Текст книги "Covering Kendall"
Автор книги: Julie Brannagh
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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
He saw his mom’s smile in the soft light of the lamp on the bedside table. “Don’t worry about it. I haven’t been sleeping well since we got here, and I . . .” She shook her head and flinched a little at the movement. “I have a headache.”
“Do you need some aspirin or something?” He leaned down to stash the bag next to the nightstand while she wasn’t looking.
“That might help.”
“I’ll get it,” he said. He walked into the attached bedroom, filled a drinking glass with water, and grabbed the ibuprofen bottle out of the medicine cabinet. He could still carry stuff in his right hand as long as he didn’t try to lift his arm or anything, which hurt like a mofo. He needed some more medicine himself, but he could do this for his mom first.
He sat down on the side of the bed where she lay, put the drinking glass down on the nightstand, and said, “Do you need me to help you sit up a little?”
“I’m okay,” she said. He thought she looked pale and worn out, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. She pulled herself into a sitting position. He gave her a dose of the ibuprofen and the water glass.
“Do you need me to shut off the light for you?” he said.
“No. I’ll be much better in a few minutes.” She slid back into the pillows and gazed up at him. “How are you feeling?”
“My shoulder hurts. I’ll go back downstairs and get the prescriptions I brought home.” She started to sit up and he said, “No, Mom, I can handle it. You rest. Do you need me to get that blanket over there for you?” He nodded at the folded throw that usually hung over the back of an overstuffed chair in the corner of the room.
“I’d like that, honey.”
He could get the blanket just fine and bring it back to her, but spreading it over her was a different story with one usable hand.
“This is harder than I thought,” he said after struggling with it for a minute or so.
“I’ll take care of it,” she said. She managed to toss the blanket over her legs and said, “Why don’t you relax here with me for a few minutes?”
“Sure, Mom.” Maybe he’d retreat to the big chair in the corner. He was surprisingly tired after doing nothing more strenuous than riding around in a car and eating a cheeseburger. Maybe he could get a cat nap while his mom rested.
His cell phone rang.
He reached in, pulled it out, and noted it was the Sharks’ headquarters. He clicked on “talk.” He hit “speaker” so his mom could hear.
“Hey, Drew, how are you feeling?” Coach Stewart said. “I’m here with the coaches and the conditioning staff. We’re wondering how the trip home went.”
“Thanks for calling. It’s nice to hear from you guys. As far as the trip home, everything’s fine and I’ll be taking some painkillers in a little while.”
He heard some male chuckling in the background and the coach said, “They’ll actually help you heal faster. We understand the home health care nurse will be at your house tomorrow to help you with whatever you need.”
“That’s great.”
“You’re probably wondering why else we’re calling,” the coach said. “Drew, we have every hope you’re going to recover from this and come back even stronger and ready to play by next season, but we’re putting you on IR today. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else but me.” He saw his mom put a hand over her mouth. Tears rose in her eyes. He had to look away; if he saw his mom’s tears, he couldn’t get through this. “The guys miss you already and are looking forward to your being here to rehab and run as soon as possible.”
He heard one of the trainers in the background. “The minute we get a sign-off from your doctor, we’ll be in the training room with you. We’re going to work you hard, but you’ll be ready. We promise.”
Drew swallowed past the gigantic lump in his throat. “Uh, yeah. I’m looking forward to it.”
“If you have questions or you need anything, please call us. We’ll be checking in on you, also. We’ll get through this together,” the coach said.
Drew knew he was still speaking. He made what must have sounded like the correct comments about motivation and not letting this thing beat him. A few minutes later, they hung up and he sat numbly, phone still clutched in his hand.
His mom sat up and gingerly wrapped her arms around him. He felt her tears falling on his good shoulder as he slipped one arm around her. His phone fell into the bedclothes.
KENDALL FELT THE cold fist of dread in her stomach as she walked into the Miners’ offices. She wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Today would be (hopefully) mostly mopping up from the day before yesterday’s press conference. She also would be expected to observe the workouts of the three players brought in by the new director of football personnel. She’d expected all hell to break loose when she fired Ron, but so far, her e-mail and voicemail had been remarkably quiet.
It was early. There were plenty of chances for things to go to hell in a hand basket.
