Chapter 15
Fin
Standing near the back of the suite, my attention went between the game and the sight before me.
Watching how Mom and Vee talked to one another filled me with a sense of family.
They reacted to plays and at times their heads would come together as they spoke to one another.
I was certain Vee could explain every aspect of the game.
I also doubted she was doing that. When you’re one of the most informed people in the room, there was no need to prove it.
In general, those who felt the need to exhibit their greatness weren’t, in fact, great.
In today’s earlier game, Kansas City beat the Steelers in overtime. The Chiefs were ranked fifth in the AFC. If I was on the Coopers’ coaching staff, I’d already be looking at the Chiefs as our next opponent.
I wasn’t a coach. Nevertheless, I wanted to run down to the Vikings’ locker room at halftime.
Sometimes it was fucking painful to watch a game when I genuinely cared about the outcome without being a part of the team.
Despite my six years with Green Bay, I wanted Minnesota to win, for Zane.
The playoffs were a special time. The energy was different, more intense, the difference between a decaffeinated coffee and an espresso.
Last year, the Vikings tied their record with the Bears.
The Bears won the tiebreaker, blocking the Vikings from entering the wild-card round.
Zane made it to the divisional round twice while he played in New Orleans.
Today, both teams were playing tight defense.
If I could be in the locker room at halftime, I’d tell Rowlings to play more aggressively, throw the long passes.
Conservative play wasn’t going to win this game.
I’d also tell the Vikings’ defense to watch for the long pass.
Hughes had an arm and so far, he barely used it.
Short passes and handoffs may have Green Bay up by six, but that was because of the Packers’ two field goals.
“Score some more points,” I mumbled.
“Fin.”
A well-manicured hand with alternating green- and gold-painted nails landed on my arm. I looked up to a soft-brown stare from my past. “Gail,” I said, moving my arm away from her touch. “Long time.”
“When I heard you were here, I had to stop by.”
“I wasn’t sure you still worked for the Packers.”
Gail feigned sadness. “You mean you haven’t followed my career as I’ve followed yours?”
“I admit, I haven’t.”
“LA was a shit season. Jackson should have never let you accept that offer.”
“You know what they say about hindsight,” I said as I saw Vee whisper to Mom before Mom turned back.
Shit.
“We’re here tonight to watch Zane,” I said. “You remember my brother.”
“Of course. Oh, is that Lisa?”
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth as both Vee and Mom came closer.
“Lisa,” Gail said. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Gail.” My mother’s voice was as cold as I ever heard.
Setting down my drink, I placed my right hand in the small of Vee’s back before chastely kissing her pink lips. I turned to Gail. “Vee, this is Gail. Gail, this is my girlfriend, Maeve Hubbard.”
Everyone was smiling except my mom—not the real kind but the ones you carry with you for a moment such as this. They’re our masks that, in fact, don’t hide our true feelings.
“Yes,” Gail said with dramatic flair. She thrust her hand toward Vee. “So nice to meet you. My sympathies for your father.”
Vee shook Gail’s hand. “Thank you.”
“You know,” Gail said, “now I remember seeing a news story about the two of you.” She looked from me to Vee and back. “Now you’re the owner and president of the Lexington Coopers. And…” She turned to me. “Oh my. She owns you.” Her eyebrows came together. “That’s an interesting dynamic.”
Snaking my arm around Vee’s waist, I pulled her closer.
“His contract,” Vee corrected. “Funny how fate works, isn’t it?”
“It sure is.” Gail looked around the suite. “I wish I could stay, but I’m afraid there’s no rest during game day. Of course you know that, Maeve.”
“I do. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise. And if you ever want to come back to Lambeau, don’t hesitate to get ahold of me.” Gail winked before turning and exiting the suite.
Mom put her hand on Vee’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were warned.”
Vee looked up at me with the most assured beautiful gaze. “Nice of her to seek you out.”
“She said she heard I was here.” I lifted an eyebrow. “I would suspect we have Patrick to thank for that.”
“She was wearing a diamond and wedding band,” Mom said.
