Chapter Eighteen Alex
T EXAS WAS STIFLING . I thought, surely, early September would cool down like New England.
No such luck. We stepped off the jet and a wave of oppressive heat so all-consuming hit me I paused to catch my breath.
A black town car awaited us as we reached the end of the stairs. I had already begun to sweat.
“You have to play in this ?” I asked Rome. “I can barely breathe.”
He shrugged. “I’m gonna start chugging water soon. Right before the game, I take an ice bath, too. Usually helps.”
Our chatter stayed light on the way to the stadium.
I thought he might drop me off at a hotel to wait but Rome informed me Joe was already at the stadium with Rome’s agent and a few others within the circle.
He thought it would be nice to meet with everyone in one of the suites until the start of the game.
I realized then why Rome asked me to pack a nice indoor outfit for the summer.
At the stadium, Rome brought us in through the guest players’ entrance. We stood in a narrow corridor that bifurcated, one direction going toward the guest clubhouse, and the other leading to an elevator that would bring me to the suite level.
Rome pushed through the entrance to the clubhouse and waved me in. “You can change in here then head up. Sound good?”
I had never been in a clubhouse before. Suddenly it felt invasive to enter one. Rome insisted with a second wave. “You sure?” I asked. “Isn’t there, like, a rule for significant others to go in or something?”
Rome looked at me. A single brow rose. “Significant other, eh?” He rubbed his chin. “That term is a lot stronger than ‘boyfriend,’ wouldn’t you say?”
My cheeks burned red and I pushed through into the clubhouse.
He playfully tapped me on the ass as I passed by and then followed me inside.
A carpeted hallway led us to an option of bathrooms on the right and a circular locker room on the left.
Farther down I spied a weight room, a treatment room similar to the one I had seen via video chat with Rome, and offices beyond.
A low rumbling of voices emanated from the locker room as I paused at the arched entryway. Players moved about, some chatting, some on their phones, others lazing about in leather chairs. Several televisions hanging near the ceiling played highlights of recent games or sports channels.
My eyes went wide and I slipped behind Rome’s tall frame. “I’m not gonna meet everyone, am I?” I looked down at myself. Ragged t-shirt, too-short shorts, a pair of old, ratty loafers.
“No, no, these guys need to focus. Here,” he said and moved me beyond the archway to one of the conference rooms with clouded glass walls.
I changed into khaki slacks and a navy-blue polo, then stuffed my other clothes into the bag. Outside the conference room, Rome took the bag from me and said he’d store it in his locker.
“Will there be any big celebrations when you guys win?” I asked carefully in a quiet tone. I knew how superstitious others could be.
“The flight back will be pretty crazy.”
I blinked and realized Rome wouldn’t be joining them. “Oh, look, please don’t feel obligated to—”
He put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not my first clincher and it won’t be my last. I can skip this one and fly back with you. Don’t worry.”
I smiled, looked up and down the hallway, then planted a quick peck on his cheek. “Have a good game. I’ll be watching with bated breath. Buona fortuna .”
“ Grazie mille, cuore mio .”
I pulled back with a questioning look. “That’s a new one. What does it mean?”
He gave a boyish shrug and half-grin. “Text you after the game.”
Cryptic .
I loved it.
Rome escorted me until he split out to the locker room. I walked back out into the hallway and thumbed the elevator call button.
The visitor suite didn’t appear much different from the one back in Lexington.
More Texan decor, that’s for sure, but still I saw a bartender readying for the evening in the corner, an unfilled buffet spread along the back wall, and clutches of leather furniture spread throughout the room.
Not many people had filled the space yet, as we were a few hours from game time.
Joe walked toward me. He wore a pressed white button down with the sleeves rolled up and black slacks. As anticipated, he pulled me in for a hug rather than a handshake.
“Heard you flew private for the first time,” he said with a grin.
I shook my head and laughed. “Sure did, yep. I guess I’m fancy now.”
“I told him it was too much, but he’s pretty thickheaded sometimes. Once he gets something in that skull of his, nothing short of a lobotomy will get it out.”
I had started to see that. “Yeah… we had a talk about that.”
“Good. He’s gotta learn his limits aren’t other people’s limits. Come on, let’s grab a drink and chat.”
