Ouch
Mitch walked away from the gravestone the tears still on his face. A month had gone by. A month of nothing but memories and tearful nights alone. Except he had Melinda. She would look at him with David's eyes and upset him all over again. She couldn't know the memories she brought back to the man that would raise her. David had fortunately had all the legal paperwork done so taking custody of Melinda had been easy for Mitch since he was in the process of adopting her already.
Mitch walked back to the house that was his. The cottage that had been David's and his he could not walk into and would not ever again. Finding the man you love more than yourself hacked to pieces throughout the house when you came back from taking the baby and the dogs for a walk did that.
His knee was fine now. The cruel truth had come out when he had a different doctor look at the films. The first time had been botched on purpose. The scandal this caused was national and the San Diego baseball organization took a huge financial hit. Worse most of the organization was let go and the league was searchign for a new owner. The only reason for not wanting Mitch to play again was his sexuality. He wanted to play again but with Melinda he wasn't sure if he should. Being all she had Mitch knew how much she needed him, being alone he was too familiar with.
Melinda was her father's child through and through, from the big expressive eyes to the wide goofy smile. Mitch had a hard time watching her at times because it brought David back to him and he would upset himself so much. The PTSD was bad the first two weeks but his mind was settling again as he had kept seeing someone. David's death had been more than devastating and Mitch had thought about taking his own life many times but Melinda would cry and remind Mitch of what really mattered.