A short time later, after weaving through morning traffic, she arrived at AB&D where her bosses met her with a dozen questions and a collection of cards for her grandmother. She responded to more than forty e-mails and several phone messages, though it took a couple of hours to do so.
At lunchtime her boss Roger appeared at her office door. “Hey, Roger. What’s up?”
“Just wondered if you wanted to grab lunch. Several of us are going out for Italian food.”
“Ah. I wish.” She leaned back in her chair and groaned. “But I’m so far behind on my work. And we have some pending accounts I might be able to acquire for the company if I play my cards right. If I move quickly, which means I’d better stay put.”
“Okay.” His gaze shifted to the ground, which struck her as mighty suspicious.
“All right, Roger,” she said, looking him in the eye. “Out with it. Why do you really want me to go to lunch with you and the other guys? And be honest.”
“Oh, well, we were just thinking. . . ” He squirmed a bit then shrugged. “We were kind of thinking you might want to share some info about Brandon Campbell. He’s lived next door to you for a few weeks now.” His voice grew more animated, and his eyes lit up. “We all saw the articles in the paper and heard the story on TV, so we’re dying to know what’s up. We figured you had the inside scoop on the guy—that’s all.”
Brianna let out a groan. “I might’ve known this had some- thing to do with football.”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be about that. But. . .”
“What?”
“Well, we were thinking—since you live next door to the guy and all—that you might throw a party or something and invite us over. To meet him.”
“Are you serious?”
“Sure. Why not? And besides”—he gave her a serious look—“rumor has it he’s thinking about buying a house in town in the spring, down in the Riverparc area or maybe even Firstside.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Read it in the paper. We’re talking about a guy with lots of money here, Brianna. He’s going to want a mega-house. Or condo. And we were thinking—”
“I could coerce him into becoming a client?” She crossed her arms in front of her and gave him her best I-don’t-think-so look. “Is that it?”
“Well, what would it hurt to let him know you’re in the construction business?” Roger asked. “Really?”
“You’re shameless.”
“Look—you know how important it is to acquire new clientele, especially before the winter sets in. If he buys one of the older houses near town, he’ll need a major remodeling job, maybe even an addition. And if he buys a condo he’s likely to need upgrades. So who better to serve his needs than AB&D?”
“Uh-huh.” So that’s what this is about.
“If we can get his endorsement for the company, business would soar through the roof,” Roger argued. “And it’s not like we’d be using the guy, not really. We’d do quality work, work we’d all be proud of, as we always do.”
“Roger, tell me you don’t mean it. You would not put me in this position. Surely not.”
“Just tell him about our competitive prices and focus on the quality craftsmanship. I can put together a list of satisfied customers from our existing clients.” On and on he went, singing the company’s praises.
She finally worked up the courage to interrupt him. “Roger.”
He backed out of the door, his hands in the air. “Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”
Brianna shook her head and looked down at the papers on her desk. She would not give Roger an inch on this one. If she did, he might take a mile.
After he left, she plunged into her work with a vengeance. His words fueled her, giving her an added motivation to work hard—to put this whole Brandon Campbell thing out of her mind.
Moments later, however, she sat staring at the computer, unable to work. She gnawed on the end of a pencil until the eraser was nearly gone. She thought back over her earlier conversations with Brandon, how she’d been swept in by his beautiful green eyes and his broad smile—not to mention his broad shoulders.
“I’m just like one of those cheerleader-type groupies of his,” she acknowledged to the empty room. “I’m pathetic.”
For a second—just a second—she let herself think about the possibilities of getting involved with someone like Brandon. He had been great to—and for—her grandmother, hadn’t he? And their prior conversations, particularly those at the hospital on the day of Gran-Gran’s accident, had been very sweet, hadn’t they? Surely he was just a normal guy, in spite of the media frenzy.
Just as quickly she remembered the newspaper articles, the stories of where he’d come from, the man he used to be.
Was Gran-Gran right? Had he really changed, or was he simply taking advantage of the media to make himself look good?
Hmm.
Maybe, in spite of all outward signs, he was just a man longing to begin again. And maybe she should keep her opinions to herself. . .and let him do just that.
SIXTEEN
Several weeks went by, and Brandon settled into a routine of daily practices and football games. Playing well became a top priority. After all, Pittsburgh was known for its quarterbacks, and Mack Burroughs seemed intent on adding Brandon’s name to the ever-growing list of greats.
“Pittsburgh is the Cradle of Quarterbacks, Campbell,” Burroughs reminded him daily. “Some of the greatest men who ever played the game came out of the City of Champions, and you’re no different. You’re gonna shine like a star.”
The idea of shining like a star held little appeal, but playing well did, so Brandon spent hours each week perfecting plays, poring over the playbook, and working out with his trainer in the weight room. Between practices and games, of course. And all in an attempt to better himself. To make his new team proud. He nearly wore himself out in the process, but he knew it would be worth it in the end.
