by Kaylee Ryan
It’s amazing how the love of a good woman can change you. Change your perspective on life. Nothing mattered to me but baseball, until I found Larissa. I’m not sure how it happened, but I was the lucky bastard she decided to spend her life with. She gave me my daughters, all three of them.
Peyton coos in my arms while her mom sleeps peacefully. At just a few hours old, she’s already captured my heart like the rest of my girls.
Larissa woke me up at a little after midnight when her water broke. I had just got to bed after being gone for an away game. I thank my lucky stars I was able to be here. The league now offers paternity leave, which I’m taking full advantage of. I was torn not wanting to let my team down, but at the end of the day, my girls are my home team, and this is where I need to be. I know any of the guys who were in my position, and those who have been, have made the same choice.
At just a few hours old, baby Peyton already has a firm grip on my finger. I can’t help but wonder if she’ll be into softball like her big sister Paisley? Parker is Paisley’s shadow, I can’t imagine that Peyton will be any different.
“Hey,” my wife’s sleepy voice greets me.
“Hey, beautiful,” I whisper.
“How is she?”
“She’s perfect, Ris. Just like her momma and her sisters. She’s perfect,” I say again, unable to take my eyes off our daughter.
“You’re going to spoil her.” My wife laughs.
“Of course I am.” This time I pull my eyes away from my sleeping baby girl to look at Larissa. “Have you not figured it out yet? Spoiling my girls, all four of you is my life’s mission.” Her soft laughter meets my ears, and I cherish the sound. I vowed years ago to do whatever it took to keep the laughter on her lips. I’d like to think I’ve achieved that and continue to do so.
“I’m glad it worked out that your parents happened to arrive yesterday instead of today.”
“It was nice to not have to drag the girls out of bed to get you here.”
“Have you talked to them?”
“I texted Dad. He and Mom are going to bring them over after breakfast.” I glance outside and see that the sun is just starting to rise. “Your mom went home to get some rest. She’ll be back later.”
Peyton fusses in my arms. “Are you hungry, sweet girl?” Her soft whimper is my answer. Carefully, I stand from the chair and help Larissa get adjusted. She lowers her gown, baring her full breast. “God, you’re gorgeous.” She blushes. After all this time, I can still make her blush.
“You’ve caught me, East. You can stop with the flattery.” She shakes her head, but a soft smile plays on her lips.
“Never.” I lean over and press my lips to hers. “You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right this minute.”
“You said that the day we were married, you said that when Parker was born, and a million other times.”
“That’s because you’re more beautiful every damn day.” Another quick kiss to the corner of her mouth and I place Peyton in her arms. Larissa coos at her for a few moments until Peyton decides she’s had enough and wants to eat. Before Larissa has the chance to, as gently as I can, I guide her bare breast to Peyton, placing the nipple against her lips. She latches on immediately. I can’t take my eyes off them. To see my wife feeding our daughter in the most natural form…. My heart is so full it feels as if it could burst from the love pumping through my veins.
When she’s finished eating, I change Peyton’s diaper and am just placing her back in Larissa’s arms when the hospital room door pushes open. I hear Paisley first.
“Shh, Park, Mommy might be sleeping.”
“I see baby sister,” Parker replies.
“Hey, you,” I open my arms, and both my girls know the drill. They come rushing as I capture them both in a hug. “You ready to meet your little sister?” They both nod. Standing to my full height, I pick Parker up, placing her on my hip and hold Paisley’s hand. “Paisley and Parker, meet your sister Peyton,” I introduce them just as I did Paisley to Parker when she was born.
“She’s so tiny.” Paisley is now ten and older beyond her years.
“Tiny,” Parker agrees.
“Why don’t you climb up here and you can hold her?” Larissa offers. Paisley wastes no time sliding in bed beside her mom.
“Me hold her,” Parker says.
“You too,” I agree. Paisley moves over, and I sit Parker in between her and Larissa. Taking Peyton from Larissa, I place her in Paisley’s arms. I’ve placed Peyton just right so her legs are resting on Parker’s lap, so she too feels as though she’s getting to hold her little sister. “Hold her head,” I instruct.
“I’ve got this,” Paisley assures me.
“Got this,” Parker agrees.
“Hey, son.” Dad pulls me into a hug. “She’s a beauty.”
“Thanks.” He releases me, and Mom takes his place. “Hey, Mom.”
