Foul Ball

It was snowing, just barely, as I pulled into the driveway of the beautiful house at the end of the street. The night was dark, but blissfully peaceful as I parked the car and got out, stopping to stand there in the driveway for a moment, face raised to the sky as tiny, white flakes hit my face, melting onto my eyelashes, my nose, my tongue.

A chilly breeze whipped in suddenly and I lowered my head, pulling my winter coat tighter around my body as I reached back into the car for a small bag containing the gifts I'd picked up. Locking the door behind me, I walked up the pathway to the house and let myself in, relishing in the warm burst of air that flowed from the inside.

"Hello?" I called. "I'm home." Kicking off my boots, I lined them up near the door and shrugged my jacket off to hang it up as well. I reached for my lounge robe in the closet and put it on, crossing the living room to bend down and plug in the Christmas tree, which at once lit up the room in a bright, cheery glow.

"I was working on that," Jayce said, coming down the stairs with a smile. "I had to use the bathroom first though. I was hoping I'd have it turned on before you got home."

"It's okay." I crossed the floor and kissed him, lips lingering on his for such a moment that I swore, yet again, I would never be able to pull away. "I like doing it. This is my favorite time of the year."

"I know." Pressing his body against my own, Jayce kissed me, gently at first, and then with more passion, more want, more desire.

"How was work?" I asked when we came up for air, pressing my forehead against Jayce's.

"It was good," he said, and I could tell in his voice that he truly meant it. He loved his job working as an engineer in ERU's science department.

"And how are the kids?" I asked, drawing a laugh from Jayce.

"They're not as good as I once was, but they're better than the majority," he said.

"Well, I imagine that as six-year-olds, baseball isn't at the forefront of their minds yet," I teased, running my hand through Jayce's tousled hair. He laughed again, shaking his head, and planted a kiss on my forehead. "What about you, my future MD? How was school?"

"Medical school is like regular school, but ten thousand times harder," I said, kissing him once again. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fascinated every time I stepped foot in the building."

"Are you still on track to graduate with honors?"

"Obviously."

"Good." Jayce brushed a loose strand of hair off my face. "I'm proud of you, Macey. You are an inspiration."

"I'm proud of both of us." We kissed again, and after a moment, I released Jayce and crossed the floor to grab the bag with the gift in it.

"This is yours," I said softly. "It's Christmas Eve, but if you want to open it now you can."

"You mean you're finally going to let me have a present before Christmas?" Jayce teased as I reached into the bag and pulled out the wrapped box. I handed it to him, and he took it, turning it over and over between his hands. "Just this once," I told him. "Because I don't think I can wait until tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" "Positive."

Without waiting for more encouragement, Jayce pulled at the wrapping paper until the plain box was free. He reached into his back pocket for his keys to cut the tape, and a moment later, he lifted his gift from the box, turning it over in his hands.

"A baseball mitt," he said, and the way he was trying to sound stoked over it nearly made me combust into laughter.

"Not just any baseball mitt," I told him, eyes widening in mock fascination. "A child's baseball mitt. Little league."

"Aw, baby, that's so sweet." Still looking mildly puzzled, Jayce pulled me back against him and kissed my head, holding the mitt awkwardly in one hand. When he pulled away a moment later, he looked into my eyes. "You know that all the kids on my team already have gloves, right?" he asked.

"Yes, I know." I took the mitt from Jayce, running my thumbs over the tanned leather and tiny etches in the design. "But our baby doesn't."

For a moment, the silence between us carried on as Jayce mulled this over in his head. And then, just like that, it dawned on him, and I saw his eyes go wide with realization.

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"Pregnant," I finished for him. "I found out yesterday. It was going to be a surprise, but I couldn't wait for Christmas day."

"Oh my God, Macey." Quietly, Jayce drew me into him, his strong arms wrapping protectively around me, holding me, squeezing me tight.

"Are you happy?" I asked, resting my cheek against his warm chest.

"Happy?" asked Jayce. "Oh God, Macey, I couldn't be happier." Shaking his head, his hand gently rested on my stomach. He closed his eyes with a soft sigh. "This is all I've ever wanted," he said. "Since I met you that first semester of college, this is all I wanted. You, a baby, a home...our family."

"Me too," I said quietly, and pain tugged at my insides, a pain so real, so raw still, that I almost cried. We both knew, without having to bring it up...we almost didn't have that. Neither of us. "Five years next week," I told him. "It will be five years of remission."

Jayce closed his eyes and nodded his head, pressing his forehead against mine. "Five years that have been the best years of my life, Mace."

"Ditto." Pushing those memories aside, I kissed Jayce, and he kissed me back. Gentle. Hard. Passionately. I could kiss this man ten million times and never grow weary of it. "Merry Christmas Eve, Daddy-to-be," I said with a smile. "To us, for beating the odds and surviving."

"To us," Jayce repeated. "For not only beating the odds but kicking ass while we did."

"I love you, Jayce."

"I love you, too, Macey. Forever."