Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Only one time worked out in which to hold their wedding, and that would be during the week of Thanksgiving break.
The volleyball playoffs would run through the weekend before that school vacation began, with the final matches for state titles held Friday and Saturday.
Because Mila couldn’t predict how far her team would go, she didn’t want to leave anything to chance and have the wedding on a weekend before the playoffs concluded.
It was a good thing—because the Pirates made it to the final match.
No sports team in Driftwood Bay had ever contended for a state title, so the town was thrilled to send off the Pirates to Houston, where the match would take place.
George Crumby gave permission for a send-off pep rally to take place in the high school’s football stadium, and many residents of the Bay turned out for it.
When it ended, students and citizens alike lined the sidewalk as Mila and her team boarded the bus bound for Houston.
They would arrive mid-afternoon after a five-hour drive and stay overnight in a hotel.
Carson had worked with her on the budget as athletic director, and he had brought Lily with him to Houston.
Her parents would also be in attendance and had led the caravan of fans departing the Bay.
The hotel where the team was staying had a block of rooms available, and several moms had helped with chaperoning the girls as they played at a Topgolf the previous afternoon and then had a team dinner following that outing.
This morning, Mila had the team eat brunch.
Their match would take place at two, and she didn’t want anyone sluggish from lunch.
The hotel had set aside a small dining room so players and their families could eat together.
A few of the players had given speeches, and Mila was touched by what had been said.
Now, she looked across the locker room at this close-knit group of young ladies.
She would miss the seniors who would be graduating and was excited that Fiona had been offered a volleyball scholarship to Sam Houston State in Huntsville.
Even though Deirdre hadn’t been given the same opportunity, the two best friends had decided to room together, with Fiona majoring in accounting and Deirdre in education.
She addressed her athletes now, smiling the entire time.
“This has been a dream season for me, thanks to every player on this team. A team is defined as a number of people associated together in work or an activity. Our activity was playing volleyball, and every member on our roster definitely put in the work. Some of you contributed in big ways. Some in smaller ones. But it took everyone present in this room to get us to state.”
Mila paused. “State. Let that word resonate through you. We made it to state. From that very first practice back in August until now, we have achieved what very few teams ever do. And while I want that state title so bad I can taste it, no matter what today’s outcome is, we are winners.
You are at the top of your game. We’ve peaked at the perfect time. ”
Grinning, she added, “Now it’s time to go and kick Townbluff’s butt!”
Her team cheered, and they left the locker room, spirits high.
They went through the usual warmup routine, and Mila kept her eye on their opponents.
The Townbluff Trojans had won three previous state championships, two a decade ago, and the other one last year.
They were eager to win back-to-back titles, but her gut told her that her Pirates would prevail.
Both teams were comparable physically, but this team from Driftwood Bay was closer than any she had ever coached or played for.
The pre-game clock wound down, and she called her players over. As they huddled about her, she said, “This is it. Your time to shine. It’s your title to claim. Don’t let the Trojans snatch it from you. Pirates on three.”
“Pirates!” yelled her girls.
While the larger division schools in Texas had to win three games out of five to be crowned state champions, as smaller schools, Driftwood Bay and the Townbluff Trojans would compete in a best two out of three.
Mila had stressed how important it was to take that first game decisively, and her players came through, winning fifteen to nine.
As they switched sides, she finally glanced into the crowd and spied Carson.
He gave her a thumbs up, and she smiled at him.
She couldn’t help but glance down at the diamond solitaire she now wore on her left hand.
Her fiancé had insisted upon an engagement ring.
Though Mila had never worn any jewelry other than small gold studs in her ears, she liked wearing this ring.
The second game was dog-eat-dog, with the Trojans eking out a victory, seventeen to fifteen. Mila couldn’t fault the play of her team. She called them to her before the final game got underway.
“You made them earn every point the hard way that game,” she praised. “No matter what unfolds next, win or lose, you are champions in my book.”
“We’re going to suck the life out of them,” Annie declared. “They’re never going to forget this day—or the Driftwood Bay Pirates.”
The sophomore’s words stirred the team, and they took the court again, a visible energy vibrating through them.
When the Pirates led five to three, Annie took charge.
The next five points were all kills, and Townbluff seemed stunned.
Leading by seven points now, Mila could taste victory. She called a timeout, though.
Surrounded by her players, she said, “Don’t ease up. Don’t give an inch. Don’t get cocky. Confidence is one thing, but don’t get reckless. Stay calm. Stay focused.” She paused. “And go bring back a state title.”
Her girls did exactly that.
When the last point was scored, sealing the title, her team began jumping up and down, falling into one another’s arms. The court was flooded by their fans.
Mila found every girl, hugging them tightly, telling them each something different as she acknowledged their contribution to the team’s success.
Then Carson was there, kissing her, Lily clinging to her leg. Mila scooped up the little girl and kissed her cheek.
“We won, Lily!” she cried. “We won!”
“I’m gonna play volleyball. I’m going to win state,” the little girl declared.
Mila beamed at her soon-to-be daughter. “I’m sure you will.”
Carson kissed her again, and then her parents were congratulating her, as well as so many others who had made the drive from the Bay.
An official claimed her attention, and Mila gathered her team for the trophy presentation.
She accepted the award, and her eyes swept across the bleachers crowded with fans.
“I have never seen such selflessness and camaraderie as I do with this young ladies. They are the epitome of a team in every sense of the word. I accept this honor on their behalf—and for the town of Driftwood Bay!”
Rousing cheers sounded, and Mila knew when she looked back on the highlights of her life, this would certainly be one of them.
“You look beautiful,” Layne said, her smile wide.
Mila hugged her friend. “I’m so glad you could make it to the wedding. I’m just sorry Piper isn’t here.”
