Kari knocked on the door, not sure if this was a new beginning or the beginning of the end. Ryan hadn’t sounded like himself when he had called, but, then, she hardly knew what to expect from him since they had never fought before. She really hated fighting. It was such a downer.
A sense of anticipation sent her nerves humming. She had already decided on one huge change in her life today. It scared her that her first thought after making such a monumental shift in her future was to share it with Ryan. His call had come at the perfect time. She only hoped his friendship, and their relationship, would continue and that he would support the changes she intended to make in her life.
The door opened, revealing a weary-looking Ryan, several days’ worth of growth on his face. His hair was tousled as though his comb had gone on strike and his fingers had taken over the job.
“Thanks for coming over.” He stepped back to let her in. The absence of a kiss in his greeting sent another ripple of trepidation through her.
They hadn’t spoken for three days. What did she expect? She reminded herself of this fact and hoped it was the only reason Ryan was giving her such a wide berth as he showed her inside.
They passed by the kitchen, and it took only a glance to notice what was missing—home plate. Her stomach sank. Was he already trying to get rid of anything that reminded him of her?
A piece chipped away from her heart, and she forced herself to straighten her shoulders. Ready to cut through the tension between them once and for all, she remained standing and waited for him to face her when they reached the living room.
“Are we breaking up?” she asked.
“No.” A horrified expression appeared on his face. He reached for her good hand and squeezed. “No,” he repeated.
Kari let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“Please, sit down.” Ryan motioned to the couch and waited for her to sit before he took the seat beside her.
She let her gaze wander long enough to notice a few other minor changes since she’d been here last. The decorative bowl she had put on the coffee table had been moved to the end table, and a square box lay in its place.
Her stomach still a ball of nerves, she forced herself to look him in the eye. “We’re not breaking up?”
“No. I hope we never break up,” Ryan said earnestly. His hand squeezed hers, and he waved his other nervously. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
“And?”
“And you were right about a lot of things.” He let out a sigh. “I’ve been so used to you being here, to us being here together, that when I think of us hanging out, I always think of us being here.” She opened her mouth to respond, but he continued before she could. “It’s not because I’m not willing to meet you halfway. I always think of us here because this is home.” His free hand came to rest on hers so her good hand was caught between both of his. “We’ve been making a home together, and I’ve struggled with knowing how long it might be before your life will settle down enough to make it permanent.”
His last word resonated through her. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”
He seemed to muster his courage. “I talked to your dad awhile ago.”
The implication of such a conversation nearly left her speechless. She managed to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. “You did?”
“Yeah.” Now he appeared to be at a loss for words. “We talked a bit about what you want for your future.”
She opened her mouth to tell him everything had changed, but he rushed on. “Ten years of school is a long time, and I’ve really been struggling with what your goals mean to our future.”
“Ryan, there’s something you should know—”
“I’m sorry I made you feel like your goals weren’t important to me and that I let my schedule take over our time together. I want to spend time with you, and if that means driving across town to visit you after you move, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything I can to help you reach your dreams.” He drew a deep breath. “I know it might seem like it would never work for the long term, but I know if we want it to, we can push through the challenges.”
“What exactly are you saying?” she forced herself to ask as her heartbeat quickened.
Ryan released her hands and reached for the box on the table. “We’ve been making a home together without even realizing it. I want you to share that home with me, to be part of my forever.”
He lifted the lid off the box. Inside lay the ceramic home plate, a piece of twine tied around it. Looped onto the bow hung a diamond ring. “Kari Evans, will you marry me?”
Both hands lifted to cover her mouth. Her throat closed, her heart swelled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked hard to see him still staring at her expectantly, a look of near-panic on his face. Her head bobbed up and down, and she reached for him. “Yes.” She nodded again. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
His lips found hers, the stress and frustration of the past few days falling away to be replaced with hope and an indescribable feeling of belonging and unity.
He pulled back, fumbling to untie the engagement ring so he could slip it on her hand. “This was my great-grandmother’s, but if you don’t like it, we can get you something else. I thought you would prefer something with some history to it over flash.”
Her eyes welled up again at the thought that he would understand her well enough to know that the sentimentality of a family heirloom would mean so much more to her than how much money he spent.
Her eyes lowered to the ring. “It’s beautiful.” She looked up at him. “It’s perfect.”
“So are you.” He kissed her again, his expression serious when he pulled away. “I know you have a lot going on with school in the next year, trying to apply for med school and everything. I know it may seem fast, but what do you think about getting married in the spring? I thought I might be able to get the team to give me some time for your spring break. If you want a big wedding, we could go for All-Star break so we would have more time.” She started to respond, but again he rushed on. “I’m happy to hire a wedding planner so you still have time to keep up with your studies.”