“You have a beautiful family, East.”
Turning my head, I look over at my girls. The four of them are my everything. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them. “That I do,” I agree with her. “That I do.”
The rest of the day we have a revolving door of visitors. My mother-in-law came bearing food, of which we were both extremely grateful. Drew and Chloe stopped by but couldn’t stay long. Chloe’s mom was watching their three-month-old daughter, Clara. Fisher and Carr both stopped by with their wives, and the team sent a huge bouquet of flowers. It was a perfect day to celebrate the birth of our new baby girl.
As I stand on the mound, I take a minute to memorize this moment. The crowd is loud, a sea of orange letting us know Tennessee fans are here in droves to support us. I know that in that sea of orange is my family. Mom, Dad, Parker, and Peyton. Grandma and Grandpa Monroe, Gram, Aunt Chloe, Uncle Drew, Clara, and Clayton, are all here to watch me and support my team.
My team that I’ve led to the Women’s College Softball World Series. This is the last game in the series, and we’re up by two. We only need one more out to end this game and win the series. This is the final innings of the game, and the final innings of my college career. I graduate next week with my bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. I fell in love with the game around the same time Mom and Dad met. But it’s not his shoes I followed in, it was Grandpa Monroe’s. He too was a pitcher.
“Let’s go, Monroe!” I hear from the crowd and know without a doubt that’s my dad. He retired from the game my senior year of high school, and since then, there’s not been one game he’s missed. He does the same for my sisters. He’s made it his life’s goal to never miss another important event in our lives.
Taking a deep breath, I wind up the pitch and let it fly. Strike one. I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants and repeat the process two more times. As soon as the third strike is called, I drop to my knees. I don’t even try to keep the tears from falling. My smile is wide as my team rushes me and we fall into a pile on the field. We did it. We won the Women’s College World Series.
The next hour is filled with families swarming the field, along with reporters and photographers. It’s a bitter-sweet moment, one I’ll never forget. When two strong arms wrap around me and swirl me around in the air, I know immediately it’s my dad.
“So damn proud of you, princess,” he whispers just for me.
This man, my father has been here for me from day one. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to show him what his love, his acceptance of me as his own has done for me.
When he finally places my feet on the ground, I turn to face him. “I love you, Daddy.” I might be twenty-one, but he will always be my daddy and I will always be his princess. Nothing will ever change that. I see his eyes shimmer and he smiles.
“It’s like I blinked and now you’re this beautiful young woman, bringing her old man to his knees, just like you did when you were a little girl.”
“You know, just speaking from the heart.” I wink, making him laugh.
“Come here, you.” He tu
gs me into a tight hug and gets invaded by Mom and my sisters.
“So what’s next?” Parker, who is now fourteen asks.
“You gonna miss it?” Peyton adds.
I look over at my parents, who are wearing matching grins. “I’m taking life beyond the bases.” Dad throws his head back and laughs, as does my mom. My sisters just grin. Those three words mean just as much to my family as “I love you.” It’s something Dad told Mom when they were dating and it’s stuck with her, with us.
Six months is too damn long to wait to marry the love of your life. But when that love is Larissa, you wait to give her the perfect wedding. You wait, giving her the time she needs so she knows that no matter what, you’ll be there. My girls are stuck with me.
I’m standing at the altar watching, waiting for my girls. Larissa and I decided that she and Paisley would walk hand-in-hand down the aisle together. I’m not just pledging my love to Larissa today, but my daughter as well. Pride washes over me. She’s been calling me Daddy for a while now, but soon it’s going to be official. First thing Monday morning, before we leave for our honeymoon, we’re signing the papers to begin the adoption process.
When the music starts to play, I turn and focus my gaze on the aisle. When I see my two beauties appear in white, I have to bite down on my tongue to keep a sob from escaping my lips. Somehow, from the moment I met her, I knew this was where we would end up. This is where I hoped we would end up.
As they get closer, Paisley bounces on her feet at her mom’s side and calls out for me. “Daddy!” she says loudly. “Look at my dress.” She pulls on some of the white lace to show me. The guests laugh. “It’s so, so pretty,” she says, oblivious to the fact that her mom is shushing her.
“You’re beautiful,” I say when they reach me. Bending down, I scoop her up in my arms and place her on my hip. “And you,” I lean in and kiss Larissa’s cheek, “you take my breath away.” Her eyes shimmer with tears.
