by Kaci Hart
Of course this year she had even more reason to say no. She tried not to pay attention to what was going on with him, but she would occasionally check in on the news to see what was going on with him. It turned out he got his dream and would be playing in the big game that day. As much as she was in agreement with supporting the hometown guy and all, there was no way she was going to subject herself to people wanting to cheer for him and feeling bad for her at the same time.
Besides, she didn’t need their pity and she wasn’t really upset with him. Not anymore. That first night, she was beyond upset; but as time went on, she saw his side. She could understand it even. It had always been his dream forever. Of course he was going to go back as quickly as possible. She didn’t know what she really expected of him except that he had told her earlier. Since that night she had spent a lot of time wondering if the whole thing was silly. If she was behaving like a child.
It wasn’t like Caleb was some guy she’d just met. She’d known Caleb for most of her life and the truth was that she believed she had also been in love with him just as long. Unfortunately, it was too late. He was gone again and she was alone. As usual.
She grabbed a bowl and an ice cream scooper from the cabinet and went to the freezer to grab the bucket of pistachio ice cream. Most people didn’t know what the green stuff tasted like but it was her absolute favorite. She’d started scooping it out when her phone rang. She always hated missing phone calls so she left the metal scooper in a bowl and jogged over to her phone. The screen showed that it was Penny calling.
Just like her to try to make me come out tonight anyway. Ugh.
“Hey Penny. No I’m not…”
Her frantic friend cut her off.
“You aren’t watching the game are you?”
Sarah froze. She felt nervousness in her stomach at Penny’s very worried voice.
“No why?”
She reached for the remote immediately and flicked the television on, turning it to the game.
“It’s Caleb.”
She’d just reached the channel the game was playing on when she saw it for herself. He was lying on the ground and he was barely moving.
“Oh no! What happened to him?”
“I don’t know. He caught the ball and got hit.”
Moments later they showed the replay in slow motion. Him jumping up, catching the high pass before getting hit, and falling to the ground--landing awkwardly. If she wasn’t mistaken, it looked like he was trying to run after the catch and simply fell. As if they were trying to torture her with the injury, they played the fall from at least four or five different angles. She prayed under her breath each time she saw him fall. It seemed like forever until the camera switched back to the live feed that showed him being placed on the cart. She felt a bit of relief when he waved his hand to the crowd to let everyone know he was okay, but knew enough to know that it was something serious.
From the time he was carted off until they gave the unofficial report of his condition after the halftime show, Penny tried her best to console her. When she finally hung up the phone, she picked it up again immediately. She wanted to call him. She wanted to hear his voice and make sure he was all right. She started to dial his number but stopped herself short. He wouldn’t be sitting by the phone waiting on her call. He was in the middle of the biggest game of his life. He certainly wouldn’t have gone to get his cell phone from his locker.
Besides that, the truth of the matter was that they weren’t an item. She had made sure of that when he practically begged her to forgive him and she had ignored him. He’d called her so many times the week after. He’d said everything right and apologized in every possible way but she was so self-righteous that she wouldn’t look past his mistake. Now she realized how stupid her actions were. She’d run off the one guy that she’d ever envisioned herself with just because he made a mistake. She’d done exactly what he was afraid she would.
She put the phone down and sat on the couch. She didn’t deserve to be able to call him whenever she chose. Not after how full of herself she was before. There was no way that she could call him up now and act like she cared. He probably wouldn’t even believe her.
Regardless, he would be fine. He’d been through similar before and he didn’t need her coming to his rescue then.
Chapter Eight
Caleb sat in the stands and cheered as the Stanton Falls High Mustangs played a basketball game. He looked over when Connor sat down beside him.
“Look at the MVP of the reigning Super bowl champions watching a little basketball.”
“Hey. I’m just sitting here wondering why in the world I didn’t just choose to play a safer sport. You think I can switch over and play point guard at my age?”
“I am going to have to say no buddy. You might be the best athlete to ever come out of our town but your skills with a basketball have always been sorely lacking. Even I could dribble circles around you when we were kids and I was a backup my whole time playing for the team.”
The two friends laughed and watched the game for a minute before Connor spoke again.
“So what’s your plan?”
Caleb released a heavy sigh. That was the question that had been rolling around in his mind for the past few weeks. He had just become Super bowl MVP and even though he only played three quarters of the year, his numbers were so good that he could make any contractual demands that he wanted. The fact that he was in the final year of his current contract meant he could sign with any team he chose at just about whatever price he wanted.
