Epilogue
The new SUV wasn’t as fast as his old Audi, but Trent needed the cargo space.
He took the Fellsway since it was early afternoon.
After managing to pack the remainder of his personal things into the back, he had a moment of wistfulness at leaving the penthouse.
It felt a lot like he was leaving his old life behind.
Because he was. He had no choice. Scratch that. He’d made the choice when he took the risk. And now . . . he was at peace with it. Even in these stark moments when he had to face down the remnants of his old life like ghosts of football games past.
They’d won the Super Bowl and he was happy for his teammates and coaches.
But he had no illusions about playing another year.
He’d made it clear to his agent, his attorney, his team and the NFL, that he was retiring.
Then he’d made it clear to the fans when he stood on the makeshift stage with the Super Bowl trophy hefted above his head and announced that he’d just played his last game.
In the end, all he had to do was plaster the image of Charlie front and center in his mind and it soothed away any trepidation about starting over with a blank slate.
Because they were both starting over. Together.
They were a permanent team now. Nothing could shake that truth.
They’d been through hell together, were still going through shit.
They knew they could handle whatever came their way.
They would pick up the pieces of their lives together.
He made that decision when he agreed to move in with Charlie to her family home in Melrose. Suzette had moved in with Buck.
Traffic stopped. He turned on his radio. It was turned to Boston Sports All Day.
“This is just in. The University Research Center announced today that they are reinstating Dr. Charline Morneau, fiancée of former Minutemen quarterback Trent Lockheed.
Morneau will continue as principal investigator of her promising designer HGH serum research.
The NIH funding had been withdrawn following the HGH drug trial scandal involving her and Trent Lockheed.
The Research Center is searching for a new director on the heels of the resignation by former director Dr. Baxter Hogarth.
“The Boston Minutemen’s organization has not commented on how this development relates to the decision by Lockheed to retire from the NFL.
Lockheed, who played in the Super Bowl pending the NFL’s investigation into the banned substances violation, has been unavailable for comment.
The final report and decision from the NFL on Lockheed’s status was made a moot point when he announced his retirement after the Super Bowl.
“The scandal began when an investigation into the theft of the controversial experimental serum exposed Trent Lockheed as the John Doe participating in the drug trial being run by his fiancée.
Both Morneau and Lockheed were investigated and charges of larceny were brought against Morneau.
Charges against Lockheed were never made once it was determined he was a legitimate study participant.
“The charges against Morneau were dropped by the University Research Center when Morneau agreed to pay for the serum she stole in order to treat her now-deceased mother for her disease.
Trent smiled. He’d heard from Charlie’s lawyer that morning.
Hiring the high-priced attorney had been his best decision in a tsunami of post-crisis decisions.
Of course, his multimillion-dollar donation to the research project hadn’t hurt their case.
He’d kept the news from Charlie because he wanted to surprise her and, now that it was public and real, it was time to celebrate.
Charlie looked up from the pot she’d been watching, attempting to cook some stew from the recipe and instructions Suzette had left her. It was supposed to be a surprise for Trent, but he banged through the back door into the kitchen now, ruining her plan.
If she’d felt any seed of disappointment, it vanished when she saw the ecstatic grin on Trent’s face.
“There’s the love of my life.” His words sent a zap of pure knee-weakening thrill through her. He closed in, not bothering to take off his coat, and lifted her from her feet to take her in his arms before she could respond.
“Charlie, you’re reinstated,” he said as he swung her around.
Her own laughter almost prevented her from hearing his words, but still they didn’t sink in.
She was too caught up in the energy and joy of him holding her, the sheer thrill of having him—for real, knowing that he was crazy in love with her, almost as crazy in love as she was with him.
He finally stopped and put her down, then took her face into his hands and claimed her mouth, kissing her thoroughly, leaving no doubt about the depth of their connection, that it went well past the sensual.
She felt it down to her toes and through to her very soul.
Butterflies flitted through her gut until a spark ignited in her and she pulled herself close to him, wrapping her arms around him to feel every inch of him up against her.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, she wanted to protest, but the bright light in his eyes made her stop, made her remember his words.
“Did you say . . ?”
“You’ve been reinstated as principal investigator.
You can continue your research at the university.
