Chapter 23
23
Cade
Charley: Call me when you get to the hotel.
I hike my bag up my shoulder, stifling a yawn. This trip wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as the last one I took with Charley. I won’t be helping her save Chuck or sleeping in the bed next to her.
I grab the key from the assistant coach and make my way up to the fifth floor. Once my door is shut behind me, I drop my bag and take in the room. The walls are all a stuffy brown, and heat blasts from the AC unit. I tap Charley’s name and bring my phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Sunshine. We just got in.”
It’s quiet. I stop where I am, worry streaking through me. Then I hear a whimper.
“What’s wrong?”
“Sorry.”
“No, tell me. What’s going on?”
“My dad saw a specialist today who deals with people really overweight like him…”
“Yeah?” I prompt.
“They need him to lose a hundred pounds before they’ll let him get the stent in his heart to help prevent him from having another heart attack. Then after that, they want him to have weight loss surgery, but he has to prove that he can lose weight on his own, and I’m scared, Cade. My dad has never tried to diet. Never.”
“I’m sure they’ll help him,” I offer before moving to the bed and lying on it.
“That’s the thing, they’re going to keep him in the hospital so they can bring his weight down in a controlled way, but then he has to go home and show that he can do some on his own. Otherwise, the weight loss surgery is a stupid idea if he won’t stick with it. It’ll put undue stress on his body.”
“Does he say he’s going to do it?”
“We got into a fight.” She breaks down, and my heart squeezes. “I was there when the doctor told him all this, but he didn’t say anything. It’s like he doesn’t care.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.”
“I just don’t know why.”
The pure desperation in her voice cracks my heart down the middle. “I wish I was there.”
“Me too. I told him if he doesn’t try to help himself, I’m moving out.”
“You can stay in my room.”
“I knew you’d say that,” she says softly. “So, I told him that. I told him your name and that you would let me stay with you, and I also told him about Grandma, too.”
“I bet he didn’t take that very well.”
“He hit his tray and knocked it over. A nurse had to come in and fix it.”
“I wish I’d been there for you, but I’m proud you stuck up for yourself.”
“The nurse told me he needs to realize how dire the situation is. If he continues on like he has been…” She sighs. “He’s not going to make it very long. His lifespan will be severely shortened. That heart attack he had… If it was any worse, he could’ve died.”
I close my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“And the hospital is telling me we’ll need to make a ramp at the house before he can come home.”
“Like a handicapped ramp?”
“He can barely walk. They broke a whole stair bringing him out of the house. They almost didn’t even attempt to bring him out that way.”
“I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“We?”
“It’s you and me, babe. We’re a package deal now.”
“That’s sweet, but I feel bad enough airing this all out to you. On the night before a game, no less. Coach would probably fire me.”
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ve played in a hundred games. I can do it blindfolded. You let me know what you need.”
“Well, I’m at Grandma’s right now.”
“That’s good. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“She wants to help, too.” Charley makes a choked sob again. “It’s really nice going from not having anybody to having people who want me to be there.”
I rub my temples, trying to think of how we can get a wheelchair ramp on Charley’s broken-down deck. It’s nearly falling through as it is.
What I do know is that I have a family that will always help. People I’m actually related to and the other, best kind of family—those who’ve worked their way into your life until you can’t imagine it without them.
I vow right then that I’ll figure out her house situation. There’s way too much for her to worry about with her father’s hospital care.
I talk to her on the phone until her grandma calls her to dinner. Then, I start texting. My cousin, who’s a contractor. Reid, Briar, Lex. West and Aidan and some of the other guys on the team. I put them all in a group chat and explain the situation, asking for help.
As it stands, my plan is to get my friends and teammates over there for free labor. Only one person has to know how to build a deck, and one summer, I actually helped out on several construction sites for a little extra money, so I won’t be a total waste of space.
Maybe we could even paint the house. Mow the lawn.
I text Coach, too. Charley said he and her dad played together, and once you’re a teammate, you’re always a teammate.
I try to be as discreet as possible. Charley is such a private person that I don’t go into detail, only telling everyone that Charley’s father is really sick and will need handicap access into their home in Warner when he gets out of the hospital.
