“You’re what?” Mrs. Carter asked blinking
“We’re going to wait another year. Things have been so crazy, we’re going to give it time to settle down. Besides, we are in no hurry.”
“Well, I think that is a responsible thing to do.” Jane answered looking at her son and her future daughter-in-law.
Nick grinned and then he thought of something, “What are we going to do about the house?”
Alex looked at him, she blinked several times before answering, “Well, I guess we can go ahead and buy furniture and I can decorate. Then it will be ready for us to move into.” Nick grinned and Alex continued, “AFTER the wedding.”
“I can’t ever win.”
Alex grinned at him, “Nope, you can’t.”
Jane smiled and quietly slipped out of the waiting room.
**2 Months later**
Colby sat in the dugout and watched Alex on the mound. She had shaken her head at the catcher, Danny Jeffers, for the 3rd time, “Jeffers, you idiot, she won’t throw low balls.” He muttered. Alex finally threw the ball but it was obvious she was irritated. “Coach, put me in.” Colby said
The Coach looked at him, this was the game that would determine whether they played in the finals. He knew Alex could help them win the game, but Jeffers wasn’t doing it for her. The coach looked out at the mound and then back at Colby, “Are you ready?”
“Have been for a long time.” Even though the doctors hadn’t allowed him to play Colby had been at ever practice and game.
The Coached rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, “Go suit up.” Colby practically flew out of the dug out and returned several minutes later and the coach called a time out.
Alex looked up when she heard the ump yell time. She watched as the coach sent someone out of the dugout, and then she realized it was Colby. She yelled at the ump and motioned for Colby to come out to the mound. He gave her a sideways grin and walked up, “What’s up?”
“Are you sure you are ready for this?”
“I’m not gonna sit back and watch us loose just because Jeffers can’t figure out that you don’t throw low to anyone.”
“Was I that readable?”
“You were to me, but you have to remember, I’ve been catching for you since we were in little league. We’re a team remember?”
Alex grinned at him, “You’re awesome Colby.” The crowd started to get antsy
“I know, now let’s kick some butt!” He yelled as he walked back to the plate. The crowd cheered and Colby gave her the sign for a fastball. Almost as magic Alex wound up and sent the ball flying into Colby’s mitt, “STRIKE ONE!” The ump yelled and the crowed roared. Alex grinned at Colby and he winked at her.
Alex went the rest of the game, walking only one guy, and only allowing one hit, besides that she had it wrapped tight. In the last inning one of the other teams biggest guys walked up to the plate. They had 2 outs, one more and they would win, one guy was on base, but if she slipped they would loose it. Alex’s brain went into over time and tried to remember what this guy hit. Colby signaled a fastball, and she shook her head. He would hit that she was certain. Colby signed a curve ball and she shook her head.
Colby didn’t know what was wrong, then he glanced up at the batter and saw his smug look. “She knows what she’s doin.” He muttered. He racked his brain and then signed a low ball. He knew Alex never liked throwing them, but he was sure the big guy would swing at it.
Alex looked at the sign, her mind racing, that could work. She nodded, and wound up. She was right, he swung, and missed, “STRIKE ONE!” Alex sighed. One down, and two to go. Colby signed a curveball and she nodded. She wound up and let it go. Her heart sunk as she heard the bats impact on the ball. The ball was low and it was going towards short stop. Alex ran and opened her glove to catch the ball. Her hand throbbed with pain at the force of the ball, which sent her to the ground. Everyone held their breath, including Alex. She looked at her closed glove and then slowly opened it to reveal the ball. The crowd roared and Alex sighed with relief. She got up only to be tackled by half of her team. They were in the playoffs.
Alex walked into the locker room only to grab her stuff and walk out. Colby was waiting for her in the hall, “You ready?”
“Yeah.”
“You not going to change?”
“No, I don’t have time.”
“Does it haunt you?” Colby asked looking at the floor.
Alex knew exactly what he was talking about, “Now and then I wake up in a cold sweet. Most of the time I dream about what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
Colby dropped his arm around her shoulder as they walked to the car, “It’s the least I could have done.”
“Please, don’t be modest.” Alex said rolling her eyes.
Colby dropped her off in front of the airport, “Call me.”
“Okay, see ya later.” Alex had her finals done and now she was going to meet Nick in London. They had started their world tour 2 weeks ago, and now Alex was going to meet them for the remainder of the European part. Alex was just in time to bored the plane. She slid down in the leather seat of first class and sighed.
She was digging in her bag for her Discman when the man next to her spoke, “Excuse me, I noticed the jersey, are you Alex Paine?”
Alex blinked, “Why, yes.”
“Amazing. I just watched you win the game in the lobby.”
Alex smiled, “I didn’t win the game, the team did.”
“Can I have your autograph for my daughter? We’ve come to watch you play several times, she want’s to be just like you. She’s in little league at the moment.”
Alex smiled and took the piece of paper he offered her, “What’s her name?”
“Rachel.”
Rachel- Dreams can become what you make of them.
Luv, Alex
The man took the paper and smiled at her, “Thank you very much, she’ll love it.” He waited a minute before asking, “What reasons do you have for visiting London?”
“I’m meeting my boyfriend there.”
The man arched an eyebrow, “Oh.”
Alex laughed at his confusion, “He’s an entertainer. You might have heard of him. He’s a Backstreet Boy.” This was the first time Alex had actually told a stranger Nick was her boyfriend, she thought it was cool.
The man’s mouth fell open, “As in Nick Carter?”
Alex blinked again taken by surprise, “Why, yes.”
“He’s Rachel’s favorite.”
Alex laughed, “Well, your daughter has good taste. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
The man looked down at his hands as if he really didn’t want to tell her, “It’s Stevens, Randy Stevens.”
Alex just looked at him, to stunned to say anything, “Randy? It can’t be. You look so…not like Randy.”
He shrugged, “It’s me alright.”
Alex was not the type to hold a grudge, “How have you been? Wait, you have a daughter?!”
Randy grinned, “She’s my world, well, she shares it with her mom.”
“Anyone I know?”
“Michelle, Michelle Harding.”
“You married Michelle?” Alex asked looking at him. Randy had been the baseball and football star and Michelle was the head of the student council. Not really a match she would have come up with.
“We got married right after graduation. Rachel was born several months later.”
Alex got the whole picture now, “Oh.” She watched him for a minute, “So, how is your family?”
“Oh they are all fine. I’m working with my father now, that’s going great a Michelle stays home with Rachel, she’s 6, and we’re going to have another baby in about 4 months.”
Alex smiled, “I’m happy for you Randy.”
Her words seemed to take a minute to sink in. He looked out the window and then back at her, “Alex, that day I came to talk to you and Colby wouldn’t let me. I came to apology. I would never have done anything like that if I had been sober, and that’s still no excuse…”
Alex stopped him, “It’s okay Randy. I understand, people do stupid things, but life goes on.”
“Alex, It still gets at me. I just want you to know how sorry I am, and I wanted to see if you could forgive me.”
Alex smiled, “I forgave you a long time ago Randy.”
He looked as if she had just given him gold, “Thank you Alex.”
“Now it’s time to change the subject. , how bizarre that I sit next to you on a plane after 6 years. So, what do you have in London.”
Randy seemed to relax, “Work.”
“Ahh, will you be gone from the family long?”
“5 days.”
“Oh, how tough for you.”
Randy rubbed his chin, “You always were a smartalec. I just read about you in the paper recently. Something about a stalker.”
Alex nodded and looked at Randy, “It was Bobby.”
Randy was taken back, “Bobby, as in…?” Alex nodded, “What happened?”
Alex sighed and told him the story.
