The Good Old Days
Walking onto the field of Petco Park after two years away felt refreshing to Ginny Baker. She missed this field. She missed this city. It felt like…the good old days. It wasn't just the nostalgic reunification of her old field and old team but the company of her long-lost best friend, someone she loved and thought she had lost forever. She tried to recall a moment that felt as good as this one. Nothing came to mind. "It feels good out here." she said inhaling the fresh air. "Feels like home."
Jordan took a deep breath. He too was feeling just as fulfilled as she was.
"Let's warm up with some laps." Ginny said bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Alright." Jordan agreed. He started a nice pace and was instantly reminded that Ginny Baker NEVER lets a guy out do her not only in games but in warmups and drills. He smiled.
"So, how's it going?" Ginny was dying to know everything about his life after he left their hometown. The image of him riding away in the moving truck looking broken still haunted her.
"I can't complain. I'm stoked to be here. It's like a dream. I didn't think it would happen this fast! You know…from starting so late after such a long break. I'm really good though so, it was kind of inevitable." He gloated. They both burst into laughter. If there was one thing Ginny could remember about Jordan Collins, it was he was always joking about how great he is. "But I guess all these Ginny wannabees are shaking it up."
"Ha. Yeah. It's great having them joining but, to be honest, I don't see much talent from the bunch."
"Exactly! There's only one Ginny Baker." Collins nudged her as they made their second lap around the field. "So here I am 4 years later."
"What were you doing before triple A?"
"I was in construction. I was just finishing my degree at Georgia State in Architect. I almost left mid senior year to play but I managed to complete the rest of the semester on the road with special provisions. I didn't get to walk with my class. Which was fine."
"An Architect? Wow! I can see that in you. Remember the tree house we built in my backyard?"
"Yeah!" He laughed. "I've come a long way from that sad tree house."
"What! I loved that tree house. Don't call it sad!"
"We couldn't stand on the same side in fear it would collapse. I call it sad."
Ginny pushed Collins and they laughed as they continued reminiscing their adventures. As they began to stretch, Ginny realized that through her bereavement, she had forgotten the extent of how funny and talkative he was.
"So, tell me. What's it like playing with poster boy? I've been dying to hear this." Jordan suddenly solicited. The question caught Ginny off guard. They both glanced over at Mike who was looking directly at them with his arms crossed.
"What are you talking about?" She deflected as she returned to her stretches avoiding eye contact with Jordan in fear he would read what she was thinking like a book. That was one secret she wasn't going to share.
"Oh, come on! You were in love with that guy! You talked about him more than any other major leaguer. You kissed that poster so much it left a hole on his mouth!" he teased.
How embarrassing, she thought. It was true, Mike Lawson had been on her wall until the day she moved out to play in the minors. He'd still be in her old bedroom if her mother hadn't moved and sold the house. "Ha, ha. You're soo funny. Well, I got over that. He was nothing but a teammate." She said nonchalantly, hoping she had convinced him to drop it.
"How utterly disappointing." Jordan pouted.
Meanwhile, Mike stood over the catcher's box reminiscing his good old days. The laughter of Ginny and Collins kept catching his attention. They look…close. She looks happy. He began to remember how close he was to her once. Would he be able to withstand watching her share the same relationship with someone else? Especially right in front of his face? He started to fear this idea of returning was a mistake. But he wasn't about to let his dreams go, over a girl. He shook his head. Cut it out Lawson. It's time to manage this team. He looked at all the players stretching and warming up. It was a good team. In fact, it was a great team. He had Tyler Jenkins at shortstop. He was fast and quick on his feet. He turned the most double plays in the National League last year. Alex Ortiz who was a late callup from the minors last year has a powerful swing and has outperformed his scouting report in the field, to everyone's surprise. He has a cannon of an arm and will work well right next to Blip in the outfield. Sanyo Tran, known for his fastball, could throw 102 mph. He was second on his team for strikeouts. The plan was to try him out as closer this year. Ginny was still striking players out with her dangerous offspeed stuff. Her cutter is a batter's nightmare. She's still lethal with that infamous screwball of hers. He had to admit that Collins had real talent knowing his opponents well and his superpower intuition on calling the game behind the plate. Let's just see if he sustains that when he debuts in the majors. With that strong arm of his, he could be a pitcher. Hell, he could really be any fucking position, He admitted.
