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“I’m glad it worked out that your parents happened to arrive yesterday instead of today.”
“It was nice to not have to drag the girls out of bed to get you here.”
“Have you talked to them?”
“I texted Dad. He and Mom are going to bring them over after breakfast.” I glance outside and see that the sun is just starting to rise. “Your mom went home to get some rest. She’ll be back later.”
Peyton fusses in my arms. “Are you hungry, sweet girl?” Her soft whimper is my answer. Carefully, I stand from the chair and help Larissa get adjusted. She lowers her gown, baring her full breast. “God, you’re gorgeous.” She blushes. After all this time, I can still make her blush.
“You’ve caught me, East. You can stop with the flattery.” She shakes her head, but a soft smile plays on her lips.
“Never.” I lean over and press my lips to hers. “You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do right this minute.”
“You said that the day we were married, you said that when Parker was born, and a million other times.”
“That’s because you’re more beautiful every damn day.” Another quick kiss to the corner of her mouth and I place Peyton in her arms. Larissa coos at her for a few moments until Peyton decides she’s had enough and wants to eat. Before Larissa has the chance to, as gently as I can, I guide her bare breast to Peyton, placing the nipple against her lips. She latches on immediately. I can’t take my eyes off them. To see my wife feeding our daughter in the most natural form…. My heart is so full it feels as if it could burst from the love pumping through my veins.
When she’s finished eating, I change Peyton’s diaper and am just placing her back in Larissa’s arms when the hospital room door pushes open. I hear Paisley first.
“Shh, Park, Mommy might be sleeping.”
“I see baby sister,” Parker replies.
“Hey, you,” I open my arms, and both my girls know the drill. They come rushing as I capture them both in a hug. “You ready to meet your little sister?” They both nod. Standing to my full height, I pick Parker up, placing her on my hip and hold Paisley’s hand. “Paisley and Parker, meet your sister Peyton,” I introduce them just as I did Paisley to Parker when she was born.
“She’s so tiny.” Paisley is now ten and older beyond her years.
“Tiny,” Parker agrees.
“Why don’t you climb up here and you can hold her?” Larissa offers. Paisley wastes no time sliding in bed beside her mom.
“Me hold her,” Parker says.
“You too,” I agree. Paisley moves over, and I sit Parker in between her and Larissa. Taking Peyton from Larissa, I place her in Paisley’s arms. I’ve placed Peyton just right so her legs are resting on Parker’s lap, so she too feels as though she’s getting to hold her little sister. “Hold her head,” I instruct.
“I’ve got this,” Paisley assures me.
“Got this,” Parker agrees.
“Hey, son.” Dad pulls me into a hug. “She’s a beauty.”
“Thanks.” He releases me, and Mom takes his place. “Hey, Mom.”
“You have a beautiful family, East.”
Turning my head, I look over at my girls. The four of them are my everything. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them. “That I do,” I agree with her. “That I do.”
The rest of the day we have a revolving door of visitors. My mother-in-law came bearing food, of which we were both extremely grateful. Drew and Chloe stopped by but couldn’t stay long. Chloe’s mom was watching their three-month-old daughter, Clara. Fisher and Carr both stopped by with their wives, and the team sent a huge bouquet of flowers. It was a perfect day to celebrate the birth of our new baby girl.As I stand on the mound, I take a minute to memorize this moment. The crowd is loud, a sea of orange letting us know Tennessee fans are here in droves to support us. I know that in that sea of orange is my family. Mom, Dad, Parker, and Peyton. Grandma and Grandpa Monroe, Gram, Aunt Chloe, Uncle Drew, Clara, and Clayton, are all here to watch me and support my team.My team that I’ve led to the Women’s College Softball World Series. This is the last game in the series, and we’re up by two. We only need one more out to end this game and win the series. This is the final innings of the game, and the final innings of my college career. I graduate next week with my bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. I fell in love with the game around the same time Mom and Dad met. But it’s not his shoes I followed in, it was Grandpa Monroe’s. He too was a pitcher.
