An baseball love story (Work in progress)

Chapter 3: Opening Day

Christian's Point of View

I kiss his forehead. I need to go now, I tell him. Counsell officially put him on the paternity list a few days ago and we're just waiting for the pups to be born. He laughs. Go, I'll call you if I need anything, he says while getting cozy in his nest. I smile and leave the house driving to the field. I walk into the clubhouse. Wow, he actually let you go today, Counsell says laughing. Yeah, I'm surprised, I tell him. I take it you aren't going to take batting practice today; he asks me. I nod. I turn my ringer off and put it in my back pocket. I was hoping that I could be on the bench today wearing street clothes just in case if he needs me, I ask him. Of course, he says. I smile and head out onto the field to watch the rookies take batting practice. I sigh realizing this is the last time I'll be on the field until the pups are a few weeks old and we can bring them on the field.

5th inning of the game.

My phone starts ringing. The entire dugout goes silent. I answer it. Hello, I say. I... I might be having the pups now, he says. I get off the bench and run to the clubhouse. Is it time, I ask him. Yeah, he breathes out. Can you make it to the bathroom or are you going to stay in the nest, I ask him while grabbing my stuff. I'm going to stay in the nest, he says. I'll be home in a few minutes, I tell him. Hurry, he yelps. I run to my car and speed to our house. I turn the car off and run inside. How are you feeling, I ask him while locking the front door. Sore, he yelps. I get in the nest. I rub his back. Take your sweatpants off, that'll help, I tell him. He takes them off. I put the game on tv. I grasp his hand. They show the replay of me getting off the bench and running into the clubhouse. "Let's hope that this isn't a serious problem for Yelich, he's been doing terrific since he got back, the announcers say". He yelps loud. I get out of the nest and grab some towels and a pair of scissors. I get back in the nest. Push baby, I tell him. He pushes the first pup out with ease. I cut the cord fast and rip off his shirt and put the first pup on his chest. There's another one, I tell him. He groans and pushes that pup out with ease as well. I cut the cord for that pup as well. You did it baby, I tell him. He laughs. I clean him up and then wrap the pups up in some blankets. Tristian Ross Yelich and Olivia Grace Yelich, he says. I smile and put their names on the birth certificates I got from the hospital. I kiss him as we all get settled on the couch to watch the rest of the game. I was wondering... how fast do pups usually grow, he asks me. Well it depends, I say. Out with it, he says pouting. I sigh. They'll probably look 2 years old within the next week or so, I say. M'kay, he says. Did you wanna bring them to the field in two weeks, I ask him. He nods. The pups are out of their blankets and in their wolf forms looking around. I look at him in awe. Maybe sooner than we think, I breathe out. I pick them both up and place Olivia in his lap and put Tristian in mine. I sigh.