Chapter 17 - Tyler

“Oh my gosh, this is so frustrating!” Molly yelled into the phone.

“Calm down, baby. It isn’t good for the babies when you are stressed out.”

“I know, but seriously! Stefan said we might be delayed a month! A fucking month, Tyler! I don’t have a month. I want it to be done and ready before the babies arrive!” Molly groaned. “The damn plumber Stefan contracted out messed up on the plumbing, and now, they have to tear some of the walls out and redo all the plumbing.”

“I know it’s frustrating, but you want to have the plumbing right.”

“I know, I know. But it should have been done right the first fucking time! We were getting so close to being done!”

“Baby, I’ll be home in one week, and we’ll move you out of Pen’s apartment and use the insurance money to stay in the extended stay motel. If we have to bring the babies home to a motel, it won’t be the end of the world. They won’t even know.”

“I can’t wait until you come home!” Molly said with a sigh. She seemed to be calming down. “Awww, Peanut and Stormi are both rubbing against my legs. They know I’m stressed out.”

“That’s really sweet,” I said. “I bet they are getting big.”

“They really are. I wonder if they will be sad once we move back home.”

“I don’t know, but it’s not like we won’t ever see Pen again. They could have play dates.”

“Oh, Ty,” Molly said with a giggle. “I just love you. I do wish I could have made it to another game!”

“I know, but the doctor said she’d rather keep you close to home for the last two months. Only about nine weeks to go until your due date!”

“I’m so glad you’ll be home because I have to go to a doctor’s appointment every week now. In October, I”ll have to go twice a week. It also means we get to see our babies more often! I love ultrasound appointments and seeing them so active.”

“I can’t wait to come to those appointments with you,” I said. I decided to change the subject. “So, have you been watching the Jaguars?”

“Yes!” my girl exclaimed. The new topic seemed to work, and she was no longer thinking about the construction delays. “Landon’s team is doing amazing! Everyone was counting them out at the end of August, but look at them now! They are leading their division!”

“I just got off the phone with Landon, and he’s so excited they clinched their division and are headed to the playoffs. He says he thinks the way his team is gelling, they could make it to the Series. How awesome would that be?”

“That would be incredible! People are saying either the Anaheim Strikers or the Cleveland Rockets will be going against the Jaguars or the St. Louis Vikings.”

“I’m so proud of Landon!”

“I’m proud of you, too, Ty!” my wife said. “I bet you’re going to be on the Coyotes next year.”

“Yeah, that would be awesome. They are out of the Wild Card race now. No playoff hopes for them this year.”

“Maybe next year, when you play for them, they will go all the way!”

“I love your confidence in me,” I said with a laugh. God, I loved this woman. “The Storm is half a game out right now, so every game this last week is important. Coach is very stressed out!”

“Oh! Meadow is calling me. I’m gonna call you back, ok?”

“I see how I rate. Your best friend calls, and you just hang up on me.”

“You know I’ll call you back. You know you’re my number one!”

“Oh! I can’t wait to tell Meadow, Penelope, Dominic, and Hunter. But you know who is going to be crushed the most? Cooper!”

Molly laughed. “You’re ridiculous! I’ll talk to you later!”

I decided to go on a run by myself because I knew how long Meadow and Molly could talk on the phone. I hadn’t really connected with any of the Storm players enough to call one up to run with. Probably because I would either move up or down sooner than later. I wouldn’t stay here for very long. It really made me miss Hunter and the guys on the Raptors.

After running eight miles, I jumped in the shower. The guy I was rooming with, right fielder Evan Harris, was in our common room playing MLB Strikeout when I came back out in a fresh pair of joggers and a Raptors t-shirt. I had to hide my smile when I saw that my brother was up to bat in the video game.

“Are you a Jaguars fan?” I asked. I didn’t know much about him other than he was our utility player and could play any position when asked.

“Hell, yeah, I am,” he said with a grin at me. “I’m from Orlando, so that’s my home team. Are you a Jags fan?”

“Well, you know Landon Stone that you have up to bat there?” I said and nodded towards the TV. “He’s…”

“Holy shit! I can’t believe I didn’t see it before,” Evan said, looking at me and then back at Landon’s digital player and back at me. “Tyler Stone. Landon Stone. And you guys look alike. He’s your brother, isn’t he?”

I nodded and had to laugh. I love when people connected it. “We’re actually identical triplets.”

“That”s fucking awesome! Does your other brother play ball, too?”

“Nope. He did when we were younger, but he never loved it like Landon and I did. He’s actually going to open his own tattoo studio soon.”

“Now that’s badass. Where at? I love getting inked.”

“We grew up about 45 minutes away from Nashville in Heartwood, a very small town. That’s where he still is.”

“Shit, that’s far. And the team there is Double-A, right? So we don’t have any chance of playing near there.”

“Yep. I grew up watching the Hornets.”

I heard my cell phone going off to Molly’s ringtone. I went into my room to grab it. “Hey, babe. Finally off the phone with Meadow after a few hours?”

