Chapter 38
Johnson
Twenty-four hours later, the whole gang is packed up to head back to Florida.
When Grace shared her idea with me, it took only a heartbeat to see the sense of it. And when we explained it to Mom and Lainie, they came around fast too, Mom quicker than Lainie.
My sister worried that they would “cramp my lifestyle,” but Grace was quick to emphasize how the four-bedroom guest area was basically like a mini-apartment of its own.
“Besides, I promise you I don’t have a crazy lifestyle.” I explained. “The only two items on my agenda these days are football and chilling so I can recharge for the next game. And now, Grace and you guys. I’ve long had the party life out of my system.”
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Lainie said.
She also got nervous when she realized she’d have to tell Mark.
“Just say it’s a vacation,” Mom advised her. “Because that’s all it is for now.”
Mark’s only reaction to her text about the trip was “fine.” So with everything sorted, we ended up here, with the full crew coming to my place.
Once we’re back in Florida, Mom and Lainie spend Sunday and Monday getting everything set up at my house. My house—now the family house.
“I’ll handle meals as much as you need,” Mom volunteers as she goes through my kitchen.
“We’ll trade off,” I reply. “I have all the recipes you gave me.”
“What does Grace like to eat?” she asks. “Is she over here a lot for dinner?”
That’s the thing, I want her to be? I don’t say that to my mom, but, yeah, after being spoiled this past week by Grace’s constant presence, I wish she was here even more than a couple of nights a week.
And seeing her bond with the other two women in my life is incredible. When she comes over on Tuesday after her classes, she even tells the story of her college track career to Mom, including how it ended.
While I start getting pissed off again listening to it a second time, Mom reacts with tears in her eyes.
“I’m coming to give you a hug, Grace.” The two embrace for a solid five minutes, and I see her whisper more in Grace’s ear.
Later that night, when we’re alone in my bed, I’m not surprised to find that Grace has more on her mind from that conversation.
“Your mom is so different from mine,” she says, rolling to her side to face me. “She’s so nurturing and kind. Actually listens.”
“She’s awesome,” I agree, bringing my hand up to brush tendrils off her face before stroking the length of her hair.
“I prayed for so long that my mom would see me, would support me, like your mom does your family. That she would want to build me up, back me up in my path. But now…”
She pauses, swallowing like the words are tough to say. “Now I realize that it won’t ever happen. Getting to know your mom—it makes me realize that mine had a choice on how to treat us, treat me. And there wasn’t anything I could do to change that choice.”
I reach down to cup her cheek. “No, Goldie, it was all her.”
She nods slightly, my hand still in place.
“You’re perfect as you are. Perfectly Grace.” God, I know exactly what she’s going through, and it’s like I’m talking to myself too. “It’s her loss to miss out on her incredible daughter.”
“Yeah, and look at Landon,” she says as I drop my hand to glide against her neck. “He’s long abandoned the hope of functional parents. She’s missed a chance at a genuine relationship with him too. But she doesn’t seem to care. I literally don’t understand it.”
I think of my own father and the confusion that roared up for years over his seemingly irrational, self-centered behavior.
“There’s no logic behind it, Grace. I know you’re going to search for a reason. Some people have no ability to think of anyone other than themselves, though. And unfortunately, many become parents.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
I give her a peck and then we both slowly lay back down flat on the bed, my arm outstretched over her chest.
After I let her take a few moments to process, I speak up again.
“So everything’s going to get crazy again with football once regular practice begins tomorrow. And now my family is here.”
“The usual chaos in my life. It’s okay.”
I turn to face her again. “Just making sure, you’re still alright with us keeping this quiet for now? Truly?”
She twists my way, a smile starting to creep onto her face. “Yeah, QB1. You have ten regular season games and then the playoffs to win. We’ll delay all the drama until after.”
“Whoa, I think I like the QB1 reference.” I wink. “You may need to roll that one back.”
“Make me come, QB1,” she says, faking a moaning voice and giggling.
Only I’m not joking.
I sit up and slide down between her legs, gliding my hand over her pajama shorts.
“That’s probably in my playbook, Goldie.”
Walking into the Waves building the next day is a wake-up call.
I’d been in on Monday for film review, but the intensity is different today.
