Chapter 20

Jake

Jenica and I have been together for two weeks and life doesn't just feel better, but brighter. I'm breezing through my classes and killing it on the field. Every day begins and ends with the sound of her voice and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

I never thought I would be so enamored by one person, but Jenica is the exception to every rule. With each day that passes my need for her grows stronger, and I'm counting down the days until I see her again. Until then, I'm planning to focus on our upcoming series.

Tomorrow the team heads to Storrs to play UConn. We knocked them out of the playoffs last year and they're anxious for payback. I'm not too worried. With Cruz's recent performance on the mound, and the team's average at the plate, we'll likely check off another win. But with the Rockies keeping their eyes on the two of us, there's no room for error.

After hanging up from my morning call with Jenica, I grab my keys and get ready to leave when the phone rings. It's Coach and he wants Cruz and I to meet him in his office before practice today. Since Cruz and Ellery already left to head over to campus for the day, I tell Coach that I'll let Cruz know and confirm we'll be there.

Later that day, as I meet up with Cruz at the café on campus to grab a bite to eat before practice, I tell him about Coach's request.

"You think he called us in to talk about the Rockies," I ask while digging into my turkey and Swiss sandwich.

"I do," he nods, taking a bite of his own, then wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"And?" I press, curious to know what he's thinking.

"I don't know," he shrugs. "What do you think?"

"Well…." I take another bite of my sandwich and think as I chew.

A career in baseball wasn't cut and dry. Just because you were drafted, didn't mean you made it. If you were lucky, you had ten years, tops, and some of those years were spent in the minors, with no guarantee you would ever play a pro game. Only ten percent of ball players who signed contracts played at least one game in the majors. That was pretty slim margins.

But the Rockies were offering a chance at bypassing years on a farm team and going straight to the majors. That rarely happened. In the history of baseball, only twenty players to date have ever gone straight to the majors. This made having a career to fall back on not only smart, but important.

What the Rockies were proposing would not only fast track Cruz and I to our dream but give us a chance to get our degrees so we would have them to use not if our career ended, but when. It was literally the best scenario.

"I don't know brother," I admit. "I love this game, and I have dreamed about the Mets ever since I was a kid."

Cruz leans forward, pressing both elbows into the table as he dips a curly fry in ketchup and pops it into his mouth. "I hear a but in there."

"We'd be starting in the majors, man. You know how rare that is. And…" I lean in, unable to deny the excitement of the other part. "We'd be playing together. That would rule, Cabron."

"I know," he smiles. "I told Ellery the same thing."

"You did?" I reach for my drink and take a sip.

He wipes his hands on a napkin and sits back. "Of course."

"And the Yankees?" I play with my straw.

He shrugs. "Their bullpen is strong. If they did make an offer, and that is a big if, I don't think I'd see much play time for a while, and honestly man, I'm not sure I want to wait. I've got what, five years ahead of me before my arm peaks and the velocity starts to slow down. I'd rather put it to work than wait. I want to play ball, have a good career, then be with my family. I am clearer on that now than I have ever been."

I tap my fingers on the table, processing what he's just said. "So are you saying what I think you're saying?"

He reaches for his sandwich and takes a bite. "I think I am, brother."

***

"Jakey," mom says, as I stare down at my plate. "More corned beef?"

"Hmm?" I look up.

"Second helping," she smiles warmly. "Would you like more?"

"Oh, yeah," I shake my head and look down, not remembering when I finished my food. "But I can get it."

I reach for the serving fork laying on the platter in the center of the table and spear another strip of meat, bringing it to my plate, then reach in the bowl next to it, scooping another serving of potatoes. I can't believe I zoned out like I did. Then again, when you've been given an offer that will change your life, it's probably a normal response.

"Everything okay?" she asks when I take a bite.

"Mm-hmm," I nod. "Just thinking."

Mom reaches for her wine and takes a sip. "About?"

