Homecourt Advantage

by Rita Ewing

  “Probably not crazy, but definitely a control freak,” Remy added.

  “Actually, Coach has been kind of low key lately, definitely not his usual self,” Brent said.

  “Really … you’d think he’d be feeding us that psycho basketball babble, but you’re right, Brent. He hasn’t really stepped up the way he usually does,” said Collin.

  “Well, you never know with Coach,” added Paul, matter-of-factly. “I’m sure as far as he’s concerned, there’s some method to his madness.”

  “Maybe,” Casey said, “he’s just trying out a new coaching technique, experimenting with the ‘leave well enough alone’ theory.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe we all should try that theory out every now and then,” Brent added, staring at his wife.

  Casey shifted her eyes and looked across the room. She knew her husband’s comment was directed at her and the way she had been handling their relationship lately. If only it were that simple, she thought.

  Casey could not seem to stop picking apart her life with Brent. She constantly scrutinized and questioned every facet of their relationship.

  Ever since her encounter with Gregory Patrick at Show Nightclub, Casey had been torturing herself by questioning her own motives and reasons for staying with her husband. She felt that something had to be wrong with her in light of her inexcusable behavior that night, and often wondered if she purposely brought herself downto that level in an effort to convince herself that she was no better than her husband.

  Maybe, Casey thought, if she convinced herself that everyone cheated in some way every now and then, including herself, then it was okay. Still, Casey knew she was not fooling anyone but herself. Cheating was wrong, and what she’d gotten herself into that night at Show was wrong. She loved her husband more than anything else in the world and wanted nothing more than to be able to trust him again. She just didn’t know how to make that happen.

  Casey’s thoughts were interrupted as she felt Remy tapping her on the arm, trying to get her attention.

  “Here comes your girl,” Remy whispered loudly in her ear.

  “Where’d you learn how to whisper?” Casey asked her friend, drawing back from her. “In a helicopter?”

  As Remy started to snicker, Casey turned around in her chair to see to whom Remy was referring.

  “Oh my goodness,” Casey heard Lorraine mumble as she quickly shifted in her seat, giving Paul her full attention.

  “Hello, everyone!” Robin Stillman gushed as she raced around the table double-kissing their cheeks, as she had no doubt carefully watched Alexis do on countless occasions.

  “Hi, Robin,” they all chimed in unison.

  “How are you doing?” asked Casey, ignoring Remy as she saw her friend roll her eyes.

  Casey knew how Remy felt about the Flyers’ gossip queen and didn’t want to subject her friend to Robin’s tasteless banter. Remy had been hesitant about accepting Collin’s invitation to the dinner tonight, with the distance that had crept between them recently. Plus she was in the midst of her mini tour. Casey was the one who had urged Remy to use her two days off to fly into town and stand by Collin’s side for the evening.

  It had not been an easy task convincing Remy that Collin was probably more stressed out over Flyers management not approaching him to re-sign with the team than he was letting on to Remy. His entire career as a professional athlete was on the line.

  “I don’t know, Casey,” Remy confided to her friend. “It just seems likewe’re drifting further and further apart. No matter how hard I try to get him to talk about things, he keeps resisting.”

  “I know it doesn’t make it right Remy, but have you ever considered how difficult it must be for any man, not just Collin DuMott, to have to share with a superstar like yourself concerns about not having a job?” Casey asked.

  “Come on, Casey. You know me better than that. I’ve never made anyone, especially him, feel like they have to measure up against me.” Casey knew Remy was hurt and angry and she didn’t like to see her friend in pain.

  “Girl, you know that’s not what I’m saying,” Casey counseled her friend. “We both know all’s not fair in love and war and you just have to remember that most men have their pride and egos and we women often have to tread very carefully when these get in the way of our emotions. ”

  Their conversation was two days ago and it still didn’t change how Remy felt. She was hurt and angered by Collin’s actions and felt like she deserved an explanation after three years together. Casey agreed with her friend to a degree, but she also believed, as she had reminded Remy, that Collin would probably start to deal with his issues once the Flyers’ season was over. She knew that patience was not one of Remy’s virtues, but even Casey recognized that her dearest friend was going to have to give Collin both time and space if she wanted things to work out between them.