By the end of the night, everyone has stepped up and there’s a tentative plan in place. So tentative I don’t know how we’ll pull it off, but I do know that all you need is a good play. The rest will work itself out.
Before I shut off the light, my phone vibrates.
Reid: Hey, Briar and I want to donate the entire cost of the ramp. Let us know how much it is. I won’t be able to be there because of my away game, but I want to do this, so don’t put up a fight or I’ll have to kick your ass next time I see you.
Reid: I’ll also circumvent you and go right to Coach.
My throat closes. It doesn’t surprise me that Reid would help me out. We’re like brothers. But the fact that he’d do this for Charley and her dad, that’s how you tell the measure of a man.
Me: Thanks, bro. This is going to mean so much. I’m not fighting you, but I will give you a big hug the next time I see you.
Reid: Ew. Forget I said anything.
I chuckle.
Me: That’s it. You’re getting a kiss, too.
Reid: If you put your nasty lips anywhere near me, I will pile drive you into the ground, and you’ll never be able to play football again.
Me: So just the hug, then. Cool.
Reid: Take care of my girl when she’s out there.
Me: You don’t even need to ask.
I plug my phone in and then turn off the light. If football has taught me anything, it’s that things are better done with teams. There are no solo acts. These guys are my brothers. We have each other’s backs.
No doubt, Brady would’ve offered to help, too. I blow out a breath, smiling. It’s hard to not get caught up in the “what could’ve been.” So, instead, I remind myself that he’ll be there with us tomorrow, during the game. And at Charley’s house when we’re working together. He’s there.
Always.
A Few Days Later…
“Alright, listen up.”
Lex and Briar stand shoulder to shoulder in front of me, and it’s all I can do not to wrap them in a hug. Shorty in her trendy overalls that a real construction worker would scoff at. Lex, the big guy, in old Warner sweats and a holey T-shirt. Both of their smiles the same as when they were kids.
“This is my cousin, Drake. He’s an actual contractor, so please listen to him.”
Drake gives everyone a small salute.
“In fact, I’m going to pass the talk along to him so he can tell everyone what to do, but I wanted to take the time to thank you guys. Some of you know Charley, some of you don’t, but this is really going to help her family out. She’s so deserving, and this will mean the world to her.”
I let Drake take over while I stand by Briar. She slings her arm around my shoulder and kisses my cheek. “You’ve got it bad.”
“I’m not denying it.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. You said this is going to be a complete surprise?”
“One hundred percent.” Nerves rattle me. Charley’s a private person, especially about the situation with her dad, and I did my best to keep her business private. All everyone knows is that her dad needs the wheelchair ramp to leave the hospital. “Thanks for coming in the day before Thanksgiving. I know you don’t get to see your parents much.”
She shrugs. “Don’t tell them, but I missed you guys the most, anyway.” She peers up at Lex, who smiles down at us. “Plus, you’re coming back to Spring Hill in the morning. Annual touch football in the park, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Drake shouts out orders, putting everyone who has any carpentry experience with him. He came out two days ago to look at the porch and decided the whole thing needed to come down so we can have something sturdy to attach the ramp to. It extended our timeline a bit, but with the money Reid and Briar donated, Drake and a few of his employees started to tear down the porch, and they already have the posts up for the new one.
Kenna comes up to my side. “Hey, I’m on paint duty.”
“Me too,” Bailey says.
“Kenna, Bails, this is Lex and Briar. They graduated last year.”
“I remember,” Kenna says.
“Well, I’m on paint duty, too,” Briar says. “I’ll check in with you guys later.”
“Don’t get hurt,” I warn her. “Seven already gave me a talking to.”
She turns and winks, giving me a serious nod.
The girls go off, and a sudden wish for Charley to be here settles in my stomach. She would get along so well with them.
“Kenna and West, huh?” Lex says. “That’s awesome.”
“Surprising,” I say. “But at least she doesn’t hate football players anymore.” I block out the sun so I can peer up at Lex. “Thanks for coming, man.”
“Like I would be anywhere else.”
