The Final Score (36 page)

“It means, for one, I’ll be staying put, and two… I gotta knock them dead the next few weeks so they’ll keep me around,” he says, laughing.

We celebrate the news together. I can’t wait to finally get back on the field with him again. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to show them how unstoppable we are together.

I think of how our lives have ironically been filled with so many game changers over the years. Although some may have been difficult, maybe we had to go through them to get here. At this moment, it seems as if our lives can’t possibly get any better.

Epilogue

(Deanna – five years later)

“Aunt DeDe… Aunt DeDe…” I hear my adorable three-year-old niece call excitedly from behind just as I put the baby in his carrier and he’s about to fall asleep. “I feed baby Mikey!” she screeches.

“Hey
, Livvy,” I say as she climbs across my lap, making herself comfortable. “Shhh… Baby Mikey’s gonna go to sleep. Next time you can feed him. Where’s Mommy?” I ask, looking at the baby who is now wide-eyed and smiling at one of his favorite little cousins.

“Changin’ Lukey’s diaper
,” she says, fidgeting on my lap as her pudgy little hands tickle the baby.

“Olivia Maria DiAngelo
, what did Grandmom tell you about running ahead?” My mom calls out from behind, sounding winded and trying her best to sound stern. “You’re too little to be running off by yourself.”

“Grandmom’s mad at me.” Olivia pouts
, smushing her angelic face against mine.

I match her pouting face
. “Yeah, I know. Grandmom always uses the middle name when she’s mad at us,” I say, looking up at my mom, smiling.

“I not a baby
. Lukey and Mikey are babies. Daddy says I a big girl.”

“Yes
, you are,” I say, kissing her tiny, little nose.

“Just like her father, always running
,” my mom says, catching her breath and sitting beside me. She takes Olivia from my lap and squeezes her tightly. “What is Luke still doing out there?” she asks when she finally looks to the field.

“I know
. JJ better get her butt out here. They kept him in.”

“Oh my God
, Daddy and David must be going crazy. They’re down by the field,” my mom says.

It’s
the top of the ninth, game six of the World Series. We’re up three games in the series and we have a chance to end it here, right now, or fly to San Francisco for game six. We have a 3-2 lead.

“They kept him
in?” JJ asks breathlessly. We figured Luke would be pulled after the 8
th
when a two-run homer was hit.

I turn to see my sister-in-law looking as pretty as ever
, although frazzled as she hurries to her seat with the baby attached to her hip. Poor girl, if we didn’t know she carried those babies for nine months in her stomach you would never know they were hers. They’re the spitting image of my brother all the way.

“What’d I miss?”

I fill her in as we watch the batter send one out to center field. Thankfully, it’s caught, leaving us with one more out to go. We cheer, and then hold our breath, anticipating the next out.

“You girls better get down to that field with those kids,” my mom advises.

We nod in agreement, realizing we are only one out away from being World Champions. We don’t want to leave just yet, though. The game can change very easily with two men on. The security guard knows us well and is standing by, ready to take us down to the field when and if the final out is called.

Luke is making us sweat it out. The current batter has a two-two count. Luke’s next pitch is wild and it bounces off the dirt. Mikey throws off his mask, chasing it down, prepared to throw a player out if he dares to risk the chance to steal. He’s known for his aggressiveness behind the plate and most players in the league are unwilling to take the risk on a normal day, let alone what’s at stake right now.

We’re all on edge as my husband calls a time out. He meets with Luke on the mound.

“What’s Uncle Mikey sayin’ to Daddy?” Olivia asks, tugging at my shirt.

JJ and I look at each other and nervously laugh. “Who knows?” JJ answers.

We watch the two of them on the field, their gloves covering their mouths as they speak. I can see a smile in Luke’s eyes and he’s trying to conceal it, so I can only imagine what is being said. I can guarantee, though, it probably doesn’t have anything to do with the next pitch. Mikey gives him a pat on the back with his glove and takes his place behind home plate.

Luke throws a fastball down the inside corner and the ump calls the third and final out of the game. Mikey throws off his mask and charges the plate as Luke and he jump into each other’s arms, soon followed by the rest of the team as they pile on top. Tears of joy pour from our eyes as we watch the celebration.

