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"What was I thinking when I suggested sitting out at Ricky's softball game was a good idea?" Andy leaned over and whispered to Sharon. Yes, they had come to the game. It had been a good day, even a great day, and while the game was enjoyable, the temperature was not.
Sharon chuckled and shook her head. There was a lot she wanted to say, a lot she could say, but they were also sitting with Vanessa, and right now, she needed to not say a great deal. "At least we have this nice blanket to keep us warm."
Andy rolled his eyes at her, "We had a nice warm blanket, a whole lot more bedding than this a few hours ago," he grinned. "I'd much rather be back in that hotel room, with you, doing anything else right now, and if you repeat that, that I don't want to watch a softball game, I'll just deny it. Anyone who spent an afternoon with you in a hotel would rather be back there than at any game," he winked. Sharon started to blush, and she gave Andy a look to be quiet.
"Did you say you needed more blanket, Sharon?" Vanessa asked. Sharon turned to her, and she smiled at the young woman. Vanessa was very sweet, and while things with Ricky seemed like they were going to be extremely messy this weekend, he'd surprised her; her son was growing up. She just hoped the mistakes her past, the marriage issues she and Jack had together did not trickle down to Emily and Ricky. She wanted stable, healthy relationships for her children, something she was trying to model with Andy. She felt Andy squeeze her hand, maybe a little because he was cold, but she smiled at the sensation and also smiled at Vanessa.
"I'm fine right now, Vanessa," she nodded to her. "Thank you for bringing all these blankets. It helps a lot, especially since we are staying in a hotel."
"Happy to do it," she shrugged. "I kinda get dragged to these games," she grinned, "not that I'm complaining, but Ricky's invited me to a few of them now." Sharon nodded. Vanessa had potential. Sharon wasn't sure if she was Ricky's great love; time would tell, but she appreciated the effort the young woman was making with Ricky. She was here, watching Ricky play a sport he loved. Ricky seemed to have made progress, at least in focusing on one young woman for the time being. Sharon turned back toward Andy and laughed.
"What? I'm cold," he told her. Sharon just nodded and squeezed his hand again. The late evening weather was damp and a bit windy. The players didn't mind; they were focused on the game, and as Sharon looked around, she didn't see a lot of other spectators. Andy, true to his baseball passion had been really excited to come and watch the game. Sharon, having spent most of Ricky's childhood, all the way through high school, watching him play baseball, wasn't as excited about a late-night softball game, but at the same time, she loved watching any of her children do what they enjoyed. Andy had wrapped Sharon's purple and white scarf around himself, not that Sharon minded, but it did make her laugh at the sight. The scarf, a gift from Emily, was very pretty and definitely designed for a female. On Andy, it looked silly and just made Sharon laugh.
"I'll tell Emily to get you a scarf for Christmas. I'm sure she will be glad to have the shopping tip," Sharon leaned toward Andy and nudged him.
"Ha, funny Raydor," he grumbled. "After this afternoon, I'm really wishing I had declined this game," he leaned toward her and whispered. Sharon quickly glanced toward Vanessa, and seeing her focused on the game, she leaned toward Andy.
"Would either of you like a hot chocolate?" Vanessa asked, as she looked toward them. Sharon and Andy were looking at each other, both sets of eyes sparkling, and Sharon turned toward Vanessa.
"That sounds great right now," she told her. "Andy can use it to thaw out," she chuckled.
"I'm going to walk across the street to that coffee shop," she nodded just down from the field. Ricky's league played at a city park, and there was a coffee shop in the distance. "I have gone there before, especially this time of year. I'll be right back."
"Here," Andy had a few bills folded up in his hand, "my treat, please." Vanessa looked to him, and then she looked at Sharon. Sharon patted Vanessa's arm with her cast and shook her head.
"Better take it. Andy doesn't budge on that. He's been paying for my meals now for years," Sharon grinned.
"Oh, thanks," she smiled at them and turned to Sharon. "I see why he's a keeper. I also see he must be rubbing off on Ricky. He likes to pay when we go anywhere too."
"That I like to hear," Andy nodded as he watched the game. "Oh, the inning is over now. I guess you'd better go before Ricky bats again."
"Right," Vanessa stood. "I'll be back shortly."
Sharon and Andy watched her leave, and as she started across the field, Sharon turned and now looped her arm through Andy's to get even closer to him. Andy shifted and pulled the blanket up higher to keep both warm. "Hmm, thank you," she said quietly.
"Sure," he told her. "You okay after this afternoon?" he said quietly now that they had a few moments alone to talk. Sharon, who had put her head on his shoulder lifted it to look at him.
"Okay? I'm great," she gave him a bright smile. "I had a very romantic afternoon with you."
"Oh, I loved every moment of it," he smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "Worth the wait, most definitely."
"Agreed," she nodded.
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't overthinking things, that you're okay with our relationship and the pace of it all," he told her.
She almost frowned as she looked back at him, "Andy, I'm so happy. You make me so happy. I'm sorry these last few months have delayed things for us. I suppose I wanted everything to be perfect, and in the end," she shrugged, "life is never perfect. I just want you; I realized that, and I realized our lives can't stop when there is a hiccup in the road."
"I'm sorry the last few months have been so crazy. I'd like to say our lives are going to be a fairy tale from this point forward. They aren't; they never will be, but together," he squeezed her arm, "we can face anything. Sharon, I've never loved anyone like I love you. Today, this afternoon, our time together, was just everything I've wanted. You make me so happy." Sharon, who was now tearing up, just nodded. Andy knew her silent nod; he knew her looks and the emotions they carried. He nudged her, and she turned back to the game. "Pitcher change, so Vanessa might not miss anything."