“I knew it might be uncomfortable for you.”
He shifts from foot to foot. “Coach and I are still on good terms, and…” He trails off, shrugging.
I leave it at that. I know he and Kennedy didn’t work out, but he never elaborated. I thought they were end game, but I guess you just never know.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road. Can you take a few action shots of me sweating and working? I want to really nail it home for Charley how awesome I am.”
Lex laughs. “How did you find anyone to put up with you?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m a fucking catch.”
“You’re a fucking tool is what you are. Wait until I meet her. The first thing I’m going to ask her is if she’s okay. Maybe she hit her head. You’re dating an amnesia patient, aren’t you? Like that Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler movie. You have to remind her who you are every day.”
“That was the longest slam I’ve ever heard. I almost died waiting for you to get to the point.”
Lex punches me in the arm, and we head toward the sounds of hammering. There’s a team putting up the new deck floorboards while Drake, West, and Aidan start on the ramp.
I get to work moving wood over to the job site, letting someone else with power tool capabilities cut the wood, then taking it to the person who’s nailing it in. We’re a well-oiled machine, and by midday, the floor of the porch is in.
They’re starting on the railings while the ramp crew is moving over the pieces they’ve already put together.
Coach drops off lunch and drinks, donated by Richie’s. I guzzle some water next to Aidan when he walks over, making sure all his guys are okay and saying hi to Lex. I hear Briar tell him that Reid is at a game or else he’d be here, too. Coach’s response makes me smile. “You think I don’t know when his games are? I record every one. I like to think I had a little bit to do with how good he is.”
“I think he’d give you more than a little credit, Coach T.”
Coach pats Briar’s shoulder, and then he turns to me. Nodding, he motions me to the side. “How’s Tim? How bad is it?”
An uncomfortable feeling creeps up my neck. “I don’t know how much you talk to him…”
“Hadn’t heard from him in years until he called me about getting Charley a job. I went and saw him at the hospital this morning. I…” His eyes widen. “I was in shock. I knew things really hit him hard when his wife passed, but I’m angry I didn’t know he was struggling like that. That they were struggling like this.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “We care for our own. Remember that. You’re doing a great thing here, Farmer. You Spring Hill Crew were some of the best decisions I ever made as a coach. You guys put the heart in our team, and I don’t want you to ever forget. It should be like this always. You, Brooks, Michaels, Jonesy, Parker, all of them. They’re your brothers. You don’t want to be like me, twenty years later, kicking yourself because you found out one of them was struggling and you could’ve helped.”
I press my lips together. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Tim will have a lot more assistance now. I told him I’ll come take walks with him. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him now, but he was one of the best defenders you’ve ever seen. Man, he had some heart.” Coach’s lip trembles, and he clears his throat. “Just wanted to tell you what a fine job you’re doing. Never lose this heart.” He starts to walk away but then turns around. “Also, I put in a good word for you with him.”
“Thanks. I’m not sure he likes me very much.”
“That man doesn’t like himself right now, but he’ll get it. I told Charley the same thing. He’s too stubborn to fail. Always was.”
“I’m sure she liked to hear that.”
He claps me on the back. “Alright. Where do they need me?”
He sees some guys struggling to move a section of the ramp into place, so he jogs that way. “Let me show you how it’s done, fellas.”
Man, I love this place. I love these people. It’ll be hard to leave here after this year, even if I do know what I’m going to be doing. At this moment, watching my team—old and new—come together, I can’t imagine not playing football for the rest of my life. The camaraderie. The competition. I don’t care what side of the whistle I’m on, I just want it. The pigskin. The grass. The sun on my face.
We work for several more hours. As jobs get completed, volunteers trickle out. I take note of each one, thanking them for coming.
I’m standing back, staring at the house while Drake, West, and Lex set up the last part of the ramp. It’s unbelievable how it all came together. From the yardwork to the painting. The porch is so much better. It no longer looks like the worst house on the street.
“Young man?”
I turn to find an older man walking toward me.
“Excuse me, do you know these people?”
“The Heywoods? Yes.”
