How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

71- Love You Better Now

Anthony

To kick off the post season that hopefully ended with a World Series title, we first had to get past a Giants team that had just won the wild card game. They looked pretty good in that game and I'm sure they're excited to have to face us. None of the wins would be a given win. None of this was going to be easy no matter who we play. It was anyone's game now, and as long as we played ours we would be ready to go.

And in the middle of all of that we had yet another get together at our house for all the guys and their families. Clara and I kinda felt bad we were having a wedding and not a lot of the guys from the team could come. It's not that we didn't want them there, it was that it was far away and a little wedding so we couldn't invite everyone. But we still wanted them all to be involved in some type of a wedding thing, so we decided to have a pre-wedding wedding. No priest and no rings. That all comes later. We would just dress a little nicer than normal and have champagne and a wedding cake. We will say a few words and make some memories with our friends before we get lost in the post season madness that is about to find us.

I change into a suit that I would wear to games and style my hair nice. I throw on some nice cuff links and cologne before calling it a day.

I go into the one of the extra rooms where Clara was getting ready and knock on the door.

"Almost done" one of the many many women who was in there yells out and I smile.

"Alright, I guess I'll be waiting down stairs then" I tell them but get no response. So I walk downstairs where some of the guys who came here early with their girls hung out and sipped on some beer.

"You look nervous buddy" Jon notices and I laugh.

"You're not getting cold feet are you" Kris questions.

"Of course not. There's no doubt in my mind that I want to be with Claire forever. She is my forever and that's never going to change. But I kinda feel like it's the wedding day. I really just want to see her, to hold her and not being able to do that makes me anxious" I explain.

"Oh man, you got it bad" David shakes his head and I smile.

"And is that a bad thing" I question.

"No" he smiles. "Not at all."

We sit around and talk for a little and more people show up. They admire the cake that Clara had made that had realistic looking flowers wrapped around the side. It was a beautiful cake, maybe even prettier than what our actual wedding cake will look like. You know... once I finalize all of that stuff.

After what felt like a eternity, everyone files down the stairs, one by one and I wait anxiously at the bottom for my future wife.

"Are you ready for this" Farrah asks as she brushes past me and I shake my head. "That's okay. Jon wasn't either" she assures me and I laugh. She goes to join her husband and kids and I turn back to the stairs.

I hear a pair of heels meet the floor at the top of the stairs and smile. I don't think I've ever seen her in heels before. She slowly makes her way down to me, and as soon as they can, her eyes meet mine. I smile big as I watch her come to me almost in slow motion.

She wore a long white dress almost like a wedding dress. Everyone else here was wearing a bright color or a suit with a bright tie. Her and I were in black and white like the bride and groom at their wedding.

"Holy shit" I whisper as she comes into perspective. She looked absolutely stunning to say the least. Her hair all pinned up and some makeup on. It wasn't anything crazy, she never did anything like that. But she always looked spectacular regardless what she was wearing or how she did her make up. Especially when she wore no make up at all.

She finally reaches the bottom of the stairs and I reach my hand out. She places her hand in mine and I pull her safely into my embrace. The thoughts of everyone being here fades away, for my eyes only see her. She's right in my arms where she belongs.

"Claire... you look so incredibly beautiful" I say, the smile on my face permanat.

"Thank you. You look pretty amazing yourself" she smiles back.

I kiss her forehead then her nose then her lips. And just as easily I forgot our friends were here with us, I got a nice reminder very quickly.

"Break it up! There's kids in here" Javy yells and I roll my eyes.

"Now I remember why our wedding is going to be small" I mumble and Clara giggles at me.

We walk around and say hi to everyone. We thank them for coming and insist that they eat and drink as much as they want. Unless they were here with their kids or driving home, then no drinking for them.

We cut the cake and some of he guys say a toast. A lot of the guys knew Clara and her story and our story now. We didn't want a repeat of the walkoff for cancer event so Clara told them what happened so the speculations stopped. She was really brave for doing that and everyone accepted her for who she was and not purely what she went through.

Eventually I clear a space in the middle of the living room and asked Clara for a dance. She grabs Daisy to join us as she holds her close. Daisy had a little white dress on and little dress shoes. She was the second most beautiful thing I've seen this night.

I wrap a arm around Clara's waist and rest my over hand on her arm that was holding Daisy. The song I had picked out started playing and I smile down at her. She stares back as we sway back in fourth in our living room surrounded by people we loved and who loved us.

"I'm gonna pick up the pieces
And build a Lego house
When things go wrong we can knock it down
My three words have two meanings
There's one thing on my mind, it's all for you

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got ya to keep me warm
And if you're broken I'll mend ya
And keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

I'm gonna paint you by numbers and color you in
If things go right we can frame it, and put you on a wall

And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
And I'll surrender up my heart and swap it for yours

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind, I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

Don't hold me down
I think my braces are breaking and it's more than I can take

And if it's dark in a cold December, but I've got ya to keep me warm
And if you're broken I'll mend ya
And keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done, I'll love you better now."