Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Gabriela
I want to call Gianluca and leave him a message. But I know he’s getting ready to play his last game in San Diego. Giancarlo and I are getting ready to watch it with some of our family. We’re watching the game in our new house. I can’t wait to start making new memories in here with my two guys.
“Are you otay, mamà?” he asks as he watches me.
“I’m okay. How are you doing?”
“I otay. I miss my other mamà. Is dat otay?”
I go over to him and hug him. “It’s always okay to miss your mamá. She was so proud to be your mamá.”
“How you know? Did you know my mamà?”
“No, I didn’t know your mamá. But I know you and you’re a great little man. So that means your mamá was a great woman.”
“Like you.” He grins at me.
I have no idea how much he really understands. But I’ve come to realize he remembers more than anyone thought he did. And I love and hate that for him. I love that he can remember the good things and I hate that he remembers the bad things. I wish I could take all the bad memories away for him.
“It’s game time, Tia Gabby.” Rowan says as he runs into the kitchen.
“Okay, gracias, amor.”
I pick Carlo up and carry him into the living room. Enea and Graínne gave us a huge television and had it mounted on the wall. It’s like being in a movie theater. We actually do have a mini theater in the basement. Fiorella said Gianluca will love it because he’s a huge movie buff.
We all sit down as the game starts. My heart flutters every time they show Gianluca’s face. In fact, I find myself grinning no matter what part of him flashes on the screen.
The game goes by fast, before we know it, we’re in the ninth inning.
We’re also losing by one run. If we don’t score now, we’ll lose.
First batter is up and it’s a base hit. Second batter hits another base hit.
Third batter and again a base hit..Holy shit.
We’re now bases loaded and my baby is up to bat.
“Come on fratellino!” Fiorella yells at the TV.
“Come on papà!” Giancarlo yells with her.
I laugh as they both get up and start jumping around.
Gianluca
I watch Simon get on base, then Anthony and Harrison.
Now it’s my turn and I need to at least get a double.
Hell, just a base hit will work because then the bases are still loaded for Christian to hit.
I step up to the plate and touch my heart.
That’s for my Gabriela and my Giancarlo.
They’re my good luck charms in everything I do.
I watch the pitcher and swing. Fucking strike one.
Against my better judgement I swing on pitch two. Fucking dumbass.
I close my eyes and think of my family. I know they’re watching back home. Come on Gianluca, get your shit together and hit the fucking ball.
CRACK.
I watch the ball go, drop my bat and start running.
I know it’s a home run before I dropped my bat.
I watch Simon, then Anthony and then Harrison run home.
As I’m rounding third, I see them waiting for me behind home base.
My whole team comes out to celebrate my grand slam.
I wish my family was here, but I know they’re watching.
Our next three guys struck out, so now we had to wait for the other team.
We won. And now I get to head home to my loves. After the game ends, I head into the the visitor’s clubhouse and get changed. Most days I’ll grab a shower and get a quick workout in before I leave. But tonight I just want to get to the hotel and call Gabriela and Giancarlo.
“You want to grab a drink at the hotel? The guys want to celebrate your slam tonight.” Harrison says to me as I’m changing out of my uniform.
“Nah, I just want to get back, shower and call my girl.”
Harrison laughs. “I understand that. If you change your mind, text me. I don’t know how long either. Otherwise I’ll see you at the plane tomorrow. That was a fucking epic hit tonight. Congrats.”
“Thanks.” I smile.
When I get to the hotel, there’s always a bunch of fans around.
They’re always trying to get to us, sometimes I stop and sign stuff for them, but some nights I’m just too tired.
But tonight? I have to stop, hitting the grand slam is making the fans louder tonight.
So I stop and sign some hats and some posters, take a few selfies with them and then head up to my room.
I grab a shower and then order up some food.
While I’m waiting for my food, I call Gabriela.
We all use Script, a video chat program that my cugino, Sebastiano created.
“Hi, amor! Congratulations on your grand slam!”
“Thank you.” I chuckle as I see her beautiful face.
“Gianluca tried to stay up for your phone call, but he couldn’t. I put him to bed about an hour ago.”
“It’s okay, I’ll give him extra hugs tomorrow. I miss you so much. Why does our bedroom look different? Did you choose a house for us?”
“I did. I really hope you like it.”
“Which one did you choose?”
“You’ll have to see when you get home.” She giggles.
“I love you.” I chuckle.
“So something happened today…”
I frown as I look at her. No one better have done anything to her.
“It’s nothing bad. But it’s something I didn’t expect. My brothers were playing with me. José and Juan put me in a headlock, it’s something they’ve done since we were little. But Giancarlo got really angry. And he called me mamá.”
“Wow! Are you okay with that?”
“I am. But I was worried that you wouldn’t like it.”
“Amore, I love it. Why does it feel like there’s more to this?”
“Maybe we should wait till you come home to talk about the rest of it.”
“No. Just tell me.”
“Giancarlo reacted that way because it looks like Yakov hurt Faith in front of him.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Did Faith talk to you about what he did to her?”
“Not really, she implied that he was abusive, but I didn’t know if it was physical or verbal.”
“It looks like he choked her out in front of Carlo. He said his mamá fell down after he did whatever he was doing to her.”
I stay quiet for a bit, I’m not sure how to process this new information. Except that know I know that Yakov is a dead asshole.
“I knew I should’ve waited till you got home for this.”
“No, amore. Thank you for telling me. It just pisses me off that he would touch a woman like that and in front of her child? No one I know would ever do that.”
“No one I know would either. And it makes me really sad that Carlo has those memories.”
“Well between you and me? We’ll make sure he has new memories to replace the bad ones.”
She nods.
“We definitely will. What time is your flight tomorrow?”
“We leave at twelve pm. We’ll get in at seven because of the time change.”
“I can’t wait to see you. These away games are so hard to get used to.”
“I know, I feel the same way. I used to love all the games we played. But now I just want to play home games so I can go to sleep with you in my arms. But as soon as we’re married, you’ll be able to come with me to games if you want.”
“Really?”
“Yes, we’re allowed to bring our wives. We have to pay for your flight and all the extras. But if it means having you with me? I’ll pay whatever I have to.”
“That will be so much fun. Another bonus to marrying the man of my dreams.”
She yawns.
“You need to go to sleep. My food just got here, I’m going to eat and then go to sleep. That way tomorrow will be here faster. I love you.”
“I love you too. Please be safe.”