When Cruz and I walked into Coach's office yesterday, he sat us down and cut right to the chase. He'd received offers from the Rockies management and had been asked to present us both with formal offers. We had two weeks to make a decision, and Coach advised us to talk with our families and consult a lawyer before doing so.

"Well…." I set my fork down, deciding there was no time like the present to tell my parents. "I got an offer."

"An offer?" She shakes her head, not understanding at first, then it dawns on her and she drops her fork. "Oh, an offer. Honey, are you serious?"

"Yup," I nod and look over at my dad.

He looks at me, unmistakable pride filling his face, then pushes back and stands up. "Son of a bitch," he laughs and opens his arms. "You did it, son."

I step into his broad chest and he gives me a hug, clapping me on the back. I may be a big guy, but my dad is, too. It's funny because we may not share DNA, but we look like we are related, size wise.

"So," he steps back, gripping my shoulder proudly. "How does it look, and who is it for?"

"Rockies," I confirm as he settles back into his chair, and I do the same. "And it's good. Really good."

"Rockies?" He reaches for his drink and takes a sip. "Expansion team, yeah?"

"Yup," I nod. "Colorado."

My dad loved baseball. Bought my first glove, taught me how to throw, and signed me up for little league. But when my passion for the sport turned serious he learned all he could about the world of pro ball. He knew all about the MLB, from team standings to division news.

"Tell me more." He sets his drink down, and sits back, listening.

"Well…" I press both elbows into the table and clasp my hands together. "It's a fast track offer. No time in the minors. They give us time to finish college over the summer and fall, then report to Tucson in the Spring."

"Us?" He rubs his chin. "They have an offer out to another teammate?"

"Yeah," I grin. "Cruz."

"Really?" He looks at me, eyes wide.

"The offer is for a catcher/pitcher duo," I confirm.

"Well, all be damned," he shakes his head. "What does he think about it?"

"He's giving it serious thought. He knows as well as I do that the road to the majors can be long, and what they're offering is too good not to consider. We get to play ball and get our degrees."

My dad listens, nodding. "When do you owe them an answer?"

"Two weeks. Coach told us to talk with our families and have a lawyer review the contract. Do you know of one?" I look to from him to mom.

"I do," she nods. "A couple, actually. Let me make a few calls after dinner and see who is available."

"That would be great," I give her a grateful smile. "Thanks, mom."

Everyone falls quiet for a minute then my sister speaks up. "So, clearly, your life is going better than mine."

"Well hey there, Nat." I spear a potato with my fork and take a bite. "I almost forgot you were here. Why are you so quiet?"

"Oh, I don't know," she shrugs, "probably because anything I have to say will pale to your news. The world of advertising isn't nearly as exciting as major league baseball."

"Now, sis," I spear a carrot and plop it into my mouth. "Don't be jealous. It's not a good look."

I wink at her and reach for my drink, taking a smug sip. My sister Natalie works at an advertising agency in Stamford and to save money, lives with two roommates. According to mom, she may as well just move back home since she is always here for food and laundry.

She's supported me a lot over the years and went to tonight's opener against UConn, then caught a ride home with my parents to have dinner and hang out. She'd been quiet tonight, and it wasn't like her. She was usually a ball of energy.

"Well, brother dear, neither were you in parachute pants," she shoots back, reaching for her drink, and taking a smug sip of her own.

"Hey," I laugh and nudge her with my foot, to which she kicks back. "Shall we talk about your banana clip phase?"

She laughs and I laugh back, and in no time my parents are laughing too.

Dinner was always animated and full of laughter growing up. That's probably why I loved living with Cruz, Ellery and Marcus at the row house. When it's the five of us—or six if Jenica is in town—the house buzzed with energy and I loved it.

I can't believe I ever convinced myself that having a big, noisy family would never be my life. It's funny what we believe when we don't know any better because now I can't wait until I have a family of my own.

"Okay, okay," I hold up my hand in a sign of truce. "I'm sorry. How is work?"

