Through Thick and Thin (Anthony Rizzo)

Making Promises

Anthony

Once the month turns to September Jazz's family goes back to Kentucky. And I was kind of sad, it was nice having them around. Sure there was no personal space or silence for nearly a whole week while they were here, but it was always fun. It was like being on a baseball team but this team is all related to each other.

But I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to have Jazz all to myself once again. She couldn't work out with her leg still healing so she was stuck on Disney Plus. She was addicted to Hamilton to say the least and now she's watching all the Star Wars series they have on there. She had a lot of catching up to do from the past 13 years but she is mighty close to being up to date.

I decide to order us some Chinese food and grab us a bottle of wine. We just take turns drinking from the bottle and watching whatever it is she wanted. She refused to take the pain medicine she was given because it made her feel sick so she was allowed to drink the wine. I'm just not sure if it'll take her pain away like she hopes.

"How is you leg" I wonder as I softly rub it. There was a wrap around her calf and her bandages had to be changed twice a day. There was no infection which was what they feared the most. But it still wasn't easy sailing for her leg to be back to normal.

"It's getting better. The nerves in there are a little agitated from me trying to walk on it, but I think I'll be fine" she insists.

"Your family wear you out" I tease.

"They did that way before they came into the city" she mumbles and I laugh.

"You sure have your hands full" I shake my head.

"I do. And to think I want kids too" she says.

I turn to look at her as she continue to watch the show. I'm not even sure she realized what she said or the implications it has. When someone is like her and isn't very aware of the reciprocations of things. But I pause the show causing her to look at me.

"How many kids" I wonder.

"What" she asks a little bit confused about where I was going with this question.

"How many kids do you want" I reiterate.

"Oh, well I don't think it has to be any certain number. I at least want one of each, but adoption is hard and finding someone to carry for us even more so. But in a ideal situation at least a son and daughter" she explains.

"And what about us" I ask.

"What about us" she wonders.

"What do you think of marriage" I question carefully. I know she doesn't like to think too much for the future like this because every plan she's ever made has blown up in her face so far. She doesn't like to think too far ahead knowing that we will never know what life gives us next.

"I'm scared" she admits. "And not of you not being the right guy or us not lasting. I haven't a doubt in my mind that my heart will love you until my dying days. The marriage itself isn't what makes me timid. But I'm scared to think of a future where I have your last name but I don't have you" she whispers.

"I'm going to be right by your side the whole time" I promise.

"How do you know that? My dad beat cancer the first time before it came back and took him away. I don't want to lose you the same way I lost my father. Or how I lost Mathew never knowing what we truly could have been if I said I do before he passed away" she defends.

"Some risks are worth it. Of course I'm scared to lose you too, but my fear of not showing you every chance I have just how much I love you, why it would be a honor for you to share the same last name is far bigger. I know with all my heart that I want to marry you, but only if you feel the same way" I assure her.

"Jazmyn Katherine Rizzo" is all she says with a big smirk in her face. "It does sound pretty good" she admits.

"Just imagine it, we can help fight for people together. You can be a part of the Rizzo Family Foundation and you can save lives that way. For the rest of our lives, after the fighting is done and after I'm done playing baseball we can still make a change in this world. We can still be some sort of hope people need in our lives even when the diagnosis is bleak and the world goes dark. The Rizzo's against the world working for social change and saving kids life. Doesn't that sound amazing" I sigh.

"It does" she smiles. "I never really thought of a life outside of fighting. It's been over five months and I never thought I could get here, to a point in my life where I just got out of a big commitment and I'm ready to commit myself to something again. I never had plans for what happened when I was done fighting because to me I was always going to be fighting life one way or another. To be honest a lot of times I didn't even think I was making it out of there alive.

But now I'm here I'm really thankful for you. For the first time I have a future and I have the ability to shape it in my hands. I can finally dream but I don't want to look forward to marrying you only to fall short again" she claims.

"Sit here" I tell her.

I run into my room and go into my underwear drawer where I keep all my hidden goodies and rare candies. I search around for a second before I find a little blue box. I snatch it out of the drawer and run back to the living room.

"Here" I say opening up the box. There was a gold band in there that said "I promise" on the inside and I pull it out. It wasn't all that big, a simple diamond ring that I could have sold off forever ago if I wanted. But I was waiting for the right person and the right time, and I found it.

"What's this for" she asks carefully.

"It's a promise ring. It's actually the one my dad gave my mother way before my brother and I were even a idea. Then my mom gave it to me trusting that I would find the right girl someday and I would treat her right. I would promise to always love her and care for her and be everything my dad was to her. And I found my girl, someone I will love until the end of time. And it's you.

I promise that I will follow you into any fight, even when you're getting shot at. I promise to always be by your side no matter what happens. I promise not a pandemic or war can keep me from showing my love to you" I say.

"You don't have to-" she starts.

"I know I don't have to do this. This doesn't mean I love you any more because honestly it's not possible. It doesn't mean that I can outdo fate and be with you forever. All this means is that I promise, no matter what, I will be here for you" I insist.

She smiles before putting her hand out for me. I slip the ring on and it fit perfectly. She brings her hand up to get a good look at it before turning to me.

"I'm so lucky to have you" she insists making my cheeks get all warm.

"The feeling is mutual."