Warning Track (Callahan Family #1) - Carrie Aarons Page 0,85
that she wasn’t sure she wanted kids. That the idea of a family felt nice in her head, but she hadn’t had a traditional one. Neither had I, and we both worried that we couldn’t properly love or assimilate to what a nuclear family should be. With that in mind, on both of our ends, we decided to hold off on kids. We could enjoy our marriage, we’re both relatively young. If we decided that one day, having a baby was what we wanted, then we could figure it out together at that point.
But it struck me after we got back from our two-week honeymoon in Bora Bora; the reason I personally wasn’t one hundred percent on board to make a baby was that I’d grown up my whole life seeing kids who desperately needed a home. Colleen attended one of my foster charity events with me, and in the car afterward, I’d expressed how much I thought we should adopt.
Even though I could sense her nerves every time we talked about it, she agreed to start the process. And now, we were at a match day to see if there were any children we could bring into our home and care for. Then, later down the line, possibly adopt.
“I just … this is all so new. It feels like a huge step. I’m excited, but it’s a lot, Hayes,” she says quietly, biting at her lip.
Stopping our progress, I turn her to face me. “No matter what you might believe, you’re going to be an excellent mother. If we find a child who matches well and who we could see loving and caring for. Like I said, there is no pressure. I’m scared, too, of course this is a huge leap for both of us. But we have a lot to offer, and I think we could really do some good for a child in need.”
She nods emphatically, because that part I know she’s on board for. I also know, because she’s whispered it to me in the dark of the night, that she doesn’t want to become her mother. I’m not sure how else I can tell her that there is no way she’ll ever become that woman, that she never was her, except to let her actions with a foster child speak for themselves. When this next chapter of our life begins, I know she’ll be even better at it than I am.
“I love you. Thanks for always talking me down.” She smiles, and I pull her in for a hug. “I’m glad we’re trying to become parents this way, though. It feels so much … more, if that makes sense.”
To a lot of other people it might not, but it does to me. “I feel the same way.”
We keep walking, the sound of children running and playing getting louder as we near a bunch of picnic tables with balloons and food. Most of the park-goers wear puffed vests or heavy sweaters. Chunky boots abound, and my own Timberlands feel foreign on my feet. Even after living in Packton, Pennsylvania for the majority of four years, I haven’t quite adjusted to the cooler months. But I’m coming around to it, especially when Colleen has a free day and we head to the mountains to ski. As a California boy, I still drag her there whenever I can, and we kept the house in Malibu as a landing spot on the West Coast.
There were more than a fair share of articles that came out after I retired claiming the rumors were correct all along; that I wouldn’t settle down or have a family until my baseball career was done. I guess they were technically right, but they didn’t have the whole story. I chose this woman over a sport, over anything, and that’s why my career came to an end. I would make the same decision a million times over, given the chance again.
Especially since it’s led me to where I am now. Married, in love, looking to start a family, remodeling a house and working with my hands. It feels good to build something and watch that hard work come to life. But it’s not all I’m doing. I also volunteer way more than I used to, something that fills me with immense joy and pride. And Walker and I have started a youth baseball clinic in the area, now that he’s a father. Getting back to the basics of the sport I love, watching the glee fill those kids at catching a ball or hitting it down the line, that’s better than any championship I’ve won.
As I said, Colleen is killing the game, too. She’s been highly touted as one of the most progressive and innovative general managers in a long time. Her team is prospering, the organization itself is making more money than they ever have, and she’s managed to, finally, gain the respect of her uncle and the rest of her family … even if it is grudgingly so.
Her father got out of prison a year after my retirement and has been banned by the league and his family. He’s tried, in vain, to contact Colleen a couple of times. She’s never broken on her vow not to see or communicate with him. It would do her no good, and a man that narcissistic would only bring more pain and doubt to her mental health. Jimmy Callahan had a few interviews and paid spreads after his release, but has since faded off into nothingness. He’s barely even mentioned in baseball circles anymore. I’m sure that fucks with him more than anything, so he’s getting what he deserves.
Colleen begins to giggle just before we can walk up to the organizers and check in.
“What is it?” I say, amused.
She turns to me, her eyes twinkling. “I just thought of what a DILF you’re going to be.”
A snort comes out before I can stop it, and I bend low to whisper in her ear, “Well, it’s a good thing for you that you’re the only one who will be fuc—”
Her hand slaps over my mouth and my lips vibrate with a chuckle below it, before I nip at her palm with my teeth.
Removing it from over my face and lacing my fingers with hers, we walk jointly toward what could be our future child. Out of all the things I’ve done, won, gotten … my life with Colleen is by far the best thing to ever happen to me.
I remember it every day, and twice on game days, when I get to watch with her, knowing that our love bloomed right inside a ballpark.
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Also by Carrie Aarons
All of my books are currently enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
Standalones:
Love at First Fight
Nerdy Little Secret
That’s the Way I Loved You
Fool Me Twice
Hometown Heartless
The Tenth Girl
You’re the One I Don’t Want
Privileged
Elite
Red Card
Down We’ll Come, Baby
As Long As You Hate Me
All the Frogs in Manhattan
Save the Date
Melt
When Stars Burn Out
Ghost in His Eyes
On Thin Ice
Kissed by Reality
The Rogue Academy Series:
The Second Coming
The Lion Heart
The Mighty Anchor
The Nash Brothers Series:
Fleeting
Forgiven
Flutter
Falter
The Flipped Series:
Blind Landing
Grasping Air
The Captive Heart Duet:
Lost
Found
The Over the Fence Series:
Pitching to Win
Hitting to Win
Catching to Win
About the Author
Author of romance novels such as The Tenth Girl and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the love stories of her imagination, and the athleisure dress code, much better.
When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She’s a Jersey girl living in Texas with her husband, daughter, son and Great Dane/Lab rescue.
Please join her readers group, Carrie’s Charmers, to get the latest on new books, as well as talk about reality TV, wine and home decor.
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