“Well, it was hard for her to get away, especially on short notice. I mean, she’s playing Roxie Hart in Chicago—and she’s actually in Chicago doing so.”
“I’m happy for her. I can’t wait for her to meet Carson in person.”
“She’ll love him. Same as I do. You picked a really good one, Mila. And you get to be a mom right away.”
“I worried about what Lily is supposed to call me. Carson said that she called Angie Mama. She really was so young when she lost her mom, but Carson is good about showing her pictures and telling her stories and showing her videos of her and Angie together.”
“So, what is she going to call you?” Layne asked.
“She’s been calling me Miss Mila, but the three of us talked about it. We decided on Mommy. We plan on having kids, and it would be odd for them to hear their sister call me Miss Mila. I’m good with Mommy.”
“You’ll be a wonderful parent to her, Mila,” her friend assured her. “And I can tell how you’ve made her a part of you. Lily and Carson are lucky to have you.”
“Just like I’m lucky to have them.”
Her mom entered the locker room. “Everything is ready. We’re just waiting for the bride.”
While neither Mila nor Carson had wanted a large wedding, especially on such short notice, they were going to have what most likely would be the largest wedding Driftwood Bay had ever seen.
Everyone had wanted to attend the ceremony.
Her volleyball team and students. His basketball players.
Coaches and teachers. People in town. Finally, they had asked George if they could simply hold their wedding in the boys’ gymnasium since it seated so many.
Their principal had agreed to their request, and the reception would follow in the cafeteria, where it was to be a potluck.
Mila had already gone down earlier and seen so many covered dishes, as well as the wedding cake, which had been provided by Seaside Sweets Bakery.
With her volleyball season completed, Carson’s basketball schedule had a small break in his over Thanksgiving.
His boys would be playing in a tournament over their Christmas break, so getting married at Thanksgiving made sense.
They didn’t want to interrupt Thanksgiving Day itself or the weekend after, so they were getting married on a Tuesday afternoon.
“Let’s do this,” Layne said, leading Mila and her mom from the locker room, where she’d gotten ready, to the gym.
She clutched her bouquet as Mom kissed her cheek. Dad appeared, offering his arm to Mila. Layne opened the door and signaled to the orchestra teacher, and his strings students began playing.
Cecily smiled at Mila and then nudged Bobby, who was serving as their ring bearer.
He walked across the gym to where Carson and Michael awaited with the officiant at center court.
Lily and Gina followed, carrying baskets filled with rose petals.
They scattered them along the floor and then stood next to Bobby.
Cecily had slipped into the gym and walked close to the bleachers.
She now signaled to the children, and they joined her, sitting with Mila’s mom in the front row.
Then Layne moved across the gym to the center, turning and smiling widely.
The orchestra ended their tune and then broke out in Here Comes the Bride.
Dad guided Mila along the rose-strewn way.
A lump formed in her throat as she made eye contact with her groom, looking steadily at him the entire way.
The wedding itself passed quickly. Mila vaguely remembered repeating her vows and Carson placing a wedding band on her finger.
She did the same for him, and they were suddenly kissing in front of everyone, now man and wife.
Thunderous applause echoed throughout the gym, and her husband broke the kiss, smiling broadly.
“We did it. We’re husband and wife.”
She returned his smile. “We are. This is the best moment of my life, Carson.”
“I hope we have many more best moments to come,” he replied, kissing her again, much to everyone’s delight.
Then he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led Mila to the cafeteria. Lily ran from the bleachers and joined them. They each took her hand and went as a family, and her heart swelled with joy, knowing she was the wife of this wonderful man and would be raising Lily as her daughter.
The next two hours were also a blur, filled with greeting guests and sampling various dishes. They cut into their wedding cake and fed one another a bite of it. Since they were on school grounds, no champagne was allowed, but they toasted one another with a delicious punch.
When it came time to leave, everyone present lined the halls of the school, all the way out to Carson’s car, which his basketball team had decorated with shoe polish and cowbells and streamers.
Lily ran to them, and they both kissed her, telling her they would see her tomorrow.
She would be staying with Michael and Cecily tonight in order to give the newlyweds some private time.
Carson helped her into the car, and they both waved as he drove from the school’s parking lot back to their house.
Julie Shannon, the middle school coach Mila had hired back during the summer, was taking over her apartment lease, leaving the single room she had been renting.
She was not only taking over the apartment but also Mila’s furniture.
They had decided they would shop for new furniture together for the house, which had broken ground last week.
Carson would go to Houston and retrieve a few pieces that had sentimental value to him, but he would sell the rest, giving them a fresh start as a couple.
He carried her over the threshold and into the house, placing Mila on her feet and giving her a heady kiss.
“I’m thirsty,” she told him. “I need something to drink.”
In the kitchen, they found a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the table and a note. She opened and read it aloud.
Hey, Newlyweds!
The flowers are for the beautiful bride. Champagne is chilling in the fridge. Chocolates are by the bed. Congratulations!
Love,
Keaton & Sullivan
“That was so thoughtful of them,” she said.
“They’re turning out to be terrific friends. I’ll uncork the champagne.”
He did so, pouring it into juice glasses since he’d never seen any flutes in the cupboards.
“To my wife—and a life filled with experiences large and small. I can’t wait to go on this adventure with you, Mila. I love you with all my heart.”
Carson clinked his glass against hers, and they sipped the cold champagne.
“I think this is even better than a state title,” she declared.
“Hmm. Let me win one before I agree with you,” he teased.
Her husband took her in his arms again. “This is the life. Our life. In our town. I thank the heavens that the stars aligned, bringing me to Driftwood Bay—and you.”
As they kissed, Mila knew wherever Carson was, that would be home.