“Hey, Ty. It’s Dominic.”

“Dom? Why are you calling me from Molly’s phone?” I asked as I sat down on my bed.

“Hey, man. I guess while Molly was on the phone with Meadow, she began having some stomach pain. Meadow texted Pen, but she was an hour away running errands. Pen called me, and I came right over. We’re on the way to the hospital now. She says she would have called you right away, but Meadow wouldn’t let her off the phone.”

“Tyler! It hurts!” I heard Molly’s voice.

“Can you put me on speaker?” I asked.

“You’re on speaker now, man,” Dominic said. “Her doctor told me to take her to Springville to make sure everything was okay.”

“I’m glad you were there for her. Baby, are you ok? How far apart are the contractions?”

“I don’t know,” Molly said, and I could hear she was breathing hard. “Not consistent, but my doctor still wanted me to get checked out. Tyler, it’s too early for them to come. I’m only thirty-one weeks along. What if something happens to them?”

“Baby, try to calm down and breathe. I know it’s early, and if they have to be born now, it wouldn’t be ideal. With technology and modern medicine these days, they would have a fighting chance.” I didn’t want to tell Molly, but I was scared, too.

I went into the common room where Evan was still playing the video game. “Hey, man, do you think I could borrow your phone?”

“Sure,” Evan said and handed me his phone without a second thought. “Everything okay?”

“My wife is having labor pains, and her brother is taking her to the hospital. I want to let Coach Berger know in case I need to miss the game tonight. Can you bring up his number? I don’t want to end the call with her.”

“Damn, that sucks. Hopefully, she’ll be okay. Just so you know, Jim Berger is a hard-ass and won’t let you go home, so I wouldn’t even ask. Especially not when we’re half a game out,” Evan said. “When my wife had our baby, I got one day of paternity leave after Scarlet was already born. Then, I had to come back. At least, you’re close to the end of the season.”

“Fuck! This sucks!” I cried out.

“Ty, it’s okay. Dom is with me. We’ll keep you updated. They need you to win the game and move up in the standings. I get it,” my wife said through the phone speaker.

“Damn, you’re a lucky fucker,” my roommate said. “My wife was not as understanding.”

“I am lucky,” I agreed with him. “It just sucks I can’t be with her. It should be me and not her brother.”

“I’ve got her, man. Just play your best, and I’ll keep you updated,” Dominic said.

“What about your game tonight?” I asked.

“The Raptors aren’t in playoff contention anymore, so it’s not a big deal. Plus, I already told Snyder I was done. I’m retiring after this season. I’ve been looking for agencies to hire me that will let me bring you and some others as clients. That is, if you’ll still use me.”

“Hell, yeah, I want you to be my agent!” I said.

I heard Molly groan as another contraction hit. “Maybe talk less and drive faster?”

“Do not drive faster!” I demanded. “You get her there safely!”

“I’m only going twenty over the speed limit,” Dominic said.

“What?!” I practically roared. “That’s my wife and babies. Slow the fuck down, asshole!” I ran to my room and grabbed my suitcase. “I don’t care if they fine me or if I have to quit playing. I’m on my way.”

“Ty! Stop! Dom was joking. He’s going five below. He’s being just as careful as you would be,” Molly practically yelled.

I sagged in relief and sat down on my bed. “Thank fuck for that. I was going to kill him.”

“We’re at the hospital now. He’s dropping me off at the front. A nurse is already waiting at the door with a wheelchair, thanks to Meadow.”

“Keep in touch. I need an update at least every hour.”

“I will keep you updated every half hour, Stone,” Dominic said.

“Bye, Tyler. I love you,” Molly said.

“Thanks, Dom. I love you, too, Molly! Tell those babies of ours to wait at least another week so their daddy can be there when they are born.”

After I hung up the phone with my wife I paced around my room and knew I needed to calm down. I called one friend I knew who would understand and would be there for me.

“?Hola!”

“Hi, Cruz, I need you, friend!”

“Tyler? Amigo! Hi! What is going on?”

“She’s having contractions and is only thirty-one weeks. I’m scared.”

“Calm down and just breathe,” Ivan told me in the calm and steady voice I needed. “Where is she?”

I told him how Dominic had taken her to the hospital and she was getting looked at.

“That is a good hospital and Molly in good hands. Anderson wouldn’t let anything happen to her or your babies,” Ivan reassured me. “Would you feel better if I went to the hospital, too?”

“I don’t want you to miss your game tonight. But thanks for the offer,” I said. “I really just needed to talk to someone to calm me down.”

Ivan chuckled lightly, “I happy to help. I miss you, Amigo.”

“I miss you, too! How have you been?”

“Well, Mack has been helping me while Nico in school. We are talking to an immigration lawyer and hopefully getting Camila and Valentina here on a P-4 Visa. I saving my money and hopefully they will come back with me for Spring Training.”

“Ivan! That would be amazing!”

“I still have money that your Molly helped raise for us. That will help a lot.”

“If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I know Molly can’t wait to meet Camila and Valentina. Molly said she hopes she has one girl to be best friends with your baby girl.”

