How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

33- Forever

Anthony

"Oh god. That's the art director" Clara whispers as she watches her phone light up on the table. I finally convinced her to get a updated phone so we could face time when we were away from each other and she could experience the world of emojis. And now that she got it I can't hardly get her off of it. Except for now where she's panicked because the art direction called her back about her paintings and now all of the sudden she can't even touch it.

"Answer it" I encourage as she looks up at me. "Answer it or I will" I threaten.

"No" she says and I roll my eyes.

I quickly pick her phone up before it stops ringing and answer it. Clara's eyes go big before she starts to reach for her phone. I hold my hand out so I could keep her away.

"Clara Simpson's phone, this is her assistant Anthony speaking" I say and she starts to giggle.

"Hello Anthony, is Clara around" the woman asks.

"Let me see" I say and I put her on hold before turning to my girlfriend. "There is a important woman ready to discuss your future as a artist with you on the phone. Now will you please stop doubting yourself and talk to her, please" I beg.

"Fine" she huffs taking the phone for me. She unmuted the phone before putting it up to her ear.

"Hello, this is Clara Simpson speaking" she says. She stays quite as the woman on the other line starts to talk. "Yes. Those are the three I sent in" she nods. "I'm sorry... what did you just say" she asks.

"What happened" I wonder.

"Three different people have bought my paintings" she whispers and I smile big.

"Claire! That's incredible" I insist.

"What do I say" she asks.

"Ask her where they're going" I insist.

She asks the woman and we learn one was staying here, another to DC, and the last one all the way to a art museum in California. The euphoria one was the biggest demand but ended up in LA with some of the most priceless art pieces ever made. Right where it belongs.

"This is amazing... I don't even know what to say" Clara whispers into the phone. "Well thank you. When did you want me to come by" she asks. The room falls silent and I swear it looked like her eyes were going to fall out of her head. "How much" she chokes out.

"How much" I repeat.

"Alright. I will see you later on today. Thank you again. Bye" she says hanging up. She sets her phone down before turning to me.

"How much" I plead.

"$250,000" she whispers and I freeze.

"My god Clara, that's incredible" I smile.

"People think my work is worth a quarter of a million dollars" she repeats.

"I told you baby, you're one in a million" I insist.

"I can't believe this" she says. "What am I supposed to do with all that money" she questions.

"Don't spend it all in one place" I tease and she laughs.

"I got that much" she assures me.

"Why don't we plan a trip to somewhere far away? Somewhere nice and where there's water that's not from a lake. Where no one can reach out to us. We can relax for once in our lives and be away from all of this" I suggest.

"After the year we've had, I'd say we deserve it" she admits. "Where did you have in mind" she wonders.

"I've always wanted to go to Mexico. There's nice beaches and cool places to explore there" I explain.

"That sounds great. If things go right maybe we won't come back" she jokes.

"I think we should probably come back" I insist.

"I do too. But do you want to come back here? Like to the apartment" she questions.

"I'm not really sure. I've never thought about getting a house here, but I also never had to think about coming back into town for the season with someone else by my side... so things are different" I admit.

"Do you not want to get a house" she wonders.

"Of course I do. I want to have a nice place to raise a family and be a part of a community. Have a nice place to call my own and never have to worry about upsetting the people downstairs. But this place has your painting in it and I don't want to leave that. It's something I've grown very fond of" I admit.

"Well maybe at the new place I can do something special for our room. Give it a euphoria feel" she insists.

"I would like that a lot" I smile. "Are you okay with moving into a house with me" I question.

"Do you plan on turning into a abusive ass hole within a few years of us moving in together" she questions.

"Of course not. But I don't want you to feel like we have to do this. And I don't want you to feel trapped with me if we do" I insist.

"I want to Anthony, I promise. Yeah it's scary to think about moving in with my boyfriend again. The possibility of something going wrong terrifies me, but it's not as scary as the the possibility of not taking a chance on what we have" she explains.

"I hope you know that I will never hurt you" I insist.

"Of course not" she sighs. "But it's not you I'm worried about" she claims.

"You're going to be fine. In fact you're going to be more than fine" I insist.

"I know. It's just overwhelming to think about. Going on a vacation and having all this money and moving. It's a lot going on in my head and I don't want to get lost in it all" she admits.

"Then let's take it one step at a time. We'll put the money away and play out the rest of this season. Then we can look at houses and go on vacation then come back and get moved in. We can spend the holidays with my family and we will fall more in love along the way" I explain and I grab her hips. I pull her body against mine as she cups my cheek.

"That sounds pretty great" she admits.

"Are you sure? Because I'm not going to be mad if you want something else" I insist.

"As long as I got you I don't care what happens" she claims.

"Well then you have nothing to worry about. Because I'm going to be by your side, forever" I say.

"Forever" she smiles.

And with that we were about to embark on another journey. With the Cardinals in town for the NLDS and us pretty much taking it to them the past few games, the future was well under way. And I couldn't wait to see where we ended up.