"Alright bring it in." He called. He waited for the players to gather round him. He was ready for his first speech and rundown to the team. So, this is what it was like for Al. He digested. Making speeches to the team was second nature to Mike in his Captain/Catcher days. Being the manager already carried a new and heavier weight than he had ever felt in his entire career. He knew no matter the talent he saw before him, it meant nothing if he didn't manage the team well. He needed them to see what he saw in them. "Alright, alright. This is great. I'm looking around and I like what I see. I think we have a shot here. In fact, I know we have a shot here. The Giants made a fatal mistake signing Gary Stevens on a 9 year contract. Their mistake will be our victory. The Diamondbacks have already shown us all their cards. All we have to do is play our hand. Besides, they'll never make it that far again. The Rockies, not worth mentioning. The Cubs, they had their 5 minutes of fame. It's over. I know there's a lot of talk about the Dodgers right now. They've had a good streak. They just signed Bruce and Lester. Don't let that spook you. We know their bullpen. Trust me, they are worried about the bullpen we have pulled together this year. I have never seen a rotation this strong for the Padres. They're fucked. Pitching wins a world Series. Just look at who we have this season. Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Victory." He motioned to the small group of relievers. "We have finally invested real money for real talent. We are done losing. It's time to make our mark. Over here we have Ortiz and Sanders ready to lead the offense in the outfield and they can throw. Jenkins at shortstop ready to turn those double plays, Baker and Tran who can blow it past anyone, and Collins knows this game and how to call it. And look at the hitters we have. This is a hot team! I don't know about you, but I've never felt more ready. With Al gone, we owe it to him to give him a World Series in his name. So, let's make history. The Padres are about to win the 2019 World Series with a female major league player for the first time in baseball history." Everyone began to clap and hoot. Players patted Ginny on the shoulders with nods of agreement. They were feeling ready for this season. "Things are going to be a little different. Don't think we are going to be taking it easy just because Spring Training is over. I'm late to the dance but this party is just beginning. We have three new players here that weren't with you in AZ so, we need you all to get to know each other out here and fast. I want us coming out hot on opening day. So, kiss your kids goodbye before the sun comes up because you'll be on this field before little Jimmy asks, 'where's daddy,' every morning. No excuses. I don't know about you, but I can feel it in my bones. Something is different. I don't know if it's because we lost Al or if it's this crazy strong starting lineup and rotation we managed to put together here. But we are going to win it. I know it. I feel it. Do you feel it?" The team roared in answer. "Who's ready?" Everyone hooted and whistled. It was evident they felt the same hype their new manager and hometown legend was feeling.
As the team cheered, Ginny's eyes were fixed on Mike. How is it possible time seemed to have reversed his aging, she wondered? He looks ALLl baseball. Watching him talk shop caused the heat of her desire to flush over her checks. Rachel, she told herself. Just remember who he holds at night. Her eyes squinted shut as she tried to erase the image of him holding Rachel in his arms out of her head. Rolling her eyes, annoyed with her distraction she exhaled slowly. Focus Ginny! she commanded as she cooled the burn on her checks.
"What's the matter?" Jordan asked.
"Huh?"
"You're rolling your eyes."
"Oh. It's just, he's really good with his movie speeches." They both chuckled. Her smile stiffened when she saw Mike staring at them.
"Anybody else want to add something?" He was looking directly at her.
"Nope." She answered shaking her head.
"Ok, Baker, Tran, Rodriguez, Escobar, Walker and Collins hit the pen with Coach James.
Ortiz and Sanders get outfield with your guys and Coach Lincoln. Jenkins, I want you sprinting with Coach Diaz in 20. The rest of you I want up bat and on the infield. Let's go!
As Colins walked with Ginny he grew serious. He didn't know how or when, but he wanted to make sure Ginny was okay with him being here. The son of the man who killed her father. "Hey. If you ever want to….you know, talk about before…"
"No. There's nothing to talk about. You have nothing to do with it. I'm just glad you're back."
"Me too. Cause now I can show you how unstoppable I am." Collins flexed his bicep and Ginny burst out with her horsey laugh.
Returning to the locker room, Ginny was grateful she could go straight to her private shower. Fresh towels were rolled and neatly placed into a built in cubby adjacent to a vanity table. The stone floor was heated. Just outside the shower stood a mustered color, small, two-seater couch with a matching foot stool and silver end tables. Two small blue charger pillows sat on the couch and hanging across from the couch was a HD flat screen TV. The guys might be a little upset at how nice all this is, She thought. The vanity table is definitely too much. Ginny startled at some banging on her door.