"It's good," she confirms, her face lighting up. "We just got pulled into Coca-Cola's Olympics campaign. The Dream Team is getting a lot of buzz so they are trying to buy as much ad space as possible."

Nat fills us in on the commercial she got to work on with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. It sounds exciting. "That's awesome, Nat. Congrats."

"Thank you," she beams.

The rest of dinner is filled with Mom and Dad updating us on their work. Tax season is coming, so she is stressed about that, and he is working a new case. When we're done and ready to get up from the table, I offer to help clear the table and mom holds up her hand.

"I got it," she holds up a hand. "You go relax, honey."

"Yeah, honey," Nat mocks. "Come hang with me outside."

"You sure?" I look at the pile of dishes still on the table.

"Yes," Mom smiles. "Go spend time with your sister."

"Alright." I get up from the table and nod to the family room. "Shall we?"

Nat jumps up and kisses Mom on the cheek. "Great dinner as always."

Mom smiles and watches us, turning back to the kitchen once we leave the dining room.

"Okay, spill it," Nat says once we step out onto the back deck and close the sliding glass door behind us.

I look down at her and shake my head. "Spill, what?"

"Who is she?"

"Who is who?" I laugh.

"The girl responsible for your little space-out during dinner."

"What?" I look at her like she is crazy.

"You heard me."

"I did not space out," I air quote.

"Right," she laughs.

"Nat—"

"I know you, baby brother," she cuts me off. "I knew when you liked Caroline Masters in sixth grade and I knew when you lost your virginity to her sister freshman year."

"Everyone in my grade liked Caroline Masters. But woah," I hold up a hand about the other. "How do you know about Lynn?"

"Please," she rolls her eyes. "You weren't the first cherry she popped. Doesn't matter. But you liking a girl does, so spill it."

I lean against the railing and study her. "How do you know I like a girl?"

"Call it sibling intuition," she shrugs. "That's how I know you had something else on your mind at dinner, and it wasn't your deal with the Rockies."

I ignore her comment and turn to look over the railing. "Oh my god," she leans in, "I'm right. You do like a girl."

I shake my head and look down. "Nat…."

"Omigod!" She grabs my arm and squeals. "What's she like? Is she pretty? Of course she is, what am I thinking? I mean, look at you."

I can't lie to my sister any more than I can lie to myself. I do like a girl. In fact, I more than like a girl. I am smitten beyond belief. I want Jenica like crazy and that is what I was thinking about at dinner—how signing with the Rockies will make it easier for us to be together.

If Cruz and I accept the deal with the Rockies, Ellery will be in Colorado too, which means Jenica could visit her best friend and me at the same time. It would be just like Highland, only we'd be together. No longer sneaking around.

"You don't have to tell me anything," Nat says gently. "Just tell me this, is she worth it?"

I turn to her, unable to fight the smile tugging at my lips. "She's amazing."

"Ah, man." She nudges my shoulder with her own. "I knew it. I was trying to figure it out when you were just sitting there eating like some kind of zombie. And then it hit me."

"That's why you were so quiet." I look at her in disbelief. "You were watching me."

"Guilty," she nods. "So, tell me more."

"Well…" I grip the railing and lean back, stretching my arms, then straighten again. "I told her everything."

" Everything ?" she repeats with emphasis.

"Yup. What happened with mom and our sperm donor." She narrows her eyes at the name we have for our birth dad. "And what happened in high school."

"And?" Nat presses. "How did she take it?"

"She was amazing about all of it. She's amazing about everything, actually. Her life hasn't exactly been easy, so she gets it."

My sister's eyes fill with tears and she presses at the corners. She knows how much I have struggled with what happened in high school, so she knows how big a deal it is that I told someone. "That's great, little brother. I am so happy for you."

"Yeah, well, don't throw a parade just yet."

"Why not?" she asks, tilting her head.

"Well, she's got her life and plans, and we're still feeling our way through a long distance relationship. Add baseball to it, and it gets more complicated."