As for the players, most of the guys were fun loving and easy to get along with. A couple ran on the arrogant side, but that would pass with time. This he knew from his own history. And four of the guys on the team were strong Christians. One of them—Gary Scoggins—even invited him to church. Brandon visited a few Sundays, then tried a couple of others, including Abbey and Brianna’s church, which he loved. On those visits Brianna had been gracious enough to offer him the spot next to her.
One thing about going to church proved difficult. Thanks to the recent media coverage, folks tended to greet him like royalty. One awestruck pastor even pointed him out to the congregation. Awkward. How he wished he could blend in for a change. Maybe with time.
Somewhere in the mix of all he had to do, Brandon found time to slip over to Abbey’s a couple of times a week for a gab session. And food. Always food. He enjoyed long conversations with her and kept a watchful eye on her healing process. The mending came slowly, but, thanks to physical therapy and lots of prayer, she seemed to be moving a little better. Surely by midwinter she would be back to her old self again. Maybe then he could invite her to a game and make sure she had one of the best private boxes in the stadium, where she could entertain her friends.
The weather in the Pittsburgh area shifted rather abruptly in late October, and by early November he experienced his first-ever snowfall. That same week he received a call from his mother. He predicted her opening line.
“I know, Mom,” he said with a groan. “It’s cold up there.” They spoke the words in unison, but for once he didn’t let them get to him. Undaunted by his mother’s lack of zeal for his new home, he went on to sing Pittsburgh’s praises. And he didn’t have to exaggerate. In spite of the weather, he’d fallen in love with the city already, so much so that his desire to bring his mother there intensified with each passing week. The more he got to know Abbey, the more he felt sure she and his mom would be fast friends. Add Rena and Lora to the mix, and his mother would have to fall in love with Pittsburgh, cold or not.
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“Let’s see how you do this season,” his mother finally agreed. “If it looks like you’re going to be staying in Pennsylvania for more than one season, I’ll agree to pray about it. But I’m telling you now—”
He didn’t mean to interrupt her, but his response just slipped out. “Mom, I plan to be here for the rest of my career.” Where the words came from, he had no idea. To be honest, as much as he loved his coaches and fellow players, he’d never really thought about living there for years to come. Most in his profession were usually itching to move on after a couple of seasons.
Still, it would be great to have his mother close by, and he reiterated that point as he ended the call. He could see himself settled down with a wife and a couple of children, with his mom and Abbey nearby to watch over them.
Abbey?
Hmm. If he moved to Riverparc, like so many of the other players, he probably wouldn’t see much of Abbey.
Or Brianna.
His heart grew heavy as he thought about her. For weeks she’d given him little more than a polite nod or a wave. Even when Abbey had invited him for dinner, Brianna had been noticeably quiet. He prayed she would let go of any pain from the past and give him a chance.
Truth be told, he cared about her. And he wished—he wished she cared for him, too.
The revelation had come over time as he’d watched the way she fretted over Abbey. As he’d heard her laugh with Rena and Lora. As she’d shoveled snow from the driveway.
As she had reached to touch his hand that day in the hospital.
Brandon peeked out of his living room window and sighed as he saw the snow-packed front yard. His mom was right. It was cold up here. And, as he glanced toward Brianna’s duplex, he realized. . .it was even colder. . .over there.
❧
By mid-December, Brandon Campbell had drawn more attention to the team than any other player over the past three years. Brianna tried not to focus on the newscasts, tried to avoid the in-office drama associated with all of the hype. But she had to admit, he had proven to be a great player.
This she noticed as she watched the games in secret in her bedroom.
Between practices he came and went from the duplex, though she had it on good authority—Gran-Gran—that he would soon be listing his duplex with a Realtor. For some reason, the thought of him moving away caused a tightening in her chest, one she couldn’t seem to shake.
Gran-Gran would miss his visits, to be sure. She counted on his great stories and hearty laughter. And Rena and Lora would be devastated, too. If Brandon moved away, they’d lose their claim to fame.
Brianna tried not to think about it. She also tried not to think about the rumors going around that local women now found him to be Pittsburgh’s latest hot bachelor. With all the attention, would he slip back into his old ways? Brianna couldn’t be sure why this bothered her so much. Likely because of his friendship with Gran-Gran.
Right?
She prayed about this very thing as she made her way to the airport the week before Christmas to meet her parents and her brother. She also prayed about her relationship with her father, asking the Lord to give her the right words to say in his presence and to relieve the feeling of pressure she felt in her chest every time he was around.
Brianna met her family in the baggage claim area with a squeal of glee. Her mother wrapped her in a warm embrace. So did Kyle. Her father seemed to be a little travel-weary but offered a loose hug. Maybe he was softening with time.
They arrived back at the duplex, where her mother scurried into action, pouring her attentions into helping Abbey and cooking dinner. Both Kyle and her father seemed intent on meeting Brandon, so Brianna slipped next door to see if he would be willing to stop by for a visit. Unfortunately he wasn’t home. Then again, the Steelers were in the play-offs. Likely he was at practice.
She plodded back home, the bearer of bad news. Kyle seemed to take it well, but her dad looked disappointed. Still, he made polite conversation during dinner, asking Brianna about her job and telling Gran-Gran he would hire someone to paint her house once the spring came. Overall, things seemed to go a lot smoother than Brianna had expected. In fact, by the time the meal ended she felt a renewed hope that God could restore her relationship with her dad.
