Book Club

Grand Slam

Fran, Emily, and Derek talk amongst themselves until they finish their food. Fran takes care of the bill, Derek reluctantly agrees to let her pay. Soon enough the rest of the day passes by and it's time to go to the game. Emily calls her mom, "Hey, we are leaving if you want to meet us there soon."

"God, Emily... Going to this game... It just reminds me of when you were little and we went to the Nationals games when we had spare time. You remember that?" Elizabeth starts to divert from the original statement.

"I do..." Emily gathers her things and hops in the car with Fran and Derek.

"Alright, see you there," Elizabeth hangs up the phone abruptly and starts to get herself ready for the game. Emily rolls her eyes and seatbelts herself in. They talk between themselves the whole ride there. Derek finally finds parking and is also the first person to find Elizabeth. Elizabeth runs up to him smiling, "Did you do it?" Derek nods, leading Elizabeth to run up to Emily excitedly, "Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"You didn't even see the ring," Emily shows her the rock. The two squeal in joy and have a real mother-daughter bonding moment.

Fran comes up behind Elizabeth and taps on her shoulder, "Excuse me..." Elizabeth turns around and sees Fran coming in for a hug. Elizabeth backs away before she can get too close. Fran doesn't take it personally, "I'm Derek's mother, Fran- well Francesca, but I go by Fran. And you must be Elizabeth. Emily has told me so much about you."

Elizabeth loosens up, "It's wonderful to meet you."

They stand there in awkward silence until Derek mentions, "We should start heading in. The game is about to start."

Everyone follows Derek's lead. Emily runs up to Derek and holds his hand. Fran starts a conversation with Elizabeth about how perfect they are together. Elizabeth agrees and starts to move into talking about her husband. She hasn't mentioned him in over 20 years. Emily looks at Derek and gives him a thumbs up. They get inside and the game starts. The seating arrangement is as follows: Derek, Emily, Elizabeth, then Fran.

Fran and Elizabeth talk throughout the game, while Emily and Derek are invested in the game. Soon enough Emily hears over the speaker, "Now, for a 7th inning surprise, we have something to announce..."

Emily looks at Derek who smiles, nods, and leans forward in his seat. Fran listens to the speaker and stops mid-conversation to look at the big screen. Elizabeth also looks up from her conversation to see the jumbotron switch to Fran and Elizabeth. Elizabeth points, "Look! Look! There we are!"

Derek points too, "Look at the words."

Fran and Elizabeth look back up to the jumbotron to see, 'Best Grandma's Ever' Both of them turn their head to Emily. Fran excitedly says, "You're pregnant!"

While Elizabeth asks surprised, "You're pregnant?"

The jumbotron catches their reactions from far away while Derek and Emily see them up close Fran gets up from her seat and jugs Emily, "I'm going to be a grandma!"

While Fran is hugging Elizabeth sits back in her chair while it sets in. After a few seconds, she jumps out of her chair. By that time Fran had moved to the side by Derek. The crowd starts cheering as Elizabeth hugs Emily, "You are going to be a great mother." She looks at Derek, "You are going to be a great father." Elizabeth looks Emily in the eyes, "I'm so proud of you. Your father would be proud of you..." Emily stands up and starts crying, she brings her mother in for a hug. The camera pans over to Emily and Elizabeth hugging. The crowd cheers louder and louder as they keep hugging. Emily backs up and almost trips to her seat. Elizabeth repeats, "I'm so proud of you."

Fran taps on her shoulder and hugs her tightly. Derek joins in on the hug. A little while later Elizabeht decides to be the last in on the hugging event. After a few seconds, they all separate from each other and Derek's phone starts ringing uncontrollably. It's Desiree. Derek jogs out into the common area as the 7th inning starts. Derek answers and hears two women screaming, "Derek Hank Morgan! Why didn't you tell us?"

Derek answers them both, "Why do ya think I tried to fly you out?"

"That was on national TV, Derek! I saw that on TV!" Sara speaks up.

"I can't even believe it! I'm going to be an Auntie!" Desiree chimes in.

Derek tries to end the conversation, "I gotta get back to the game. I left Ma with Emily and her mom."

Sara adds, "I'll try to get Desiree and me to fly out and meet her. She sounds amazing."

Derek abruptly hangs up and spends the rest of the night watching the game and answering questions that pop up every now and then. After the game, Fran and Elizabeth are difficult to break up, but Elizabeth gives Emily one last hug, gets in her car, and drives through traffic. Fran will not stop talking about how excited she is for the baby on the way back to the house. When they get back to the house Fran asks, "So when are you moving in."

Emily doesn't answer, but Derek denounces, "Ma-"

Emily is confused at the very least. Derek walks over to his mother and inaudibly talks with her. Emily sees Fran shake her head in agreement. Derek takes Emily by the arm and drags her to the car. Emily asks, "Where are we going?"

"It was going to be a surprise, but I guess I'll show you," Derek answers. The car ride lasts only a few minutes. They pull into the driveway of an unknown house. Derek walks her out of the car and explains, "I am a fixer-upper. That's how I don't take the job home with me."

"So you just fix up the house and sell it?" Emily isn't catching on.

"Yes, but this one..." Derek begins.