***

(Luke)

“We did it!” Mikey yells
, jumping into my arms. The feeling is incredible and it’s almost as if I’m in a dream as the rest of our teammates pile on. As large amounts of people storm the field, we begin to break away from our pile as reporters pull at us, hoping for an interview. I’m handed a hat and t-shirt which I proudly put on as I’m being interviewed. I’m barely able to concentrate on what is being asked, but I try my best to answer. Everything at this point is a huge blur.

I spot my sister carrying my nephew, making her way towards Mikey. He sidesteps the reporter interviewing him as he takes her and the baby into his arms. My mom and dad are not far behind.

“So what was going through your mind during the last inning with two men on and a three-two count? How do you remain focused at a time like that?” the reporter asks.

“Well, Mikey and I grew up together. Havin’ him out there with me is definitely a plus. He knows the right thing to say in those situation
s—
” I’m distracted by my beautiful wife and kids joining me. I pick my sweet baby girl up in my arms, pulling my wife and son into my other arm.

“I’m so proud of you. I love you,” JJ whispers in my ear.

“I wouldn’t be here without you,” I whisper back, kissing her lips while the reporter waits patiently for me to complete the interview.

“You’ve had a phenomenal career so far and each year seems to get better. How are you able to maintain that level of play?” she continues.

“First off, I got a great team backing me up. I keep working on things I’d like to improve. My wife makes it possible for me to come out here each day with a clear head. Knowing she is taking care of our kids and family is important to me. She’s supportive, making it doable for me to come out, be focused and do my job.”

“And, a job well done. I congratulate you, your family and your teammates. Great job, go celebrate.” She wraps up the interview.

I thank her and the four of us make our way over to the rest of our family as Mikey finishes up with his interview. My mom, dad and David congratulate me. Mom is still crying as Mikey, De and the baby join us.

“Livvy wanted to know what you and Uncle Mikey were talking about on the mound,” Deanna says, smiling as Olivia is busy taking my hat on and off my head, repeatedly replacing it in different directions while giggling.

“He asked me if Mom was watching the kids tonight,” I say as we all burst into laughter. “Over forty thousand people are in the stands watchin’, not to mention the nine or ten million watchin’ on TV and he’s askin’ if we have a babysitter so we can celebrate. Meanwhile, I got two guys on the bags and a three-two count.”

“We saw you trying not to laugh,” JJ says.

“I know I wanted to kill him,” I reply.

“Anyway, are you taking the kids home with you tonight?” Mikey asks, turning to Mom and laughing.

“It’s all taken care of,” my mom answers, shaking her head at him. “David and Cheryl are taking Livvy and Lukey and Daddy and I are taking Mikey. You kids have a good time,” she tells us as she pulls us into her arms.

David moved out here shortly after JJ and I were married. He and Cheryl bought a house together. Although they’ve never married, they are happy together. I don’t think David will ever be able to marry again. Olivia was it for him. I know the feeling all too well.

My mom and dad bought a house while JJ was pregnant with Livvy. Mom wanted to be close once our baby arrived so she could help out.

Even though we can now afford to buy bigger homes, we choose to stay in the first homes we purchased on our own. Obviously, we’ve got a lot more stuff than we originally could afford,
and their have been some major renovations, but it’s got a sentimental value that nothing can compare.

It helps the girls being close to each other while Mikey and I are on the road. Plus, it’s a great family neighborhood for the kids to grow up in. We all feel a familiarity to our neighborhood in Bay Point
, and of course, Mikey and I built a huge custom side-by-side there. It’s our home… where it all began. We try and get there as much as possible.

JJ and I have our own private dock and we still enjoy sitting out like we used to, watching the sun come up. Something about the smell of the salty ocean air in Jersey is different than the smell of it here. It’s nice going back home once in awhile.

Acknowledgements

I would like to say thank you to my husband and my two amazing boys, who support and encourage me always, in spite of all the time I spend locked up in my room writing. I love you.

Especially to Alizon & Kristin, my editors at C&D Editing; once again, I can not thank you enough. I could not do any of this without you. Your support, comments, suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated. Besides being lucky enough to find your editing services, I have gained two great friends. Thanks so-so much for everything.

To Melody Simmons, my cover designer, thank you for designing another fantastic cover.

And to the rest of my family and friends who I finally confessed that I actually wrote a book, thank you for all of your support.