"Hey, it's going to be okay," Duncan says, taking my hand as I stand in the short-term parking lot. "Come on, if this Volvo doesn't convince them that I'm a changed man who is worthy of their daughter's hand, I'm not sure what will. Unfortunately, I can't remove the tatts easily."
"What are you talking about? You added to your ink," I remind him, touching his chest. It had been a spur of the moment decision, but we both sported ink now, Duncan wearing 'Carrie' over his heart while I now have 'Duncan' inscribed on the inside of my left wrist. I'd wanted it over my heart as well, but Duncan asked that I not put ink on, what he called, the most perfect breasts ever created. "I still feel weird not wearing my ring to keep this surprise. Just make sure you keep your shirt on until after we tell my folks, okay?"
"That shouldn't be a problem. I doubt your Dad wants to see me shirtless anyway," Duncan teases back, taking my hand and kissing the fingertips before holding it. "It'll be okay."
I nod, and we walk into the baggage terminal. Mom and Dad's flight is supposed to land in just a few minutes, so we're definitely early. I take a seat on one of the benches, Duncan taking the seat next to me.
"I know it's going to be okay, I just . . . my parents, you know?" I say, taking a seat. "I'd like to keep things good between us. I'm not blaming you for your relationship with your parents. Your dad is a certifiable bastard, but it'd be nice if our baby has at least one set of good grandparents."
"I agree," Duncan says without any rancor about me calling his dad a bastard. Actually, nobody has seen or heard from Winston Hart in months, and there have even been questions raised. The police, in fact, called Duncan yesterday, but he told them everything he knew, and that since then, he hadn't seen his father at all. I suspect that if anyone does find Winston Hart, it'll most likely be in Nevada. There's a lot of empty space in Nevada, a lot of desert where men can just . . . disappear. Still, part of me, a kinder part, hopes he's safe somewhere.
"Delta Flight 7231, bags arriving at Carousel 12," a public address system says, and we stand up to make our way over.
"That's them,” I say, waiting. The airport is huge, so big that even the baggage area needs multiple entrances and exits, and it's still another five minutes before I see Mom and Dad come down the escalator from the upper floor of the airport. "Mom! Dad!"
They wave, Dad with their carry-on over his shoulder, and I'm relieved to see that they look good. Dad's not looking as stressed out as before, and Mom, if anything, looks younger.
"Honey!" Mom calls, greeting me. She gives me a hug over the security barrier while Dad gets their bag, a single roller that they're sharing. "Oh, it was so nice to get your invitation. A surprise, but a welcome one."
"I'm just glad Dad was able to make his schedule fit," I say as Mom lets go. "It's so awesome that you can come down."
"Well, when you get such a mysterious invitation, how can you say no? Big news, a paid four days in a five-star hotel, and Duncan's graduating soon? By the way, it's good to see you, Duncan. You're looking very handsome today."
"And you, Mrs. Mittel, are as lovely as your daughter," Duncan replies, giving Mom a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you're staying in a hotel, because if you go anywhere near campus, you're going to have college guys all over you, and your husband is going to be very jealous."
Mom actually blushes and smiles, playfully pushing Duncan away. "You're incorrigible, Duncan. And do I need to tell you again? Call me Cora."
"Carrie tells me that all the time. But I'll try to remember, Cora.”
Dad comes over, and Duncan offers his hand, which Dad takes, if not with a lot of enthusiasm, at least he isn't chilly. After all, in his point of view, Duncan and I have been dating for eight months now, so he's at least somewhat accepting of Duncan being part of my life. "Duncan, congrats on getting drafted."
"Thank you, Mr. Mittel. I'm glad you guys get to be here for a visit. It means a lot to me."
We go out to the Volvo, which surprises Dad. "Where'd you get this?"
"Uh, there have been a lot of changes since the Sunshine Bowl," I say. "I didn't tell you, but Duncan lost his bike."
"What happened? Did you get in an accident?" Mom asks, and Duncan shakes his head.
