A Player for Christmas: Book 4 The Last Play Series

by Hart, Taylor

  Callie avoided her gaze. “If you can find Daddy?” Her voice was soft.

  Brooks’s heart thumped hard. A million questions washed over him.

  Ana’s eyes glassed over with a sheen of tears. “I’m working on it.”

  Callie finally looked up at her. She grinned. “Let’s not talk about that tonight, Mama. We have Brooks Stone here.”

  They took the elevator to the top floor, and Brooks checked in with the restaurant. Brooks hadn’t understood what a good job the concierge had done until he stood with Callie and Ana and looked out at the Salt Lake Temple. The beautiful grounds, all lit up with Christmas lights, were amazing, and a light snow had started to fall. It felt peaceful.

  Callie was in the middle of Brooks and Ana. She took both of their hands. “This is the best night of my life.”

  Brooks was kind of thinking the same thing.

  Ana let out a light laugh and turned to Callie, her eyes watery. “There’ll be lots of good nights to come. Much better than this.”

  Callie’s smile fell for a second, but then widened. “You’re right, mama.”

  Brooks swallowed the emotion in his throat. He thought about how sometimes, no matter how far behind you are in a game, if you believe you’ve lost, then you already have. But if you have one guy, just one, who takes a chance and does something extraordinary like catch a Hail Mary, the rest of the team gains momentum and believes there’s a chance. He’d just witnessed the Hail Mary, and he felt that momentum start building inside of him, too.

  Yes, she would live. She had to live.

  The host from the restaurant approached. “Sir, your table is ready.”

  He and Callie started to follow the host, but Ana hung back. Brooks turned back to her. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and waved him forward. “I was being overprotective last night. Go ahead and have dinner with her. She’s wanted this for so long.”

  “Mama?” Callie walked to her side. “You come too,” she insisted.

  Tears filled Ana’s eyes. “No, baby, you go have a good night with Brooks. I’m going to catch a cab back to the hospital. I’ll be there to tuck you in.”

  “No,” Callie insisted, almost as upset as she’d been the night before, when Ana had insisted on going.

  Ana smiled up at Brooks. “He’ll take care of you. I trust him.”

  A strong sense of love and protection filled Brooks. The look that passed between him and Ana only made the desire to help them, to simply believe, grow even more. He would catch the pass Ana was throwing his way. He nodded to her.

  Ana put a soft hand on Callie’s cheek. “You have fun. You deserve this.”

  Rapidly blinking, Callie hugged her mother. “Love you, Mama.”

  Brooks blinked. “I’ll get her back by eight o’clock. Promise.”

  Ana released Callie and walked past Brooks, winking at him. “I’ll plan on it.”

  Chapter 7

  Brooks sat across from Callie at the table. It was the best table in the house, with a view overlooking Temple Square. Classical music played softly.

  Callie smiled at him. Brooks realized that the reason she looked so different tonight was because her makeup took away the paleness of her skin. Plus, the wig changed her appearance a lot.

  He was surprised that he felt slightly nervous, that he didn’t want to disappoint her. If her one wish in the whole world was to have dinner with him, he didn’t want to make her regret it.

  She opened a menu. “I love food now that I’m not sick all the time anymore.”

  He opened his menu. “What is your favorite food?”

  Delighted, she pointed to the menu. “Fish. Salmon.” Her grin deepened, and a dimple appeared. “Oh, and chocolate.”

  Closing his menu, he grinned. “Me too.”

  She giggled, and then covered her mouth. “I can’t believe I’m finally having dinner with Brooks Stone.” She closed her menu and then cocked her head to the side. “I mean, I knew I would, but … I just can’t believe it’s finally time.”

  A server took their order and told them to help themselves to the large salad bar. With that permission, Callie hopped up and started towards it.

  After they came back to the table with loaded plates, Brooks pointed to her plate. “Seems strange they have chocolate pudding on a salad bar.”

  Callie gave him a wide grin. “I love chocolate pudding.”

  They both ate a few bites before Brooks finally asked what he’d been waiting to ask. “So how did you know I would come have dinner with you?”

  Callie finished off a bite of chocolate pudding and then wiped her mouth. “I told you. God told me.”

  It wasn’t that Brooks didn’t believe in God. He’d had many experiences going to church with different families, but nothing had ever really stuck. “How did He tell you?”

  Callie grinned even wider. “Haven’t you ever heard that when you’re close to dying, you get closer to God?”

  Brooks had heard things like that, but he didn’t know how to respond. Thinking about this little girl dying made him feel desperate. His heart beat faster, and he couldn’t stop himself from asking the questions. “You look like you’re doing well.”

  She picked up another bite of pudding. “I am. I’m off the chemotherapy and radiation, so I’m feeling much better.”

  Brooks had gathered a lot about the situation, but he still had a million more questions. “But you’re going to Brazil soon?”

  Her face turned sad. “If you can help find my father.”

  He tried to hide his confusion.

  “My mom says he’s been busy with his business, but I know she’s hired some private investigators.” She shrugged unapologetically. “I look at her phone when she leaves it. Mama needs him to sign a release so she can take me out of the country.”

