Better Than Perfect (37 page)

He threw his warm-up pitches and bent down to pick up the rosin bag. A ritual he’d performed so many times in his career. He was ten years old the first time he threw a pitch. In the past twenty-five years, he’d honed his delivery to maximize velocity, pinpoint control, and fool the opposing batters well enough to make a decent living at it.

He adjusted his cap, took his position on the mound, and started his windup.

Focus
.

Just concentrate on what was most important. For the first time in his life, Johnny realized it wasn’t baseball.

Breathe.

He needed Alice like he needed air.

Let it go.

He couldn’t let her go.

He’d finish this game. Then he’d figure out how to win her heart once and for all. He wouldn’t pitch again for at least four more days. If he couldn’t convince her to come down here, he’d fly home. He was entitled to up to three days paternity leave, but since the test had been tampered with, he didn’t think it would count.

Besides, it really didn’t matter if Zach was his kid or not. He was Alice’s son, and a fine young man. The two of them had formed a bond, and unless Zach wanted to know if it was biological, Johnny was satisfied with that.

After three innings, Johnny was done for the day. He’d had a solid outing. Not perfect, but respectable. He’d given up a solo home run in the sixth, but thanks to Baxter’s bat, they were up 5-2 and it was up to the bullpen to hold the lead. He’d leave the game feeling like he’d done his job.

He could do this job for one more year. He’d made a commitment to the team. If he remained healthy, he would take the field. Every time he was asked to. He had to set an example for Zach, and for all the kids he worked with. As much as baseball was just a game, it had given him so much more.

Johnny knew what he wanted to do when the season was over. He wanted to open up his own baseball camp. As much as he enjoyed the work he’d done at the minicamp, it was only the beginning of what he wanted to accomplish. He could help a lot of kids. He’d share his experience. The good and the bad. He’d let kids know that no matter where they started in life, where they ended was up to them. With hard work, discipline and perseverance, anything was possible.

The philosophy had served him well on the field. He just hoped it would work in his personal life, as well. He’d find out soon enough. He hadn’t known for sure whether he was going to get in today’s game or not; otherwise, he would have already booked a flight back to San Francisco for tonight.

Johnny held his head high as he walked off the mound. Bryce Baxter came up behind him, put a hand on his shoulder and then gave his a hearty clap on the back.

“Hey, check out that blonde behind home plate.” Bryce chuckled.

“Not interested.” He should know him by now. Johnny headed straight for the dugout.

“Trust me. You want to see what she’s got to offer.” Baxter shoved him just enough, he was forced to stop. Or else topple over in front of the sold-out ballpark.

Johnny looked up in the stands.

Alice stood three rows behind home plate. She held up a large hand-lettered sign that read
I LOVE YOU, JOHNNY SCOTTSDALE!

The word love was surrounded by a heart and covered in glitter.

When she caught him smiling at her, she turned the sign over. She’d written,
Ask me again.

Johnny dropped to one knee, removed his cap and shouted as loud as he could into the stands.

“Marry me, Alice. Make my life complete. Make it better than perfect.”

The crowd erupted in cheers, whistles and applause. So loud that he couldn’t hear her response.

She opened the sign to reveal a Goliath sized
YES!!!!!
covered in glitter and surrounded by hearts.

She made her way down to the edge of the stands. She climbed over the railing and Johnny pulled her into his arms. He leaned down and kissed her long and hard and didn’t stop even with the crowd going wild around them. At the moment, he didn’t care if there were ten thousand people watching. He didn’t care if their picture ended up on Bay Area Sports Net or even ESPN.

The only thing he cared about was having Alice in his arms. And in his life.

“I don’t have a ring.” He would remedy that as soon as possible. “But I do want to marry you. I mean it. I love you Alice.”

“I love you, too.” She leaned into him as he escorted her off the field.

“Thank you for coming down here.” Johnny pulled her into the clubhouse. “Saved me a trip to San Francisco.”

“You were going to come back?” She was glowing, and it had nothing to do with the glitter.

“I need you in my life.” Johnny wrapped his arms around her. “I need you and Zach.”

“Even though he’s not your son?” Her voice quavered, just a little.

“He could be.” Johnny hadn’t had a chance to tell her. He’d been too upset last night, and then he’d had to prepare for today’s game. “The test was tampered with. The nurse who administered it was a fan. A fanatic. She thought she was doing me a favor.”

“So, it was a false negative?” She stepped back, looking up at him with a look of disbelief on her face.

“Maybe. But it doesn’t matter to me if he’s my biological son or my stepson.” He reached out, brushed the hair off her face. “I happen to love that kid.”

“Yeah. He’s pretty fond of you, too.” She smiled at him, a look of pure radiance on her face.

“But I’m willing to redo the test.” Johnny wanted her to know he’d go through it all again. “It could be important for Zach to know the truth.”

“I think he’ll want to know.” She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

“So, what about the other test?” Johnny brought her to his locker, and pulled up a chair for her to sit in. “Is there a player to be named later?”

“I haven’t taken the test yet.” She looked up at him, her face radiant with love. Hope. Hormones? “I thought you’d want to be there. I thought we could find out together.”

