Epilogue
Mazzie
One year later
Sixty thousand fans roared as the San Antonio Stallions kicked off, the sound rattling through my chest as I held our son, Connor. He was strapped to me in a baby carrier and dressed in his daddy’s team colors—silver and black—and he was wearing headphones to knock out the noise level.
“Look, Connor, there’s your daddy on the sidelines,” I said even though he couldn’t hear me. “This is his first game as a starter.”
I couldn’t be more excited for Lucas. As a rookie, he hadn’t gotten much playing time, but one of the team’s starting wide receivers had gotten injured in the last game.
“I am so nervous for him,” said Priscilla, who was sitting to my right.
Lucas’s mom had been supportive and by my side since we told her I was pregnant.
I always believed I could handle anything on my own, including a baby.
I was so wrong. Without Lucas’s mom, I would be pulling my hair out because of the feedings, the diapers, and baths.
She’d invited me to move in with her after the baby was born to help me while Lucas was away for football.
I hesitated at first because I didn’t want to leave Kaylee.
But my sister was well taken care of by the Armstrongs and happy in her home environment.
I didn’t want to disrupt that. I also didn’t want Kaylee to be burdened with baby duty like I had been when my mom had Kaylee.
Regardless, Priscilla was adamant that I concentrate on school and graduate.
Thankfully, after Lucas signed a contract, our financial worries were off the table.
I still worked at the country club. I needed to contribute, but I also needed to save as much as I could for medical school.
Once I graduated, I wouldn’t have the luxury of my dad’s money.
He hadn’t been pleased when I told him I was pregnant, but I didn’t care since he’d never really been part of my life.
“It’s second down,” Kaylee, who was sitting to my left, said excitedly.
My sister knew football inside and out. Since watching Lucas’s homecoming game, she’d been hooked.
The team huddled, the quarterback calling the play, and I couldn’t help but think of Lucas’s best friend, Ryker, now playing for the Portland Pioneers.
The two of them had dreamed of the moment they’d both be playing in the NFL.
While they were stoked for each other, it stung that they weren’t on the same team. Maybe one day.
I watched the play as the quarterback threw the ball. The crowd jumped to their feet as number 23—Lucas—caught the ball.
“Go, Lucas!” Kaylee shouted.
Goose bumps crawled up my arms as we cheered him on until he got tackled on the ten-yard line.
I sat back down, kissing my son on the head. “Your daddy almost scored.”
Kaylee giggled. “You know he can’t hear you, but he is smiling.”
Connor seemed to always have a smile on his face, but this one was nothing like his smile when he laid eyes on Lucas. Oh my. My heart skipped beats whenever Lucas was holding his son.
The teams were in position.
“Come on, Lucas,” I said to myself, bouncing Connor.
The Stallions’ quarterback had the ball. Fans were chomping at the bit for that first touchdown of the game. Lucas’s mom was holding her hands, prayer style.
I glued my gaze to number 23. It was hard to believe that one year ago to the day, we’d fallen into the pool at his party by accident, and since then, we’d gone through bumps and bruises, but I would do it all over again to be exactly where I was—holding our son as we watched his father live his dream.
The stadium lights brightened as dusk colored the late-September sky in orange and gold hues.
It felt like all the fans in the entire stadium were holding their breath through stops and starts and a time-out.
I wasn’t sure I would last the entire game with Connor in my arms. I shifted my position, adjusting him slightly.
At thirteen weeks, he was a healthy fifteen pounds and growing.
Lucas and I joked that Connor would follow in Daddy’s footsteps, maybe not as a wide receiver but possibly a linebacker.
Kaylee looked at her phone then showed it to me. “Look.”
I read the text but had already guessed who it was from.
“Nick will be home for Thanksgiving. Isn’t that great?” she asked, gushing.
Lucas and I weren’t the only happy ones. Last December, Nick Grafton had come back to Lakemont. A DNA test confirmed what Mom had always claimed. Nick was in fact Kaylee’s dad, but that wasn’t a surprise. The resemblance between them was uncanny.
“That’s great news,” I said. “But let’s watch the play.” I didn’t want to rain on her parade, but I would hate to miss a clutch play if Lucas scored a touchdown.
“Sorry,” she said as she pocketed her phone.
The ball was in play, and Lucas started his route, darting to the right then left as he raced to the end zone, his arms in the air, hands ready to catch the ball.
I held my breath as I tracked the ball, which felt like it was traveling in slow motion. When the ball landed in his hands, the fans went wild, including me, Kaylee, and Priscilla.
Even though Connor was strapped to me, I had my hands on him, making sure he didn’t bounce too much.
The Stallions immediately got into position for the extra point, and when the attempt was good, the fans began chanting, “Twenty-three! Twenty-three! Stallions’ victory!”
I was bursting with pride, and as Lucas jogged to the sideline, accepting high fives from his teammates, he glanced in our direction.
I blew him a kiss then lifted Connor’s hand to wave.
This was proving to be one of the best days of my life.
I felt as though I’d won the lottery. The only thing missing was my mom.
I’d hoped she would be out of prison by now, but sadly, her early parole had been denied.
She’d gotten into a fight with an inmate that hurt her chances.
Barring any other issues, she should be released in early November.
Regardless, holding my son in my arms, watching his daddy—the man I loved—shine, I knew we had everything that mattered. As wonderful and chaotic as our lives were, this was our story we were writing together one day at a time.
The end.
Thank you for taking the time to read Undeniable.