“You see it right?”
I nod slowly. “It’s complicated.”
“Do you need my help ‘uncomplicating’ it?”
I shrug, not knowing what I need. “I don’t want to ruin her life.”
“Hawk, if it gets out that you spent time with her and she is your child, it could ruin yours.”
“I know.”
“What do you need me to do? Is there a story the BoRe’s should get in front of?”
I nod. If Matty is mine, I can’t imagine Brett is going to welcome the news. I fill Saylor in on everything, from the conflicts with Brett, to Annie asking m
e to leave town, and how Matty left her dad’s team to come play for mine. “I have a feeling Brett is going to explode soon. I know I would if I were in his spot.”
“Well, maybe he knows and that’s why he hasn’t said anything.”
“He doesn’t seem like the type to keep things to himself.”
Saylor sets her hand on my upper arm and smiles. “I’m here for whatever you need.”
“Thank you, and congratulations.”
She rubs her hand over her growing mid-section. “I never thought I’d travel down this path again but am so thankful for Travis. I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
“Actually,” I tell her. “If it weren’t for you, Travis would probably be in jail.” Saylor looks over at her husband who is carrying their daughter on his shoulders.
“Me too,” she says, sighing. She walks toward Travis, leaving me with those lingering words. I follow behind and reach for Bellamy’s hand when I get to her side. I lean down and kiss her.
“What’s that for?” she asks with a smile. Before I can answer, Karter yells that it’s time to get things moving. The guys all take a seat along the table. Cooper holds onto Janie, while Lucy half stands, half sits, on Travis’s lap. I glance behind me at the field to find Nolan, Chase and Matty corralling Cal. The wives have all found something to do, with Daisy working the merchandise booth, Saylor standing behind the table babysitting us, and Ainsley and Bellamy are in the concession stand.
“I like her,” Travis says.
“I like her too,” Lucy adds.
“Thanks, Luce. Do you want to go play with the other kids?”
She shakes her head. “Nope, staying with my Daddy.” Travis kisses her on the cheek. I remember how when he first came into her life, she had a little possessive streak. Travis and Saylor had hoped she’d grow out of it, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
The people who waited in line file in. Some stop at the merchandise stand, while others get in line to have us sign their items. After a few minutes, my clan returns. Chase is by my side and Nolan is with my parents who have showed up in support. But it’s the hand resting on my shoulder that gets my attention the most. I look and find Matty standing next to me. We look at each other deeply and for the first time, I see her as my daughter, and I think she sees me as her dad. I vow to myself — this is the day I find out. I can’t wait any longer.
Twenty-Eight
Bellamy
Hawk stands and holds up his glass. “I want to thank everyone who came out today and supported us. We raised a nice bit of change for the fields, which will go to buying new equipment and helping the youth who need a little extra. A special thanks to my teammates. You went above and beyond today, especially Kayden and Branch, who took to the field and played with the kids. I can say with absolute certainty that they’ll never forget today.”
“Here, here,” Branch says as he lifts his glass.
“You inspire me to do the same in my hometown,” Kayden adds.
“Me too,” Travis says.
The whole group of us is at The Depot enjoying the finer things in life . . . pizza and arcade games to keep the kids occupied. We’re sitting in the back corner, away from everyone else, and for anyone who thinks they can come talk to us, the BoRe’s security guards are at a table in front of us, ready to turn people away.
Aside from Hawk’s teammates — along with their wives and children — Hawk’s family is here, as is my mother, Karter, and Owen. As I look around the table, I marvel at the people here who all love Hawk in one way or the other. His mother beams with pride each time her son speaks, his father is a bit harder to read. His sisters and brothers-in-law seem to be enjoying themselves, but they’re at the end of the table, sort of in their own world. Hawk has mentioned a few times there some animosity between them, and more so now that Nolan wants to play baseball. But for the most part, he brushes it under the rug and will nonchalantly say, “Everything will return to normal when I leave.”