Chapter 38
Vee
Waking on Saturday morning, my first thought was about the man beside me.
Rolling onto my side, through the dim lighting, I stared at his handsome features.
Fin’s dark mop of hair was curly and messy; the highlights of gray were difficult to see.
His prominent cheekbones and sharp jawline were covered in dark stubble.
In sleep, his strong lips were parted slightly.
The urge to lower my lips to his was too strong to resist.
I brought my mouth to his. Only a millisecond later, his lips kissed me back. His warm hands moved, capturing and wrapping me in his secure embrace.
“Good morning.” My voice was gravelly.
Fin blinked, shining his bright blue orbs in my direction. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
Curling closer to his warmth, I sighed. “Better than I imagined.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “I think it was our workout before falling asleep. I was worried that I might wake during the night thinking about things, but I didn’t. I slept like a baby.”
“Always available for workouts, Ms. Hubbard.”
Using his hard shoulder as a pillow, I stared up at the bedroom ceiling. “I’ll be okay.”
“I won’t let you be any other way.”
“No.” I craned my neck to see his face. “I want to win it all. Tomorrow and in two weeks. If we don’t, we made it as far as we did last year. The championship round is an impressive season. And after what the Coopers have been through with Dad, getting this far is an accomplishment.”
Fin kissed my head. “Vee, the Coopers are special. I’ve played for five NFL teams.” He squeezed my shoulder, tugging me closer. “Granted, I’ve never been in love with any of the other owners.”
“I’ve always liked the owner of the Falcons. He and my grandfather were friends.”
“In love, Vee.” His deep baritone voice reverberated through me.
“Head over heels in love. That makes the Coopers special, but it’s more than you and me.
It’s the entire organization. From you to the people on your stadium operations teams, to the players and practice squad.
Losing your dad was horrible. Going through difficult times either tears people apart or brings them closer together.
For the Coopers, I believe it forged us in fire. ”
I turned, holding my chin on my fist, my elbow on the bed.
“At first, I was afraid losing Dad was going to tear my family apart. I’m not saying we’re ever going to be like your family, but I don’t know…
” Thoughts of last night came back. “Aunt Rachel and even Uncle Darin, last night after the incident, I got the feeling they cared about my safety. Right after Dad was gone, I could have believed that Uncle Darin hired the shooter.”
“There was no shooter.” Fin brushed my lips with his. “And I’m glad you feel things are improving.”
“The only one who’s mentioned the trust to me has been Aunt Rachel. She wasn’t mad. In a way, she seemed relieved that there was no longer any question.”
“Does Bre know?” Fin asked.
“I haven’t spoken to her in a while. She shouldn’t have known the wording of the will.
The trust will only matter if her child is my sibling.
I won’t share ownership, but I could agree to be involved in his or her life.
” I took a breath. “As far as the Coopers go, I don’t have the experience my aunt and uncle do, or even that Grant does.
Lip and I are less than a year apart. He’s a little older, but we were in the same grade in school.
We came to work for the Coopers at the same time.
When considering CEO, the others were right about my lack of experience.
What I failed to see was that I have experience that they don’t.
Aunt Rachel told me last night that she’s learning about stadium operations.
In the past, she’d always concentrated on the football side. We’re all learning, not just me.”
“Your eyes shine when you talk about the Coopers. Don’t surrender to a loss tomorrow. The game could go either way. That means we have as much of a chance to win as the Texans. The changes the coaches made are brilliant. I’m betting on the Coopers.”
“You better not,” I joked. “You would be suspended.”
He kissed my nose. “I’m going to miss you tonight.”
“Hopefully, two more nights.”
Fin scooted to sitting against the headboard. “I need to be to the complex by nine for morning walk-through. Are you going in?”
I nodded. “I’ll go there first and then head to Crystal Light.
My directors will be at the stadium getting everything ready for tomorrow morning’s inspection.
” A smile came to my lips. “You should have seen the floor last night. Fran did an amazing job. There were trees and even a Ferris wheel. It was a magical experience. During the night that was all taken down. Now, they’re working to bring back our football stadium. ”
Fin quirked an eyebrow. “I’m going to shower. Would you like to join me?”
As we walked into the en suite bathroom, I noticed the bruising of his left shoulder. It had significantly faded. Under the bright lights, the color was now yellowish-brown. “Don’t tell Lacy I’m the reason you didn’t wear your sling last night.”
“My lips are sealed.” He rotated his left arm in a windmill motion. “It feels good. No pain.”
Under the warm spray, I kissed his shoulder. “There. Now it will be even better.”
We parted ways in the parking garage after a delicious Fin breakfast creation. He had his overnight bag for the hotel, and I had my leather bag.
“When we win tomorrow,” he said, “I’m going to kiss you on the field in front of everyone.”
I broadened my smile. “When we win in two weeks.”
“Deal.”
The morning flew by with meetings and schedule checks. Aunt Rachel, Uncle Darin, and Grant reported the rest of the fan rally went off without a hitch. Even Grant smiled when he talked about the concert.
Lip reported a record-breaking amount of licensed merchandise purchased. His staff was frantically restocking the Coopers’ team store in the stadium.
By afternoon, I drove to Crystal Light. As I parked my car, I remembered last night and chided myself for leaving early.
I should have stayed.
And then I remembered Fin and our workout.
I should have stayed, but I wasn’t unhappy that I didn’t.
Making a brief detour, I went to the locked case holding the Lamar Hunt Trophy in the main concourse. The modern trophy design was crafted exclusively by Tiffany and Company in sterling silver. On the front plate was engraved “Lamar Hunt Trophy – AFC Championship.”
The backplates were permanently engraved with the names of every AFC Championship winning team in history, including the year and the score. In all of Dad’s years with the Coopers, he was never handed this trophy. He believed this was the year.