  Casey felt Robin hug her shoulder. “I’m simply marvelous, Casey, thanks. You ladies look gorgeous, but I see you and Remy seem to have deviated from Alexis’s dress code, hmm?”

  Out of the corner of one eye, Casey saw Lorraine peek over at them and attempt to hide a smile. She had dressed in a simple black sheath with a beautiful strand of gray pearls.

  “Lorraine, I see you seem to have remembered our rules. Good girl!” Robin said, gleefully clasping both hands together.

  “Hey, whatever it takes for the Flyers to win the championship,” Lorraine said with a shrug of her slim brown shoulders.

  “Wow,” Collin said with a soft whistle. “Mrs. Coach really got to you ladies, huh?”

  “Man, Remy didn’t tell you?” interjected Brent. “Alexis went off on all the women, telling them how to dress, walk, talk—”

  “Brent!” Casey said, giving her husband a swift kick under the table. “That’s not exactly what was said; she wasn’t that bad. So, Robin,” she quickly continued, noticing Paul trying to stifle his wife’s laughter. “Do you have any idea what Coach is going to talk about tonight? No one here at this table seems to have a clue.”

  Casey forced herself to keep a straight face as Robin subconsciously shifted into her gossiper’s stance. Leaning down in between Casey and Remy, Robin hunched her shoulders forward, causing a clump of her stiff hair to fall over and create a right angle with her forehead.

  “Well, from what I’ve heard, he’s going to give some type of pep talk to help keep the guys unified. Especially after the night before last, Steve getting arrested and all … Speaking of which, I can’t believe he didn’t even show up tonight!” Robin paused to catch her breath. “By the way,” she continued, obviously reluctant to lose an audience, “have you guys heard the latest?”

  Casey saw Remy watch with disgust as Robin smacked her lips in eager anticipation of spilling out her latest piece of juicy gossip. It was amazing to Casey that a grown woman could be so fascinated by everyone else’s personal business. But then she reminded herself that there were actually people who made a profession out of it.

  “The latest what, Robin?” Alexis asked, barging in. “Shouldn’t you be sitting with your husband over at the coaching staff’s table?” she inquired in a sugar-coated voice with one perfectly tweezed eyebrow arched.

  “Ta-ta, everyone,” Robin said as she lamely wriggled her fingers at no one in particular and walked off sheepishly.

  “Well, now, how are our boys doing tonight?” Alexis asked, giving everyone at the table one of her famous once-overs. To Casey’s dismay, she watched as each of the guys stood up in turn to kiss and greet the coach’s wife.

  Even as she cringed inside, Casey could not help but marvel at how Alexis always managed to present such a dignified and cool front even when she was being a bitch.

  “Remy, it’s always good to see you. Glad that you could come into town from your tour, and of course, you’re looking splendid as ever.” Alexis leaned down and kissed Remy on her cheeks.

  “Hello, Alexis. Touché,” Remy said lightly.

  “Lorraine, dear, it’s always s
uch a pleasure.” Alexis refrained from the double whammy on the cheeks and instead patted Lorraine’s hand. “How’s the clinic treating you?”

  “Actually, I work at a hospital … as a nurse, and I’m doing just fine, Alexis. Thanks for asking,” Lorraine responded, looking sullen.

  “Oh, goodness, for some reason I thought you were doing volunteer work. Well, whatever it is, I’m sure you’re excellent at it,” Alexis said dismissively before continuing. “Casey, darling, it’s obvious life is treating you well. You look stunning, as always!” Alexis kissed Casey on both cheeks and stood looming over the table.

  “Hello, Alexis, it’s good to see you too. The Flyers ought to have more occasions like tonight when we can all get together. This is so much fun.” Casey felt a spiked heel digging into her foot under the table and pictured the high-heeled, strappy pump Remy had on puncturing her skin.