The new pitcher took a few minutes to warm up, and the umpire seemed distracted talking to one of the scorekeepers. It was just a recreational league, so there wasn't a tight reign on things. Finally, the umpire, remembering he was working a game, called for the next batter. Sharon nodded toward the dugout. "I think Ricky should be up soon. Hopefully, he gets a hit."
"Yeah, that grounder to first base, that wasn't his best hit," Andy agreed.
Sharon shook her head, "No, but it is better than striking out. I watched him do that a lot in school. He was one extreme or the other, striking out or hitting a home run. That seems like a lifetime ago. I miss it sometimes."
"Do you?" he turned to her, giving her a small smile.
She pulled closer to him, "Some, but I spent many, many years alone watching those games. I'd much rather be right here with you tonight. I love you, and I love the life we are building, even if that includes watching Ricky play baseball in this incredibly cold weather." The two were quiet as one of Ricky's teammates took the field to bat. They watched him take two balls and a strike before he hit one that dropped just behind the shortstop.
"If that had happened on Ricky's watch, my bet is he would have caught that," Andy said to Sharon. She smiled and nodded in agreement. "Ricky's a good shortstop. Did he always play that in high school?"
"Mmm, yes, shortstop, even though he thought he could pitch. That was painful to watch. He just wasn't a pitcher. He could play anywhere else on the field, I'm convinced, but that just wasn't his position," she explained.
"Well, I would have gone to his games with you back then if I had known just how amazing you are," he winked at her. "No more wasting time."
"No more wasting time," she nodded and repeated. "I'm really glad we moved things forward on this trip. It feels right," she told him.
"Ohh, did I miss anything?" Vanessa said as she started up the bleachers toward them. She had a tray of drinks in her hand. Sharon and Andy reached to help her, and it just took a moment to get situated again to finish watching the game.
"Ricky has not been up to bat. This is the second batter of the inning," Sharon explained. Vanessa nodded, and the three sipped on their drinks while they watched the next two batters.
"I'm really glad I got to meet you both," Vanessa told them as the next batter was coming up to the plate. "Ricky adores you Sharon," she smiled at her, "and Andy, he's so happy you are around in his life, in your life, Sharon," she nodded to her.
"Thank you," Sharon smiled. "I'm glad we are getting to know you too. You and Ricky seem to enjoy each other."
"We do," she smiled. "Oh, he's on deck."
Andy leaned over, "She can't be too horrible. She knows baseball terminology, she comes to his games, and she hasn't taken her eye off Ricky. Who knows," he shrugged. "No one, and I mean no one, would have ever put us together, and look at how great we are."
Sharon nodded and turned back to the game. The batter before Ricky hit a pop fly, and that put Ricky up to bat. He came to the plate with a guy on first and second. On the first pitch, Ricky swung and instantly, Sharon, Andy, and Vanessa stood, knowing he had hit a home run.
"Oh, that's outta there," Andy said loudly.
"Go, Ricky, go!" Sharon yelled as Ricky ran the bases. Vanessa yelled too, and the three watched as the outfielders tried to get the ball.
"It dropped inside the fence," Andy grimaced. "Ahh, he's not going to make it home."
"Ricky's fast," Vanessa told them. Sharon continued to yell and cheer. As Ricky rounded third, Andy grimaced again.
"He's going to get tagged out," he sighed. Sharon gripped his hand as she saw it happening too. The ball was being thrown in, and the catcher was ready. Ricky slid into home plate, and as he did, the catcher jumped for the ball. The throw had been a bit off, and as he came down, he collided with Ricky. The two fell on top of each other, and the ball fell out of his glove. Sharon, Andy, and Vanessa grimaced at the scene; Ricky and the catcher were piled on each other.
"Is he okay?" Vanessa asked. Sharon shook her head, not sure of the answer. They waited. The catcher stood, and at this point, the pitcher was also there to help. Ricky was the last to get up, and as he did, he held his hand.
"Oh, no," Sharon sighed and shook her head. Andy followed her gaze.
"Did he break his hand?" Andy asked.
"I just have this bad feeling he did," Sharon groaned. "Let's go find out." The three made their way down the bleachers, and by the time they got to the fence, Ricky was walking over to the dugout, holding his hand and grimacing.
"Is it broken?' Sharon asked when Ricky looked toward them. Ricky frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I think so. It's bent at a strange spot," he said and showed them his hand. They all grimaced at the sight.
"I'll get the car," Vanessa told the group and started for the parking lot. Andy looked to Ricky.
"I'll get your bat and bag. You just go stand there with your mom," he told him. "We'll go with you to the hospital."
"I'm sorry," he sighed as he made eye contact with Sharon and Andy. Sharon just nodded.
"You scored a home run," she said as she slightly shrugged. "I will tell you the cast is terribly annoying." She and Ricky waited a few moments. The rest of the team checked on Ricky, and once he reassured them he would be okay eventually, they got back to the game. Andy returned with Ricky's things.
"Let's go, Raydors. You Raydors and your broken hands," he grumbled and shook his head. He looked to Ricky and patted him on the shoulder as they walked to the car, "It was a good hit."
Ricky chuckled and grimaced from his hand, "Thanks. Man, my hand hurts," he winced in pain.
"That won't go away for awhile," Sharon frowned. "Take it from me. I've been there too. I'm sorry you are going to be dealing with this too. It's not fun, but I might suggest black goes with everything."
Ricky rolled his eyes, "This will be great with my computer desk job."
"Hmm, yes, it's also great when you need to hold a gun as well as do desk work. I'm sorry, Ricky," she sighed.
"I'd make a comment now, but considering I'm partly responsible for one of the injuries here, I will just stay quiet," Andy added.
Ricky turned to Andy as they spotted Vanessa with the car and smirked, "Well, at least my story is not as embarrassing as Mom's."