"Bubble Butt! We're meeting at Boardner's. You coming right?"
"Ummm. Yeah. I just gotta stop by my hotel before. I have to check in with Eliot and Amelia about somethings." Eliot was her social media manger. He and Amelia were set to fly out in a few hours for another client. They were now agents for many female athlete's and Ginny was left alone far more often than she was her first year in the big leagues.
"Alright, Well hitch it with Collins cause he's doing the same."
"Ok." Ginny thought back to her first day here. Players barely wanted to talk to her let alone invite her out for drinks. And here it was, Jordan was invited out to their favorite bar on his first day. How easy it was for men.
Walking the streets of San Diego with her old BFF was better than Ginny ever imagined her return could be. She became his tour guide. They talked, laughed and reminisced. Right before they entered the bar, she stopped to soak in the moment that her long lost friend was back and it felt like things picked up right where they left off. He was smiling and looked just as happy as she was. His smile grew a little more serious as did hers. Maybe things aren't…exactly… the same as before, she considered. This handsome gorgeous demigod of a man was indeed a man. One she felt like she knew inside and out. He reached to tuck a lose hair behind her ear.
"You're not a little girl anymore." He said softly. It seemed he was making the same observation she was making about him in the same moment.
"You're not a skinny white boy anymore." She smirked.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too." She smiled.
"It's going to be a great year."
"Yeah. I feel it too. We are going to win this year. And we get to do it together."
"Indeed. Shall we?" He gestured his arm for ladies first.
The first person she saw at the tables was Mike Lawson.
"About time you two make it in here. Thought you were asking her to the prom out there Collins." Jacobs teased. "But don't waste your time. Ginny doesn't date players. Trust us. We tried." Yes, Jacobs had been one of the long list of players who tried their luck to hook up with Ginny and was shot down just as the rumors predicted he would.
"Nah." Collins began. "I'm saving myself for you Jacobs. You're the one with the sweetest ride!"
They began to diss each other and Collins was quick with his comebacks. Ginny always felt right at home listening to the boys banter. She glanced over to Mike who hadn't spoken a word since they entered the bar. His eyes were fixed on her. She shifted in her seat as she tried to figure out what was on his mind. That stare wasn't a good one. That stare meant he had a problem and that problem had something to do with her. Was he jealous? What kind of game was he playing with his wife/girlfriend waiting for him? Whatever it is, he's not trying to hide it.
Ginny slid off her seat and headed to the bar. Being that Collin's was busy with his comebacks, she decided to get his drink and one for herself. Besides, it was the perfect excuse to get out of the line of fire of Mike's "problem." It wasn't the escape she hoped for as Mike came to the bar where Ginny was ordering. Slightly sitting on the barstool next to where she stood, he gave a twitch of a smile.
"Looks like you and Collins aren't going to have a hard time familiarizing yourselves with your silent language at game time."
"No. Probably not. We know each other really well. It should be a good Season." She nodded.
"Yeah. That's good. He said with a swig."
"I didn't know Coaches hung out with the players after."
"I didn't either. But they insisted. That bother you?"
"No. It's really cool. I'm glad you're here."
"Are you?" He questioned with one raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. I would have been disappointed if you weren't." Her beers were handed to her and she turned to leave when Lawson stopped her by a light touch to her arm.
"Hey, I know it was awkward after, you know, when we…"
"It wasn't awkward." She interrupted. "We just had to get our heads back in the game."
"Right. Well…." Mike looked lost for words.
"Coach. You don't have to apologize for anything. We're ball players. That's it."
Mikes eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah. Ok."
"We good?"
"Yeah. We're good."
"Ok." Ginny returned to Collins and handed him a beer as he and Blip traded war stories on tour busses. There was some satisfaction knowing that Mike carried some guilt about leaving things unsaid and being with Rachel. It also made her a little angry that the only reason he wanted to talk about it now was because she was right in front of his face. Had she still lived in Chicago playing for the Cubs, he would have never bothered. The anger she held onto ever since she found out he was back with Rachel resurfaced. With that anger, Ginny pushed Mike Lawson out of her heart, for now.