21
The facility didn’t usually smell like sunscreen and barbecue.
There was charcoal smoke drifting over the pitch, kids darting between picnic tables, partners and parents clustered along the sidelines where normally the coaches and staff would be standing.
The team had swapped drills for grills, kits for t-shirts, and the hard edge of competition for something looser, and louder.
Family Day.
Claire spotted her parents immediately. They got in the night before, and after a quick meal, she dropped them at the same hotel she stayed in when she first arrived in Auckland months before.
Her father stood just inside the entrance, hands clasped behind his back like he was inspecting a project, rather than a professional rugby sports complex.
He wore a collared shirt, despite the heat, eyes tracking the players with an assessing gaze. Her mother, on the other hand, looked delighted. Sunglasses perched in her hair, floral dress fluttering in the light breeze as she took everything in.
“This is impressive,” Suzanne said, already smiling at a group of players tossing a ball with a pack of kids. One little boy caught the ball and the others charged straight at him. “So much… violence.”
“That’s rugby,” Claire murmured.
Her father took a deep breath, like he was remembering his youth. He was quite content here. “They must keep you busy, Claire Bear.” Cornelius said.
“Doc!” Claire heard a yell from behind the group. “Can you fix this please?”
Claire looked over her parents’ shoulders as Kelsey barreled toward them with a kind of unstoppable momentum. He was trying to re-adhere the butterfly bandage on his eyebrow from when he got a cut the day before.
Kelsey’s beard was trimmed and shaped for this occasion, and he wore black Tevas, shorty shorts, and a shirt that had a little glittery rainbow rugby ball over the left breast.
“Let me see,” Claire said softly as Kelsey had to almost bend completely in half to get to eye level. Claire fastened the bandage back in place and then introduced Kesley to her parents.
“Mum, Dad. This is Kelsey… Kelsey, these are my parents, Cornelius and Suzanne Ashford.”
Kesley outstretched his hand to Cornelius, and Cornelius happily accepted in a strong, firm handshake.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ashford, it is so great to meet you.”
“Oh, please,” Suzanne responded, extending both hands. “Suzanne. And you are… magnificent.” She looked at Kelsey all the way up, to where he was at least a foot taller than her.
Kelsey laughed, a deep, warm sound. “I get that a lot, actually.”
Her father raised an eyebrow.
“And what position do you play?” Suzanne asked, completely enamored.
“Hooker,” Kelsey said proudly.
Suzanne gasped. “Oh, what’s that?”
“The most important person on the team, in the universe actually,” Kelsey beamed.
“I knew it, you look like a hooker.”
Claire choked. “Mum.”
“No, no,” Suzanne waved her off. “That makes perfect sense. You have such a grounded presence. Very… dependable energy.”
Kelsey beamed. “I am dependable. Thank you very much for noticing… Suzanne, was it?”
“You are a gem,” Suzanne declared. “Are you married?”
“Mum!” Claire said louder. “Oh my God.”
“No,” said Kelsey with a dramatic frown, “why do you know any guys?”
“I do know a nice man at the club, you should meet him. Shorter fellow, than you anyways, but I'm sure almost everyone is.” Suzanne took Kelsey’s arm, and he started leading her for a tour.
“I guess size doesn’t matter when you’re lying down,” Kelsey joked, “am I right?”
Suzanne screamed with laughter. As they walked further into the facility, Cornelius walked beside the duo as Suzanne stayed firmly at Kelsey’s side, asking about scrums, injuries, and whether the boys were “eating enough healthy foods.” Kelsey answered every question with enthusiasm and pointed out things in the facility.
It was like they’d known each other for years.
Claire caught Noah watching from across the pitch.
He stood near the edge of the field, arms crossed, expression unreadable – but his eyes were on her parents, not the drills, or the guests on the field. When their gazes met, something in his posture shifted. Claire’s thought went to the kiss.
She couldn’t get it out of her head, but she wanted to. She needed a distraction.
Claire rather enjoyed family day. The grill was going, music blasting, no one was physically injured.