“I didn’t notice,” I admitted. And the lack of envy told me what I already knew. I didn’t care if Gail was married or not. She was my past. My present and future were in my grasp.
“The second half is about ready to start,” Mom said. “I’m going to get another glass of wine. I might need the whole bottle.”
Vee and I laughed.
I held on to Vee’s hand as Mom walked away. When she looked back, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Vee leaned closer. “I have you now and also a promise or threat for something later tonight.”
I lifted her hand and pushed back her sleeves, revealing her fair-toned wrists. “A promise.”
With a grin, she brushed her lips over mine. “You know, you can sit with Lisa and me. We won’t bite.”
“Maybe later on the biting.”
Vee’s grin grew.
The Vikings started the second half by receiving the kickoff. While I hadn’t gone down to their locker room, by the way Rowlings was passing, the coaches had the same opinions as I had.
The Packers’ zone coverage was hard to penetrate.
Minnesota took seven minutes off the clock and had the football in the red zone. And then the play calls reverted to more conservative.
“Ugh,” Vee said. “Throw the ball.”
My lips curled into a smile. “Listen to my woman making play calls.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, “when something is working, why pull back?”
While I agreed with her assessment, I felt the need to play devil’s advocate. “Using more clock. Less chance of a turnover.”
“Oh!” Mom yelled.
Rowlings was under center. Zane quickly snapped the ball. Rowlings faked a handoff to his running back. The Minnesota wide receiver was open in the end zone. “Throw,” I yelled.
Rowlings threw.
“Touchdown.” Looking around, it appeared there were only five Vikings supporters in the suite. “My little brother is out there.” Everyone knew that.
With the extra point, the Vikings were up by one point.
Green Bay answered with the same aggressive offensive strategy.
While the first half was relatively low scoring, the second half was a test of offensive wills.
With only seconds remaining in the game, Lambeau Field was still filled to the brim.
Outside, the temperature had dropped to the mid-teens, negative if windchill was factored into it. Yet no one was leaving early.
The Vikings were up with a score of 27–24.
The Packers needed a touchdown to win or a field goal to tie.
It was second and goal. Green Bay had the ball on the Vikings’ eight-yard line.
The stadium held its collective breath as the Packers ran a crosser.
The wide receiver ran horizontally across the end zone. Hughes threw.
The ball was caught.
“Touchdown.”
I let out a breath and leaned back. “It was a great game. Zane can be proud.”
The crowd’s cheers turned to boos, their displeasure rumbling like thunder.
The main referee came onto the jumbotron. “The play is under review.”
We watched the replay.
“He was out of bounds,” I said, my adrenaline kicking back in.
Mom had her head down in her hands.
Vee reached for my arm. “It’s up to the NFL, not these officials.”
“He’s clearly out of the back of the end zone with his left foot.” They showed it again, the camera zeroed in on the shoe and the white line. It took more time than necessary, but finally that same referee turned on his microphone. “The receiver was out of bounds…”
More booing.
“…add two seconds to the clock. It’s Green Bay’s ball on the eight-yard line, third and goal.”
The tension was palpable.
The Packers’ fullback couldn’t penetrate.
Minnesota’s defense held.
Green Bay’s field goal squad went onto the field.
I stated the obvious. “If he hits the field goal, we’re going into overtime.”
“Wait,” Vee said. “Green Bay called their last time-out.”
The Packers’ offense retook the field and Vikings’ defense scrambled.
Green Bay ran the same crosser. This time, a Vikings’ cornerback was ready.
Mom, Vee, and I stood. “Interception.”
Ashley and Dad were jumping up and down.
There were tears in Mom’s eyes. “They won. The Vikings won.”
The Vikings would play in the divisional round.
As we walked back to our hotel, we discussed our plan to meet my parents for breakfast. Ashley thanked Vee and I over and over for a wonderful experience.
Those moments were all nice, but it was Vee’s whisper in my ear as we rode the elevator up to our room that had me forgetting about the exciting win.
“Yes, Fin.”