“I’d like that.” Johnny knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. “So when can we find out?”

“Anytime. Although, I don’t suppose there is a ladies’ room around here.” She laughed as she looked around the locker room. This was definite guy territory.

“Let’s go back to my hotel.” Johnny would like to be someplace where they could celebrate. In private. Or get working on making a baby if there wasn’t one.

“Let’s go.” She let him pull her to a standing position.

“Do you want another baby?” He hoped she did. But he’d be satisfied with Zach, if that’s the way it worked out. “Do you want to have my baby?”

“You know what? I think I do.” She slid her arms around his waist. “What about you?”

“I’d love for you to have my baby. And I want to be there.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I meant it when I said I’m quitting after this year.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. For a long time, baseball was my life.” He held her even tighter. “But now, you’re my life. You and Zach.”

“I love you, Johnny. I’ve always loved you.”

“Good. Then let’s go find out if we’re expanding our roster.” Johnny stepped back so he could change out of his uniform and into his street clothes. He made it quick. He could use a shower, but would grab one back at the hotel. Maybe he could get her to join him.

“You know, you’re going to have to work on losing the baseball talk.” She teased him as they went to his Jeep. “It’s a little cliché away from the ballpark.”

“Hey, I’ve got a year.” Johnny hit the button on his keys twice and opened her door. He helped her up into the passenger seat. “Besides, I’d like to stay involved in the game. But with a schedule that’s a lot more family friendly.”

“So what were you thinking of doing next?”

“I’d like to give a shot at coaching. Not this year, of course.” Johnny hoped he was making the right move. “But I’d like to help coach Zach’s team next year. If they can make room for me.”

“I’m sure any high school team would be happy to have you on board.”

“And if it turns out I have a knack for it…” He took a deep breath. It was one thing to come up with the idea while he stood on the mound, his comfort zone, but something else to share it. “I’d like to open up my own camp.”

“You have the knack.” She turned and smiled at him. “You most definitely have a knack for coaching and inspiring young ballplayers.”

“Would you be willing to help me run the camp? I’d like it to be more of a year-round thing. Not just one week of the year.” Johnny knew he couldn’t possibly pull it off without her.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She had a slight catch in her voice. “So, where do you think you want to open this year-round baseball camp? Back in San Francisco?”

“And compete with the Harrison Foundation’s camp?” He shook his head. This was the part that had him the most worried. She seemed to love San Francisco. It suited her. “I was actually thinking about starting a camp in Reno. There’s definitely a need there. We could work with the university, and it’s close enough to San Francisco, we could bring the kids to a couple of Goliaths games a year.”

“Reno.” She leaned back into her seat. Was that a good sign? Was she considering it, or trying to figure out a way to change his mind?

“That way you could still go to school. If you’re still planning on applying.” He thought she’d be an incredible teacher.

“No. I don’t think I need to go back to school.” She reached for his hand. “I think I’ll have plenty to keep me busy. A husband. A teenager. A year-round baseball camp. And maybe even a baby.”

“Yes. Maybe even a baby. Do we need to stop at a pharmacy? For a home pregnancy test?” There were several on the way.

“I have everything I need right here.” She patted her purse.

Johnny smiled. He had everything he needed. He had Alice.

* * * *

Alice followed Johnny to his room. It was a nice suite. A very nice suite. Still, she couldn’t imagine living in a hotel for six whole weeks. But then she supposed he was used to that lifestyle.

Would he miss it? He’d lived the life of a ballplayer for so long. “The bathroom is through there.” Johnny sounded a bit nervous. Of course he was. They were about to find out if they were having a baby. Together this time. “Is there anything you need?”

“Just a moment of privacy, and then it’ll be about three minutes before we know.” She took her purse into the bathroom. She opened the package and read the instructions again. Simple. Efficient. And according to the box, 99.9% accurate.

She did what needed to be done, replaced the cap on the stick and placed a tissue on the granite counter to set the test on. She washed up and then poked her head out the bathroom door.

“Well?” Johnny practically jumped to his feet. “Is it positive?”

“I thought we’d see together.” She flashed him a nervous smile. “It should take a minute or two for the results to show up.”

“Okay.” He stepped closer. Took her hand and gave a squeeze. “If it’s not… I mean, if you’re not pregnant, do you want to? Try, that is?”

Did she want to try for a baby? At her age? She’d done the whole baby-toddler-preschooler thing. Now she was barely getting used to having a teenager. If she was pregnant, she was more than willing to do it all again. But to start over on purpose?

She looked up at Johnny. He had a look of such hope and eager anticipation that the answer couldn’t have been any clearer if it had been broadcast on the giant scoreboard.

“Yes. Yes, I would want to try.” She pulled him into the spacious bathroom and they stared down at the test.

Positive.

“Well, I guess that answers that.” Johnny’s voice was thick with emotion. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Congratulations, Daddy.” She placed a kiss on his cheek.

“We’re going to have a baby.” Stunned, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t…practice for the next one.” She suggested in a low seductive voice.

“Yes. Practice. Practice makes perfect.”