The Talk of the Town

Chapter Thirty-Four

Halle couldn’t believe it. She watched as their quarterback threw the ball toward Octavius, but the Peach Ridge defensive player had him covered. Peachtree Cove was down by one point, and if Peach Ridge somehow got this interception, they would win. Her eyes jumped to the timer on the board. One minute to go. She sucked in a breath with the rest of the crowd. Then, out of nowhere, Shania cut across the field and caught the ball. The Peachtree Cove fans cheered.

Laura jumped to her feet. “She got it!” Laura called.

Willie was on his feet as well. “That’s my grandbaby!”

Halle joined the rest of the fans on the Peachtree Cove side who’d jumped up and beamed with pride. Then cringed as the defensive player Shania had cut off tackled her to the ground. The ball remained in Shania’s hands. The referee blew the whistle. Shania jumped up and the rest of the team ran over to her, clapping and cheering.

“That’s it,” Dawn said. “If we score, that’s the ballgame.”

“We’ve still got a little over a minute left,” Halle said.

Dawn waved the Peachtree Cove flag in her hand. “They’ll make it.”

Sure enough, Peachtree Cove scored just as the timer went off. Cheers erupted as for the first time in seven years, Peachtree Cove finally beat their across-the-river rival, Peach Ridge, South Carolina. Halle slapped hands and cheered with the rest of the fans. This was a long time coming. She watched with pride as her daughter was slapped on the back and raised onto the shoulders of her teammates.

Halle couldn’t help but smile. They’d started the football season with people doubting her ability, but she’d proven them wrong. Quinton hadn’t given her special treatment, nor treated her as if she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Shania had wanted to prove not just to the team but to herself that she could make it on the team, and she’d done just that.

“I’m so proud of her,” Willie said.

Halle nodded. “So am I. Let’s walk out of the stadium and get ready to greet them.”

They made their way toward the exit but were stopped constantly along the way. Many of the same people who’d questioned her letting Shania play were now praising her for doing such a great job. Halle let them take back their words and give her daughter the praise she deserved.

“The people in this town are really proud of her,” Laura said with pride when they’d finally made it out of the stadium and got a moment alone.

“They are now, which is good enough for me.”

“I’m glad we’ll be living here so we can watch her play every year.”

Halle gave them a double take. “You’re moving to Peachtree Cove?”

Laura gave her a hesitant look before nodding. “We just made the decision. We mentioned maybe moving to Quinton, but...with everything that’s happened, he probably forgot to mention it.”

Halle didn’t doubt that. Between Tracey’s troubles, their buying the car and the revelation about Quinton’s dad, they hadn’t had time to talk about much else. She was glad Quinton had talked things out with his dad and Khris. It was going to take a lot of time for them to work out the pain of withholding the information, but she was happy knowing Quinton was now speaking to his parents and they were mending fences.

“No, he didn’t mention it.” She tried to sound neutral but wasn’t sure if her disappointment was hidden. She liked his parents, but she wasn’t sure how her and Quinton’s relationship would progress if they kept meddling in their lives or going against their wishes when it came to Shania. Halle wanted time for their family to grow into each other; she worried his parents would force them all together.

Laura stepped forward. “I know you’re worried.”

Halle shook her head. “No, I’m not.”

Dawn snorted. “I would be. My parents are not easy to live with.”

Laura cut her eyes at Dawn before looking back at Halle. “Even though she’s rude, Dawn is right. I know we overstepped our bounds with Shania. We were so happy to finally have a grandchild that we just wanted to do whatever we could for her.”

Willie stepped closer to Laura. “We weren’t able to do things for Quinton or Dawn. We’ve been doing for her what we couldn’t do for him. But we realize that you’re the parents.”

Laura nodded. “I wouldn’t take anyone stepping in and giving what I thought was charity to Quinton or Dawn when they were younger. I’d forgotten how I was like that. Until I saw how upset you both were with the car. We didn’t think it through. I’m sorry, we’re sorry. We’ll respect your wishes and try not to interfere anymore.”

Willie gave her a pleading look. “We don’t want to drive you and Quinton away.”

Halle relaxed, the trepidation from before easing a bit. “I reacted a little harshly with the car. I lost my parents young, and I’m not used to having grandparents intervene with Shania. I’ll also try to be more understanding in the future.” She held up a hand. “But still, no expensive gifts without talking to us first. Please?”

Laura smiled and pressed a hand to her heart. “I can promise that. And, Halle, I know we can never replace your parents, but we’d like it if one day you’ll consider us as your family. If you think you can.”

Dawn bumped Halle’s side. “It would be cool to call you sister.”

Halle couldn’t speak. Words left her brain as the thought of them wanting to view her as their daughter swept over her. Though she’d started to accept that Quinton’s family would embrace Shania, she hadn’t considered them also embracing her. She really wasn’t alone in this anymore. Shania not only had a support system that wasn’t just Halle and her cousins, but Halle would also have their love and support. And she was okay with that. More than okay. “I’d like that very much.”