“Dearly beloved,” the minister begins the service. I hold Paisley close, while holding Larissa’s hand. “Easton,” he gives me my cue.
Crouching down, I place P on her feet and take both her hands in mine. “Paisley, I know you have a daddy in heaven, and I’m honored you’ve chosen me to be your daddy here on earth. You are a bright, beautiful, vibrant little girl, and you have brought so much love and joy to my life.” I have to stop to get my emotions in check. P is smiling with tears in her eyes as well. “Today, I pledge my love to you as your father. I’ll be there for the good times and bad, to scare the boys away until your thirty.” This gets a laugh from the crowd.
“To play catch with me?” she asks shyly.
“Yeah, princess, to play catch with you. I promise to love you, my daughter, all the days of my life.”
She launches her little body at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I love you so, so much,” she whispers.
“I love you, too, P.” Standing with her still in my arms, I reach out for Larissa with my free hand.
“I do. For as long as I live, I do,” she blurts. “You love us, unconditionally. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Easton Monroe, but I thank God every day for bringing you into our lives. I do,” she says again.
“Easton?” the minister asks.
“I do,” I say past the lump of emotion lodged in the back of my throat.
“A little out of order, but the same result,” the minister chuckles. “By the power vested in me by the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Snaking my free arm around her waist, I pull Larissa in and kiss her at the same time Paisley lifts her head from my shoulder and kisses my cheek.
Closing my eyes, I hold my entire world in my arms. I want to memorize this moment, this feeling of being complete. This feeling of knowing that as of today, not just in my heart but in the eyes of the law, we’re a family.
Me and my girls.
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read Beyond the Bases. I appreciate each and every one of you. I’d love to hear from you.
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With You Series
Anywhere With You
More With You
Everything With You
Stand Alone Titles
Tempting Tatum
Unwrapping Tatum
Levitate
Just Say When
Unexpected Reality
I Just Want You
Reminding Avery
Hey, Whiskey
Pull You Through
Soul Serenade Series
Emphatic
Assured
Definite
Southern Heart Series
Southern Pleasure
Southern Desire
Southern Attraction
Some of you already know this, other may not. Beyond the Bases started out as a novella for a Kindle World. When the program was terminated, I had a novella that needed tweaking to take out the world tie-ins and ready to publish. I loved the story and felt like I could expand on it, give more depth so that’s what I did. I hope you fell in love with Easton, Larissa and Paisley. They were a joy to write, especially Paisley.
To my team:
Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative Covers, I don’t know how you do it. I give you an image, the basic plot points and every time you produce a cover that not only captures the book, but draws you to it. Thank you for your design genius and all that you do.
Sara Eirew produced another amazing image. I’ve been holding onto this one for a while now and I’m glad I finally had the book to fit it.
Hot Tree Editing, your team is my lifeline. You make me work for it, to make each book the best version it can me. Thank you for not taking it easy on me.
Tami, Integrity Formatting, I never worry about what the final product is going to look like with you at the helm. Thank you for making each book beautiful on the inside.
Give Me Books, you never fail me. You take the stress and worry out of release day. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do.
Me beta team, Stacy, Jamie, Lauren. You ladies are not just my beta’s, but my friends. I truly value the friendships we’ve created throughout this journey. I would be lost without you. I will never be able to thank you enough for the time you put into reading my words over and over.
Bloggers, there are so many of you who take the time away from your lives, time away from your families to support authors. Thank you, doesn’t seem like enough. You don’t get paid to do what you do. It’s from the kindness of your heart and your love of reading the fuels you. Without you, without your pages, your voice, your reviews, spreading the word it would be so much harder if not impossible to get my words in reader’s hands. I can’t tell you how much your never-ending support means to me. Thank you for being you, thank you for all that you do.
My readers, I love you. Not only do you buy my books and read them, you message me along the way. I love hearing from each and every one of you. I love hearing your thoughts as you read, and how the story as a whole touched your life. I’m grateful for ALL of you more than you will ever know. Thank you for taking the time to read my words.
My family, your continued support is beyond measure. I’m so thankful to be living this life with you. I love you.
My Kick Ass Crew, the name of the group, speaks for itself. You ladies truly do KICK ASS! I’m honored to have you on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting, suggesting, the teasers, the messages all of it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do. Your support is everything!
With Love,
m.Net
