What had he done?

Now that it was out there that he was dating Tika Foster, there was already a media frenzy. The amount of media that was outside the rehearsal hall had doubled when he left and they surrounded the car as he left with Tika.

They literally followed the car and had to drive like crazy to lose them. He was afraid when they dropped him off at his place it would be swarmed. But thankfully they did not know where he resided. He hoped they never found out anyway.

"Sorry about all this," Tika said to him when she stood out in front of his place. He wished she could come in and hang with him more, but she was being a good mother and he liked that about her.

"You're worth it." He kissed her neck. "Call me later tonight, whenever you have a moment."

Back to his place he changed and lounged in front of his tv. Then his phone was going off like crazy with all unknown calls trying to come through. Tika said it probably was the media wanting to interview him. Her phone was not going off like crazy. She said her manager was probably fielding the calls.

Also, there were several texts from his teammates with obnoxious things about hooking up with Tika. Most went there with sexual innuendos and going way out of order with inappropriate things. He ignored their texts and would not step into their mess.

He wondered if his agent would have to step in and handle some of that. Now he felt bad. He had no idea it would get like this. He turned his phone off and would ignore it. No, he needed to wait for Rika's call. He just put the phone on vibrate.

The next day that he had off, Tika left her rehearsals early and invited him over to her house to formally meet her parents and her daughter again.

"Mom, Dad, this is Federico McGhee...dad, you met him, but I wanted to introduce him to you as my boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, young man. I'm a big fan of yours, Fireball," her father said, shaking his hand.

"Now he will have someone to sit and talk sports with all day long," her mother said to him. "Nice to meet you too. I prepared a lunch for us."

"I hope you didn't go through any trouble."

"No trouble, we all have to eat. And my daughter tells me you need a little help in that department. Come on over any time for a little lesson in the kitchen."

"No ma'am, I couldn't ask you to do that." He was embarrassed Tika told her mother he could not cook. It was something he should have figured out himself. He was twenty-two years old and living on his own.

"Please, call me Sylvia. I love cooking, and I love cooking for others. I didn't prepare anything too crazy. Sometimes I just throw things together."

"She's being modest," Mr. Foster said and kissed his wife's cheek. "I try and cook for her sometimes...she eats whatever I make but I know it's nothing compared to my wife's cooking."

"Dad, you've mastered the grill, so there's that," Tika said.

He thought of his mother, who cooked all the time. He could never recall his father cooking anything. His father did not even grill or anything. Sometimes his older brother would grill on holidays. Mostly it was only his mother doing all the cooking.

"Hi!" Autumn rushed into the room, with two curly ponytails, and a pink and white shorts romper on. She was a mix of both her parents, she did but look like just one. Autumn came over to hug his legs. "I remember you. The tall guy at the game."

"Autumn, give the man some space, and his name is Rico." Tika tried to pull Autumn away, but he motioned to her that it was okay.

"Princess Autumn! Do you mind if I pick her up?" he asked Tika.

"Don't spoil her," Tika said, but with a smile on her face.

He leaned down and scooped up the little girl. "How is the air up here?"

"Wow!" she said, holding up her arms to the sky. "I can almost touch the ceiling."

"Remember when I said I would help you throw a few balls? Maybe after lunch, we can go out and do that."

"Really? Okay."

Mrs. Foster made quite a spread for lunch. He thought it would be something simple like a sandwich or something, but it was a chopped salad loaded with lots of vegetables and grilled chicken. There was a side of bread rolls, and a fruit tray with grapes, strawberries, melon, kiwi, and pineapple. Tika warned him about her parents being health nuts.

That was cool to him because he was tight about his nutrition as well.

"So, how do you like playing for the greatest team in the world?" Mr. Foster asked him while they were eating.

"I am having the time of my life, sir. I really do like the city, the team, the fans. It's been great to me."

"You know, I was a double letterer back in my day, baseball and basketball. Wasn't that great at either, that's why I became a gym teacher. Coached the girls' softball team at the high school. Tried to get my baby girl interested in sports so I could one day coach her, but she fell in love with dance like her mother."

"I do not like balls flying near my face," Tika said, then gave him a wink that made him blush.

"Well, now you have Autumn, who likes dance as well as sports," Mrs. Foster said.

"Maybe I'll get a grandson one day that will make it to the Majors, very likely now."

Tika groaned and dropped her head in embarrassment at that. He grinned, liking the idea. He and Tika, together forever, with a son. He wanted a family. He wanted a very big family. Being adopted sometimes he felt like his family wasn't his. He loved his family, but not growing up with his siblings close in age, he felt lonely at times.

"Dad, can you not embarrass me," Tika said.

"We're not getting any younger," Mr. Foster said.

"Willie, leave that girl and that man alone. You don't tell them what they need to do in their relationship," Mrs. Foster said. "Just be lucky we have Autumn, and she is enough and a handful."

After lunch, Mr. Foster, Autumn and he went outside in the backyard with a baseball and some mitts. Mr. Foster had several different size mitts, he said for when other family came over and wanted to play.

"I want to catch one of those balls you throw that is like a fireball, Fireball," Mr. Foster said, taking a catcher's stance a ways away from him. "I think I can catch it."

He did not want to hurt the old man. His parents were about his age and his father was long past the age of playing catch with him. He would be gentle on him.

Autumn was standing near his side with her mitt on.

"You want to stand a little to the side, Autumn. I have quite a windup."

"What's a windup?"

"Watch. It's the way I get the ball out there."

He got into his stance, focused, and threw out the ball as best he could without putting his all into it. He knew if the person was not a professional to not go his all. And Mr. Foster was up there in age, he did not want to be responsible for Tika's father falling over or something. Shockingly, he caught it with no problem.

"Whoa! I see why you'll be rookie of the year."

"You think so, too?"

"Who else?" Mr. Foster threw him the ball, and it was a good throw. No wonder Tika was a natural at it after a few short lessons.

He looked over at Autumn. "You want to give it a shot I bet you have a nice arm on you."

"We don't even pitch in tee ball," Autumn said, "But granddad plays with me."

He handed Autumn the ball and then backed away for her, but not too far. To get somewhat level with her he would have to crouch down low.

"Let's see that throw."

Autumn already had a stance, and a windup, and her throw was pretty good for her age and height. She definitely practiced with her grandfather. He tossed the ball back to her and she almost caught it in her glove, but quickly recovered and picked up the ball.

"Granddad said I need to practice my catch."

"No problem, we can work on that. This time when you throw, try and throw a little further." He backed up a few steps.

Autumn for sure had what it took to be a great pitcher. She had the passion and determination. Every time she pitched she gave her all. Whenever she missed a catch she was upset. He didn't offer her much help they just kept throwing and catching because she did not need much more. He had to remember she was five, not a teen ready for the pros or anything.

He really enjoyed spending time with her.