When she wasn’t dwelling on the thousand and one things that needed to get done today, she was still thinking about Drew. It was all she could do to not curl up in the airline seat like a wounded animal and cry. She was asleep last night when her head hit the pillow, and this morning, she had to face the facts: If she was in his shoes, she’d be pissed. She’d more or less shown him that a job was more important to her than anyone or anything else in her life, and if she really cared about him, she would act like it.
He shouldn’t have hung up the phone on her, but she got why he did it. She owed him an apology, but he owed her one too.
She’d wanted to get an early start this morning. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor of the corridor outside of her office. It was seven AM, and her office door was ajar. The light was on. Who the hell would be in her office at seven? Sydney wasn’t usually in until after ten AM each morning due to her class schedule.
Maybe she should back away from her office and call for help. The Miners’ private security force was in the office twenty-four hours a day now. Whoever was in her office had the electronic card that got them past the locks and a photo ID badge.
Maybe it was the cleaning crew. Maybe it was someone who’d been in there last evening. Maybe it was one of the security guys. She crept over to the partially open door and peeked through it.
Sydney sat at her desk, tapping away at her laptop.
Kendall shoved her office door open. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at school, you goofball!”
Sydney grinned at her. She picked up a tall iced latte and shook the cup a little. “Got you some coffee, boss. And a pastry.”
Kendall dropped into one of the chairs in front of her desk and took the proffered Starbucks bag from Sydney. “Are you sure?” Sydney’s workload was going to double, and Kendall didn’t want her to drop out of school from sheer frustration. “Maybe I should get you an assistant of your own.”
“I can handle it,” Sydney said. “It’s just like eating an elephant.”
“One bite at a time,” Kendall said. She raised her iced latte cup in a silent toast.
“Oh, hell, yeah. Let’s get some shit done.”
DREW WOKE UP after a restless night and swung his feet over the side of the bed. Seconds later, the phone his mom must have brought in and put on his nightstand rang.
His agent, Lance, sounded too damn cheerful for six AM Seattle time.
“How are you doing today?”
“Everything hurts. You do know it’s six o’clock here, right?”
“Sorry, guy. I wanted to let you know that the Sharks’ putting you on IR has hit the media, and the team is paying out the guaranteed portion of your contract.”
“Okay. Coach called me yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you let me know?”
“I was a little busy. Hey, Lance, now that I have you on the phone, I have a question or two.”
“What’s up?” Lance said.
“One: I know I have to show up for the home games for the rest of the season. Am I required to go to away games?”
“No. You’re expected to rehab.”
“Does it matter where I rehab?”
“I’m guessing the Sharks might like it if you stayed in the Seattle area—”
“I’d like to see if I can work with a rehab center in California. I’ll fly in for the games.”
“Rehab in another team’s facility? Please don’t tell me you’re considering doing this at the Miners.”
“No, but there’s at least two other teams in the area. What are your thoughts?”
“I’m guessing this means that you’re interested in spending time with Kendall Tracy.”
Drew pulled in a breath. “She can’t move. It’ll give us a chance to decide if it’s worth working out the logistics to continue. I also need to face facts. I may not play again.”
He was proud of himself: At least he could get the words out without bawling like a baby. He didn’t know who he was without football, and it might be a while before he discovered what he’d like to do. Fortunately, between his contracts and endorsements, he’d saved enough to take his time and figure out what the future might hold for him professionally.
“Come on, McCoy. You’re going to play again. Do you want me to approach the Sharks with your rehab plans?”
“I can do it. I’ll bring you in if I need backup.”
“Okay, then. Is there anything else I can do right now?”
“Nope,” Drew said. “Thanks for listening.” After a few more pleasantries, his agent hung up.
Drew had tossed and turned most of the night last night, thinking and weighing his options. Even the pain pills didn’t knock him out. The best plan of attack was to rehab and train like he was intent on going back to the Sharks, while preparing for the fact he may not. He knew he wanted Kendall to be included in every plan he made. He’d crawl on hands and knees to California with a duffle bag of clothing between his teeth if she wanted him to, but he hoped some sincere groveling might work as well.
Three o’clock in the morning was a great time to think in an almost-silent house and straighten out his priorities. While his parents slept on in the room next door, he calculated and thought. He knew the only way he might get at least one of the things he wanted—creating a happy family—was accepting the fact that family might be living an hour outside of San Francisco, instead of in a 5800-square foot house on Seattle’s Eastside. He’d bought a family house, but it was never going to be a home as long as Kendall didn’t live here with him.