"No, Cora, it was repossessed," Duncan answers without any shame. "Most of my lifestyle prior to the Sunshine Bowl was funded by my father. He got himself into a lot of financial troubles, and when the banks came to collect, I ended up with not a lot left. I'm just lucky that my apartment and school were pre-paid."
"Well, that is news," Dad says, a new tone creeping into his voice. Is it grudging respect? "You must have learned a lot."
"I have," Duncan says as he starts up and pulls out. He pays the machine, and we drive toward the Westin Downtown, where Mom and Dad are staying. "I learned a lot about how everyone else lives. It's given me some more appreciation of the contract that the Wildcats offered me."
"It's an impressive one, I'll say," Dad says, not sure how to broach the subject. I mean, how do you talk to a man twenty-four years your junior who just signed a contract with a multimillion-dollar signing bonus, and another ten million dollars in guaranteed money over the next four years? "It even made the news."
"Thanks. I really didn't want to haggle over it, and their first offer was good enough. And I've gotten in touch with the right financial people. Things are looking good there. Speaking of that, how's the trucking business going, Mr. Mittel?"
"Good, but the back's acting up," Dad answers with a grumble. "I really need to drop a few pounds, get a decent health program going."
"Well, if I can make a recommendation, your daughter's a miracle worker on that. I don't know about lower backs, but her work with elbows is world-class."
I blush even though I've heard it before, but Dad looks pleased. We continue to exchange small talk until we get to the hotel, and Duncan parks, all of us going inside. In the lobby, Duncan stops, taking my hand. I clear my throat, exchanging a look with him. It's time. "Uh, Mom, Dad?"
"Yes, sweetie?" Mom says, turning around. Dad, who's gone on a few steps ahead with his wheeling bag, also stops, raising an eyebrow. I think he’s expecting what's coming next, even if he might have his reservations about it.
"Before you check in, Duncan and I have something to tell you," I say. I elbow Duncan, who's actually blushing and trying not to grin as realization dawns on Mom's face. "Duncan?"
"Well, you guys know that Carrie and I have been dating for quite a few months now, and a week ago, I asked Carrie to marry me," Duncan says, reaching into his shirt pocket and taking out my ring, where we'd stashed it temporarily for safekeeping. I slip it on, while Dad comes up next to Mom, taking her hand, both of them lost with the reality of what's happening in front of them. "I'm happy to say she said yes."
"You . . . you two are engaged," Dad says, then he swallows something in his throat and sets his bag up on his wheels before coming forward, giving me a hug before offering another handshake to Duncan. "Congratulations, Duncan."
"Thank you, sir," Duncan says while Mom hugs me. "I know you've got your concerns, and with what Whitney's told me, I can't say I wouldn't have the same. I hope that you can set them aside in time for the wedding."
Dad swallows again, looking a bit lost. "I guess . . . I'm still shocked. I'm a little old-fashioned, Duncan, and I was hoping that Carrie would have approached me to talk about this, maybe even gotten my blessing before accepting your proposal."
"I understand," Duncan says. "I know it's a lot to swallow, so how about we talk about it at dinner? I've got a class this afternoon, last one of the week before I take the weekend off, and Carrie's gotten us reservations at some place called Tres Amigos. Apparently, you have a thing for Mexican food?"
Dad nods, while Mom stands there, still speechless in shock. "Okay. Cora, let's get checked in and washed up. Carrie, are you going with Duncan, or can you stay with us for the afternoon?"
"I cleared it with Coach Taylor. I'm taking the whole weekend off from i
nterning," I say. "With basketball over, and the only big sports left being baseball and track, the load on the trainers is light for a while. Actually, I'd like to talk with you guys about that, too."
"Oh good, you're not dropping out of school!" Mom says, her first words since our announcement. "I don't know why, but that just kept running around and around in my head."
I give Duncan a kiss, and he says his farewells, going out to the car. He actually does have a class, and we thought my parents might need some time to adjust. Dad finishes check-in, and we take our key up to the suite that Duncan rented for the whole stay. It's nice, and while not a penthouse, it’s a good room. Dad sets their bag on the bed, while Mom finds the chair by the window and I arrange myself comfortably on the bed. I'm not showing yet, but I am feeling my body start to change, and it feels wonderful. I feel more complete than ever, powerful, and especially sexy when I see the desire in Duncan's eyes. "Thanks for not making a scene in the lobby, Dad. I could read it in your eyes."
