Copyright 2020
Chapter 110
"Runners on first and second. Two outs. The Tigers are up 4 to 3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coastal Plains College needs one more out to win a trip to Atlanta. Armstrong, the lefty, steps in the batter's box. Young takes his stretch. Checks the runners. Delivers!"
KLANG!
"Armstrong lines a shot down the first base line to the right field corner! One runner scores! Here comes the second runner to home! The throw from right is cutoff at first base. The throw to home is... He's safe! Brubeck is safe! The Bears win it with a walk off base hit to right field by Armstrong. The Shelby County College Bears are headed to Atlanta, having won the third game of the series against the Coastal Plains College Tigers!"
There was more to hear on the radio, but, the Tigers didn't want to hear it.
James left the first base dugout immediately and met his nephew, Michael, at the first base line. He turned his back to the third base dugout, forcing Michael to face his opponents.
"What did he hit?" James asked.
"Slider. Low and inside," he replied.
"One of your best pitches."
"Yes, Sir."
"Hold your head up high so they can see it," James demanded. "Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Tell them with your stance and face, they beat you today, but, they won't beat you the next time. Look at Armstrong and let him know you won't forget what he did today. And, it will be the last he will do it. There will be another day to see them again. Never let your opponent know you failed by how you leave the field. Let them know they will regret their win here today." He paused to let Michael consider his words. "You're a winner, Michael. You've proven it all year. Leave the field as a winner. Let them know you'll be back."
"Yes, Sir."
"The same goes for your teammates over there," James said, as he gestured toward the dugout. "Look at them. Most of their heads are dipped to the ground in defeat. Show them you're walking off the field with your head up high. That you're coming back next year to win it. With them."
Michael nodded to James and did exactly what James said. The Tiger fans applauded as Michael left the field.
Angela was standing outside the fence, near the dugout, with Cathy and David by her side, watching what was going on between her husband and Michael. She realized at that moment, the two men looked nearly identical in height and stature, especially in their identical uniforms.
As Michael neared the dugout, she yelled to him. "You did your best, Michael! You're still a winner if you did your best!"
He smiled in return, nodded his acknowledgement and waved to his mother, as he entered the dugout to be with his team. She turned her attention to James, who was walking to home plate to shake hands with the opposing coaches. She raced to the other side of the dugout to talk to him after the handshakes.
As James turned to head toward the dugout, Angela yelled out for him. He smiled and came to the fence to greet her.
"Is Michael OK?" she asked.
"Never better," he offered. "He learned something today. Just as he will with every win and loss he has for the rest of his life. He'll be fine. So... How's my favorite Tiger fan?"
"I didn't growl loud enough, I guess."
Chapter 111
"I told Coach Collins I would return one more year. That means I have to recruit some players this summer. I was thinking after the summer semester, we would go to Europe for a honeymoon. Before the fall semester begins. Greece perhaps."
James was washing dishes after supper, while Angela took a break from studying.
Angela's eyes widened. "Really? You would take me to Europe? To Greece?"
"Yeah," he replied. He frowned, stopped washing dishes and dried his hands. "You sound surprised I would make such an offer. You did the same when I offered to fly your friends to Little Rock, too. Why?"
Angela shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose I'm not used to someone offering me something that costs a lot of money. I just never wanted to fly or go to Europe. All I ever wanted, before you of course, was to have a cattle herd and go to college."
James furled his brow to consider her answer. He stepped over to the kitchen table and sat down next to her.
"I didn't want you to drive to Little Rock. That's why I offered to fly you there. It was what I wanted. Not what you wanted. I told you I was doing it for selfish reasons. I didn't want you risking your safety just to go to a baseball game." He paused to gather his thoughts. "About Europe. It isn't so much an offer as it is a chance to discuss it. I only wanted to make a suggestion for a honeymoon that was interrupted by a baseball playoff. I didn't ask you, but, I just assumed we would go on a honeymoon. Greece is a suggestion, not an offer."
Angela bit her bottom lip, and said, "My period was supposed to start last Monday."
James was startled by the change in topic. He arched his eyebrows in response.
Angela giggled at his response. "I could be just a little late. I'll know by Saturday."
"And then what?" James asked, with a smirk.
She giggled louder this time. "I go to the pharmacy and get a pregnancy test."
James pushed his chair away and knelt at Angela's feet. He sat on the floor and laid his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his thick dark hair in a comforting way.
"Am I selfish for wanting you pregnant?"
"I hope not. Because I want to be pregnant. With you," she offered.
"Angela, I haven't told you this," he began. "I'm 38 years old and I've longed for children. If I don't get busy soon, I won't have them. I can't help but feel selfish because it involves you."
"James Young! Stop it right now! I want your children. I expect you to get busy with me," she laughed. "I'm serious. I want to give you as many babies as you want. My body is screaming at me to have children. It's an urge I've never had until now."
He looked up from her lap and smiled. "Thank you."
He paused... arched an eyebrow.
"I'm going to the store to get the test. So you will have it when you want it."
Chapter 112
"Brenda is coming here this weekend. She's bringing legal documents to sign. I asked Mr. Turner to include you in the partnerships, and for wills and power of attorneys."
Angela was taken by surprise. She didn't expect to be included in James' business with Mr. Turner.
"Oh? I didn't expect to be involved. Are you sure?" she asked.
"Of course. If something were to happen to me, Mr. Turner would get it all. I don't want that to happen to you," James replied. "I've also begun taking more of my dividends from the partnerships and placing them into brokerage accounts with you as the beneficiary. This would be money that is not attached to the partnerships. It would be yours if I died."
Angela got up from the couch, sat in his lap on the recliner, and placed her arm around his neck.
"I didn't ask for this and I didn't expect anything from you except your love. Can you manage it and we still have our modest lifestyle? I'm not certain I could handle so much money."
James drew her close for an embrace. "I'm planning for our future, Angela. To be financially secure for us and our children. College. Retirement. Money to take care of us when we're old. Still a little to the children's hospital, too. I'm thinking, when I finish coaching baseball, I'll take some of the earnings with Mr. Turner and start up opportunities here in Texas. I've asked Mr. Turner to begin exploring expanding Young Turner Auto Group into Texas. Pizza World, too. To establish legacies for our children to move into if they want. Like ranching, farming, car dealerships, pizza franchises, real estate. I've even considered starting a road construction business. You know. Start off small and grow. Did you know? Texas has the most miles of road than any other state?"
Angela half laughed and half choked back tears. Her man was taking care of her. He was already planning for their future well beyond her young 19 years.
"No," she softly sobbed. "I didn't know."
Chapter 113
"URRRR AAAAGGGGGGHHHH!"
James woke up to a high pitched sound from the bathroom. It was dawn. He shook his head to clear his sleepiness.
"AAAAGGGGHHH!"
He leapt from bed and ran to the bathroom.
"Angela!"
"AAARRGGG! GULK! AAARRRGGG!"
Weakly, Angela said, "Get me a glass of water. I need to rinse out my mouth."
James walked quickly to the kitchen and came back with water.
She was sitting on the floor in front of the toilet. She tried to smile.
"URRRR AAAAGGGGHHHH!"
"What can I do?" he pleaded.
"Rub my back."
He fell to the floor and began rubbing her back beneath her pajama top.
"That feels good. Thank you."
Again, she tried to smile.