Ivan let out a laugh and said, “Camila said the same thing. She taking English classes now to be able to talk to Molly and other friends.”

“That’s really smart of her! I know Molly has been learning sign language to talk to Nico. I bet she would be willing to learn Spanish to talk to Camila.”

“We lucky assholes to have amazing wives,” Ivan said with a laugh.

“Yes, we are!”

“I’m no snitch, but you’re ballsy bringing your phone with you in the dugout,” Evan said.

“I have to know how she”s doing,” I said. “I thought I lost her not too long ago. I have to know if she and the babies are okay.”

“I totally get it. Just don’t get caught,” Harris said as he grabbed a bat to head out for batting practice.

Dominic was true to his word, and I got several messages. When Evan or a few other guys would distract the coaches with questions, I would quickly check my phone. I didn’t know what would happen if they found me with my phone in the dugout, but I didn’t want to find out.

6:27 p.m.

Dom: She was admitted. They are checking her out (I’m in the hallway, don’t worry)

7:03 p.m.

Dom: Pen just got here with her phone charger and a book to read. They are checking the contractions. They did a picture thingy of the babies and I got to see my soon to be nieces/nephews and they are adorable! They look just like ME!

7:38 p.m.

Dom: Molly said to tell you nice job behind the plate. We were able to find your game on the TV. She seems to have relaxed while watching you. The nurse says the contractions are irregular and most likely braxton hicks. I don’t know what that means but the girls do and say they aren’t real contractions.

“Stone! What are you doing?” the batting coach, Douglas, barked. I quickly hid my phone back in my jacket pocket and placed my jacket back on the dugout bench. “Get your bat! You’re up next. We’re down 4-3 and need a good inning.”

“Getting it now, Douglas,” I said. I felt relieved that maybe they weren’t real contractions, and I was glad that Molly was more relaxed while watching me. Just knowing she could see me brought me some extra pride as I stepped up to the batter’s box.

The first pitch flew by me and just out of my strike zone. I was relieved that it was called a ball.

“Good eye!” a few of the players called from the dugout.

I kept a steady eye on the pitcher and waited for him to throw his signature curveball. I knew I couldn’t hit that. Sure enough, the next pitch was his wicked curveball that smacked the catcher’s glove. The count was now one strike and one ball. I grasped the bat tighter and raised it just above my shoulder. I watched as the pitcher took his stance and threw the ball. I brought my hands forward and felt the ball connect with the bat. I threw the bat and began running as fast as I could towards first. Catchers weren’t known for their speed, and I wasn’t the slowest catcher, but I definitely wasn’t the fastest runner on the team. When the first base coach waved me on to second, I rounded the base quickly and ran towards second. I stopped on the bag and grinned as the ball was thrown to the second baseman as I stood there. I clapped my hands together and grinned at the dugout, who was cheering along with me.

Bret Welker, our third baseman who came up with me, was up to bat after me. He was on a hot streak, and they intentionally walked him. It made sense with first base open, but I just rolled my eyes. Evan Harris came up to bat next. He hit a single on the first pitch thrown to him, and we all advanced to load the bases. Unfortunately, the next two batters struck out, and it was now up to Chance Wagner, our designated hitter. You could tell he was trying for a grand slam with his first swing, but he just fouled off the ball.

“Just a single will get me and Isaac home!” I shouted.

Chance repositioned his bat and took a warm up swing. The pitcher threw three more pitches, and Chance foul-tipped all but one. It was definitely a battle at the plate. The next pitch went wild and towards the wall behind the catcher. Chance brought his hand out to me and waved for me to come in. I began running as fast as I could and slid into home plate at the same time the catcher got the ball and tagged me. I wasn’t sure if he tagged me before my hand hit the plate or after because it was that close.

“SAFE!” the umpire yelled. I jumped up and gave a high five and a pat on the ass to Wagner.

“Nice job,” our DH said and took his spot back in the batter’s box.

“You did your job, Stone,” Douglas told me and then said in a low voice. “Go ahead and check your phone now.”

I thanked him and just shook my head as I went over and pulled out my phone. A text had just come in from Molly.

My everything: Safe at Home! Great call by the umpire! We’re heading home now. The babies are still safely inside me, for now. The doctor gave me some medication to help promote their lung maturity. She does think they will come sooner than later, and I’m on strict bed rest until their birth. Call me after the game. Love you!

We ended up losing the game in extra innings when one of the opponents got a homerun off of our relief pitcher. Coach Berger was mad that we lost but knew we had played our best. We were now a whole game behind in the standings and only had a few games left. Did it make me a bad teammate to hope we wouldn’t do well and advance to the playoffs because I wanted to be home with my wife?

In the end, I got my wish. I didn’t play any differently than I normally would. We ended up getting second place in our division, only behind by a game and a half. I wasn’t sure if I would start the next season with this team. I could get called up to the Coyotes, or I could easily get traded. All I knew was that my life would change during this off-season, and I couldn’t wait to get home.