Chapter 27 Hollis
I pass Lincoln on the way to the microphone. He smiles, giving me a knowing look.
Ignoring the way my stomach clenches as if it’s preparing me for a hard block on game day, I reach the podium.
My hand goes into my pocket, and I silence my phone, hoping like crazy that if Larissa calls, she’ll understand why I didn’t answer.
But as I take the piece of paper with the notes for my speech out of my other pocket, I realize I can’t not see my phone screen.
I’ll be distracted the whole time and wondering if she has texted me back.
So, I put it on the podium next to the scratch paper that Judy left in the goodie box for me.
I read again the words she wrote along the top of the paper.
To my chosen and newest grandson,
You are always welcome at my table.
Love, Grandma Judy
I take a deep breath.
No texts.
I adjust the microphone.
The lights above me are hot. The podium is a little low for my taste. The microphone is loud and screeches as it bounces on its stand, and I reach up and steady it.
I clear my throat.
“I’d like to first thank the Catching-A-Cares Foundation for the opportunity to be here.
At first, I didn’t believe it and was …slightly uncooperative,” I say, getting a chuckle from the crowd.
“But their patience and kindness have been unmatched. So, I’d like to thank them for that.
And to Mr. and Mrs. Landry for personally welcoming me to Georgia. I appreciate you both so much.”
Applause helps drown out the voice in my head that reminds me that Larissa was with me that night.
No texts.
I clear my throat again. “Many of you might know me from my time spent on the football field. Although, if you could forget this past season, I’d be grateful.”
The crowd laughs at what they think is a joke. It’s not.
No texts.
My heart constricts.
Come on, Riss.
“What many of you don’t know is that I arrived in Georgia straight out of foster care.
The system took me in when I didn’t have anyone and made sure I had a safe place to sleep at night.
Because of the families who were willing to open their doors to a wild boy, I had enough stability in my life to find football. ”
I suck in a deep breath.
“Football gave me the outlet I needed to stay out of trouble. It allowed me a safe place to spend my time and to release the aggression I had built up inside me. It gave me structure and coaches that pushed me to succeed when no one else did.”
I glance down.
No texts.
“Thanks to the commitment from the men and women in the foster care program as well as the Union High School Football Program, Coach Herbert made a promise to a guy who was as rough around the edges as you can get. He never gave up on me.”
My voice breaks at the end.
I sniffle and try to keep myself under control.
No texts.
“I had a hard start in life. But the men and women who gave their time—many of them selflessly and without pay—kept me from being a statistic. They literally changed my life. And that’s how I Caught-A-Care,” I say, using the tagline for the nonprofit.
The audience breaks out into applause again.
I blow out a breath and grab both sides of the podium.
“I don’t have any more notes,” I say. “Yet my speech feels incomplete … and I know why. Because my story isn’t over.”
I clear my throat again.
No texts.
Really, Larissa. Please …
“I was sitting by the ocean this morning and wondering what the rest of my life looks like now that football is over. And I realized that, for some reason, I’d assumed that I was on my own now. That just because I’m an adult by every indicator meant that no one cares. But that’s not true.”
I press my thumb on Judy’s name.
“I would like to go on record and say that, while many of us here remember to support children—myself included, there are many adults who need support too. And when a Care is passed our way, we need to … scoop it up and do our part.”
My voice breaks again, and I kick myself.
I slide my hands down my pants, my heart thundering in my chest.
“So, in addition to the many families and coaches that helped raise me, I’d like to thank the handful of people who helped teach this young man about family and love recently.
” I smile sadly. “They welcomed me into their homes and their lives and showed me what it was like to truly be accepted, flaws and traumas and all. Not because someone told them they had to or because I can catch a ball reasonably well … most of the time.”
The crowd chuckles again, making me smile.
“But they chose to … maybe love me,” I say, having to bow my head to make my throat stop constricting so hard. I clear my throat. “So, to my new grandma Judy, thank you. Your love means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
I look up into the crowd to find her.