He remembered the night his teammate Zach bought the engagement ring for his now-wife, Cameron. He remembered Zach’s trembling hands as he pulled the box out of his shorts pocket and showed a roomful of his teammates a gigantic ring, and the joy in his face as he told them he was in love. He reflected on the fact he’d watched their romance bloom from one dorm room over during training camp.
His and Kendall’s love story wasn’t going to happen under the noses of eighty guys. It would be just the two of them, and he would woo her until she fell in love with him. He’d known her a month, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her already. If that was love, he’d take it, and he’d water it, feed it, and let it grow like the flowers in her backyard garden.
He grabbed his phone and tapped out a text to Kendall with one finger.
I am so sorry I hung up on you. Will you forgive me? I miss you.
He could take a nap later. He stood up from the bed, pulled a suitcase out of his closet, and started packing.
HE HEARD FOOTSTEPS from the room next door, his dad’s voice as he talked with his wife, and Drew’s mom tapped at his door as she poked her head in.
“Honey, are you awake already?”
“Yeah, Mom. How are you this morning?”
She looked at the mostly-packed suitcase on his bed and the scrawled page of notes he’d made with his non-dominant hand during the night last night. She raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe you should lie down for a while. You need some rest,” she said. “What’s going on here?”
“Is Dad in the shower?”
“No. He’s downstairs making coffee.”
Drew patted the bed. “Mom, sit down. I’ll be right back.”
He walked into the guest room, grabbed the little Tiffany’s bag from its hiding place, and came back to his room. His mom stared at the bag.
“I have some stuff to tell you, but first, this is for you. Thank you for always being there for me, Mom. I really appreciate it, and I wanted you to have this.”
His mom’s eyes were huge. “Is this from Tiffany’s?”
“Yes, Mom. Open it,” he prompted.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.” He nudged her with his good shoulder. “Open it.”
His mom bit her lower lip as she reached into the bag and extracted a palm-sized robin’s-egg-blue box tied with a double-faced white satin ribbon. “It’s so pretty I don’t want to take the ribbon off,” she said.
“You won’t see what’s inside until you do,” Drew teased.
She admired it for a few minutes and finally pulled the end of the ribbon, which slipped off of the box easily. She took off the lid and let out a gasp.
A sterling silver charm bracelet was nestled inside, featuring a heart-shaped charm that read “Mom” in flowing script. The only other charm on the bracelet was a small, intricately detailed football.
He owed McKenna some more money, but he could take care of that later. He watched his mom take the bracelet out of the box and hold it in her palm. “Oh, honey. It’s beautiful,” she said.
“They have a lot of charms, Mom. Maybe we kids should get you one for every special occasion.”
“You don’t have to do that,” his mom protested, but her eyes sparkled. She might need two or three bracelets by the time he and his siblings were through. She unclasped the bracelet and held it out to him. “Help me put it on?” she asked.
It took a few minutes and some maneuvering, but he managed to clasp it around her wrist. She kissed his cheek.
“Thanks, honey. I love it.”
“If you want gold, we can take it back—”
“No. I love this.” She let out a happy sigh.
“I also wanted to apologize for upsetting you yesterday.”
“You didn’t upset me. I wasn’t feeling well and I–I freaked out, as you kids would say.” She fingered the little football charm as she spoke. “I know your love life is your own business. You’re a grown man and you should make your own decisions. We really like Kendall, though. Is there any way to patch it up?”
“I’m working on it,” he said. “You and Dad have made me think over the last couple of weeks.”
“We’ve been fighting like kids. Really? I’m a little worried about that.”
“Mom, it’s not what you think. I’ve been thinking about the fact I always thought I wanted a wife that stayed home too, and it was pretty unfair of me to expect her to fulfill all my needs and wants, and none of her own.”
His mom took his hand in her smaller, work-roughened one. “I thought you sided with your dad.”
“There’s not a side. We’re a family. Why should you sit home all day if you find something else that makes you happy, Mom?” He let out a sigh. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your job. I’m proud of you. You wanted something more, and you went out and got it.” His mom patted his hand. “I hope they’ll still let you come back after you had to come out here to hang out with me for a little while.”
“The HR person told me there’s a federal law that protects a leave of absence taken to care for a member of my family.” She twirled the bracelet around with her other hand. “I might have to do some retraining or something when I go back, but I want to go back. It doesn’t mean I don’t love your dad. I need something for myself. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yeah, Mom. I do.” His shoulder was twinging. He should get his ass back to bed for a while, but he wanted to make sure he got the next part out. “You might be going back sooner than you think. I’m going to ask the Sharks if I can rehab in California.”