Her dad, now back from the tour, quietly moved next to Claire. She was watching Jack, sitting with a young girl, who Claire assumed was his sister. She made a mental note to introduce herself. She wanted to know this little girl who pulled at the heartstrings of the gentle giant she admired.
Noah noticed Claire staring at Jack and he scowled. Claire’s father noticed too.
“That’s the captain,” Claire said quietly.
“That one?” her dad asked. “He seems very stern. Is he nice to you at least?”
Before Claire could answer, her mom interrupted.
“And who is that sitting there, with that young girl?” Suzanne asked. Suzanne, still attached to Kelsey, leaned over.
“That’s Jack Hayworth,” Claire responded.
“He’s very handsome,” Suzanne nodded casually.
Claire agreed. Jack is very handsome. She couldn't deny it. Seeing her parents here, seeing them fold into this world she’d built.
Despite her comfortability, there was something that was still uncertain.
There was an attraction she kept feeling towards the enigmatic winger, sitting at the table, being the doting, committed older brother.
Claire decided right there that it was the sexiest she had ever seen Jack.
Kelsey came up behind the doctor, slung an arm around her shoulders and declared, “Your parents are my parents now, Doc,” Kelsey said matter of factly, “I love them, and I love you.” He kissed her cheek with a chuckle.
“Wrap it tighter!” Cornelius yelled over Claire’s shoulder.
“Dad! It's as tight as it should be.”
“Listen, Claire, it should go tighter,” he was trying to take over. Claire smacked his hand away.
“You’re not even a doctor, dad!”
“I am a doctor!”
“You’re a Ph.D.!”
They were bickering like school kids while Claire wrapped the ankle of a teenage boy with a cohesive bandage, when Jack appeared at her periphery, grin already in place.
“Doc,” he said. “Got someone important I want you to meet.”
He stepped aside to reveal a young girl around 11 or 12 years old. Her blond hair pulled into a messy braid, eyes wide and full of wonder.
“This is my sister, Maeve,” Jack said, his voice softer than Claire had ever heard it. “Maeve, this is Doctor Claire. She keeps me on the field.”
Maeve studied Claire seriously, then nodded. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Claire said gently, crouching a little so they were at eye level. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“You’re the doctor?” Maeve asked.
“One of them.”
Maeve considered this. “He says you yell at him.”
Jack winced. “I did not say yell.”
Claire smiled. “Only when he deserves it.”
Maeve gave a quick and conspiratorial grin then leaned closer to Claire. “He said everything hurts.”
“That tracks,” Claire said with a laugh.
“Are you his girlfriend?”
Claire was shocked and amused by this unexpected question.
“Uhh…” Claire didn’t answer fast enough.
Jack threw his hands up in embarrassment. “I brought you here for support.”
Maeve shrugged. “What? It's an honest question. You talk about her a lot.”
“Oh my God,” Jack’s cheeks would have been redder if it wasn’t covered by his short cut beard. “I should just quit right now.”
From behind them, Suzanne appeared like a heat-seeking missile, eyes locking immediately on the kid.
“Oh, hello,” she said warmly, bending slightly. “And who are you?”
Maeve straightened, suddenly polite. “Maeve.”
“Well, Maeve,” Suzanne said, smiling wide. “I’m Claire’s mom. And you must be very proud of your brother.”
Maeve flanked Jack. “He’s okay.”
Jack laughed despite himself.
Suzanne immediately took her hand. “Have you eaten? There are fruit and biscuits and – oh, Coach Reynolds has brownies.”
Maeve’s eyes widened. “Brownies?”
“Jeremiah!” Suzanne called, already waving to Coach Reynolds on the grill. “We have a child who needs feeding.”
“Say less!” Coach yelled over. “Come, come!” gesturing to the buffet.
As they walked towards the tables, Maeve slipped her hand into Jacks, and Claire caught the way his shoulders eased. It was like this was the version of himself he trusted the most. Not the brutal warrior on the pitch, but this gentle soul, wanting to love and be loved.