Reed held my trembling hand in the backseat of the Rolls Royce he had hired and talked about baseball. I listened while trying to push down the need to vomit and heard only half of what he said. I knew Chi Chi and Sal would be there along with Clare and Dustin. They were my saving grace for the evening and I held tight to that thought.

"Relax and you'll have a good time. This is for charity, but also the last time for us to let off a little steam before spring ...