I approach where a small crowd has gathered. I sign jerseys and some items that are handed to me. Most just say thanks and request a selfie, but I always engage with them. A few ask about baseball. A few tell me I had a great game and this is our year to go all the way. And to my absolute delight, not a single one mentions Cash Barlowe. In my periphery, I see him eventually walk off the field in a huff while I remain steadfast on my turf.
I slowly make my way over to the end of the line of fans, my favorite one waiting with a book in hand, Bodie beside her. I wrap my arms around her as she leans forward, the half-wall getting in the way, so I pick her up, bringing her feet to set on the dirt of the warning track.
“You did so great,” she says against my lips as they cover hers.
“I hope you heard that interview and didn’t fall asleep on me again.”
She grins. “I heard it and feel the same, but I don’t really want to tell the reporter that. I would like to know what you wrote on the baseball card.”
“You saw that, huh?”
“Everyone saw that.” She points to the jumbotron. “You looked determined.”
“I was.” Pulling my hat off, I pass her the card, and her expression changes as soon as she sees the word I marked out and the one I added as I repeat the sentiments aloud. “For us, not him. So, give me a few minutes because we have somewhere to be.”
“Where’s that?”
“E.J. and Patrick. We can’t leave them to suffer behind closed doors in silence any longer. I’ve finally realized not telling the story is harder. We’re gonna get them boys out of there.”
She stands on her tiptoes, placing a quick kiss on my cheek. “I asked Joe for an update during the game, and he said the lawyers are making headway. So chop, chop.”
“Joe? You’re talking to my agent now?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. He called to lecture me about the importance of ‘image.’ Said I should be wearing a Coyotes jersey to support my man, even if it’s not yours.”
“Remind me to fire him later because there’s no way in hell you’re wearing anyone’s number but mine.”
“Whatever. You won’t fire Joe. He knows it and I know it. Besides, you’ll simmer down after a good blow.”
“Hell yeah I will.”
EPILOGUE
AVERY
Four months later
“You should’ve thrown the slider. Tried to tell you, but no. Mr. Baseball didn’t listen.” E.J. shakes his head with disappointment as Carter sits across the island, shoveling a scoop of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
“We didn’t lose because of one pitch, E.J.”
“Never know.” E.J. lets his good-natured smile shine through as he’s done messing with Carter about game five of the division series that they lost, ending their playoff bid. But the best part is the more the media picked up the story of the real Cash Barlowe, the more he faded off into the background. It’s something I never saw coming, although I still keep my guard up, watching for him, and I know Carter does too. But I have no doubt if he shows, we’ll both be ready to face him.
“It’s okay. There’s always next year.” I attempt to reassure them all because as much as E.J. gives Carter a hard time about the loss, it hit him hard too.
“Eh. It’s just a game. The important thing is what I do off the field.” Carter says it with sincerity and determination, but I know he wanted that title bad. “But we’ll win next year.”
“Yep!” E.J. and Patrick yell in unison as the three of them take turns high-fiving.
“Y’all need to hurry. We have to head out in a few minutes.”
“Finally,” E.J. mumbles, hurrying to the sink to clean his plate and place it in the dishwasher.
“Hey, bud. Really quick,” Carter gives me an uneasy look before turning to E.J. “The emancipation isn’t gonna go through today.”
“Figures,” he says, his head dropping a bit. “What happened?”
“I canceled it,” Carter says simply.
E.J. looks between him and me as Patrick steps beside him, just enough to hide his face but enough to keep an eye on what’s going on. We learned early on that it was the stance they’d take in front of their father, and it’s still a second nature response that neither probably think much of. But it utterly breaks my heart.
“It’s okay.” Carter lightens his tone, obviously sensing that his seemingly good announcement has gone downhill fast. “We canceled because we want to adopt the both of you instead. If that’s cool with y’all.”