How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

45- Very Merry Christmas

Anthony

Christmas morning Clara and I pack up the rest of the gifts we bought and headed to my parents house. We get there early so Clara can help make the food and I can find a good spot on the couch to watch the game. We weren't stereotyping the family, but Clara and my mom took the cooking time to bond and I took this time to catch up with my brother and dad on important things. Like sports.

"I see you're getting some impressive new guys on your team" my dad mentions before he takes a sip of his beer.

Now my dad wasn't that overbearing baseball Dad you hear players talk about all the time. He didn't breed me to play baseball and baseball only. He never made me do something I didn't want to or beat a work ethnic in me. He was everything I needed in a Dad. He supported me and never let me stay down too long. No matter what was going on in my life I knew he would be behind me a hundred percent. But he loved Chicago and he loved he Cubs and he followed us closely. He was good friends with Kris' Dad and found any excuse to come into town to catch a game or two.

"Yeah. We got another good starter in Lackey and a golden glover in Jason. Plus we added Ben who just won a World Series with Kansas City. The team is looking good" I admit.

"I would say" he agrees. "And what about you? Any big plans for next year" he asks and I laugh.

"Huge" I admit. And I wasn't talking about baseball.

"Well that's good to hear" he nods.

"When are you and Clara moving" my brother wonders.

"Well we will be in Chicago for the New Years, but we won't move in until after it. We got a few things at the house and it's already furnished. But there's some... altercations we need to make" I say slowly.

"Why are you acting so weird" my brother questions and I furrow my eyebrows.

"What do you mean" I challenge.

"You're not directly answering questions, beating around the bush. You haven't stopped smiling since you got here and you keep looking in the kitchen like Clara is about to come out there naked" he claims as I scoff.

"That's not true" I argue.

"It's a little true" my dad admits.

"Can't I be happy? It's Christmas, I want to spend time with my girlfriend and be excited about our future together, is that such a crime" I question.

"I guess not" my brother mumbles and I mentally thank God for letting him drop that. He stares me down and I know he doesn't believe me but at least he's done questioning it.

Finally my mom and Clara come out of the kitchen and join us. The food should be ready at about five giving us time to watch a football game and open presents. So we pass them out and let each other open them at their own pace. Clara and I wait and watch cautiously for someone to pick up the gift from both her and I and open it. Finally my mom picks our box up and reads the tag. She looks at it questionably before shrugging her shoulders and opening it up.

"Oh... my... goodness" she whisper yells. Everyone stops and looks at her as I smile big.

"Well, what is it" my dad questions.

She pulls out a chalkboard filled with flowers that said "your Christmas present from us is coming in September 2016" with a pair of baby boots on the inside.

"Wait..." my dad says piecing it together.

All three of them turn to me and Clara as she sits in my lap. We both smile big and nod our heads so they get the message.

"You guys are having a baby" my brother asks.

"We are" Clara assures him.

Everything is quiet for a quick second before my parents start to cheer. I laugh as my mom starts to cry into her hands. I get up and wrap her in a big hug as she sobs into my chest.

"Oh my god. You guys are going to have a kid. I'm so happy for you both" she sniffles into my chest.

"This moment would be a lot prettier if you weren't crying" I tease and she laughs.

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just really happy right now" she defends.

"I get it mom. I really do" I assure her.

After she collects herself she goes to hug Clara and I walk over to my dad. His reaction was a lot more like mine where it was shock and happy silence.

"Hey there Grandpa" I tease and for once he didn't look so high strung. He was actually quite relaxed and his eyes didn't look so stern.

"Hey" he replies with a smile and I laugh.

"Thanks for not crying. If you started crying I'm not sure what I would do" I admit.

"I want to but your mom is doing it for me" he teases and I laugh.

"Yeah, she's pretty emotional right now" I admit as I look over to see her touching Clara's stomach. She wasn't showing yet but she's only two months along and the baby is the size of a small lemon.

"I'm proud of you son" my dad claims and I turn back to him.

"For what" I question.

"For finding something bigger than baseball" he claims and I smile.

"Yeah, it feels quite amazing. To think by the end of next year I'm going to have a child is both thrilling and terrifying" I admit.

"Yeah, that's what I said when we found out we were having John. But then I quickly realized how amazing it's going to be to hold him, to look into his eyes and know that I made that" he whispers.

"I honestly can't wait to have a kid. I mean I have to, I don't really have much of a choice with that one, but to be able to add father to the list of things that I can call myself, well it's certainly my highest honor" I insist.

"When are you going to propose" he asks and I shake my head.

"I'm not so sure now. I was going to this summer, but with all of this I really don't want to add more to her plate. I will once the baby is born but I don't know a exact date or way" I admit.

"Well whatever you do I trust is going to be the right thing" he claims. "Oh, and Anthony" he asks.

"Yeah Dad" I Answer.

"Congratulations, you and Clara are going to make great parents" he says and I smile.

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from such a great parent, such as you" I smile.

"Yeah, you're going to be fine."