Second Chance (Anthony Rizzo)

(59) The Stars and the Sky

Anthony

After what turned out to be the best night of my life by far it was time for spring training. We left for Mesa two days after the wedding and we had to drive because it turns out having a four foot dog with anxiety usually means flights won't take him. But that's okay, he got the windows down from Chicago to Mesa and I got to go on my first road trip with my wife.

We arrive safely and get settled into the condo I got for us. A bunch of the guys were in condos around here and the girls already had a bunch of things planned. The 2019 season looked a lot different than the others but my money is still on these guys and this team. We have what it takes to be a good team and now it's just a matter of putting the money where our mouth is.

"So when can we work on starting a family, can we start now" I ask as I laid tangled up in bed with Jess. Unfortunately Tiny wouldn't fit on this bed with us but there was a spare room with a whole bed for him. Even though he slept on the floor next to us last night anyway.

"Babe we've literally been married for two days" she reminds me.

"I know. But I know you want kids and I want kids" I explain.

"Can we at least wait until we get back to Chicago before we start trying? I want to make sure with my doctors that my neurology is good and wouldn't effect the pregnancy and to start looking at the house and thinking of how to baby proof everything" she says.

"Uhhh I guess I can wait" I joke as she just rolls her eyes.

"Patience is not your strong suit" she accuses.

"Never has been" I agree.

"So what now? We just live life" she wonders.

"That would be nice. There's some things around here I want you and I to do. Usually I don't get a lot of free time during spring training but Joe is good with letting us go out on our own for a little. We can hike and take Tiny on a mini road trip. Find some water and let him splash around" I say.

"That sounds wonderful" she admits as she cups my cheek. I place my hands on top of hers as she pulls me into a kiss.

There was a time where I never thought I would be this happy. When I lost Jess I didn't just lose those good times we had but every chance we had to make new good times. That was the hardest pill to swallow. I knew moments like this one here was no longer possible and that killed me inside. Hurt more than I could have ever imagined. And that's why having my second chance means the world to me.

We finally get out of bed and change for the day. I won't start with workouts until tomorrow so I got to go out on the town today. Jess and I decide to find some local businesses and buy some food. We get macaroons and some wings and smoothies. A weird combination but this was home for the next month and some so we wanted to see what we liked. Of course I've been coming here for years now but there's new businesses and things to see. I wanted to experience as much as I can.

As the sun sets I bring Jess to the best place to look at the stars. Arizona has a lot of places where there was no light posts or buildings or cars driving around. The only light you can find is in the sky and that's what we were here for. While I love Chicago there isn't a place there where you can see every star in the sky like you can here. And with so much of our relationship inspired by the stars, that everlasting kind of love, I think it would be nice to come out here. We haven't at other spring trainings but like with most things, it's different this time around. And I couldn't wait to see so much of this universe and know the best thing in it is laying there next to me.

We put a blanket on the ground by the car and lay on top of it. I lay down and Jess rests her head on my chest letting it rise and fall with my breathing. We don't say anything at first, just admiring all that we don't yet know. There was a whole universe out there, and we will never understand it all. But that's okay because we have each other and that's what we wanted most in this world.

"Do you ever think about how big this world is and out of every single possibility, I fell for you twice" she asks me.

"I actually do, a lot more than you think. The chances of finding your soulmate is small, and the chance that you will do that with the same person twice is almost none. That's why I know you and I, we're going to last. Because out of a whole universe of endless possibilities, we happened twice. That can't be a coincidence. We belong together, I know we do" I admit.

"Like the stars and the sky" she says as I smile big.

"Just like the stars and the sky" I assure her.

In a flash we see a shoot star shoot across the sky causing us both to gasp. We look at each other not really sure if we were seeing that right. But it was big and fast and oh so beautiful.

"Woah" Jess gasps.

"Did that really just happen" I ask.

"The world has many wonders and that is one of them" she admits.

"What do you wish for" I wonder.

"What do you mean" she asks.

"You know. You see a shooting star and you're supposed to make a wish" I tell her.

"Oh. Well I guess I don't really wish for anything I don't already have. You and Tiny and our friends and family, that's more than I can ask for. I know what life is like without all of that and it sucks. I don't want more than this. Though if I had to wish I wish that my health is good so we can't start a family and everyone be healthy" she admits.

"I think that is a perfect wish" I smile.