That was why his decision that he wasn’t going to play football again was met with such skepticism--but he didn’t care. He knew exactly what he was doing. It was all about what the doctor had said to him the day he got hurt. There was so much more to life than he had known as a football player. He wanted to see those things while he still had a chance to enjoy it. At least that was the way he felt when he made his announcement. In hindsight, he was starting to wonder what he was going to do with himself.
“Honestly don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself. I mean I don’t need the money because I saved fine. Ever since I announced my retirement last week, I’ve had offers from just about every team in the NFL. Even a few Arena League teams and Canadian Football League teams have called inquiring about my services. They don’t seem to get that I’m not playing anymore.”
“Well it was a big surprise to pretty much everyone in the football world. We all thought you’d keep going and get in the hall of fame.”
“I never really thought about that. I just wanted to play but I think it makes sense to quit now.”
“Well for what it’s worth, I think you’re making the right decision with this. You’ve put your body on the line playing football since you were a kid. Let everyone else who wants to complain about you hanging up your cleats try to do it themselves.”
“Thanks pal. That’s how I feel but now I find myself wondering what to do. I always said that when I got done playing, I wanted to move back here. To Stanton Falls. This is my home where all the things and . . . people I love are. But what am I going to do here? I’m considering a sportscaster job that would have me in Dallas on Saturdays and Sundays during the college and NFL season. I thought about it but I don’t know. I don’t want to be one of the talking heads. I like to be a part of the action and I don’t know how that’s gonna happen anymore.”
“Then it’s a good thing you know me because I have an idea.”
Caleb looked at his smiling friend.
“Hear me out. You are a football legend around these parts, I’m sure you’re aware of that.”
“I had an inkling.”
“Well I have been coaching the team here and I do okay but the kids are good. I mean really good. All they need to take that next step is someone with real experience with the sport. Someone like that, I wouldn’t mind taking a back seat to. I can be assistant coach to a guy like you.”
Caleb had never thought about somethi
ng like that.
“Are you offering me the job of high school football coach?”
“Not at all. Just the position. It’s not a job because there’s no pay for it. Well maybe there is but I haven’t taken it for years. Investing it back into the kids. Pads, cleats, jerseys. That kind of stuff. So no pay but everything else, yup. And I’ve already gotten approval from the principal just in case you say yes.”
“And you really think the kids would like having me around?”
“I know they would. All of them have your pro jersey and every one of them wants to wear your number next year.”
“Then maybe I just will do that.”
“Oh you don’t have much of a choice as far as I see it. Besides, it’ll give you a chance to take care of the real reason that you came back.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play silly with me Caleb. Anyone with any common sense knows that you and Sarah have unfinished business. You need to talk to her. Fix what you two had. For goodness sake, at least talk to her about what you are planning, or didn’t you learn anything the last time?”
“She told everybody?”
“No but in case you forgot what you’re coming back to I’ll spell it out. Sarah cries to Penny, who tells her little sister Jamie who is Libby’s best friend. You know Libby’s like my talkative little sister so what she knows, I know. Even when I don’t want to. Anyway, what’s the hold up?”
“There’s no hold up. I just don’t think it’s going to be that easy. She doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”
“Again with the deciding for her. The woman misses you and you are too goofy sometimes to even recognize it.”
“You think?”
“Did I not just explain my connections to you. I don’t think. I know. So like I said, stop wasting time with this game and do what you need to do.”
Caleb stood up and rushed past the other man before turning around.
“You’re a good friend, you know that?”
“Well it’s easy when I’m dealing with a guy who was always too slow for his own good everywhere but on the football field. Now go!”
Caleb did just that as he rushed out of the gymnasium and hurried to his truck. He quickly cranked it and started down the road. He was going to fix things with her, but he had to make an important stop first.
***
Sarah stepped out of the shower and put on her favorite pink terry cloth robe. She was plugging in the blow dryer when she heard the doorbell ring. She glanced at her cell phone to see the time.
It’s eight thirty. Who in the world would just show up at my house at this time of the night without calling first?
There was only one person she could think of who would do that and it was Penny. Her best friend seemed to think that since Sarah was single, she could just come over as she pleased. Sarah had told her about doing just that in the past. She’d promised Penny that the next time she showed up unannounced, she wasn’t going to get the door. Normally it would happen when she was in the living room relaxing but tonight she really was doing something.
Make her wait a bit. She’ll learn her lesson then.
She was going to finish drying her hair until Penny at least called. It wouldn’t necessarily be in advance but it would get across that Sarah meant business. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than her phone started to ring. She smiled a wry smile, thinking that her friend finally got the message. She clicked it on and spoke into the receiver quickly.
“Fine. At least you called. I’ll get the door now, hold on.”
