How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

48- All Of Me

Clara

There was a little bit of time between when Anthony and I moved back to Chicago and when it was time to kick off the season to get settled into the new house. It didn't take much because there was already furniture here so we just had to get our personal things put away and hang up some pictures and paintings and this place was as good as ours.

I get my art room set up and already started on working on a few things. I had been on a break since November and they're not going to wait forever for me to make some more pieces. I've had so many requests sent through my email I was half tempted to hire someone to keep track of it all for me.

But before I get into my paint room I wanted to do the babies room before we start to put things in there. I wanted something that would work for a boy or girl, baby or teen-aged. Something that we wouldn't have to change as long as we lived here.

So instead of doing a nature themed room like I usually do, I can do something else. I still wanted it to be colorful, no one wants to sit in a black and white room forever. My art room would probably be something flowery but I want to give the baby a place to dream. A sturdy place to support those dreams.

And where better to dream than in the city I found my dreams. Where Anthony found his dreams too. Where I found my dream man, my dream job, and my dream life I'm finally able to live in. So I decide to paint the Chicago city line around the room then the ceiling be a bright blue Chicago Sky. You know, the one above Wrigley on day games where it looks like cotton candy is floating above us. I swear it's a different color blue, but that just might be me.

And in the corner I will have Wrigley and maybe even a little Anthony hitting a walk off home run. I'll see about that when I get there.

I turn on the stereo system that was set up in the rooms upstairs and classical music starts to play from my phone. I pull on my smock and pulled my long hair back. I put on a mask because even though the doctors say that the paint fumes won't hurt the baby, the smell messed with my stomach now and made me nauseous. Once I get to work my vision quickly comes into focus. For hours I put my paint brushes to the walls and make something that I can be proud of.

Suddenly my music stops playing and a new song starts playing. It was a pretty piano interlude but not what I was expecting. I take my mask away from my face and turn around to go change it back.

But when I turn around I see Anthony standing at the door. He had a big yellow daisy in his hand and was still in his PJ's.

"Thank god I picked you" he says and I smile big.

"I see you took a page out of my dads book" I notice.

"I liked it" he shrugs as he comes in.

"Did you pick this song" I wonder as I look at my phone playing a music video.

"Yeah, I did. Will you dance with me" he asks holding his free hand out.

I take the flower and set it on the ground. I put my hand in his and pull him into the room. He wraps his arms around my waist and my arms rest around his neck. I pull him close as I insert my fingers in the hair at the top of his neck. He smiles down at me as we sway back and fourth.

"What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you."

"Why are you doing this" I finally ask and he chuckles a little.

"I was wondering when you were finally going to ask me that" he admits. "But its just because. Everything is about to kick up and we won't have a lot of you and me time available. Then in a few short months it will never be just you and I ever again, because we're going to have a beautiful kid we have to raise. And while that's not a bad thing, I want to admire my time here with you and only you while I have it" he explains as he pulls me closer.

"I was kind of busy" I tease and he scrunches up his nose.

"This is what I get for following my heart" he jokes.

"No. You get a kiss too" I assure him.

"That works" he smiles before I press my lips to his.

"How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every move
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you."

We break apart and I look up into his brown eyes. I see that sparkle that always seems to be there when he looks at me. I softly cup his cheek and he leans into my touch. His eyes never leave mine as we continue to sway back and fourth.

"Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you."

"That was a beautiful song" I admit as it starts to end.

"It's no Mozart" he teases and I lightly hit his chest. "But I think it's pretty great."

"It was beautiful. Why did you pick that song" I ask.

"I don't know, I thought, maybe, it could be our song" he claims.

"I love it" I smile.

"And I love you."

Eventually he leaves me and I try to finish the room before the sun sets. I get to the little part that had Wrigley field on it and even got to draw a little Anthony hitting a home run. At about 1 am I finish the room and I let out a long sigh. I get carried away sometimes and didn't even realize I had been in here all day. Being pregnant I was already going to be tired... and this was not going to help either.

But I step back and look around, I was even impressed. The city life was captured in one room, and laying in the middle of the room was a single yellow daisy. I smile big because my dad was right... I'm lucky I know how to pick 'em.