  “Casey, sweetie, may I speak with you for a moment … alone? There’s something I need to ask you.” Alexis stood aside, giving Casey space to scoot back her chair.

  Casey could feel everyone’s eyes on them as she and Alexis retreated to a corner of the room. Casey just knew that Alexis was going to say something about her dress and probably question her as to Dawn’s and Trina’s whereabouts.

  Stay cool Casey, stay cool, she reminded herself.

  “Do you have any idea what’s going on with Michael and Dawn?” Alexis inquired, peering into Casey’s eyes.

  Just as I thought, Casey said to herself. She knew Alexis had to have heard what happened in Chicago with Michael and Dawn. Everyone knew. There were no secrets with the Flyers.

  “Well, Alexis, after she surprised him in Chicago … You have heard, haven’t you?”

  Alexis nodded her head.

  “Well, why do you want to know what’s going on with them?” Casey asked, feeling a little guilty about not calling Dawn. She had wanted to telephone her when she heard about the scandal to let her friend know that she was there if she needed someone to talk to, but she didn’t want to impose herself on Dawn either. She figured it would be better to give Dawn her space and be there if called upon.

  “Oh, it’s nothing much; well, nothing that can’t be handled with a little talking to,” Alexis continued. “I just wondered if Dawn was going to keep bothering Michael now. I mean she obviously doesn’t realize what a valuable commodity he is to the Flyers—he’s the future of this team and he certainly doesn’t need any distractions right now.

  “I better go, dear; I see Coach is getting ready to take the stage.”

  Casey was speechless as she watched Alexis glide off across the room. The audacity of that woman! She wondered, not for the first time, just what kind of a monster Alexis really was. Casey never would have put anything past Alexis, but this was outrageous. What happens between Michael and Dawn ought to be their business, you bitch, Casey thought as she walked slowly back to her table. Win or lose, she couldn’t wait for the Flyers to finish their season.

  Casey watched as Alexis stared up at her husband in utter reverence with tears glistening in her eyes. She nodded her head as he spoke as if affirming his every word.

  “To every athlete here, you know your role. When you walk out on that court, you’re expected to give two hundred percent of sheer athletic ability to ensure that every game in this final round is played to win. It is on your twelve sets of shoulders that the heaviest burden has been placed. It is your job to carry the entire team across the finish line.”

  Casey noticed people smiling and nodding their heads in agreement at Coach’s words.

  “It is your job,” Coach repeated, “to carry the entire team across the finish line. Our trainers, coaching staff, and team managers, you all have your own duties to carry out. Whether it’s healing an injury, educating players on the various game plays, or making sure each player has a pair of game shoes for every game, if any one person chooses to carry out their task in a deficient manner, the entire team is affected and our goal becomes threatened.

  “Here’s to our team, the New York Flyers, and winning the NBA championship!” Coach finished.

  Casey looked around the table. Everyone looked stunned and confused by what they had just heard.

  “What kind of bullshit speech was that?” Brent said, looking at Paul and Collin.

  “I don’t know,” Paul replied, “but Hal doesn’t seem too thrilled by it either.” He flipped his head toward a corner of the room where Hal stood conversing with Coach.

  It was obvious to Casey that Hal was disgruntled and he was clearly expressing his displeasure to Coach. Coach, on the other hand, looked passive and unimpressed with whatever it was the team’s owner was saying to him.

  “This is weird, man; something’s not right here,” Brent said, shaking his head.

  Casey had to agree with her husband. It wasn’t like Coach to give a speech that lacked fire and intensity the way his speech did tonight. Both Coach and Alexis were acting strange, Casey realized, and she wondered what was really going on.

  Chapter 34

  “Oh, Casey, I don’t know how I’m gonna tell Rick. I’ve started to say something a thousand times, but I can never get it out,” Trina said, twisting a napkin in her hands.

  “Why would he be that upset about it? You can’t hide your pregnancy too much longer,” Casey said, looking down at Trina’s midsection.