“Honey, you just had surgery two days ago—”
“I’ll make sure the doctor signs off on it before I get on a plane. I need to find a rehab facility that I can find a place to stay close by. I’ll do those things, and then I’m going to go find out what happens when I can spend a little more time with Kendall. If she won’t let me in the front door of her house, I plan on groveling.”
He heard the “chirp” of an incoming text.
I miss you, too.
Chapter Eighteen
DREW SPENT THE next several days learning to do the smallest things for himself, such as dressing, using the men’s room (thankfully, he figured that one out rather quickly), and eating anything that required the use of a fork and a knife. Showering was still a challenge. Someone else needed to secure his hair in the low ponytail he typically wore it in each morning. He couldn’t drive. He got picked up in the morning for conditioning and physical therapy, and he was still on painkillers for the aftereffects of a few hours of adventures with the Sharks’ training staff.
Luckily, nobody seemed to care that his wardrobe consisted of anything clean he could pull on at the moment, otherwise known as warm-ups and oversized T-shirts. He’d repacked his suitcase for this reality. After a week of dealing with the aftereffects of shoulder surgery, though, he could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was dim, but it was there. He was going to spend months rehabbing his shoulder, but he would recover.
Drew walked out of his house, locked the door, and stood looking at it for a minute or two. Chuck was behind the wheel of the SUV idling in his driveway. It wasn’t nice to make Chuck wait, but it was a ritual of sorts: He’d shut the door on the life he thought he would have. It was time to see what else might be in store.
Two hours later, Drew strolled into the Sharks’ head trainer’s office after his latest workout.
“Hey, Stan. Do you have a minute?” he said.
Stan had been with the team for fifteen years. He was known around the league for the excellence of his training and conditioning programs. The Sharks had benefited from his expertise. It would be smarter for his career to stay in Seattle for the next several months, but Kendall wasn’t in Seattle.
“Sure, Drew.” Stan nodded toward the chair beside his desk. “Have a seat. What’s on your mind?”
“I’ve talked with my agent and the coaching staff this morning already. I’d like to rehab in California at least four days a week for the next few months, if that will work for you.”
“Are you unhappy with what’s going on here?”
“No. Not at all.” Drew leaned forward a little and braced one arm on the desk. “There’s someone special in California—”
“Say no more,” Stan said. “Do you need a recommendation or suggestions on who to work with? I know some guys.”
“They know you too,” Drew assured him. “They would like to be able to coordinate with you and the staff here, if that will work.”
“It’ll work.” Stan stuck out his hand, and Drew shook it. “Someone special, huh? Maybe you could bring her by sometime and introduce me.”
“I’d like that. I’ll also keep you up to date with the workouts and what’s happening.”
“You do that,” Stan said. He grinned at Drew. “Guys are dropping like flies, aren’t they?” Drew knew his comment had nothing to do with injuries, and everything to do with the fact more than a few Seattle Sharks were now sporting a wedding ring. “I’ll see you in June for OTAs.”
“Yes, you will,” Drew said.
DREW HAD ONE more visit before he got on the plane for San Francisco. He hit the walk-up window at Dick’s Drive-In, and Chuck helped him get enough food and drinks for one ten-year-old and a gaggle of nurses into the back of the SUV.
“Thanks for all your help, Chuck,” Drew said as he eased himself back into the passenger seat.
“It’s my pleasure,” Chuck said. “Maybe I need to get on the Tuesday afternoon Children’s detail too.”
“I think the kids would enjoy that.” Chuck and his colleague were in the Secret Service before they decided to open their own security firm. Drew was sure Nolan would love asking Chuck questions about his job.
He felt another pang. As his shoulder healed, he could get a cheap flight to Seattle on Tuesdays. There were so many things he’d miss about his adopted hometown, but Nolan (and Dick’s Doubles) was the biggest.
After dropping off most of the food, Drew walked into Nolan’s room with a couple of bags and a huge grin. “Hey, big guy,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
Nolan was sitting up in a chair. There were a few less IVs in his arm. Drew turned to tap the sign as he always did, and he noted the indentations of fists and fingerprints in the drywall from the sheer number of visitors that had already done so.
Nolan reached out eagerly for the bags. “I’m hungry,” he said.
“That’s good, because I brought you some food.” Drew lowered himself into a chair. “Do you need me to set you up?”
