Strike Out (27 page)

Zach couldn’t recall ever being more frightened or feeling more helpless. His son was lying in a hospital bed, looking so weak and tired, and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. According to the doctors, he would be fine. If he hadn’t arrived at the hospital when he did, he may have been at serious risk of slipping into a diabetic coma.

Rennie still looked scared out of her mind. She sat at their son’s bedside, holding his hand. Zach couldn’t blame her. He felt the same way, and he’d only known and loved Tyler a short time. Rennie had been there his entire life, loving and nurturing him, supporting and reprimanding him.

“Sit down,” Rennie whispered, eyeing the empty chair on the opposite side of Tyler’s bed. “You’re making me nervous, pacing like that.”

“I can’t help it,” Zach said, walking the length of the small room and back again. “When is he going to wake up?” Zach needed to see him open those big brown eyes. Even if Tyler was still angry with him, he just needed to know that he was okay.

“Soon.” Rennie kissed her son’s hand before setting it down. She walked over to Zach, stepping into his path so he couldn’t walk any farther. Slipping her arms around his waist, she tipped her head back to look him in the eye. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t think I could’ve gotten through this without you.”

Zach doubted that was true. Rennie was one of the strongest women he knew, but knowing that he’d offered her some measure of comfort just by being there bolstered his sagging spirits. “You’ve been to hell and back without me.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “I hate that. I should have been there for you every step of the way. That’s the way I’d promised you it would be. But I failed you and our son, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you guys. I promise.”

Zach turned his head to see Tyler’s big brown eyes were open. He was watching his parents, and he’d obviously heard his dad’s claim. The question was, would he believe Zach? Was he finally starting to see his baseball hero as a man he could count on?

“Hey there,” Rennie said softly, stepping out of Zach’s arms. “It’s nice to see your eyes open. How’re you feeling, honey?”

“Okay,” he whispered. He looked at the water pitcher on the table at the foot of the bed, and Rennie filled a paper cup and took it to him.

“I heard you’ve been pretty sick with the flu. I wish I could have been there for you,” she said.

“Me too,” Tyler whispered. His mother held the cup up to his lips. He took a few sips before settling back into the pillow. “Sorry I was such a jerk.” He lifted his eyes to Zach’s.

“You had every right to feel the way you did, buddy. You have nothing to apologize for. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me.”

“And me,” Rennie said quickly. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you the truth about Zach years ago, honey. I should have. I just—”

Zach put his hand on her shoulder when her voice broke and she lowered her head. “I think what your mom is trying to say is that we both made some serious mistakes. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you like crazy. We do. We’d do anything to make this up to you.”

“Did you mean what you said?” Tyler looked at him. “Do you really want to be there for us?”

“Forever.” Zach’s eyes filled with tears he had to blink back before Tyler could see them. “Having you and your mom in my life, that’s all I want.”

Tyler looked at his mom. “Is that what you want too?”

Rennie covered the hand resting on her shoulder. “I’ve loved Zach for as long as I can remember. Your father—I mean, Nathan—was a wonderful man and I’m so grateful that we had him in our lives, but no one could ever replace Zach in my heart.”

Tyler glanced at their joined hands before lifting his eyes to Zach’s face. “You were my hero.”

Zach swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry I let you down, buddy. I can promise you it won’t happen again.”

A small smile brightened his face. “You were my hero, and now you’re my dad. That’s pretty cool.”

Relief flooded Zach. They would get past it together. “Being able to throw a wicked fastball doesn’t make me a hero. Being the kind of man my kid can count on makes me a hero, and I promise you I’m going to work my butt off to earn that title in your eyes. If you’ll let me?”

Tyler twisted his lips, amusement lighting his eyes. “What do you think, Mom? Should we give him another chance?”

Rennie tipped her head back to look at Zach, a smile on her face. “I think so.”

“Okay, I’m game,” Tyler said.

Zach took a deep breath and prayed he wasn’t about to make a colossal mistake. “Tyler, I asked your mom to marry me. How do you feel about that?”

Tyler frowned before turning his attention to his mother. “Is that what you want?”

Uh oh
. Tyler didn’t look happy, and Zach knew that would be a deal breaker for Rennie.

She squared her shoulders as she looked her son in the eye. “Do I want to build a life with the man I love, the father of my child? Yes. But if you’re not ready for me to take that step, we can take time for you to get to know Zach better. There’s no rush.”

Every day that slipped past was another day of Tyler’s childhood that Zach was missing out on. He didn’t have that many more left, and he didn’t want to wait any longer to make them a family officially.

Tyler narrowed his eyes as though he was considering his options. “Would we come to live in your house?”

“If you want, or we could buy another house. Whatever we decide is best for all of us.” Zach could care less about the bricks and mortar surrounding them. The only thing that mattered was them being together.

“I do like your house,” Tyler said, sounding hesitant. “But I like my school, and I wouldn’t want to play for a different baseball team.”