"Jake…" My sister shakes her head. "Love is never easy."

"Love?" I pull my head back. "Who said anything about—"

"Stop," she laughs.

"Stop, what?"

"If she's the one, little brother, which judging by that smile on your face, she is, that means you love her. Which also means, you do whatever it takes to be with her."

I look at her and shake my head. "That sounds like something dad would say."

She looks into the house and smiles softly. "Yeah, well, we had a great teacher."

I wrap my arm around her shoulder and give her a hug. "We sure did."

"What's going on out here?" Dad pulls open the sliding glass door and steps out onto the deck.

Nat looks up at me, flashing me a shit-eating grin. "Jake was just telling me about his new girlfriend."

"Oh yeah?" He arches a brow. "You got a girl?"

I look at her, shaking my head and she pulls back. "I'm going to help mom with dessert. See you two in a bit."

She makes her way to the sliding glass door and when she pulls it open, turns and winks. "I can't believe her," I laugh.

"Yeah, she's something," he laughs back.

He makes his way over to me and we both turn and look out over the back yard. "That deal," he taps the railing. "Does it make you happy?"

"It's got a lot of zeros," I nod. "I could pay off the house and Nat's student loans."

"No son." He turns to me and shakes his head. "Does it make you happy?"

I consider the question—does it make me happy? If Cruz and I accept the deal, I could help my parents and live my dream. That makes me happy. But what would make me truly happy? Jenica getting to live her dreams, while I am living mine.

I make my way over to one of the deck chairs and sit down and dad follows, taking the seat next to me. He's starting to age. His temples are graying and the lines under his eyes are more pronounced. I can't wait until he can retire. Until both he and Mom can.

"Can I ask you something?" he taps my leg.

I sit back and grip the arms of the chair. "Of course."

"Is she important to you?"

I look down, thinking about all Jenica and I have been through. "I told her, Dad. I told her everything. About what happened with mom and in high school. And she accepted all of it, without reservation."

He gives me a warm smile. "So what's the problem?"

"No problem," I admit. "More of a situation." He looks at me, clearly not understanding. "She lives in Georgia and works and goes to school down there. And my life, regardless of whether I take that deal with Colorado or another team, is on the road. I can't expect her to uproot her life to follow me."

"Does she have to?" he asks.

"No," I shake my head. "She doesn't. The issue isn't with what she won't do, but what I want her to do. I want to be with her. I don't want to wait."

"So it's about timing," he nods with understanding.

"Yeah," I sigh. "I guess it is."

"Well, let me tell you something about timing," he sits back. "It is rarely right but when it is," he smiles, "you go with it."

I look over, arching my brow. "Meaning?"

"If you want this girl…if you want to be with her…you do whatever it takes to make it happen."

"Sounds like you're speaking from experience."

"I am." He taps the end of the chair. "Timing was off for your mom and me, but I did what needed to be done so she knew we were right."

"What did it take?" I ask.

"Patience." He turns his head up to the sky and takes in the stars. "And when the moment was right, a grand gesture."

"A grand gesture?"

"Yeah," he nods. "You."

"Me?" I shake my head. "What do you mean?"

He turns his face down from the sky and looks at me. "Your first steps, your first words, nighttime feedings and diaper changes….I wanted to be there for all of it. You were my boy, and I wanted you to be born with my name. Be my son from the moment you entered this world. So I married your mom in the hospital while she was in labor and you were born five minutes after we said, ‘I Do.' Then, the next day, I got to work adopting your sister."

I swallow down the very big lump in my throat. "But your wedding photos…"

"That was for everyone else. But giving you my name, making sure you were born the son of a man who wanted you, that was my gesture."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, fighting back tears. "Shit, dad. I can't make that kind of a gesture."

"And thank goodness for that. I don't think I am ready to be a grandfather yet. But you will find your own gesture, and when you do, you will know."

I think of his advice while I am lying in my childhood bed that night, and when I am on the train heading home two days later.