Double Play (28 page)

J.D.
crouched down in the batter’s box, staring down the Hawk’s relief pitcher. It
was the bottom of the ninth inning and the Hawks had managed to tie the game in
the eighth, raising the possibility that the Federals would have to endure one
more game in this Series in their attempt to clinch the title. The Feds had
racked up two outs. Franklin was staring at J.D. from third base with a look
that said
if you blow this and separate me from my twins one more night I’ll
kick your ass
. Favier was swinging dramatically at the air in the on deck
circle as if warming up for the longest home run on record. Simone was pacing
in the dugout with every other player. Smothers hung his lanky body from the
fence, chewing on a big wad of gum and watching with a poker face, no doubt
wondering whether he’d have a job in the morning. J.D. knew all he needed was a
base hit to buy the ranch where he’d been born and start his new life with
Halee.

No
pressure. None at all.

He
still couldn’t believe she’d said yes. After the night on Sam’s boat, the dance
at Fat Jimmy’s, that morning in the shower…

A
fast ball screamed past him.

“Strike!”

“Quit
your daydreaming,” J.D. mumbled to himself.

“I
can’t go another inning,” said Callahan to Smothers. “J.D. needs to hit this
one out of the park or I’m gonna drop to my knees and cry like a baby.”

“No,
he doesn’t,” said Smothers. “He just needs to get it over the shortstop’s head.”

“I
hope he hits it into the second baseman’s teeth,” said Jasper. “The prick
deserves it.”

J.D.
regrouped and sunk down into his signature stance. “Focus,” he whispered. The
stadium noise dimmed as J.D. watched the pitcher twist the ball between his
long thin fingers and settle his hand into his glove. The pitcher glanced at
Franklin one last time, then kicked his leg up and hurled his body forward,
delivering the slider that would make history.

J.D.’s
bat met the ball with a crack that broke the silence. Suddenly the crowd was on
its feet and shouting at ten decibels as J.D. ran with all he had toward first
base, snorting like a race horse and crossing the bag unchallenged. He turned
in time to watch Franklin slide across home plate, crashing linebacker fashion into
the catcher. The catcher dropped the ball. The crowd erupted.

“The
Federals win the Series!” cried Don Petrone from the announcer’s booth. “The
Federals win the Series!”

In
another minute Callahan and Simone had J.D. on their shoulders, parading him
around while they screamed like bloodthirsty warriors. Flashes of colored
lights glittered above them as canons shot fireworks into the night sky. The
whole team danced and hugged, pouring champagne over each other’s heads and
circling the field with the Federals flag.

Bobby
grabbed Rita and sank into a five minute kiss while Cameron and Stephen did the
same. Uncle Gus tossed Ty overhead until the baby giggled so hard he thought he
might choke, then handed him off to Halee, gave her a quick hug, and headed for
the field. “Where are you going?” she asked. He stared a moment at her tear
soaked face and just grinned. “I don’t know,” he said like a teenager who’d
just been kissed. “I just can’t stand still. Congratulations, Honey!”

In
the owner’s box, Victoria Pryor stared down onto the field in disbelief. At her
side, Art Pryor picked up his cell phone and tapped out a number. “Goodwin,” he
murmured into the phone, “cancel the lawsuit against Shaw. I want a five year
contract. I don’t care how much as long as you stay under 20 million.” He
disconnected and studied his wife, still speechless in the chair next to his.
“Look happy, Victoria,” he said. “The endorsements alone will cover anything we
pay Shaw and I’ll still have plenty left over for alimony.”

Victoria
stared at her husband. “What did you say?”

“Tony
King? Really, Victoria, this time you really hit rock bottom.” Art pulled a
document from the inside pocket of his jacket and leaned in a little closer.
“You can have the house in New York and the one in Aspen. I get the businesses.
That includes the World Series champions.” He smiled a wicked little smile and
patted her on the knee. “Let’s get down on the field,” he said. “The press is
waiting.”

Halee snuggled up in the hammock against J.D.’s good
shoulder and sipped her pina colada. The Mexican sunset glowed orange over the
bay, setting the backdrop for a flock of dark pelicans’ wings as they crossed
the water toward higher ground. She’d set Ty down a good hour ago in their
little grass roof hut and he’d been peacefully slumbering ever since, leaving
Mom and Dad to enjoy some adult time.

“That was Smothers,” said J.D., disconnecting his phone.
“The surgeon said I’ll be good to go come spring training.”

Halee ran one finger gently along J.D.’s heavily
bandaged shoulder. “That means you have a big decision to make,” she said.

“
We
have a big decision to make.” He leaned over to
kiss her, then grimaced.

“Slow down, Romeo. You don’t want to undo the surgeon’s
good work.”

“Might be worth it,” said J.D. wiggling his brows.

“Do you want to stay with the Federals?”

“Frank says Pryor is sweetening the deal every time I
say no.”

“Frank?”

“Yup. I hired him as my new manager. I figure a lawyer
is what I’ll need in the majors. He’s already got the Cougars and the Federals
in a bidding war and the Jackals are on the sidelines waiting to see what
shakes out.” He took her hand and admired the shiny new diamond ring he’d
placed there the night after they won the pennant. “Where do you want to be?”

“Anywhere you are.”

J.D. smiled. “Good answer. How about Chicago?”

Halee released a small cry. “Are they asking?”

J.D. nodded. “Starting lineup, centerfield. Five million
three year contract.”

“What
about the $20 million contact with the Federals?”

“I’d
say Art Pryor doesn’t deserve another minute of my time, let alone five years.
He can keep his filthy money. You ask me, family is more important than
anything. I know how much you’ve missed Gus and Rita. With me on the road so
much, we’ll need to be surrounded by family.”

“Speaking
of which, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

J.D.’s eyes grew bright.

“No, not yet,” said Halee.  “But I do have good news
about Faye.”

“What’s that?”

“She bought the ranch.”

“What ranch?”

“The Double HL.”

J.D. threw his head back and howled like a coyote. “How
the hell…?”

“Apparently Faye has been very careful about saving over
the years. She got it for the taxes.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” said J.D., shaking his head. “Why
didn’t she tell me? I talked to her right after we won the Series.”

“She was afraid you’d be mad.”

“Mad? Aw, hell. Now I guess I’ll have to build her a
pretty house to make up for it.”

Halee laughed. “I hope our sons love me the way you love
Faye.”

“Ain’t
no doubt in my mind,” said J.D., taking her hand and holding it against his
warm lips. “Now why don’t you and me mosey on over to our little cottage by the
sea and work on making us some of those sons you keep talking about?”

“And
then?”

“Then
I think I’ll marry ya. That okay with you?”

“Mmm.”
Halee teased his lips. “More than okay.”

“I
can’t believe my luck,” said J.D. “I got the girl of my dreams.”

“And
the ranch,” Halee reminded him.

J.D.
chuckled and pulled Halee into his arms. “Now that’s what I call a Double
Play.”

THE
END

I hope you
enjoyed Double Play. For more information about me and to find out what I’m
writing next, join me at nikkiduvall.com

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