“I want to get it for you, Dad,” I whispered.
As I walked out onto the floor, I shook my head.
If I didn’t know this was exactly where I was last night, I wouldn’t believe it.
The trees, the booths, the paths, and streams were all gone.
A crew of twenty-plus workers were removing the turf protection system.
It was a heavy-duty interlocking ground cover that protected the turf from the weight of something as heavy as a Ferris wheel or monster trucks and mounds of dirt.
The flexibility was truly amazing.
“Vee,” Rex Stone, my director of field turf and grounds, greeted. “We’re ahead of schedule.”
“It doesn’t seem like the same place.”
He laughed. “Fran can come up with some wild ideas.”
“It was exceptional. Magical. Now we need the magic to hold for tomorrow.”
“I believe in magic.”
In a young girl’s heart. The lyrics played in my head. Dad was a fan of old music. In the Lovin’ Spoonful’s song, they ask, do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?
I wasn’t a young girl. A smile curled my lips, recalling Fin’s parents calling us kids. We weren’t but we were most definitely not old.
“I do too,” I said. “It’s in my heart.”
The next morning, Aunt Rachel and I met the Houston Texans’ owner and his wife for breakfast in a private dining room at the Manchester Hotel.
As we entered, I realized this was where my father met Ed Clark before his death.
They weren’t in a private dining room but in the restaurant.
While the Texans’ players and coaches spent the night at the Marriott, their owner stayed here. It was a beautiful hotel.
“Hello, Rachel,” Carl McDeer said, offering Aunt Rachel his hand.
“Good to see you, Carl,” she replied. “This is my niece and the owner of the Coopers, Maeve Hubbard.”
“Nice to meet you,” I replied as we shook.
“Maeve” —he pointed to the woman at his side— “may I introduce my wife, Hallie.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Hallie spoke. “May we offer you our sincere condolences for your father and brother.”
“Thank you,” Aunt Rachel and I said in unison.
“Shall we,” my aunt said, leading the way to the private dining area. “Welcome to Lexington.”
After we were seated, Carl sat back with a smile. “I appreciate you looking after our trophy for the last few days.”
My smile was tight. “NFL officials brought the Lamar Hunt Trophy Wednesday. While I wanted to take it home and put it on my bookshelf, we’ve had it on display at Crystal Light. You’ll have to go see it when you arrive. It’s stunning.”
“I’ve dreamed about it on my bookshelf as well.”
As I drove Aunt Rachel home, I turned toward her. “Thank you for accompanying me to this breakfast. The hobnobbing with the other owners is new to me.”
“You spoke to each one after Reid…?”
“I did. They were all kind.” I laughed. “Carl is not getting that trophy.”
Aunt Rachel smiled. “I hope you’re right.”
After dropping her off at her home, I headed to Crystal Light Stadium and a beehive of activity. The field was uncovered, the vendors were setting up their venues, and the equipment manager was testing the vital communications.
The Texans’ coaches and players arrived yesterday afternoon in Lexington. I’d been in contact with their equipment manager since the day after their win in Houston. Today’s game was scheduled for three p.m., the first of the two NFL championship games.
Texans vs Coopers.
Vikings vs Eagles.
The second game kicked off at six thirty p.m.
The gates to our parking lot were opening soon.
The official time to allow fans to enter was eleven a.m. Despite the late January conditions, tailgating would soon be in full swing.
While my talented director made last night an event to remember, our fans were the stars of tailgating.
They would set up tents, cook on propane grills, blare music, and get themselves riled up for the game.
By one p.m. the doors to Crystal Light Stadium opened.
Being down on the sidelines, watching the pregame preparation, I felt the air fill with enthusiasm as the fans entered the stadium.
Energy crackled through the air. Coopers amber filled the concourse and seats.
There was the occasional red, white, and blue of the Texans paraphernalia, but the overwhelming color was amber.
I purposely wore the long straight amber skirt I wore during our last meeting with Houston. I couldn’t recall what I wore the first time the two teams played. We won our last game against the Texans. I wasn’t superstitious but wearing the same outfit was my way of recreating that victory.
An hour before the kickoff, both teams entered the field to warm up.
From the sidelines I watched as Troy, Fin, and Josh threw repetitions to different receivers.
While Fin told me about the new plays devised by our coaches, I hadn’t taken the time to learn them.
There weren’t enough hours in a day as it was.
Despite me telling myself this was just another game, as the teams disappeared into the locker rooms, my pulse quickened. The stands were filled, amber as far as the eye could see. The Texans were the first to return to the field with minimal fanfare.
Goose bumps materialized beneath the sleeves of my blue-jean jacket as the overhead lights dimmed. AC/DC’s Thunderstruck reverberated through the stadium and fireworks blasted from the corners of Crystal Light.
The Big Hurt’s resounding voice echoed as he called our team. “Ladies and gentlemen, your Lexxx-ington Coopers.”
The crowd was on their feet.
I held tight to my clipboard as Fin jogged by me.
On the field, the giant American flag unfurled. Today’s holders were Coopers’ fans who competed through a lottery to have the honor. Two hundred winners held tight as our performer from last night sang the National Anthem. Fans removed hats and stood in silence as the song rang out through the air.
Three minutes before kickoff, Troy Dennison and Malik Johnson jogged across the field for the coin toss. They were met by the two captains of the Texans, Sam Anthony, their quarterback, and Dillon Decker, their cornerback and defense team captain.
The visiting team gets to call the coin flip.
Sam Anthony chose heads.
The crowd quieted as on the jumbotron, we watched the official toss the coin into the air. It landed. I exhaled. It was tails.
Step one.
Now time to play.