  Casey had debated whether to even attend the game tonight, but she had not wanted to raise any eyebrows by being conspicuously absent. It was the first game of the championship, after all, and there was a part of her that felt obligated to support Brent even though she had to go to work in the morning. Although Alexis had not been as vocal as usual at the team dinner the night before, it was plain to Casey what her expectations were. Alexis had made them very clear to her before the play-offs began. She had also promised Alexis that she would be at every championship home game to keep the other wives in line, a role she had increasingly come to regret.

  With the napkin torn to ribbons, Trina was now wringing her hands and looking around the Family Lounge anxiously. “Rick has told me time and time again that we can’t afford to have any more children,” Trina said, lowering her voice as more people filed into the lounge. “You know Rick. He has a temper on him.” She shook her head.

  “I’ve seen his temper on the court, but would he actually be upset about having another child? That’s hard for me to believe,” Casey said, not being able to imagine someone not being excited about a pregnancy. She pushed away her own feelings of longing. “Trina, I’m not trying to tell you how to deal with your husband, but that’s absurd. First of all, I think he played a big part in you getting pregnant, and second, Rick makes more than enough money to support ten kids. Goodness, what is wrong with these men?” Casey added, more to herself than to Trina.

  “Actually, Casey,” Trina started, and then stopped as Michael Brown’s mother, father, and brother drew close to the nearby picture window so they could see Toni Braxton sing the national anthem on the court below.

  Trina scooted in closer to Casey before continuing. “There’s something else I haven’t told you. Rick’s been spending his money as fast as he makes it … on gambling. I couldn’t even borrow the money from my bank to start my dessert catering business,” Trina said in embarrassment.

  “He messed your credit up that badly with his gambling?” Casey asked, her heart going out to Trina.

  Trina nodded her head.

  “What did he have to say about it?”

  “Nothing,” Trina said, averting her eyes.

  “Nothing?”

  “I haven’t said anything to him yet. I’m too afraid. He doesn’t know that I found out about his gambling problem. His agent told me. Rick would be furious for my meddling in his business if I mentioned it to him.”

  “His business? Has he forgotten that—” Casey began, and abruptly stopped herself as the Gossip Queen, Robin Stillman, assistant to First Lady Alexis, plopped herself down at their t
able. It was pathetic, Caseythought, how Robin mirrored Alexis Mitchell’s image, except Robin was the black version of Mrs. Coach. She tried so hard to be like Alexis, from the way she dressed to her mannerisms to her flawless costume jewelry, which was copied from her idol’s original pieces.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing you girls.” Robin was not an unattractive woman, though her gossipy character often caused people to describe her as such. She was midfortyish and always looked like she had just spent the day at a Georgette Klinger day spa. Her hair and makeup always looked professionally done, and her smooth brown complexion stayed clear.

  Trina looked at Casey and rolled her eyes, ignoring Robin.

  “No, Robin, I’m about to go downstairs in a minute anyway,” Casey said, clearing the table of her napkin, Coke can, and utensils.

  “Aren’t you going to wait for Remy to get here? You usually do.”

  “She only came into town for the team dinner party, then she flew right back out. She’s on a mini tour right now.” Casey was careful to keep any inflection out of her tone.

  “Really? You mean to tell me she’s going to miss the entire championship series?” Robin raised her eyebrows in what could only be described as a smirk—Robin’s eyebrows were sneering!

  Casey knew Robin was well aware that Remy had returned to her tour. But her goal in life was to know everyone’s business and report back, trying in the process to poison Alexis’s opinion of them.

  “She’s just hitting a few major cities, so she may get to see the last couple of games.”

  “Ohh, I see. What about Lorraine and Dawn? What’s their—Oh, pardon me, we all know why Dawn isn’t here,” Robin snickered. “I warned her not to pop up on the road. Poor girl, she’ll learn. But what about Lorraine? What’s her excuse? Alexis is not going to be pleased.”