"Carrie, it's not that I'm not happy for you. It's obvious that you love Duncan very much, and after this many months, I guess my initial worries about your being a fling for him have to be set aside. But, what about school? What about your future? I mean, if Duncan blows out his knee or pops that elbow again, you're not going to be living a rich life."
"Dad, Duncan's already taken the advice of one of the other players, and he has gotten in touch with a good investment banker. He's putting aside a good chunk of his signing bonus into savings and investments. He could never play a down of pro ball, and we'll be fine. Besides, he's got his degree, and I'll have mine too. We're going to be fine."
"But honey, I don't want to . . . what's it you college kids say, throw shade?" Mom asks, and I laugh.
"Don't try it, Mom. Just be you. And I can read your mind. Duncan's going to be away from home for half the games, there are football groupies, and all that, right? Don't worry, that was part of what we wanted to talk to you about. I discussed it all with Coach Taylor right after Duncan got drafted, even before he proposed. I'm going to move to Jacksonville with Duncan and do an internship with the Wildcats. I can also do a class online during the summer and the fall terms, so that after the season, I come back here, and I can wrap up my degree on time with one semester back at Western. If things go right, I'll even be in line for a position with the Wildcats myself next season. You guys can see me walk in May next year, just like we all planned."
"You two have planned out a lot of this already," Mom says. "I'm surprised."
“We’ve been talking about this since football season, when we realized that we were looking at this being long-term. So some of these plans have been around a while. It was just his proposal that kind of came up suddenly, although Duncan told me he wanted to ask me for weeks prior to when he did."
"What about the wedding?" Dad asks. "I mean, honeymoons, ceremonies, all that."
I shake my head. "We're going to do it in two stages. After Duncan graduates, we're going to go to Vegas, and yeah, I know that sounds trite, but it’s what we want. We're going to get married there, and then Duncan and I are going to go to Jacksonville to get settled in. He hasn't specifically picked out which house we're getting yet, but we're going to go down, pick something out, and then get to work. Duncan wants to get to the playoffs his rookie year, and I agree with him. Too many rookies with first-round picks show up thinking they don't have to put in the work. If he’s learned anything since he and I started his rehab the first time, it’s that he knows how to buckle down and work. We'll do our honeymoon later on—we’ll find the time.”
"Well, if you say so. Let's save the rest of this until dinner, why don't we? Tell us about your trip to Jacksonville. I know it's kind of related, but in your emails, you sounded like you had a ton of fun."
"I did. You two will love it when you visit. In fact, I think I made a new friend, a woman named Whitney."
Tres Amigos is a nice restaurant, and even Dad relaxes as the appetizers come to the table. "To Duncan and Carrie," Dad says, raising his bottle of Dos Equis for a toast. The rest of us, who aren't drinking for various reasons, lift our glasses. Mom doesn't like alcohol, Duncan's driving, and well, I’m pregnant, although Mom and Dad still don't know. "Duncan, I hope you realize how lucky you are."
“Trust me, I know," Duncan says. "Carrie is precious, and I’m a lucky man to be starting a family with her."
Mom, who sips at her iced tea, hums. "A family? That would be nice some day. I've sometimes thought about little grandchildren running around that I can dote on."
"Actually Mom, it's going to be sooner than you think," I say. “We didn’t want to throw everything at you at once. We wanted to save this for a time when you could absorb it, and maybe celebrate, but I'm . . . well, we're going to have a baby."
Dad drops his bottle of Dos Equis, which explodes on the tile floor of the restaurant. The waiter rushes over with a towel and offers to get him a new drink, but he waves him off. "Tea, please. I—I think I've had enough alcohol."
The waiter leaves, and Dad turns to Duncan, his eyes burning with intensity. "One question. Did you know about this before you asked Carrie to marry you?"
Duncan and I exchange looks, and he chuckles. "In a remarkable coincidence, Mr. Mittel, I bought the ring and was taking Carrie to dinner to propose when she told me."
