said.
Matt was out before the jet took off. He slept all the way to Atlanta. They checked into the hotel. He had an hour to kill before reporting to the stadium for practice before the night game. He called Dusty.
“Hey, babe, future wife. How are you?”
“Good. We got our August schedule. I don’t think we’re in any of the same cities at the same time.”
“Shit. I was hoping we’d have a few nights together.”
“Our schedules suck. I’ve got mine spread out here, next to yours. Nothing. The closest we come is in two weeks. We’re in Pittsburgh together, but only for one day.”
“Fuck. But it’s only a month. After we get married, we won’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“Why?”
“Well, I mean, you’re gonna quit softball, right? Then, maybe you can come on the road with me, sometimes.”
“I’m gonna what?”
“Qui
t. You know. Give it up, because we’ll be married, and you sure won’t need the money. Then, we can live like normal people. At least on the off-season. Have kids and stuff.”
“I’m not quitting, Matt.”
“Sure, sure. I know how much you like it. But after we’re married…”
“I’m not quitting. After we’re married, before we’re married. I’m not leaving softball.”
“You are. You have to. I want you to.”
“No. No way. This is my life.”
“But I’ll be your life after we’re married.”
“And what will I be?”
“My wife. Isn’t that enough?”
“No, it isn’t. I turned my back on my family for softball. Don’t you get it? It means everything to me. It’s who I am. I might quit, temporarily, to have a kid, but that’s all.”
“You have to. I can’t handle you traveling around on the friggin’ bus.”
“I’ve been doing it for a while now. Get used to it.”
“What if something happens to you? What if the bus crashes? I can’t live with that, Dusty. You have to quit. Please. Honey.”
There was silence. Matt watched the second hand on his watch.
“Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”
“Yes. I’m asking you to stay safe so I can love you forever.”
“No. You’re giving in to an irrational fear and forcing me to give up what I love because you’re being…an asshole. I don’t know any other way to say it.”
“An asshole? Because I want you safe?”
“An asshole because you can’t let go of the past.”
“It happened once. It can happen again.”
“That’s something you have to deal with, Matt. I’m not quitting.”
This time, the silence was on Matt’s part. His mind raced for a solution. “Your quitting is not negotiable.”
“Then, we can’t go on.”
“Looks like this is going to be the shortest engagement in the history of the world.”
Silence. Then, the sound of muffled crying reached his ears.
“Dusty? Dusty. Dusty!”