“Nope.” Nolan reached into the bag, handed Drew a cheeseburger, and grabbed one out for himself. “Want some fries?”
“Sure,” Drew said.
He watched Nolan spread the napkin over the rolling table, shake a few fries out from their paper sleeve, and grab out a small container of ketchup from the bag. He uncapped it and put it where Drew could reach it.
The dark circles under Nolan’s eyes had faded. He had fresh color in his cheeks. He was energetic. He was also eating. The fries disappeared rapidly. Nolan reached into the bag to grab out another order of them.
“You seem like you’re feeling better.”
“I am. The doctor said I’m improving and I don’t have to have as much medicine.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Yeah. My mom’s really happy.” Nolan had smeared ketchup on his cheek. Drew handed him a napkin. “You had surgery on your shoulder.”
“I did. It’ll get better. It’ll just be a while.” Drew propped his feet up on the footboard of Nolan’s bed. “No big deal.”
“Want more fries?” Nolan asked.
“I’m good. You eat ’em, buddy.” He wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. Maybe the best thing was to just blurt it out. “So, Nolan, I may not see you for a while. I’m going to work with some trainers and a doctor in California.” He saw Nolan frown. “Derrick and Seth already said they’re coming to visit you like always every Tuesday. Plus, there’s a guy named Chuck that works with us that might stop by too. I think you’ll like him.”
“I’ll see you again, right?” He’d wondered if Nolan’s dad had abandoned their family or what the story was. Nolan never talked about it. He had to think of a way to reassure Nolan he wasn’t falling off the face of the earth.
“You’ll see me when I’m better. I promise.” Drew let out a breath. “I’ll give you my cell number in case you want to talk.”
“I can call you?”
“Yeah, you can call me. If I’m busy, I might have to call you back.”
Nolan gave him a nod and passed him one of the chocolate shakes out of the other bag. “We’ll see each other soon,” he said.
“Yes. And you’re going to run out onto the field with me for the first game.”
Nolan grinned at him. “That means we’ll both have to get better.”
“You bet, buddy.” Drew took a sip of his shake. “We will.”
A FEW HOURS later, the flight Drew was on descended into San Francisco. The weather was perfect. San Francisco Bay reflected the blue skies above. The Golden Gate Bridge glowed a soft orange in the late-afternoon sun. The pilot set the jet down on the runway as if it were made of cotton.
Drew managed to grab his backpack out of the overhead bin and make his way into the airport. He had a driver waiting, who grabbed his suitcase.
“Where to, Mr. McCoy?” the driver asked as they strapped themselves into yet another black SUV.
Drew read Kendall’s address off of his contacts list. He had a place a mile or so from her house. Maybe he should call first.
Maybe not.
The ride from the airport offered some time to make some calls, and to think. It was pretty ballsy to show up at her house without letting her know he was coming. He saw a flower stand as they exited off the freeway in Santa Clara.
“Would you please stop for a minute?” he asked the driver. “I’d like to get some flowers.”
“Sure,” the guy said.
Drew reached into his pocket for a little cash and bought a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses.
“Go big or go home,” he muttered to himself.
“Excuse me?” the woman selling the flowers said.
“Oh, nothing. Don’t worry about it.” He gave her a grin and got back into the SUV.
He wasn’t sure if Kendall was home from work yet, but there was only one way to find out. They pulled into the driveway of her house.
“Would you mind waiting a few minutes? I’d like to drop these off,” he said to the driver.
“Not at all,” the guy said. He shut off the engine and unsnapped his seatbelt.
Drew slid out of the SUV and mounted the few stairs to Kendall’s front door. His stomach was in knots. His heart was pounding. He forced himself to breathe. He hoped he’d know what to say.
Who was he kidding? He’d been rehearsing what to say for the past week. He reached out to ring the doorbell. He waited. He rang it again. A minute or so later, he heard light footsteps and a woman’s voice.
“Just a minute,” Kendall called out.
The front door flew open. She stared up at him. “Drew,” she whispered.
He cleared his throat. “I’m new in town. I was wondering if you could show me around or something. I’m planning on being here for a while, and I want to—”
She threw her arms around his neck before he could get the rest out. He wrapped his good arm around her and breathed in the scent of green apples.
“You’re staying?” she said.
“For as long as you want me to.”
Her fingers were already in his hair. He saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. “How about always?”
“Works for me,” he said.
