Chapter 25 Epilogue - 5 months later
Keira
Keira unlatched the side gate and led Amelia around to the back of Coach Grant’s house.
The team had gathered to watch a WNBA game on the outdoor projector on a warm July evening.
She carried several packets of corn on the cob, and Amelia had made a potato salad to go with the barbecue Michael was cooking.
Chairs, pillows, and a couple of bean bags lay scattered on the lawn, all facing a pull-down projector screen.
“Oh, thanks, just put those over there, please.” Michael waved a wire brush at an empty fold-out table, then returned to scrubbing the grill. “I’ll have this going shortly. Drinks are inside.” Jenna bustled around him, unfolding some camping chairs and tidying up after him.
Amelia put down the bowl as instructed and wiped her hands, damp from the condensation, on her shorts. She looked momentarily confused, then shoved her hands inside her pockets.
“Shit, I forgot my keys.” She checked her pockets again.
“It’s okay, I’ve got mine.” Keira put down her container as well. “You’ve probably left yours on the kitchen counter again.”
They got some drinks and had returned to outside when the gate creaked open. Evie walked in, pushing four week old Annabelle in her pram; TJ walked behind, carrying a large backpack full of baby supplies.
“Oh, my gosh, hi!” Amelia said. Her voice was so high-pitched that Keira almost didn’t recognise it. She stepped up next to the navy blue pram and peered inside, finding a sleeping cherub face.
“No touching, please. She’s still so new.”
“Of course. She’s so cute.” Keira placed her hands on Amelia’s shoulders as they stared down at the tiny miracle.
“I’m going to take her inside,” Evie said quietly. “I don’t want her out in the sun too much.”
“I can do it,” Jenna appeared at their side as if summoned by the new baby smell.
“Here, let me,” Michael said, almost hip-checking both Evie and Jenna out of the way as he escorted his young granddaughter inside, still wearing his chef’s apron.
“I guess we’re off duty for a few hours,” TJ said and slung the bag down next to a beanbag, collapsing into it, his eyes already half closed.
Amelia and Keira took turns gently hugging Evie, who seemed happy despite the dark rings under her eyes.
“How is it all going?” Amelia asked, gently guiding Evie to a chair.
“Oh, you know…” Evie said. “I don’t remember what sleep is. I feel like a cow on a dairy farm. But it’s worth it.” After a moment, she said, “I can’t lie, though. I can’t wait to get back to basketball. Even if I’m on maternity leave for another eight months. I’ve missed it.”
“And we’ve missed you.” Keira sat down next to her.
“You guys seemed to do alright without me last season, finishing with four wins.” Evie sulked.
“We could have done better with you, though!” Amelia interjected.
“Thanks, guys.”
“We’ve done well enough to get more funding for next season, at least,” Amelia continued with a knowing smile.
“Oh?” Keira asked. It was the first she’d heard of it. “For what?”
“You’ll find out soon,” Amelia said cryptically.
The rest of the team arrived in dribs and drabs, bringing various small containers of food with them. Except for Lucy, who turned up with a ridiculous number of burger and hot dog buns. Asha rolled her eyes and helped her best friend unload the giant stack of bread.
It wasn’t long before the back garden filled with the sound of playful banter among their teammates relaxing after a long season. Coach Grant fiddled with the projector for about ten minutes before the game was due to start. Everyone got excited, talking loudly, but TJ quickly shushed them.
“Annabelle is still sleeping!” he said, looking accusatory around at everyone. Evie put a calming hand on his arm.
“She’ll have to get used to it, if she’s going to come to games with us,” Evie said gently. TJ grumbled, but he didn’t disagree.
It wasn’t long before the game got underway. Keira quickly pointed out Sonia on the bench, and tensed up every time there was a chance for her to be subbed in.
“They don’t play her enough,” she grumbled when there was another player substitution, but it still wasn’t Sonia. “She barely gets any minutes.”
“Well, that might be about to change.” Coach Grant took the seat on the other side of Keira. Amelia grinned.
“Huh?”
“I have it on good authority that Sonia’s contract only runs to the end of the season, after which she’s changing to a team that will better appreciate her talents.”
“What?!” Keira exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention. Amelia shushed her. “What?” Keira repeated, more quietly. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because it has to be kept quiet, until the end of her season. Plus, we’ve only just got everything finalised.”
“We?” Keira looked between Amelia and Coach Grant.
“She’s signing for us, Keira,” Amelia grinned, and Keira’s jaw hit the floor.
“Seriously? You’re not pulling my leg right now?” she asked, her whole body vibrating.
“Seriously,” Amelia said. “She isn’t supposed to tell anyone, but, you needed to know so you could appreciate” — Amelia dug around in her pockets — “that these tickets might be for her last WNBA game.”
Amelia handed Keira four tickets, two for a WNBA game next month, and two plane tickets.
“With your dad getting the all clear… I thought we could go. See the sights. Make a holiday of it.”
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she engulfed her girlfriend in a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered, then leaned in for a kiss. She would never tire of the butterflies she experienced every time their lips met.
A little before halftime, Annabelle woke up, and Evie disappeared to feed her. She came back when the game was getting underway again, and brought a now wide awake Annabelle with her.
“Now everyone’s here,” Michael said, looking lovingly at his granddaughter. “Team photo? Before you all get distracted by sports ball again.” He chuckled.
They all shuffled closer, centring around Evie holding tiny Annabelle in her arms, flanked by her overprotective father and auntie.
“Okay, everyone, quietly. Blizzards on three!” Michael said, and everyone laughed.
“1…2…3… Blizzards!” they all whisper-yelled. Keira felt Amelia’s arms tighten around her waist.
“I love you,” Keira whispered in Amelia’s ear as the team separated and went back to their seats.
“I love you, too,” Amelia replied with a smile, sounding contented.
Keira relaxed back into her chair, basking in the evening sun and being surrounded by her friends. With her girlfriend’s hand in her own, hanging out with her team, and her dad officially cancer free, life couldn't get any better.