“And to a family that will probably never speak to me again, but will forever be … a part …”
I lean forward as if that will help me see better.
What the …?
Judy sits on the end in her blue and white dress. She gives me a bright smile and points to her right.
Sitting next to her is, I think, Larissa’s aunt, Siggy.
My gaze keeps moving down the line.
Boone waves when my eyes land on him.
Then sits Bellamy. She gives me the biggest, silliest wink.
And then, next to her, with tears streaming down her face, is Larissa.
My body lunges to the side before I catch myself.
“Where is your phone?” I ask before I can stop myself.
The crowd laughs.
She holds her hands out like she doesn’t know.
Blood pumps through my veins and, while I’m incredibly thankful to the Landrys for being here, I want nothing more than to not be.
I fiddle with the paper, not able to take my eyes off Riss.
“I …” I laugh and look into the crowd.
And for the first time ever, there are people here … for me. With me.
Whatever I thought it might feel like to look into a crowd and see someone there for you—I had no fucking clue, but it’s better. It’s so much better.
“Thank you to the Catching-A-Cares Foundation,” I say. “Thank you so much.”
When I turn around, Lincoln is walking my way. He winks.
“Go get her,” he whispers.
I laugh. “I’m on it.”
I jog down the stairs and along the side of the room.
Lincoln thanks everyone for coming and instructs them on where to donate, but I’m not registering any of it. I walk as quickly as I can across the back of the room and see Larissa and her family exiting the row.
“Riss,” I say, jogging up to her.
Her eyes are clouded with tears. “Hollis, I—”
I grab her face and kiss her with everything I have.
“Let’s try to keep this PG-13,” Bellamy says as she walks by. “People are watching.”
I pull back and rest my forehead on Larissa’s.
“Let ’em watch,” I say, looking into her pretty eyes. “I was calling you. And texting you. Where’s your phone?”
“I turned it off, and now I can’t find it,” she says.
“I’m sorry. I was stupid and—”
“I know.”
Siggy stands beside us. “Hollis, we are so proud of you.”
“Yes, honey, we are,” Judy says, standing beside Siggy.
I release Larissa’s face but grab her hand instead and pull her into my side.
“Thank you all for coming. I mean, I guess you are here to see me.” My stomach drops. “But you might not be. I—”
“Of course, we’re here for you,” Siggy says. “I think you’re family now. Right, Riss?”
I look down to see her smiling up at me.
“Well, he can try not to be, but I’ll just have to keep pestering him with questions until he gets tired of me and agrees.”
I grin at her. “I love you.”
Her eyes grow wide.
“I told you in a voice message, which was probably the total wrong way to do that, but it just came out,” I say with a shrug. “And I should’ve said it on stage so you could’ve gotten your public declaration you were telling me you always wanted, but this will have to do.”
She smiles so wide that the corners of her lips touch her eyes. “I love you too.”
“Well, I love food, and I’m starving,” Boone says. “Can we grab some food and continue this little love fest elsewhere?”
“I’ll call Hillary’s House and have them deliver,” Siggy says. “Everyone, come to my house. Judy, would you like to come?”
Judy clutches her pearls. “Why, yes. I think that would be nice.”
“Fabulous.” Siggy smiles. “We’ll see you all there.” She grabs Judy’s arm gently and helps her out.
Boone slaps my back, drawing my attention away from Siggy and Judy. “Hey, man. Good work on the field and off. I’m glad Riss found a decent guy for once.”
“Well, you can stop worrying because I’m where it stops for her.”
She stills beside me. “You are?”
I look down into her eyes and know it’s true. I can fight it, but it won’t matter.
All the doors that closed up to this point were so that I would walk through this one. And I’m jumping in headfirst.
“I am.” I nuzzle my cheek against the side of her head. “We’re going to need another pact.”
“Oohh, you’re right.” She grins against my side. “What should this one include?”
“Me and you forever.”
She wraps both arms around me. “That’s a relationship pact I’ll be happy to sign.”
The end