Dad considers it, then nods. "Vince. Duncan, my name is Vince."
Dad stands up and comes around the table next to me. I stand, and moments later, we're hugging, before Mom and Duncan join us for a group hug. I'm in the middle of the three people whom I love the most in the world, and it's the best feeling in the world.
Epilogue
Duncan
"Happy anniversary, bro."
"Thanks," I say, clinking glasses of tea with Troy. "Thanks for having me and Carrie over for the barbecue."
Troy laughs as we sit on the back porch of his house. The late spring sun is low in the horizon, and we're both relaxing after a good day of off-season conditioning. The humidity is tough on me. Carrie and I have only been back in Jacksonville a week since her graduation, and after the California dryness, it takes a while. "Duncan, you live two blocks away. You, me and Carrie carpooled to work half the time last season. I think having you over the day after your first wedding anniversary is hardly out of the question."
"Still," I say, leaning back. "It was nice of you and Whit to cut your time in Silver Lake Falls short in order to come back here."
"Well, after Patricia's news, this summer's going to be pretty hectic. I thought you and I might just get our heads in the right zone before everything goes nuts. I mean, we've already had Carrie's graduation and your anniversary. Then what, you two go off on your honeymoon, and Cory and Patricia's wedding—all of this before training camp, by the way."
I smile and nod, sipping the tea. It's good, and Troy insists on the best quality. He doesn't knock me for the occasional beer, but since he's dry as a bone, I don't drink at all around him. It just isn't right to treat your friend that way. "Yeah, that's gotta be a brain buster, your new father-in-law being your high school teammate. We'll all be busy, though. But you stayed in good shape up there in Washington. At least, Carrie said so."
"Your wife is a taskmaster in the weight room." Troy laughs. "It's weird to be intimidated by a woman who's pushing you to work harder when she just had a baby six months ago. By the way, Whit's a bit jealous at how quickly Carrie bounced back to her pre-baby weight."
I snort. "Oh, like she has anything to worry about. I see the way you look at her. You need to be careful, or else you're going to be having child number three soon enough."
"That'd be nice," Troy says, and he means it, I can tell. "One kid for each bedroom . . . it'd be nice. Kind of completes the house.”
"It would, wouldn't it?"
We sit for a few more minutes, thinking our own thoughts. Carrie and Whitney are out. Whitney's got a line on some new artist she wants to work with, and Carr
ie's taking our daughter, Cammy, in for a checkup, giving Troy and I some guy time before we start the grill. Even Laurie and Travis are gone, off with their mother for a little while.
"So are you looking forward to next season?"
"Aren't you?" Troy asks with a grin. "We made the conference championship this year. I want to get back at Denver for that last-minute field goal. I missed the block by—man, I saw the tape a hundred times. I missed tipping that ball by less than an inch."
"I know. I keep going over that missed catch I had that led to the final punt. You know, the Pro Bowl and taking third in Rookie of the Year were nice, but I'd have liked that conference champion's ring, and of course, the Super Bowl.”
"It sounds strange to say it, but I think it'll happen," Troy says. "I mean, I know that every player says that, but with what we've got going here, the chances are good."
We hear two cars pull up out front, and Troy and I quickly finish our teas and get up, Troy opening up the grill and starting to scrub the grate while I go inside and get the steaks out of the fridge. The front door flies open, and Laurie comes tearing in, her little brother trying to keep up, but his soon to be two-year-old legs can't keep up with his sister, and Travis lags behind. "Hi, Duncan!" Laurie calls out as she streaks past, looking for her target. "Daddy!"
Troy puts down his grill brush and sweeps his daughter up and into a hug. She might be eight, but missing those five years, she still loves getting hugs and playing with her father, and Troy's a good one. Travis comes by, his little toddler legs working hard, and Troy sets Laurie down long enough to give his son a hug before going back to his work while they go off to play in the back yard.
The front door closes, and Whitney and Carrie come in, Cammy on Carrie's back in her sling and something between them. "What in the world did you get?"
Over the Middle: A Sports Romance Page 20
