Chapter 30
Vee
Lisa grinned and lifted her eyebrows. “I won’t tell on my son. But if you’d like to help me, I’d be delighted.” She turned to Ashley. “And you could pour Vee a glass of sparkling wine. We’re celebrating having both our sons and their special women here with us this holiday.”
I removed my cardigan and pushed up the sleeves of my blouse. “I’m ready.”
Lisa poured steaming water from a pan filled with chunks of potatoes. After pouring them into a bowl, she laid out butter and cream. “I’m here to help if you need it.”
Looking at the hand mixer I scoffed. “Would you believe me if I said the last time I did this was fourteen years ago?”
“It’s like riding a bike.”
“How do I know when they’re done?”
Lisa grinned. “It’s all about tasting.”
Ashley brought me a glass of sparkling wine.
“Do you want to try?” I asked her.
She lifted her hands. “Zane is the cook in our relationship.”
I laughed. “So is Fin.” I turned to Lisa. “You taught them well.”
“I never believed in boys versus girls. Everyone should know how to cook.”
Half an hour later, all six of us were seated around the Griffins’ table that was filled to overflowing with various serving dishes. Theo carved the turkey as we neared dinnertime. The meat was now sliced and covered a large platter.
Neither Fin nor Zane were shy about loading their plates with Lisa’s feast.
“Don’t complain if the potatoes are lumpy,” I said to Fin.
His smile told me what I suspected. He told Lisa I remembered making the mashed potatoes all those years ago.
For the record, the potatoes weren’t lumpy.
They were delicious, as was everything else.
As we ate, the table filled with football talk.
It was different than with my family. The Griffins were fans of both their sons’ teams. Of course, over the years, both Fin and Zane had moved teams. It seemed Theo held an allegiance to all of them, except the LA Rams, he specified.
Theo smiled at me. “Of course, living in Kentucky, the Coopers have always had a special place in my heart. It’s great to see Fin out there wearing the Coopers’ amber.”
My cheeks rose as I looked to the man at my side and back to his dad. “I couldn’t agree more.” I opened my eyes wide. “You should come to a game.”
Lisa shook her head. “I can’t. I watch their games on television after a fifteen-minute delay. That way, I know that we haven’t received a call saying either of them were hurt.”
I’d never thought about being a mother watching her son. “Well, if you change your mind…”
Theo spoke, “The men on my golf league thought you’d name yourself as CEO.”
I took a sip of my sparkling wine. “My aunt is more qualified at this point. She wants to stay on for a few years and help me learn.”
Fin squeezed my knee. “There’s nothing Vee can’t do when she puts her mind to it.”
“Do you enjoy being on the sidelines?” Lisa asked.
“I love it.” I sighed. “There’s an immersion that can’t be experienced anywhere else. I feel connected to the game, players, and coaches when I’m there.”
“Ashley was on the sidelines too,” Lisa said.
A pink hue filled Ashley’s cheeks. “I wasn’t on the sidelines like you.” She shrugged. “I was a Vikings cheerleader.”
“You were?” I asked. “You’re not anymore?”
She shook her head. “It takes a lot of time.” She lowered her lashes and grinned at Zane. “And after one season of hiding our relationship, I chose Zane.”
Fin spoke. “Zane said you’re an athletic trainer.”
“Currently at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. It’s a D1 school.”
“Wow,” I said, “you’re a trainer and cheered.
I’m impressed. That was a time commitment.
” I didn’t have much involvement with the Coopers’ cheerleaders, but I was aware of the strict NFL rule against fraternization between players and cheerleaders as well as their grueling practice schedule.
During the season, the Coopers’ cheerleaders practiced four to five nights a week.
The evening practices were scheduled so as to not interfere with their daytime responsibilities.
Practice wasn’t their only obligation. Our cheerleaders also had mandatory workouts, community appearances, and full-day game-day commitments. Preseason was even more time consuming.
“I really loved the excitement.” Ashley turned to Zane. “I still attend all the games, but now I wear a No. 53 jersey.”
“We were at the game in Chicago,” Fin said.
“Oh,” Theo roared. “What a game that was.”
Zane grinned. “Just channeling my big brother.”
After dinner, Ashley and I offered to help with the cleanup.
“Nope,” Fin said. “Family tradition. Dad, Zane, and I are on cleanup duty. The ladies get to watch Green Bay kick the Lions’ asses.”
“They have similar records,” I said.
Zane nudged Fin. “He played for Green Bay for six years. They’ll always have his allegiance.”