  He hesitated, digesting this, not wanting to upset her. “That’s why you want me to help find your father?”

  This line of questioning made Callie’s eyes shine with moisture, and she turned to look out the large windows. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Brooks looked out the window, too, but he had to keep asking questions. It didn’t matter that it went against all of his promises to not get involved in other people’s problems. “Callie, why do you think I can help find your father? I haven’t seen him in over thirteen years.”

  Her eyes flashed back to him. She pointed up. “I don’t. He does.”

  “Who?”

  Callie grinned. “You know.”

  Intense chills washed over him. “God? You think God told you that I can help find your father?”

  Another wide grin washed over her face. “I don’t think, I know.”

  He was totally confused.

  The server came with their entrées, and the salmon was placed in front of them.

  Callie took a bite and closed her eyes. “So good.”

  Brooks picked up his fork and took a bite, trying to process all of this.

  Callie’s face was serious. “So your ankle is really okay? I saw some of the pics your trainers posted to your account for you.”

  He thought of all the times his trainers told him to pose. He didn’t really like social media, but his agent was insistent that he try to stay connected to his fan base. He thought of her checking those pictures. “It’s fine.”

  “I read on Twitter you’re as strong as before.” Her face lit up with excitement. “I also saw your Instagram pic of the spinach protein shake you’ve been making.” She scrunched up her nose. “It looks disgusting.”

  He actually laughed. “Whatever, it’s delicious. I’ll make you one, and you’ll see.”

  She grinned back. Then she held up a spoonful of chocolate pudding. “This is much better.” She gulped it down.

  In a totally out-of-character move, he took his spoon, scooped up some of her pudding, and put it in his mouth. Delight filled him. “You’re right.”

  She outright laughed. “I wish I had Mama’s phone so I cou
ld Instagram being with you.”

  Grinning, he pulled out his own phone. “We should Instagram our dinner. Come on. Pose with me.”

  Leaning in, she let out a light laugh. “I can’t believe I’m hanging out with Brooks Stone.”

  They put their heads together and posed. He snapped a shot. “Well, you better get used to it, because I might want to take you out to dinner more often.”

  She giggled, and then took some of her pudding and dabbed it on his nose. “Okay.” She giggled again. “Take another pic!”

  Finding himself feeling lighter and happier than he could remember, he took some of her pudding and lightly dabbed it on her nose. “Only if we match.” He leaned into her. “Make a crazy face.” He stuck out his tongue and snapped a picture of them.

  Both of them laughed as he passed the phone to her.

  Her hand went to her mouth, and she giggled. “My old friends from school are going to die.” She picked up a napkin and wiped her nose.

  Grinning, he wiped his own nose and took the phone back. “I’m posting these. Is that okay?”

  Her pale green eyes sparkled. “It’s perfect. Just like I thought it would be.”

  More warmth filled him.

  She picked up her fork and ate more fish. “So you’re playing Christmas day?”

  He nodded and resumed eating. “If things go according to plan.”

  Giving little claps, she grinned. “I love watching you play. Even though I know she would never admit to it, Mama does too.” Then she frowned. “I read an article about how you’ve been sad lately, not going out in public and refusing to do interviews. Has it been hard since your wife died?”

  This was not a topic he spoke with anyone about, especially not a nine-year-old girl. He choked on his food.

  Concerned, she watched him recover as he took a sip of water. “Are you okay?”

  It almost made him laugh that this little girl, dying of cancer and looking tired herself, was asking if he was okay. “I’m fine.”

  “Well?” She waited.

  If it were anyone else, he would have gotten up and walked out, but he couldn’t walk out on her. It was strange to him that she was so open about the possibility of dying herself. She seemed so unafraid of it. She spoke about his wife leaving this world like it was no big deal. Like it was simply a stepping-stone through eternity, the next train stop. Her ease allowed him the safety net he needed to answer. “It’s been difficult.”

  Callie nodded. “Mama said she thought it would be doubly hard not to be able to have children and then die like that.”

  He felt his jaw tighten, and he imagined his public life being talked about so easily on Monday nights when people watched him play. He’d never cared too much about the press until this past year. No version of the story about his wife dying was at all true. “Things were hard for us before the accident. We weren’t always … nice.”

  Tilting her head to the side, her face filled with compassion. “That happens in families. People say mean things sometimes.”

  Brooks nodded and looked away, not wanting this girl to share his pain. She had enough of her own. Yet, he’d told her more than he’d ever told his agent or the team psychologist. Neither of them had been where he was, but they thought they could help, that talking about it would make it all better. It didn’t. Not with them. It seemed that in a matter of seconds, everything inside of him had changed.

  He shook his head and cleared his throat. Brooks wasn’t even hungry anymore. His heart was still pumping as if he’d been running for a touchdown. “Tell me how God told you I’m supposed to help find your father.”

  Callie paused for a beat and then shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  This was completely ridiculous. “When was the last time you saw your dad?”

  At his question, she cast her eyes down to her food. “It’s not like I’ve seen him a lot in my life. I usually went to see him for a week in the summer ever since I was four. My parents were only married for a year. Then my dad split.” She paused. “He came to visit me a couple of months ago—right after I lost all my hair. He told me he loved me, but he had to leave for a while, and I wouldn’t be able to get hold of him.”

