“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.