” He stared intensely into her eyes and she couldn’t help them tearing up, couldn’t help the tightening of her chest, couldn’t help being skeptical at this impossible news.
She thought she’d be banned forever from research after her monumental ethical breach.
“How . . .?”
“I heard it on the news. Just now. Our attorney called earlier to tell me it was likely, but I didn’t want to say anything until the decision was public.”
She shook her head. Then she remembered she’d turned the TV off. She was tired of the constant news coverage. She’d turned her phone off too. It was bad enough the media had her house number and had to disconnect that phone, but now somehow they’d gotten her cell phone.
“I didn’t hear anything. I haven’t been paying attention.” She waved a hand in the direction of the stove, where her big pot of something resembling beef stew sat on a low flame. Trent followed the direction of her wave and widened his eyes. Then he took in a deep breath.
“Are you cooking?” His grin went mischievous and she swatted him.
“Do you think it’s true?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s hard to deny the big pot on the stove.”
She laughed and swatted at him again. “I don’t know how the university could overlook such a glaring ethical breach and reinstate me after that. Are you sure the report was right?”
“Charlie, I told you they would take into consideration the extenuating circumstances of your mother’s and sister’s health.” He held her in the circle of his arms and sighed. “I also told you that the promise of another million-dollar donation would help your cause.”
She opened her mouth and didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure how she felt about bribing her way back into her research project. After all, soliciting Trent for a donation to help her research project was what got her into this mess in the first place.
But then Trent’s money was also what had gotten her involved with him, what led to her falling in love with the man of her dreams, or the man she’d never even thought to dream of.
“I bet if you turn your phone on now, you’ll see a message from Dr. Jonas, the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
” Trent looked certain, so, with shaky hands, she reached for her phone on the counter and turned it on.
It sprang to life with beeps signaling numerous messages.
She checked and listened to the one from Dr. Jonas.
Trent bent his head to listen to her phone with her, wrapping an arm around her as he did, as he always did.
The trustee confirmed the reinstatement.
She could report back for work at a mutually agreeable date and get started on phase two of the drug trials for EM HGH-1.
Almost in tears, she held on tight to the phone and turned to grab Trent’s face and pull him close for a plunging kiss, through her laughing smile.
“I’m so happy, Trent. But not just about the research. I’m so happy about you, about us, most of all.”
“Of course you are,” he said. “I’m a catch.
Tammy tells me that all the time.” He grinned and she laughed, but he turned serious and nuzzled her ear.
“I’m serious about getting married. Before next football season.
” He wondered if he’d ever get over measuring time by football.
He took a deep breath. He intended to replace it with a far more important measure.
“And I’m serious about wanting you to be the mother of my children. Consider yourself warned.”
Months later
When reporter Mike Foley finally caught up with Trent in a phone interview, he asked what they were up to now after their lives had been turned upside down and they landed on their feet.
Trent told him about his new post football life with Charlie.
They lived in Charlie’s Melrose house while Tammy supervised renovations. Charlie carried on her research, collaborating with top research teams in the country doing work in designer drugs with potential promise for treatment of Suzette’s disease.
Her John Doe data showed that designer HGH was not suitable for helping athletes due to the risk of trauma, but more research was being done for that use.
Development of the drug applications were slow, even with new genetic therapy breakthroughs with designer EM-HGH-1 spinoffs of her original serum.
They were together now, so they know the risk they took wasn’t for nothing. She was no longer desperate about her research; no longer worried about Suzette who was happy and living normally for now with limited treatment and with Buck and hopeful of new treatments in the long run.
Trent was at peace with his future as a non-football player. At peace with the decision he made long ago because he now had the money to support medical research like Charlie’s.
He was hoping to go to med school in the fall instead of playing football. He was applying to medical schools now.
In the meantime, he was booked as a motivational speaker and after medical school he planned to contribute more alongside his future wife and her research.
They both were planning to do fundraising for the research as they do it together. They were creating a foundation with the help of Tammy and Suzette.
“Are we going to see little Trents and Charlies in the future? Children?”
“We have each other now,” Trent told him.
Charlie sighed in relief and contentment.
She knew they’d tackle the issue of whether to have children or to adopt and when sometime in the future, but she couldn’t possibly be happier right now at this moment, being with Trent, a man she adored and who adored her right back.
~~ THE END ~~