“We love Tali Girl.We want her around and having toys for her will make that easier,” Wheeler adds.
I stare at them in disbelief.I didn’t expect this from them.I figured I’d be holding Tali all night and trying to keep her entertained.
“I told you,” Winnie singsongs.“They’re great guys after you let Wheeler have his meltdown.They’ll be like uncles to her if you let them.”
“Thanks, guys.”
“Oh, you’ve seen nothing yet!”Cord smirks.“I’ve been trying to convince Macy to let me turn the basement into a mini town, but she wouldn’t let me since the baby isn't even born yet.”He rolls his eyes at her and she flips him off.“But thanks to Tali, our little village is well on its way to being built.”
“He has a post office, a restaurant, a house, a farm, and I don’t even know what else.Some of the little stores are two stories!”Macy shakes her head like he’s ridiculous.
“Um, why didn’t you tell me about this?I don’t even use the basement.I want to build a mini town too.”Wheeler folds his arms over his chest and glares at Cord.
“Dude, you don’t even have kids.”
“So?One day I might.Then I’ll be prepared.Plus, it sounds like I'm about to have a bunch of nieces and nephews.I want to be the fun uncle!”Wheeler pretends to be upset, until Tali thrusts a piece of toy cake in his face.He instantly smiles at her and ignores us as he plays with my daughter.
“Thank you, baby,” I whisper as I tug Winnie into my arms.
“For what?”She peers up at me with those big blue eyes.
“For pushing me to let them in.For giving Tali an entire group of people she can count on.For just being you.”
“Ok, but if you all bought these amazing things, what am I going to have at my house?”Covey frowns.“I want something different.Something special so Tali wants to come visit me more than the rest of you.”
And that’s how our night continues.We hang around while the guys discuss what they’re buying for their houses to make Tali, and the other babies, more comfortable.
We don’t discuss baseball or the season starting in two days.We just relax and joke around, spending time together.
I can't believe I’ve been missing this all along.I could’ve had so many people to lean on, instead I’ve been doing this all alone.I’ll never be able to thank Winnie enough.
Chapter 22
Winnie
Settlingintothechair,I point to the field and try to get Tali to spot Jamie.Her face lights up when an image of him appears on the big screen.
When we got to the stadium, her little eyes went wide and her mouth hung open.I’m sure she’s never been around this many people before and there are so many bright lights and colors.
I made sure to dress her in a little Schmidt jersey, one that matches my own.I typically wear my Wheeler jersey to games and Liliana always wears her Smith one.But somehow wearing Wheeler’s name on my back feels all wrong now.
Because I don’t belong to him and maybe I never did.
“Ugh, I hate sitting in the box,” Liliana groans.
“No one said you had to sit here,” I singsong.
“Yeah, but it seems wrong to be at a game and not sit with you.I just miss being in the center of the action.”
“Lils, the only action you’re missing out on up here is drunk guys spilling their beers on you and the smell of sweat.”I scrunch up my nose, remembering all the times we’ve dealt with that over the years.“I’m finally getting to experience the game the way I want to, so don’t ruin it for me.”
“Fine,” she sighs, settling back into her own seat.“These seats are a lot more comfortable.And I don’t need to wait in a line for the bathrooms,” she grumbles.
“Plus, there’s food!”
As the game begins, we both get lost in watching the men on the field.I was never a fan of baseball in high school, but once I started dating Wheeler, baseball became my life.Now, I don’t miss a game for anything.
Jamie steps up to bat and the big screen shows his picture as they play his walkout song.Tali lets out a loud squeal.
