How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

28- Like To Be Reminded

Clara

As the year continues to pass us by I get more comfortable in my skin. The paintings come naturally and I start making these things called friends. Weird, I know, but it's true.

Eventually Anthony's parents pay us a visit, much to my liking. I finally got to hang out with real parents, ones that remind me a lot of my own. And they treated me like the daughter they never had which made me feel something I haven't felt in a long time. To hear someone you look up to tell you that they're proud of you, well it just makes my heart skip a beat. And they never miss a chance to tell me that.

"Can I ask you a favor" Laurie asks as we make dinner one day after a day game. I still had on my Rizzo jersey but I lost the hat by now. I just loved this shirt and it smelled like him.

"Anything" I assure her as I smile up at her.

"Would you mind doing a painting for us to auction off at one of Anthony's cancer awareness events? It'll go to a good cause" she says and I laugh.

"You don't need to sell me on this Laurie" I promise. "It would be a honor to make a painting for you guys. Is there something specific you want" I wonder.

"I'm not sure, you're the artistic one. Just make it have something to do with the kids or the Cubs, whatever you think the best one may be" she shrugs.

"Let me see what I can do" I smile and she nods.

"Perfect, thank you so much" she replies.

"It's my pleasure."

After we get dinner made we sit in the living room and catch whatever game is on tv. Anthony doesn't like to listen to people talk about him but he will listen to people talk about other players. Truth is he loves the game, and not so much the stats and all that fancy stuff. He likes the people, the relationships, having a platform to do something good in a world filled with so much bad.

"Are your parents going to be in town any time soon, I would love to meet them" Anthony's Dad John mentions as we sit around the tv and I stop picking at my food.

"They passed away when I was 19" I explain and he lets out a small gasp.

"Oh... I'm so sorry. I had no idea" he insists.

"It's okay, really. I don't mind talking about them, I like to be reminded of them" I smile.

"They would be so proud of you" John insists.

"I would give anything to have them back. You guys would have loved them, they had they same ideals you guys have and would have loved to have helped out with the foundation. And if they were still here I would have never stayed in that horrid relationship" I mumble.

"I honestly don't know what to say anymore. It's hard to think about anything bad happening to you because you're so upbeat and happy, I don't want to think that you're like this because you've been hurt so bad. I just feel really bad about what you've been through" Laurie says.

"I can't complain too much. After all of that I have Anthony now, so I think everything turned out pretty great" I say as I smirk at her and she smiles back at me.

We finish up dinner and make some sundaes to finish off the day. I make a mountain in my bowl and put all the toppings available on it. It takes me forever to eat it all but I do make it to the bottom before licking the bowl clean.

"Tell me about your parents" John begs and I smile.

"My mom was amazing. She was the nicest person you could ever meet. She didn't have it easy, she had a bunch of miscarriages and got sick a lot, but she always had a smile on her face. I get my smile from her for sure. I loved her with all my heart, she gave up everything to make me happy. Instead of getting desserts she would get me new paint brushes or instead of taking a vacation she would keep working so I could take art classes. I wish I would have been able to repay her for all she's done for me, or even see my painting up in the art museum like we dreamed up together.

And my dad... well my dad was my biggest fan. He was a blue collar worker, he wasn't home a whole lot but he always made time for me. We would go on daddy daughter dates and he came to all my art shows. He was everything I needed in a Dad. And he always pumped me up, showed of my silly drawings or put them on the fridge. But it was the little things I remembered the most" I explain.

"How did they die" Laurie wonders.

"They were in a car crash. I was a sophomore in college here in Chicago and was up in my dorm. I was with another art major so we got along well. A policeman came up to my door and informed me that my parents have passed in a car crash and they needed me to identify them. I could barley recognize them, but it was them" I explain.

"You are such a strong young woman, did you know that" Laurie asks.

"Sometimes I don't want to be strong, sometimes I just want to be loved, you know" I ask.

"Yeah. It gets tiresome sometimes. But I really hope you know that you are so loved" she insists.

"Yeah, I got a pretty good idea" I smile.

They end up going back to the hotel and I clean up the mess I made with my ice cream. I was a slow eater but I liked my ice cream to get soft, it makes it easier to eat.

After everything gets squared away and I was okay with leaving the kitchen the way it looked I jumped in the shower then blow dryed my hair. I change into one of Anthony's t-shirts and a fresh pair of underwear before getting into bed.

I find Anthony sitting there waiting for me and he smiles once I climb into the bed. I throw one leg over his body before straddling him placing myself in his lap. He places his hands on my butt before scooting me closer. His eyes never leave mine as I place my hands on his bare chest.

"What are you doing Friday night" he wonders.

"Nothing as far as I know" I admit.

"I would really like to take you on our first date..." he trails off.

"Oooh are you asking me out" I tease and he laughs.

"Yeah, maybe a little too late, but I figured we should go out on a date here eventually" he insists.

"I would love to" I smile and he nods.

"Perfect. I already got the reservation so if you said no that would really suck" he admits.

"Why on earth would I say no" I question.

"I don't know. You're kind of unpredictable" he claims.

"I can promise you one thing" I insist. "I will always want to be with you."