Page 57 of Going for Two
Lottie gave me a sad smile as the last few notes of the song rang out. “I hope she’s found some semblance of peace. She passed away almost two years after Olivia graduated high school. I was just thankful she didn’t die while Olivia was still in high school, so she wasn’t stuck with our father.”
My chest ached when I remembered the first time Lottie told me that she had sacrificed so much of her life that she felt like she had missed out. Now I realized that she had played the role of protector for Olivia and had been forced to grow up sooner than she should have. I wanted to add ten million more items to her bucket list and give her the experiences that she had always deserved.
“I’m not sure if this is crossing a line,” I started as a plan began to form in my head. “Can we spend Christmas Day together?”
Surprise flashed across Lottie’s face as if the idea had never crossed her mind and I promised myself there would be a time where she never wondered if we would spend holidays together again.
“Do you care if Olivia is there?”
“I want her to be there,” I told her.
Because I would be damned if those two women didn’t get to experience a Christmas Day full of magic and love.
Chapter 27
Nolan
There wasn’t anything more magical during a Christmas Eve game than snow, and for today’s game, it was coming down in droves. The grounds crew had spent all morning shoveling as much as they could off the field to make the yard lines visible while other staff pitched in to clear out as much of the snow from the bleachers as they could. Bobcat fans were built differently. For other teams, snow games might mean an emptier stadium than usual. Not for us.
When I first emerged from the tunnel at the start of the game, I would have sworn the stadium was even more packed than a normal game as the snow continued to fall. There was an energy that only a game like today’s could bring. Even our mascot had donned a Santa hat for the occasion.
Today’s game was a conference game against the Las Vegas Roughriders and with a win we would bring home the conference championship title. From the moment of the first punt return, I could feel the intensity my teammates were playing with. The excitement carried through the first half as we managed to put a decent lead between us and Las Vegas and as we all sat in the locker room buzzing with the energy for Christmas Eve and a potential win, I had the distinct feeling that today—this moment—would be one I would remember for the rest of my life, regardless of a win or not. Seeing the smiles of my teammates and the lighthearted jokes that happened afterour coach gave his normal halftime speech cemented itself in my mind as one of my favorite moments.
I was surrounded by all the people that were important to me in life—Hawthorn, Derek, Lottie, and my parents, who were watching from my box in the stadium. I felt immense pride as I sat in the locker room and took in the smiling face of Hawthorn, who was on track to kick the most field goals he’d ever had during a single game, Derek, who was in the middle of telling a defensive lineman about how he’d managed to cross up one of Las Vegas’s players on the last drive before the half to score a touchdown, and Lottie, who was standing in the corner wearing a Santa hat, smiling as she took it all in.
Everything happening in my life right now for once felt like it was falling into place.
As the team broke to head back out for the second half, I stopped Lottie just before we exited the tunnel.
“My parents are here today,” I told her. “Would you like to meet them?”
Lottie’s eyes widened at my question, and I realized the kind of pressure I might have just put on her. I quickly began to backtrack, wanting to avoid making this situation anymore awkward than it already was.
But to my surprise, Lottie shook her head when I started to tell her not to worry about it.
“I’ve been hoping I would get to meet your mother eventually.”
The smile she flashed me nearly sent me to my knees. I’d never experienced having someone who cared so much about me and my success andwantedto meet my family. My ex was only ever interested in the optics of attending my game. She was more concerned with posting a picture of herself down on the sidelines before a game or during the game rather than having a conversation with either of my parents.
Maybe Lottie and I had an actual chance.
“Go have some fun,” Lottie told me as I continued to stare at her with a smile on my face.
“Right.” I nodded my head before pulling my helmet on and finding Derek and the rest of the offense.
For once, I didn’t feel the pressure to continue to outperform myself or to constantly give yet another piece of myself to the sport and its fans. As I took the field with my team for the second half, I finally felt at peace.
But the question still lingered, what if I could bring this same feeling into one last season?
“Great game, son!” My father wrapped me in a hug as soon as me and Lottie walked over to where they were waiting in the family room.
“Congratulations,” my mother added as I took her in my arms. “What a wonderful accomplishment for your last season—a conference championship.”
My smile grew slightly strained, despite what we had to celebrate. “It’s coming to an end faster than I had imagined.”
My parents shared a sad smile with me as we silently remembered all the memories we had around the sport of football. But before any tears could be shed, I went to introduce Lottie, who was still standing next to me.
“Mom, Dad, this is Dr. Charlotte Thompson. She’s our physical therapist this year. Charlotte, this is my father, Harry, and my mother, Francesca.” I gestured to Lottie, pulling my parents’ attention away from me. “I owe a lot to her this year. She’s managed to keep me on the field as much as possible.”