Zach would find a way to make things work so his son was happy. He’d already caused him enough heartache. From now on, the only thing Zach cared about was making Rennie and Tyler happy. Everything else, including baseball and High Rollers, would take a backseat to that. “We’ll figure all that out. If you want to continue going to that school, I’m sure me or your mom could drive you and pick you up. Same goes for baseball. Right?” He squeezed Rennie’s shoulder.

“Definitely,” she said, smiling at their son. “Does that mean you’re okay with this?”

“My mom was really sad when my”—looking uncomfortable, Tyler shifted in his bed—“when Nathan died. I don’t want her to be sad like that again. Ever.”

Zach wanted to hug Tyler, to thank him for looking out for his mom, for being such an awesome kid, and for being a son he could always be proud of, but that may push past Tyler’s comfort zone. He merely said, “I won’t hurt your mom again. You have my word.”

“There’s something else…” Tyler looked a little sheepish. “Since you’re my dad, and it looks like you’re going to marry my mom, does that mean you can teach me to pitch the way you do?”

Zach laughed as he claimed a spot on the side of Tyler’s bed. “Either you’re born with talent or you’re not,” he said, deciding to play with him just a little. “I’ve seen you pitch and you… were born with it.” He grinned when Tyler’s face lit up. “It shouldn’t take more than five or six years to teach you everything I know about the game.”

“Are you sure you’re gonna be around that long?” Tyler asked.

Zach’s heart sank, but he knew Tyler wasn’t trying to hurt him. He just needed reassurance, and no matter how long it took or how many times Zach had to say it, he intended to prove to Tyler that he would never leave him. “You’re stuck with me. I’m not talking a year or two or ten. I’m talking forever. Think you can handle that?”

“I think so.” Tyler extended his hand. “Let’s shake on it. Forever.”

Zach chuckled as he pushed Tyler’s hand aside and pulled him into his arms. “Forever, my boy.”

“Hey,” Rennie cried, “can I get it on this?”

Zach shot her a sidelong glance. “What do you think, Tyler? Group hug?”

“Sure.” He opened his arms wider to include his mom.

“Just know that if I get this nasty flu bug,” Zach said in Tyler’s ear, “I’ll have to kick your butt.”

“You don’t scare me,” Tyler said, his eyes filled with mischief.

“Oh yeah?” Zach chuckled. “That’s only because I haven’t punished you yet. You just wait…” Zach eased back, and the three looked at each other.

“I still can’t believe
the
Zach Foster is really my dad.” Tyler grinned at Rennie and Zach. “Man, my buddies are never gonna believe this.”

“I can think of one way to convince them,” Zach said, glancing at Rennie.

“What’s that?” Tyler asked, looking excited.

“You could change your last name to Foster.” He reached for Rennie’s hand. She smiled to let him know she shared his enthusiasm.

“Are you serious?” Tyler asked, his eyes wide. “You really want me to have your last name?”

“Of course I do.” Zach got choked up at the awe in the boy’s voice. “You’re my son. It would mean everything to me if you’d agree to take my last name.”

A slow smile spread across Tyler face. “Hmmm…. Tyler Foster. I like the sound of that. Think they’d let me start wearing your number, twenty-two? I wanted to at the start of the season, but there was no twenty-two, and the team couldn’t afford to buy new uniforms.”

“They can afford to buy new uniforms now,” Zach said, chuckling. “They just got a new sponsor with pretty deep pockets. I’m guessing they’ll let you wear whatever number you want to wear.” Zach knew he shouldn’t spoil their son just because he could, but if his name and wealth could open a few doors for Tyler, he didn’t see any harm in that.

“
You’re
going to sponsor my baseball team?” Tyler asked, sounding incredulous. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. That is, if you want me to?”

“Yeah!” Tyler sat up straighter. “Man, this is gonna be awesome. Will you be able to come to some of my games too?”

“I’m going to be off the disabled list in a few weeks, but I’ll come to as many games as I can.” He smiled. “Maybe you can even come to some of my games.”

“Are you kidding? That’d be amazing.”

“Okay,” Rennie said, standing before she plumped her son’s pillows and adjusted his blankets. “You need to get some rest. The doctor said we can take you home later as long as he’s satisfied with your blood sugar.”

“Wait,” Tyler said when his parents linked hands and walked toward the door. “When are you guys getting married?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” Zach said, glancing at Rennie. “We haven’t talked about that yet.”

“The sooner, the better, Dad. I can’t wait to start living in that huge house, and I’m just tellin’ you now, I’m gonna whoop your butt at Pac Man. I have it on my iPad, and I’m good. I mean, really good.”

Dad.
He’d called him
Dad
. Zach didn’t want to make a big deal of it in front of Tyler, but he could tell by the emotion in Rennie’s eyes that she knew how much the name meant to him. “Bring it on, buddy. I’ll be ready.” Zach knew that no matter what life threw at him, he’d be ready just as long as he had Rennie and Tyler by his side.

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