She put her cell down and went to get the door. She was so sure it was Penny that she never checked the phone and didn’t look before she opened the door. After she turned the handle and opened the door, she saw him standing there. She had the only natural response she could think of; she quickly shut the door.
She heard him chuckle on the other side of the door.
“Not the response I expected.”
“Caleb? What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry. I know I should have called first but I couldn’t wait. Can we talk.”
She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror hanging by the door.
You’ve gotta be kidding me.
She was in a bathrobe that was more for comfort than looks, and her hair was a complete mess. Not to mention that she had on no makeup; she didn’t always wear it anyway so that wasn’t the worst thing. Either way, she couldn’t believe he’d seen her look so undone. It was her own fault. Even though he had shown up out of the blue, she still should have checked who was at her door first before opening it up like that.
“Okay. Just. . . just gimme five minutes.”
“Take as long as you need to Sarah.”
As soon as she heard his response through the thick wood door she made a bee line for the bedroom. Once there, she changed into her jeans and sweater. She ran her hands through her hair and was thankful that it was practically dry already.
She walked back to the front door and stopped. She wondered why he was there. Why would he just show up at her house when they hadn’t talked in a couple of months? It didn’t make sense. Then again, so many things about her and Caleb never really did. Truth be told, she was just glad that he was outside.
Relax Sarah. It’s just Caleb.
Of course she knew that wasn’t true. She remembered what her best friend told her so long ago. It was never just Caleb with her. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. When she turned the doorknob, he was standing with his back to the door. He twisted around in her direction and they smiled at each other. She walked outside, and pulled the door up behind herself.
“You didn’t have to do all that. You looked great already.”
She looked at him tentatively.
“Thanks.”
He pointed towards the bench that was to the left of her door.
“Sit with me?”
“Um sure.”
They walked over and sat down. Any other time this scene would be one of the most romantic ones for her but now she just wasn’t sure what to think really. That’s why she just came out and asked.
“So . . . what brought you here?”
“You.”
“It’s my house, I know that.”
“I didn’t just mean here, to your place. I mean here. Back to Stanton Falls. I came back because of you.”
She didn’t expect him to be so direct. She noticed that his demeanor had changed since she walked out. His normal smile was still there. It was in his eyes. His typically playful eyes had a look in them that said everything about what he was saying was important to him. It caught her completely off guard.
“That’s . . .um. . . I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“Then don’t. Not yet. Instead just hear me out Sarah. When I’m done, if you don’t want me to bother you with it again, I never will.”
She nodded slightly at him.
“Sarah, I know I messed up before. I didn’t mean to and I should have known better but I did it and I will always be sorry for misleading you. I can promise you that will never happen again.”
She responded.
“Caleb forget about that. It’s water under the bridge.”
“I won’t forget about it because I’ve lost so much time that I could have been happier. The whole while we were apart, I kept thinking about the time we did get together and the one thing that kept coming back up was how much I missed you. Not even dating you because that was brief. I missed my friend.”
He stood and walked towards the end of the patio before turning back to her.
“You know, I wanted to call so many times but didn’t. I couldn’t see past the fact that you were so upset with me before. I figured that there was no getting back to that place where we could talk at all again. But I couldn’t let go. I knew for sure I had lost the best relationship that I had ever had before I got the chance to see it all the way through. I thought I had a
ccepted it and could live with the consequences but it’s not true. God brought you in my life for a reason and I know that now. Sarah, I can’t let you go without telling you everything I feel about you.”
Sarah’s heartbeat sped up as she saw the emotion on Caleb’s face.
“I told you before that you were and are my perfect woman. Everything about you is amazing to me and I can’t see my world without you any longer. Sarah, I love you and I don’t need the title of your boyfriend to know that. We’ve been dating ever since we were kids. That’s why I know that I need you to be in my life forever. Please know that no matter what you say, I will always love you and I will always be there for you.”
She covered her mouth and her eyes opened wide when he got on his knee in front of her and pulled the small white box out of his pocket.
“Sarah Buchanan, I know that I’ve made mistakes and you have every right to walk away from me right now, but you have to know that you always have been the most important dream that I ever found the courage to hope for. It would mean the world to me if you would make that dream come true and be my wife.”
She gazed into his eyes as he opened the box and showed her the ring. She didn’t even look at it. She didn’t care one bit what the ring looked like. She just wanted to look into the eyes of the man that she was going to spend the rest of her life with.
“Yes.” She felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes as he put the ring on her finger. “Yes I will marry you.”
She jumped up and grabbed him in a hug—one that she wanted to last forever.
