The Closer (24 page)

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Authors: Alan Mindell

BOOK: The Closer
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Terry didn't even try Lauren's bed that night. It almost seemed unfaithful to sleep in his bride's bed on their wedding night, with her not there. Instead, he went to the living room couch.

He didn't have much luck falling asleep there either. The wedding repeatedly flashed through his mind. He kept seeing Lauren in her beautiful white gown, confined to bed, looking very frail. It didn't seem fair. A young woman, with what should have been a whole new life ahead, possibly so close to the end.

He tried to focus on being more positive. Maybe she'd soon get over this particular bout and come home. Maybe once she got here and they could start living together, she'd find new energy to begin a full recovery.

It was certainly something to hope for.

Chapter Thirty-Four

It was the top of the seventh. Final scheduled game of the season, against Detroit. Oakland led 6-0, on a pair of Murdoch three-run homers. A win clinched the wild card, despite New York's victory earlier this afternoon. Opening game of the playoffs would be in Cleveland, in two days.

Terry sat in the left field bullpen, by himself at one end of the bench. Earlier, it had crossed his mind several times that maybe he shouldn't be here, at the stadium. Not this soon anyhow. Not with the memorial service for Lauren just last evening. But then, hadn't Lauren made it clear that she didn't want to interfere with baseball in any way?

He gazed up into the grandstand behind him, toward where the players' wives, families and guests sat. This being Sunday, no school, Billy, Karen and Tammy were there. Sitting with Carly and Joshua.

Terry glanced at Murdoch nearby, in left field. Murdoch had attended the memorial service with Carly and Joshua. Afterward, he had pulled Terry aside and emphasized that he and Carly were serious about helping him with the children.

Terry looked up at the kids again. Although he knew they were sad, he thought he saw Tammy smile at him. Carly too. He wondered whether Murdoch would ever tell Carly that he, Terry, wasn't her real uncle. Or whether he already had told her. Not that it mattered. What mattered was she had obviously altered her life, and was clearly an entirely different person than the one he'd first met that night in Hollywood.

He turned toward the third base dugout and barely managed to spot Rick in one corner. He'd also attended the service, and had given Terry a hug both before and after. The first time they'd ever exchanged any significant physical affection. Causing Terry to flash back to his own father. In many ways, hadn't Rick assumed that role?

Other memories remained from the service. His own incredible sorrow, which had been constant ever since Lauren's passing. All three kids breaking down. And his own response to it—that despite their reaction, he knew Lauren had prepared them well for this day.

Yes, as he sat there on the bullpen bench, these memories were strong. But there was a memory that was much more vivid than any from the service. He and Lauren were in her hospital room alone at about 3 a.m. on her last night. He was holding her hand while she slept, when she took her final labored breath. A moment he knew would always be with him.

Afterward, numb, he'd returned to the sleeping children. Once more now, he glanced up at them in the grandstand. This time he thought all three smiled back.

His gaze returned to the field. To the splendidly manicured grass. Surrounded by the colossal stadium outlined in green and gold. Everything looked just the same as that first time, about five months ago, when he first came to the majors.

Five months? Was that all the time that had passed? It seemed more like five years.

Much earlier today, long before the game began, Rick had approached him. He informed him that he wouldn't be calling on him to pitch this afternoon. Out of respect for Lauren. Terry disagreed, and had adamantly conveyed his feelings to Rick.

Now, as he sat in the bullpen, any lingering doubts about his being here, at the stadium, were gone. He
would
pitch today if he was needed. That's what Lauren would have wanted, that's what she had made him promise to do.

After all, he was
the closer.

 

The End

 

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