“Well, Coach, when I’m wrong I say I’m wrong,” Clyde Tucker said after the game.

“Wrong about what?” Quinton played dumb but he knew what Clyde was talking about. The rest of the team had already cheered and celebrated their victory over Peach Ridge. Everyone also acknowledged Shania was one of the stars of today’s game. Her catch had kept them from losing. Quinton couldn’t have been prouder. Though he didn’t play favorites, he couldn’t deny that tonight she was his favorite person on that team.

“About Shania,” Clyde said slowly. “I didn’t believe in her, but you’ve proven me wrong.”

Quinton shook his head. “I didn’t prove you wrong, she did. All I did was encourage her, like I asked you to do.”

Clyde patted his chest. “You’re right. My bad.”

There was no reason for Quinton to hold a grudge. Clyde was a decent coach and a part of this team. As long as he admitted his mistake, Quinton was willing to move forward. “Just keep working with her. Today’s win was good, but the season isn’t over. Playoffs will start soon. Let’s focus on winning those games.”

Clyde laughed. “Alright, but you know as much as I do that this is the real playoff game. Congratulations, Coach.” He patted Quinton on the back.

Quinton gave him a small smile even though he wanted to grin. As much as he played down this game, he was happy as hell to beat Peach Ridge! “Thanks, but we both know this was a team effort.”

They headed out of the locker room toward the parking lot. He wouldn’t be surprised to find the parking lot still full of Peachtree Cove residents celebrating the win and congratulating the kids on finally beating their rival.

What he didn’t expect to find right on the edge of the parking lot was one of the cheerleaders in a shouting match with Shania. Octavius’s girlfriend. Quinton cursed and hurried over as a crowd began to form. One glance and he summed up the situation. Octavius tried to hold back his girlfriend, who yelled at Shania. Shania stood there, arms crossed and disdain on her face.

Quinton immediately moved over to Shania’s side. “Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on over here?”

The girl stopped yelling and Octavius let her go, but she didn’t stop glaring. “Tell your daughter not to be messing with my man.”

Octavius sucked his teeth. “We’re teammates. Why are you acting like this? We were just talking.”

She pointed an accusing finger at Shania. “She wasn’t just talking. A girl playing football. All she’s trying to do is get with some guy. She’s probably giving head to everyone on the team.” A gasp went through the crowd.

Quinton’s anger rose and he glared. Shania jumped forward as if to attack, but he held her back. He stepped in front of her and crossed his arms. “Repeat what you just said.”

The bravado in the girl’s face wavered and she leaned back. “It’s not right.”

“Before you start rumors about a player on my team, one who happens to be my daughter, I need you to think about what you’re doing and the consequences.”

A man pushed through the crowd. He moved Octavius aside and stood next to the girl. “What’s going on? Are you threatening my daughter?”

Quinton looked at him. “I’m not making any threats toward your child. But your child did try to assault my child. Not only that, she’s starting rumors and throwing insults. You better handle her before she’s reported and suspended from school.”

The man’s chest puffed up. “My daughter isn’t going to be suspended.”

Jeremiah rushed forward. “Now, now, everyone calm down. It was just a misunderstanding.”

Quinton turned to Jeremiah. Now wasn’t the time for the principal to search for a compromise. “No misunderstanding.” Quinton pointed to the kids with cameras recording everything. “We’ve got tons of video evidence right here. I want a thorough investigation on what happened and a promise that it won’t happen again.” He glared at the girl’s father. “Understand me?”

The man wrapped an arm around his daughter. “They’re just kids playing around.”

Quinton slowly pulled off his aviators so the man could see his eyes and know he was dead serious. “Playing around until someone gets hurt for real.” He looked at Jeremiah. “Deal with it. Or you’ll be looking for another football coach.” He turned to Shania. “Let’s go.”

She nodded and slid her hand in his. Quinton gave it a squeeze and led her from the crowd.

“Thank you,” she said when they were several steps away.

“Has she said stuff like that before?”

Shania shrugged. “It’s just girl drama.”

“No, it’s not just girl drama. It’s wrong. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I was trying to handle it,” Shania said defensively. “Besides, everyone knows she’s just jealous.”

“Never let people walk all over you. If they think they can get away with it, they’ll keep going.”

“I know. I just didn’t want you or Mom to feel guilty about people teasing me.”

He stopped walking and looked her in the eye. “We’re adults. Our job is to protect you. Not the other way around. Understand me?”

Her eyes watered, but she blinked quickly and smiled. “I understand... Dad.”

Quinton’s world shifted on its axis. He was a dad. And he would protect her for the rest of his life. His own eyes burned, and his throat felt thick. Unable to speak, he nodded, squeezed her hand again and headed toward their family waiting near the exit.