After polishing off some homemade banana pudding, she ventured into the living room ahead of the others to plug in the lights on the Christmas tree. The whole room seemed to come alive with color. This put Brianna in the mood for Christmas music, so she turned on the radio.
As the vibrant melody of “Carol of the Bells” filled the room, she found herself glancing out the window, looking toward Brandon’s place with a sense of longing. Had he even come home?
Nope. No car in the driveway. He was gone. For some reason she felt a twinge of disappointment. She had looked forward to introducing him to her family. Maybe she would catch him later in the week.
She sighed as she realized the truth of it. She missed him. Missed his funny jokes. Missed the way he always made Gran-Gran smile. Missed the way she felt whenever he was around, the fluttering in her chest, the sense of anticipation whenever he spoke, the glimmer in his beautiful eyes.
Brianna snapped back to reality when she heard Kyle’s voice nearby. “Let me ask you a question.”
“Um. . .okay.” She turned to face him.
“You’re interested in Campbell, aren’t you?”
“W–what?” She tried not to let her expression give her away. “Why would you ask that?”
Kyle shrugged and smiled. “Well, Gran-Gran said a few things on the sly, and the rest I figured out on my own.”
“There’s nothing to figure out,” she snapped.
“Mm-hmm.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “I believe you. ’Course, I used to believe in Santa Claus, too. And the tooth fairy. But what things appear to be and what they turn out to be are often two different things, aren’t they?”
She reached over and gave him a slap on the arm.
“Hey, what’s up with that?” he grumbled.
“Just watch yourself, oh, brother of mine.” She flashed a warning look. “I’ve already got Gran-Gran trying to plant thoughts into my head. I don’t need you doing it, too.”
“Who, me? Plant thoughts in your head?” He chuckled then slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a warm hug.
Just then her mother called out, “Coffee, anyone?”
Brianna turned to see her parents entering the room. Her mom carried a tray of filled coffee cups, and her father followed along behind, holding the sugar and creamer. Gran-Gran brought up the rear, smiling all the way. In fact, Brianna couldn’t remember when she’d ever seen her look happier.
As they settled in front of the tree, Brianna leaned back against the sofa and looked around the room.
“ ’Tis the season,” she whispered. The season to begin again.
SEVENTEEN
The day before Christmas, weather forecasters predicted incoming bad weather. As much as Brianna hated for her family to leave early, she knew catching a flight before the storm hit was crucial. They said good-bye at the airport. Her mother held her in a lengthy embrace, and Kyle gave her a brotherly hug.
Ironically, her father glanced down at her with what looked like tears in his eyes. “I miss you, Bree,” he whispered then planted a kiss on her cheek. She swallowed back the lump in her throat and told him she missed him, too. Then she slipped her arm around him and gave him a tight squeeze.
She pondered her father’s actions for the rest of the day. Had she been wrong to hold him at arm’s length for so long, to somehow pay him back for what had happened to Daniel? Was she still harboring unforgiveness, even after all the times she’d dealt with her feelings?
She fell asleep that night, thinking of the years they had missed, wishing she could make up the lost time.
The following morning she awoke to a white Christmas. Brianna and her grandmother opened gifts together mid-morning. A light snow covered t
he lawn, just perfect for Christmas Day.
“That’s one thing they never had in L.A.,” Brianna said, pointing toward the window.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
They sat for a moment before Brianna remembered she had a turkey roasting in the oven. She scooted off to tend to their meal. After all, Rena and Lora would be here within the hour.
And Brandon.
Why he had accepted her grandmother’s last-minute invitation was a mystery. Now that he’d become the city’s star player he could have had Christmas dinner with almost anyone. But Brandon had chosen to spend this special day with them. . .for whatever reason.
A few minutes later Gran-Gran pulled Brianna into the living room. Her face wore a worrisome look, one Brianna didn’t know quite how to interpret.
“Sit for a minute, and let’s have a chat.”
Brianna sat on the sofa and pulled a blanket over her feet. “What’s up, Gran-Gran?”
Her grandmother’s brows knitted, and her lips grew tight. “You know I’m quite a talker.”
“Clearly.” Brianna nodded with a smile.
“So I’d imagine that for me to say I’m going to have a little trouble sharing this story will put things in perspective for you,” Gran-Gran said.
“Definitely.”
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you,” her grandmother whispered. “Had to wait till just the right time.”
“And this is it? Christmas?”
“Well, Christmas, yes. And something else, too.” Her grandmother’s eyes took on a faraway look. “It has a little something to do with the fact that your father was just here. I’ve been praying the Lord will restore our relationship. Maybe this trip provided a start for that; it almost felt like it.”
“I agree,” Brianna said. “I felt the same way. So is that what you wanted to talk about? Dad?”
“Well, it’s kind of a story that leads up to your father,” Gran-Gran explained. “And I have to go backward in time to another Christmas season years ago. Do you have a few minutes to listen to an old woman ramble?”
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