Chapter 16 #2
Sam hesitated, hand on the knob, then went in.
He’d gone to his therapy appointment, which went well, then ate a bite of lunch with Chloe before she went home to pack.
He was taking her to his place for dinner then to the airport for a departure just after midnight.
He had a few hours to kill so he’d rung Frank.
After all, he’d been wanting to talk. Besides, Chloe was right.
Maybe his dad would have advice about the move to the Raiders.
“Come in, come in.” Frank led Sam to a lounge area that overlooked downtown Hearts Bend. The décor smacked of Janice’s taste. Sam liked it. “Coffee?”
“Sure, that’d be nice. Cream, no sugar.”
Frank returned to the couch with two cups and perched on the edge of the adjacent chair.
“I had wanted to give you a part of the Donut Heaven franchise. That’s why I kept calling. But I’m guessing that’s not why you’re here. I read sports news, Sam. Is it true? The Titans are letting you go?”
“They want Fields out of Ohio State. One injury and they’re looking to find a new franchise quarterback.”
“How’s your knee?”
“Good. Dr. Morgan is starting to believe I’ll be ready for camp but, Frank, should I be loyal to a team that’s not loyal to me?”
“Follow the money, Sam. They can get Fields, who’s a good quarterback, for less than they pay you and his legs are fresher, so to speak.”
Sam laughed. “True. But the Raiders?” He stood and paced to the window where he could see the downtown shops. It might be his imagination, but the dark Book Nook window seemed to echo Sophie’s broken heart. He turned back to Frank. “Vegas?”
“Play there and live here.”
“Sounds like a nice rhyme but doesn’t work so well in real life. I’ll have to be there seven, eight months out of twelve. Hey, where do you see this Donut Heaven going up?”
Frank joined him at the window. “See that lot to the south of the bank? I bought it a few years ago and Donut Heaven reached out, offered the franchise to me.”
“Do you really want a chain restaurant here?”
“Not after hearing your speech the other night. Then Janice made me look at Haven’s nostalgic social media posts. I talked to Art. Said if he could persuade the council to side with Haven’s, I’ll do something else with the lot.”
“Th-thanks, Frank. I mean it.”
“Now, what do you do about the Raiders? How bad do you want that ring? Can you get to a Super Bowl with them? What about the Falcons or Dolphins?”
“Bruno says the Raiders are my best option. Yes, I can get to the Super Bowl with them. Maybe not this year but next year.”
“You don’t sound excited.” Frank sipped his coffee and rocked back on his heels, a father standing next to his son, looking out over the town.
“Been wondering if I want the wrong ring.”
“Wrong ring? What do you mean?”
“Maybe I’d rather have a wedding ring.”
“Wedding ring?” Frank nearly spewed his coffee. “What? Who? Don’t tell me that Curvy girl.”
Sam downed his swallow of coffee with a choke. “No, not Curvy Carla. Chloe, Frank. I’m in love with Chloe. Chloe Beason, er, LaRue.”
“Meredith’s girl.” Frank clapped him on the back. “Well done. Nice choice.”
“She’s off to France today. Of course, you knew that before I did.”
“I had a feeling I’d let the cat out of the bag the other night.”
“Her in-laws have something for her. Not sure what that means, or what the future holds there, but I think she loves me too. Well, I know she does but getting over her husband’s death will take time. I’m in no hurry. And, side note, I don’t think she’s thrilled about Vegas either.”
“If I know you, Sammy, you’ll make it work. And I recommend it—marriage.”
“Do you?” Sam faced his father, drawing from a shallow well of courage. “Then why did you cheat on Mom? Why did you get divorced?”
“Ah, well, that…” Frank refilled his coffee and returned to his chair. Sam followed, perching on the edge of the leather sofa. “I didn’t toss your mother out, Sam. She left.”
“Because you were having an affair with Janice. I saw you kissing her.”
“You know, we’ve been wondering for fifteen years if you saw us.
I guessed so by the way you treated me, but I didn’t want to bring it up in case your bitterness was related just to the divorce.
Then Janice told me Chloe hinted at something during my birthday party…
Sam, I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you like a man.
At fifteen, you’d have understood, I think.
At least more than leaving you in the dark. ”
“I came into their house, and you were hugging Janice. Then you kissed her. Two weeks later, Mom left for Charleston.”
“You asked me why and I never told you.”
“I can only imagine it was because she didn’t want to live in a town with her cheating husband.
” Sam regarded his father for a moment, then went on in a low tone.
“What hurt the most is then I realized you weren’t the man I thought you were.
Not the dad I knew. You betrayed everything you said you believed in.
Our family. Your faith. My friendship with Jake was never the same. ”
“The night you saw me with Janice was the night your mother told me she was leaving. I stopped by Janice and Bill’s to deliver some papers and I was so upset I told her everything.
She hugged me and that led to the kiss. We both regretted it the moment it happened.
Believe me, neither one of us liked the fact she was my secretary.
Did you know she quit when she realized she had feelings for me?
She and Bill were having troubles too. We didn’t start a relationship until we were both divorced.
I’m just stating the facts. Not making excuses. ”
“No, I hear you. Mom said she was leaving?” Sam stood, then sat down. This messed with everything he’d believed for fifteen years. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted you to believe the best of her. You knew things weren’t always great between us, that we’d been in counseling for over a year.
What we didn’t want you to see was that we weren’t going to make it.
Your mom wanted out way more than me. She’d been talking to a friend in Charleston for months.
Your mom was on her way out the door six months before she left. ”
“She told me she moved back to Charleston because Gramps and Grandma needed her.”
“Right. I told her you needed her, but she was enamored with this guy from her old high school. Didn’t last. Do you talk to your mother much?”
“Now and then. She sends me people who want to meet the Titans quarterback. I think it’s her way of relating to me.”
Frank laughed. “Now I’ve never done that…”
“No, you haven’t.”
“As for my faith, you’re right. I lost my way for a while.
I wasn’t in a good place with God when your mother and I had our troubles.
But Janice and I are members of the Sunday faithful these days.
” Dad reached across and touched Sam’s hand.
“Don’t base your hope in love and God on me.
Base them on Him alone. Talk to Him. Trust in Him.
Especially if you’re serious about Chloe. ”
Sam was on his feet, walking toward his father, who stood, meeting him in a bear hug. “Dad, I’m sorry, so sorry. I’ve judged you all these years and it was Mom too.” The sting of tears surprised him. “Forgive me for being such a jerk.”
“Of course, of course, and please, I know I failed you. I’m sorry for my part, Sammy, I truly am.”
And just like that, the truth set him free.
Dad invited him to dinner the next week. Sam promised to call and arrange a time. But as he walked out to his car, he knew he had one more call to make. One more truth to be told.
He’d have a lot to talk to Chloe about over dinner tonight.
Settled behind the wheel of his Range Rover, Sam started the car then told Siri, “Call Mom, iPhone.”
He was going to ask for her side of the story, for the truth, and to stop sending him people who loved the Titans. He was going to be a Raider for the next season of his life. But, if at all possible, he’d just like to be her son again, not her famous NFL quarterback.