  Nervous tension pulsed into his gut. He didn’t know how to ask this. He knew it would sound mean. “Is he out of the country?”

  “We don’t know.” She took a sip of water, and he noticed her hand shaking as she put the glass down.

  “Are you okay?”

  A slow grin washed over her face, and her eyes sparkled. “I’m great.” She took another bite of salmon. “So I’m going to tell you something my mom will be mad about.”

  He had picked up his fork to finally take a bite, but he held it midair and waited.

  “She’s scared.” Callie seemed so matter-of-fact about this that it took Brooks a second to understand what she was saying. “She’s worried she won’t be able to find him before I die.”

  His heart had been beating fast before, but it abruptly stopped. It hit him hard: She was dying.

  Callie took another bite and a sip of water. “I’m not afraid of dying … but I can’t leave her alone.”

  Brooks felt like someone had punched him in the gut.

  “I need to know anything you can remember about where you and my dad used to hang out. I need to know anything that could lead us to him.”

  Brooks sifted through his mind, thinking of the skate parks. That was something they’d had in common. He thought of the ocean and surfing. “Um, I don’t know.”

  “Anywhere,” she pressed.

  “The beach, or skate parks.”

  “No one there has seen him.”

  Brooks was trying to digest that this little girl was helping look for her father so she could get treatment to save her life. It angered him that Ken wasn’t there to sign the form. He tried to focus. “Big Henry’s.” He thought of the fast-food place where they’d spent a lot of time.

  “Already checked; he never goes there.” She sighed. “I thought you’d be more helpful than this, Brooks Stone.”

  He felt put on the spot. “I-I’m sorry.” It felt like such a shot in the dark. Did she really expect one dinner with him to yield the answer to finding her father? A man he hadn’t even seen in thirteen years?

  Putting her fork down and wiping her mouth, her face turned sad. “I see.” All of a sudden, she looked exhausted.

  “What other family does your dad have?”

  She looked up at him. “You know he’s a foster kid. He was abandoned when he was young, and he doesn’t have any family.”

  Brooks knew all about that.

  “You’re the only one he talked about. Like … like he really knew you.”

  He couldn’t believe this. “I’m sorry.”

  She released a breath and smiled again. “That’s okay. I’m sure you’ll work it out.”

  He didn’t know what to say, so he resorted to the truth. “I have to go back to Florida.”

  She grinned. “That’s okay.”

  Chapter 8

  After dinner, he and Callie walked around Temple Square for a little bit, but Brooks could tell she was very tired. So even though she technically had until eight o’clock, they were back to the hospital by seven. Callie’s eyes drooped, and she’d leaned her head against his shoulder on the limo ride back. He’d actually ended up just carrying her through the hospital and back to her room.

  Sleepily, she’d smiled up at him. “I love you, Brooks Stone.” She sighed. “Not in a weird way, though, okay?”

  His heart pounded in his chest. “Okay.”

  Her mother was true to her word. She was there waiting for Callie when he arrived. She put her phone down, helped him get her to the bed, and then waved him away.

  “Will you tell me a story?” Callie asked him.

  “No.” Ana shooed him away.

  “Hey,” he said, not wanting it all to be over. “Technically, we are still on our date. You gave us until eight.”

&n
bsp; Ana gave him a confused look.

  “Please, Mama?”

  Ana moved toward a nightgown on a chair. “Fine. I’ll come get you after I get her settled.”

  “Okay.”

  He walked out of the room and stood in the hall. All kinds of crazy thoughts were flooding his mind: ways he might be able to help find Callie’s father, things that made no sense to him ... the only thing that made sense was the way Callie had looked up at him and told him she loved him.

  He paced in the hallway, hating that his palms felt sweaty. He should be going back to the hotel and then getting on a plane back to Florida tomorrow, but something had taken hold inside of him. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Call it desire, yearning, want … no, something even more. It was something aggressive, similar to the way his emotions spiked when he saw the ball spinning through the air and felt it meet his hands. At that point, all he wanted was the end zone. This felt the same. Exactly the same.

  But the end zone had shifted.

  Brooks pulled out his phone and called Sam Dumont.

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, Ana pushed open the room and came out. “Please just tell her a short one. She needs to get to sleep.”

  Brooks nodded. “Okay, but can I talk to you after?”

  She settled onto a bench outside of the room. “I’ll be here.”

  Callie was tucked into bed, wearing a pink nightgown, when he walked in. Her wig was gone. She cracked open her eyes, and a slight smile flashed across her lips. “H-hey.”

  He sat on the chair next to her bed and then moved it closer to her. She reached her hand out as he sat. Awkwardly, he put his hand over hers. Her small, fragile, pink-tipped hand.

  Closing her eyes, she seemed to relax. “I’m ready.”

  “Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a princess named Callie. All Princess Callie wanted in the land was peace. The land had been a warring land, and Princess Callie knew when she grew up, she would restore a gentle kind of happiness to the land.”

  “I like this story.”