“Unless I’m opposite them on the field,” Fin said before kissing me softly. “Go. We’ve got the kitchen handled.”
“It’s really nice to meet you,” Ashley said as we sat before the fireplace. “I told Zane I was more nervous about meeting you than I was Fin.”
My lips curled in a smile. “Why?”
“You’re Maeve Hubbard, the talk of the NFL.”
“Oh, I hope not.”
“You are. Owners like you and the Seahawks and the Colts…you’re making a way for women in the NFL that hasn’t always been welcoming. You’re inspiring.”
I lifted my hand to the base of my throat. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Can I get either of you another glass of sparkling wine?” Lisa asked.
We both declined.
“I’m not sure I’ll eat or drink for the next week,” I said.
By the time Fin and I bid everyone goodbye, Zane and Ashley were on their way to the airport. Coming to the Grahams’ for a day trip was easier from Lexington than Minneapolis.
“So?” Fin asked once we were in the car.
“I had a fantastic time. You didn’t tell me that Zane was dating someone.”
“They started dating during last season. I was sworn to secrecy.”
“You kept your word.”
He grinned. “I try.”
“Ashley told me I’m inspirational.” I let out a long sigh. “It caught me by surprise. I haven’t really thought about what other people think about what I do. She compared me to the Indianapolis Colts’ owner, or one of the owners. She’s also on the sidelines.”
Fin squeezed my knee. “You are inspirational, Vee. With all you’ve been through this season, you are a sight to behold, and the heart of the Coopers.”
“Dad used to say that.”
“Dennison told me the other day to let you know the players have your back. They’re there for you.”
Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes. “Sometimes, like right now, I wish I could bottle the way I’m feeling.”
“How are you feeling?”
Opening my eyes, I took in Fin’s sexy profile. “Happy. Too full. Blessed. And if I’m honest, envious.”
“Envious?”
“Your family. You and Zane. There’s no competition. You two support each other. And your parents. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have parents like Theo and Lisa.”
“Get to know them more. Mom can talk too much, especially after a few glasses of wine. Dad…he can be stubborn.”
“Have the men always cleaned up after Thanksgiving? I don’t remember that.”
“Yep. You and Mom went to the living room, and she gave you a recipe for her apple pie.”
“Oh,” I said. “Now I remember. I’ve never made it.” That reminded me. “You told her about me remembering mashing potatoes, didn’t you?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Dad was great. Holidays always depended on the Coopers’ schedule.
It’s just…” I wasn’t sure how to say what I was thinking.
“Dad and Daphne. I don’t know. There’s something to be said for witnessing a healthy relationship day to day.
” Reaching in my purse, I checked my phone.
I had multiple text messages from Leigh.
The first one said.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE NOT HERE. WHY DIDN’T YOU WARN ME?”
“I forgot to tell Leigh I wouldn’t be at Daphne’s,” I said. “Oh.” I kept reading her text messages. “She said that Grant left before dinner.”
“Did she say why?”
“Oh my God. Joe showed up and kissed Daphne in front of the entire family.”
Fin opened his eyes wide. “He’s not married?”
“His wife passed away from cancer a few years ago.”
“Well, that mystery is solved.”
“You’re talking about Daphne and Joe, what mystery?”
His glance came to me and then back to the highway. “Why Daphne contested Reid’s will.”
“Because she was his wife.”
“Because your dad’s attorney wants in on the cut.”
“No,” I said. “Joe and Dad were friends.”
“Do you think this is new or could anything have been going on with Joe and Daphne before Reid died?”
Again, I leaned my head back against the headrest. “I was obviously oblivious. It’s turning into a freakin’ Peyton Place.
” When Fin looked confused, I added, “It’s an old 1950s novel about a quiet town with scandalous secrets—everyone is having an affair with everyone else.
It was super shocking at the time it was published.
Both for the radicalized sexuality and the places some of the people had sex—super taboo.
It blew the lid off the perception that sex was just for procreation. The novel has been banned repeatedly.”
“Peyton Place,” he repeated. “I’ll add it to my Tbr.”
I laughed. “It’s not as scandalous anymore. If you want some hot, steamy reads, I’ll let you borrow my Kindle.”
It was Fin’s turn to laugh. “I prefer participating in hot, steamy sex over reading about it.”
My thoughts went back to Daphne and Joe. Scrunching my nose, I said, “Maybe Dad and Daphne had an open marriage. It just seems wrong for the two of them…”
“There’s no set time for mourning, but yeah, it seems unprofessional, unethical.”