The Baby Announcement

It was the day before opening day. Ginny was dumping chips into a large bowl at Evelyn's house. The Sanders had invited her and Mike over for a little Opening Game Day celebration. What Blip didn't know, was that Evelyn had planned to announce that they were expecting a baby girl in 7 months.

"Here's the dip." Evelyn placed the crystal dip bowl next to the bowl Ginny prepared.

"I can't believe you waited a whole trimester to tell him."

"It wasn't easy. You know how hard it is for me to keep anything from him. I don't know. I just didn't want to go through a whole trimester watching him wish it was a girl only to be let down if it were another boy. I figured, if it was a boy, I could tell him right away so he could just be happy right away and let go of the idea of a girl. But as you have it, I get to surprise him all at once that his dreams have come true. I can hardly wait to see the expression on his face."

Ginny smiled as she pictured his reaction. "He's going to be on cloud 9. It's the perfect news right before the big game tomorrow."

"I know! He's going to have the energy of 10 men!" Evelyn stirred the spaghetti she had going on the stove top. "Good thing I'm telling him. I'm starting to show so, I won't be able to hide it any longer." Ginny set the salad bowls on the kitchen Island along with the salad toppings. "Thanks for being here. I'm sorry if it's weird to have Mike and Rachel over."

"No. It's fine. In fact. I'm happy about it. It's exactly what I need to move on."

"It's just Mike is Blips best friend and you're mine. Hence, complicated."

"It's fine. I see him plenty on the field. I'm not a drooling fool."

"You sure?"

"Evelyn! Don't bring it up again."

"Ok."

Just then, The doorbell rang. "That must be Mike and Rachel. Blip just texted he will be here in 5 minutes." As Evelyn went to open the door. Ginny opened one of the champagne bottles and guzzled a glass down. She was going to need it being the only single person out of two couples. Just as she finished the glass Mike walked in with Evelyn minus Rachel.

"Ginny! You opened the champagne already? You're supposed to wait for the…. toast to a good game." Evelyn adlibbed.

"Sorry." Ginny guilted. "Where's Rachel?" she asked.

"She couldn't make it. She sends her apologies."

"Oh no!" Evelyn pouted.

"Sorry. She's a superstar out there now. It's hard for me to get penciled in." He laughed.

"Okay. Well Blip said he would be here in 5 minutes. The boys are plugged into their online gaming upstairs so, I'm going to freshen up after all this cooking and then drag the boys away from their games. 13 year olds." She sighed heading to her bedroom.

"Champagne?" Mike asked.

"Oh. Special occasion."

"The game? That usually calls for a beer."

"Oh. Yeah. I think she has some news about the spa she wants to surprise Blip with."

"That's cool."

Mike crossed over to the living room to sit. He wore blue jeans and a baby blue pollo shirt. The moment was beginning to feel awkward to Ginny. Acting like things were normal felt a lot easier when they were busy with practices. What could she busy herself with in a house with nobody else around?

"You must miss Rachel a lot." Ginny quickly said to fill in the silence. Ugh! Why do I have to bring up the very thing I don't want to hear about? He's probably going to tell me how much he misses her. Damn it Ginny.

"Yeah. It's not so bad when I'm just as busy." He replied.

Thank god he isn't going to carry on. So, he doesn't miss her so much. Her heart began to pound a little harder. Seeing him here, casual, made her miss him. She missed the days they spent just hanging out, joking and laughing. "I haven't seen you at the bar much."

"Yeah. I'm getting a little old." He ran his hand through his hair.

"Funny."

"Why is that funny?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.

Ginny froze as she realized what she would have to confess. "Uh. Because… you look younger now than before."

"Why thank you." Mike amused. "That's quite the compliment. Unless it means I looked like an old fat ass before." He now rose both eyebrows.

"Well, I wouldn't say fat ass, maybe just thick...er"

"Really." Mike sat up a little straighter on the couch.

"Well, you didn't earn your nickname for looking like a spring chicken."

"Ouch! Okay. I'm not feeling complimented anymore."

"You look great Coach. At least half a decade younger."

Mike just about blushed. "Call me Mike. And thank you." For a moment, they both stayed silent. Content to just look each other in the eyes without any distractions.

"Helllllo! Why is there a Lawson Car in my parking space!" Blip called out as he entered the room.

Mike stood up with a big smile on his face. "I'm trying to help you get your steps in before tomorrow's game."

"I'll show you some steps." Blip joked.

"Oh good! Everyone is here! BOYS! Get over here!" Evelyn yelled.

Ginny shuffled over to the kitchen Island and began pouring champagne glasses. "Let me help." Ginny passed the glasses to a confused Blip and Mike.

"I can't wait a second longer! I have great news. BOYS!" she yelled over her shoulder then returned to the awaiting faces with a smile.

"We're here, we're here." The boys entered the room and Evelyn handed them a champagned glass.

"Don't worry boys, yours is just sprite. And so is mine."

Blip looked confused at her comment. Mike's eyes furrowed as he tried to figure it out.

"Why is yours sprite?" He asked Evelyn.

"Because I can't drink champagne."

Blip still looked confused. Mike's eyes darted to Ginnys. When she nodded her head to him it all became clear and his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.

"I'm pregnant and it's a girl!" She blurted.

Blips face froze and after 3 seconds of complete shock, he grinned the biggest grin Ginny had ever seen on him. He jumped in the air and shouted. "Woo-hoo! Are you serious? Eve, how, when? Why do you know it's a girl already?"

It took 20 minutes for Evelyn to fill Blip in on the last three months. Ginny began serving spaghetti to the boys. They too were excited for the news of a little sister on the way. They began planning out how they would escort her to and from school and how they wouldn't let anyone near their little sister.

Blip finally sat down and began eating. His smile never left his face as he talked about all the mother daughter spa days and the new shot gun he was going to have to buy.

"No guns in my house." Evelyn asserted.

"I should get going." Mike announced as he wiped his face with a napkin from dinner. "Baker, you want a ride home? We should get plenty of rest for the game tomorrow."

"Sure Dad. Sorry guys. Dad says there's curfew."

"Ha-ha. He's right. Go get some rest." Blip agreed.

Being in Mikes car took her back to the days he used to drive her to and from practices and games when she injured her elbow. Here it was years later and the chemistry in the air hadn't changed. The struggle to stay away from him was the same as it was 3 years ago. "I need my own car."

"Really? Is Ginny Baker finally going to get a car?"

"Yeah. I'm tired of uber and bumming rides."

"I don't mind." He grinned.

"I know. I'm… just ready to put down some roots. Amelia has already started helping me find a house to buy."

"That's awesome! Where abouts?"

"I'm open to anything within 30 minutes to the stadium. I have no idea what my style is."

"You have to let me help you pick out a car."

"Really?"

"Yes. Please. You have to let the guy with 5 dealerships help you find a car."

"Yeah. That would seem like a wise choice." She laughed. "Ok. But I don't want a girl car. I want it to go as fast as yours."

"You like to drive fast?"

"No. I would just like to think I could if I wanted to."

"Done." And with that, mike put the pedal to the medal.