Despite the bar not officially being open yet, Joe managed to sweet talk us two bottles of beer. We clinked the glass as we sat at a high top with a bowl of nuts in a white porcelain dish at the center. Joe pulled a fat, spiced walnut off the top and popped it in his mouth.
“We’re almost done finalizing the payment for Danny,” Joe said. “Just need the hospital to provide us with a little more info and then we should be all set. What Rome hasn’t figure out yet—and this is where you come in—is how this should be presented to them.”
“What do you mean ‘presented’?”
“As in, how do we tell Danny and Paola that they’re all set? No more medical bill debt.”
“Ah,” I said. He wanted my opinion because I had experience in that realm.
While my medical bills did cripple my family, I still understood the delicate nature of charity.
“Danny doesn’t need to know. He likely won’t understand the unsurmountable bills his mother’s been saddled with.
Nor should he, really.” I took a swig of my beer and rubbed my chin.
“He naps a lot. I can reach out to Paola and get her to tell me when he’s usually sleeping. Does Rome want to do this in person?”
Joe wagged his hand. “His priority is getting them paid ASAP. Scheduling should free up a bit when we win tonight. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility to have Rome miss a game and spend time at the hospital.”
I continued to rub my chin. “Well… does he want the recognition?” I didn’t understand the look Joe gave me.
Offense? Confusion? I clarified and said, “I mean, I know he doesn’t need it.
I get that. But truly… it’s a sight and a hell of an experience to tell someone they no longer have any debt.
I know he doesn’t need the ego boost but…
” I knew I had the words how to convey this.
When my eyes fell on the hint of a gold chain peeking out from under Joe’s collar, I realized the direction.
“It’s spiritually rewarding,” I said. “Rome deserves that. It will strengthen his faith if he is able to see the joy and relief he brings to someone who is struggling.” I nodded as I leaned into my own words. “It’ll embolden him, really, to go further. To do more with what he has.”
I had been staring beyond Joe as I spoke and when I finished, my eyes sharpened on him. He stared right at me, into me, with the hint of a smile curling the corners of his lips.
“Could you help us with that?” he asked with slight hesitation.
“With… what, to do more?” He nodded. “I suppose. But I’m not sure what you…
” I pushed my tongue into my cheek as information coalesced in my mind.
An idea formed. One so outlandish and fantastical it only happened in farfetched imaginations.
“How permanent is this charity organization you’re setting up, Joe? ”
“It’s going to be a foundation,” he said, and I felt thunder roll through me.
“Well, it will be . Rome doesn’t know that yet.
But you’ve convinced me. Because you’re right—once he sees Paola’s reaction, everything is going to change.
We, you and me, need to be ready when he decides to take on another case.
” Joe grinned widely as he shifted in his seat.
“Imagine that, Alex. Rome turns to us and says he wants to do this again and we already have cases waiting .”
I felt my heart flutter. Rome’s eye-watering wealth, Joe’s keen contractural intellect, my connections and know-how.
But your photography .
Mentally, my camera was already covered in dust as I looked at the shiny new thing in front of me.
“There it is,” Joe said. I looked up from staring at the peanuts in the bowl.
“There what is?”
“I literally just saw on your face the moment you made a decision,” he said.
“We’re gonna do this, Alex. We’re gonna build something that lasts .
I want your help. I need your help. Let’s do this.
Let’s put together a plan. We can keep it a secret from Rome if you’re comfortable with that and then reveal it at the right moment.
” Joe stood up, drained half his beer, and started into a pace before the high top.
“This feels right , Alex. Don’t you agree? Come on, man, you gotta agree.”
I blew out air and leaned back. My eyes tracked Joe as he walked back and forth. “A foundation, Joe? As in, a full-blown nonprofit in Rome’s name?”
“Yes. Yes . He’s been worried about life post-baseball. He only has a few more years left.” He stopped suddenly and pointed at me. “ Do not tell anyone else I said that. Okay?”
I held up my hands. “Yeah, yeah. Okay.”
Back to pacing. “This is his next stage in life. I can see it.” He panned his hands wide as if looking at a marquee. “The Romolo Moretti Foundation. Or something like that. Dang, this is the perfect next step.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” I said. “What else do we need to do? I have no idea what goes into building something like this.”
“I do. And I know plenty of others who can help.” He pulled out his phone and went back to the table. “Tell me your schedule. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and figure out when we can connect.”