“I’m so glad to see this house looking like this. We just got home from visiting family or I would’ve come by earlier. Is there anything I can do? I always see the poor girl who lives here coming in and out, looking so sad.”
“She won’t be sad anymore, sir.”
“That’s good.” He places his hands on his hips and stares up. “Look at this. I’ve lived in this neighborhood my whole married life, and to see this place get the makeover it deserves. I’ll have to bring my wife out.”
“If you see the girl out here again, you should say hi. Her name is Charley.”
“Charley? I will. I’ll have to get my brain to remember that name. I don’t have a memory like I used to, but I’ll be saying hi to her no matter what. Such a sad girl.”
I rub at my chest, trying to keep the sadness out on such a happy day. I don’t like the idea of anyone describing Charley as sad, no matter if it’s accurate or not. I hope no one has to refer to her in the same way again.
That happy girl. That beautiful girl. Either of them will do.
“Here we go!” Drake drives in the last nail and then throws his hands in the air. “Record timing, Cuz. Man, I wish I had some of these football guys on my team. They are beasts.”
“Yeah, we don’t mess around.” I run up, slapping his hand. “Thanks, man. This was awesome.”
Briar appears next to me. “Let us know what we owe you, and we’ll get the money sent.”
“Come on, Squirt.”
She frowns at him. “No one has called me that in ages.”
He starts laughing. “Sorry, old habits die hard. I agreed to do it for free. I only wanted money to pay my guys, but they said they’ll do it for free, too. I think everyone actually had a good time, and my guys enjoyed the fact that they let other people do all the hard stuff. Plus, I heard you guys paid for the materials. It’s the least we could do.”
“It looks awesome,” I tell Drake, running my hand along the railing.
“It’s completely up to code, permitted, everything. He’ll get to come home and go right in.”
I give him a hug, clapping his back. “See you at Nan’s tomorrow?”
He rubs his belly. “I worked up quite an appetite, so you better get there early.”
“Don’t go stealing all the rolls.”
“I’m not promising anything.” He whistles, the sound shrieking. “Let’s go, guys. I want to get to Spring Hill before dark.”
“Us too,” Lex says. “Reid’s already texted to see if I’m on the way home with Briar.”
“Shouldn’t he be worried about the game?”
“You know how he is,” Briar says, rolling her eyes.
I give them both a hug. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lex and Briar say goodbye to everyone left, then it’s just me, West, Aidan, and their girls.
“What are you guys doing tomorrow?”
“Bails is cooking Thanksgiving dinner, believe it or not.”
“Nothing fancy,” she says. “I got a lot of premade stuff, but we’ll be together and that’s all that matters.”
“What about you guys?” I ask Kenna.
“Heading to my parents’ in the morning. West is in for a treat.”
Knowing West’s story, I bet he is. It strikes me then how similar his story is to Charley’s. Sure, he had both parents, but they were terrible. “You make sure he gets everything he wants.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kenna asks. “My mom is making it her personal mission to stuff him with every possible Thanksgiving dish there is. Even some that I told her he probably won’t like.”
“Hey, I’ll try everything.”
They give each other a look, so much love passing between them. “Thanks again for coming out, guys. Charley is going to flip when she realizes this is one last thing she has to worry about.”
“You tell her we’re all thinking of her, okay?” Bailey says.
“And give her a hug for me,” Kenna states. “And tell her to call me.”
“I will.”
My friends leave, sawdust in their hair, sweat and paint stains on their shirts, but smiles on their faces.
I move out to the lawn just before the fence and snap a picture of the house with the pink-hued sunset behind it. Then, I lock the now repaired and freshly painted front gate, checking out the now neat grass and trimmed bushes.
I say we pulled off a bit of a miracle today. We brought people together, laughed, worked, and all this should prove to Charley that she’s wanted. Cared for. So many chipped in, and I couldn’t think of a better way to show her that she and her dad matter.
Like Coach said, the football life is forever. Her dad is family, even if only because he played on the same team a quarter of a century ago. Bulldogs stick together.
Plus, I’m in love with Charlotte Heywood. She is everything, and since she’s about to embark on a serious journey with her dad, she might as well know it now.
What we have is forever.