“I think I’d feel more comfortable planning my own wedding,” Kari said. “I always envisioned something on the smaller side. Would you mind that?”
“It sounds perfect.” He hesitated a moment before he added, “If you want to plan it yourself, maybe we should wait until next fall or even the following winter. You’re going to be so stressed with everything else you’ll have going on with your life.”
“I started to tell you this earlier.” Kari held up her right hand, lifting it so her splint was in his line of vision. “Do you remember how I saw the break in my hand when we were at urgent care? You made a comment about how quickly I was able to find the problem?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“I was going through the program offerings at NOVA, and it finally dawned on me that what I’ve always wanted is to work in the medical field and to make a difference.”
“Right.” He looked at her, confused. “That’s why you’re studying medicine.”
“It’s why I started out studying medicine,” Kari corrected. “And it’s why I’m switching to radiology.”
“What?”
“Every time I try studying for the MCAT, the section on diagnostic tools and their uses is so easy for me, but everything else, I really struggled with. I mean, I know about the basic anatomy and such from my pre-med classes, but what I love is seeing scans and X-rays. Using those tools to help doctors make the right diagnosis, knowing I can be there to hold someone’s hand, so to speak, when they’re going through a tough time, that can be my way of making a difference.”
His gaze stayed on her, and he finally managed to ask, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“It is.” She smiled. “And the best part is that with the classes I took at Vanderbilt, I should be able to complete the entire program by next December.”
“Really?”
“Really. I have to apply officially, but the counselor seemed to think I could get in when I first met with her. I also thought I might be able to get you to pull some strings for me.”
“What kind of strings?”
“I have to do clinicals and an internship before I finish my degree. I thought maybe someone I knew would be able to help me get on with the Nationals’ medical staff.”
His eyes lit with understanding. “You realize you’d have to come to all the games?”
“For those six weeks anyway.”
He grinned. “I think I could make a call.”
She returned his smile. “As for the wedding, how would you feel about Valentine’s Day weekend?”
“I would love that, but I doubt we would be able to find a venue so quickly.”
She let her gaze sweep the room. “You really do have a great house.”
“Yeah.” Confusion and wariness colored the single word.
Now Kari motioned to the box on the table. “I read somewhere that the best things happen at home.”
“You mean get married here?”
“Exactly.”
He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the knuckle just above her engagement ring. “You’re absolutely right. The best things do happen at home.”
* * *
One game. Only one more game to clinch the division. Ryan glanced at the scoreboard as he stepped into the on-deck circle. Bottom of the ninth inning, down by one run, one out.
Ben took his spot in the batter’s box, and Ryan saw his determination. The fans were on their feet, the cheering deafening. They would have one more chance to lock in the division tomorrow night, but Ryan wanted it today. Kari would be in class during tomorrow’s game, and he wanted to share this moment with her.
Several fans shouted encouragement and demands. They wanted a home run.
Ryan gave his bat a few practice swings while Ben worked the pitch count in his favor. Ryan watched the pitcher wind up and timed his next swing as though he were standing in the batter’s box himself.
He saw the mistake, saw the placement. He swung his bat at the same time Ben did.
A loud crack sounded, and the ball lifted into the air, Ben’s bat shattering and pieces flying toward the pitcher and down the third-base line.
Ryan cheered with the crowd when he saw the ball fly into the air and fall into the sweet spot in front of the centerfielder and behind the second baseman.
Ben made it safely to first base but couldn’t go beyond.
Ryan took a few steps toward home plate, glancing over his shoulder to where Kari sat. He couldn’t hear her, but he saw her mouth the words, “Have fun.”
He lifted his chin in acknowledgment and reminded himself to live in the moment. A big game, the ability to make a difference, the woman he loved looking on.
Anything but a double play would keep the line moving. He had a brief fear that he would end the game in exactly that way. Then he shook that thought away. Focus on what you want to happen, he reminded himself. See the future and make it happen.
He looked down at home plate, his lips curving slightly at the symbolism it would always hold for him. Then he positioned his feet and raised his bat.
Three pitches later, wood connected with ball. The home run the fans had demanded rocketed over the fence of the Nationals’ bullpen.
Ryan jogged around the bases amid the roar of the crowd. He glanced up into the stands again as he came down the third-base line. Kari was barely visible, but he knew she shared his thoughts when his foot crossed home plate. The best things were most definitely happening for them at home.