Other than some light joking in the locker room about different guy’s vacations, all conversations are focused on one thing: sharpening ourselves up for the second half of the season.
As he kicks off the first offensive team meeting of the week, Marshall is ready with some twists in strategy and personnel assignments for the next game.
I start absorbing his feedback as quickly as I can, doodling out my own versions to help me remember.
We all pay rapt attention as he shows us tape of our next opponent, Dallas, and how to implement some of the formation and route shifts.
Within three hours, we’re on the field, practicing the same.
And while the assimilation back into quarterback mode is abrupt, the immersion is also necessary. It’s football time again, and we’re playing for the biggest prize in the game.
I don’t see Landon much because the defense is also in deep preparation mode together. But he does text me after practice.
LANDON: Sorry we didn’t catch up today. Thanks for taking care of Grace during the storm. She mentioned that.
I cringe at his thank you—yeah, this shit is awkward. But what can I do at this point?
JOHNSON: No problem, man. Trip was good?
LANDON: Yup. I’ll call you after dinner.
And when he does, around seven-thirty, I have to put my finger up to Grace to tell her to stay quiet. We’re sitting in the living room watching a show while the rest of my family is starting the kids’ bedtime routine.
“Your brother,” I mouth to her.
“Hey J,” he says after I answer, his voice enthusiastic. “Damn, it’s good to hear your voice after a week. What’s going on?”
“Oh, man. Well, last week wasn’t exactly chill time like I hoped. First, we had the hurricane, and then, a bunch of stuff happened with my family.”
“Shit, your sister you mean?”
I proceed to explain the whole story, from the first call from my mom all the way to getting everyone here—minus Grace’s part of the equation.
“Now everything is situated, and I love that they’re here. But it was a rough couple of days.”
“That’s a relief. What a d-bag that guy sounds like. Sorry, I know he’s your brother-in-law.”
“No apologies needed. Same page. So tell me about the trip?”
He lets out a happy sigh. “Oh, fuck, insane. We had such a good time.”
“Hi, Johnson,” I hear Rori say in a muffled voice through the receiver.
“Hi back, Rori,” I reply. She can’t hear me, but Landon repeats what I say to her.
“I’m twenty-oneeeeee,” she sings closer to the phone.
“Haha, I’m not going to sing happy birthday to her,” I joke.
“Yeah, don’t break my ears,” he quips back. “You can save it for my birthday.”
“So she’s there?” I ask him. Duh, captain obvious. But I can’t remember when she has that final tournament. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, for this week, through Sunday afternoon’s game. And Rawls and Connor come in Sunday morning for my birthday too. They both have games on Saturday but then will be here a couple days. And Rori leaves for the WTA Finals on Monday.”
“Awesome, I’m glad everyone will be in town for your big day.”
“Twenty-four. We’re getting old, J.”
A thought hits me. “Do you want to use my box at the stadium for everyone coming?”
I bought a suite in the stadium for the season, and I can’t imagine someone as famous as Rori being able to sit safely in general seats. Not to mention, I love the idea of Grace in my box.
“Oh shit, yeah, that would be amazing.”
“Rori and Grace can keep using it even when the boys aren’t in town.”
“Nice, J, that’s huge, thank you.”
“All good. Happy early birthday.”
“Rori definitely plans on coming to all the games once she’s back too. It’s going to be awesome having her hold down the fort at the house, catering to my every need.” He’s laughing by the end of the sentence, clearly teasing her. I hear her say, “You wish, superstar,” in return.
“No, but seriously, thanks,” he says. “She and Grace can entertain each other during the games.”
“Yeah, that’ll be nice for Grace too.” I look at Goldie and wink so she knows the mention of her name is harmless.
Landon’s next words are muffled but I make out, “Woman, why are you taking off your shirt?” Rori’s response is even harder to hear but definitely repeats his earlier phrase “catering to your needs,” and that’s my cue to get off the phone.
“I’m going to let you go, man.”
“Yeah, talk later,” Landon says in a rush before the phone clicks off.
I chuckle and shake my head.
“Good chat?” Grace says, coming to sit next to me on the couch.
“Yeah. Your brother’s in love, and it’s highly entertaining.”