Fourth Down Baby: A May-December Romance

by Lauren Landish

  “What's it like being a pro football player?"

  "There are a lot of good things, and a lot of bad things," I say. "On the good side, I make a lot of money, and I love playing football. It helps a lot with my inner demons."

  "You have demons inside you?" Laurie asks, her voice dropping in fright.

  I shake my head, remembering the she has spent most of her life in a Catholic country. "What I mean is, when I was younger, I had a lot of bad things happen to me. I could have become a very bad person if I let those things take control of my life. But football was one of those things that let me control the feelings that came from what happened to me."

  "What else?" Laurie asks innocently, and I look over her head at Whitney, whose eyes are dark and full of meaning.

  "A very special person," I say softly before looking down at Laurie and smiling. "But yeah, football helps too."

  After I drop Laurie and Whitney at their home, I drive back to my house, troubled. Today was such a perfect day, and I'm worried. If the team trades me soon, I'm going to have to leave Silver Lake Falls, at least for the season, and I'm just starting to re-establish my relationship with Whitney, and I’m making the beginnings of a relationship with Laurie. How could I ask them to uproot and move to some other part of the country when they're just getting settled in again?

  Maybe after some time has passed, I think. I mean, first of all, while we've got injuries, you never know who might become available after the last round of cuts to the fifty-three-man roster. Maybe a good right tackle or wideout could fall through the waiver wire, and then the Hawks could sign them without having to trade me.

  I decide to hold my tongue on the potential trade until I know more about it. There's no reason to stress out Whitney or Laurie—not right now. Instead, I check out my suit, already looking forward to tomorrow. After all, it's not every day that two friends get married, and if what Whitney told me is true, then we can go public then too.

  I'm just wiping down my shoes, putting a fresh coat of Kiwi wax on them, when my phone rings. Picking it up, I see it's Whitney. "Hey, it's good to hear from you. Is everything okay? Did you leave something in the car?"

  "Not at all, and everything was nearly perfect today," Whitney says, her voice warm and loving. "Laurie's taking a bath right now before dinner, and I just wanted you to know she hasn't stopped talking about you since getting out of the car. She thinks you're the best. And so do I."

  "Thanks, I happen to know that you're the most beautiful, special woman in the world, and Laurie's the best kid. I'm not joking when I say I love her already."

  "I know you're not," Whitney replies. "There was only one thing that would have made this day better."

  "What's that?" I ask, shifting around as I hear the desire in her voice. Even over the phone line, her voice sends shivers down my spine and tingles through my body.

  "If I could have gotten a kiss before you drove off," Whitney says, "and maybe a little more?"

  "Tomorrow you’ll have all you want,” I reassure her. "I love you, Whitney."

  "I love you too, Troy. Goodnight."

  "Goodnight."

  Chapter 19

  Whitney

  The church is crowded, but thankfully, someone made the decision before everyone even started showing up to turn on the air conditioning. It's a hot late summer day, easily ninety-five or so, and the idea of trying to sit through a wedding without air conditioning makes my legs quiver at just the thought.

  Or maybe my legs are quivering because of Troy. We are standing on opposite sides of the altar, him as one of Pete's groomsmen while I get to be a bridesmaid. He's absolutely ravishing in his black suit and silver tie, and more than once during the ceremony so far, I've lost track of what's going on as I just stare at him. Troy's noticed and returned my look with the burning intensity of his own passion. I can't wait until the reception, when we get to make it public.

  We aren't serving as best man or maid of honor, mainly because he’s too busy with the Hawks and I, well, I’m a bit of a surprise to a lot of people. Some of the people in the church didn't know that I was back in town, and even fewer knew that I had a daughter, even though I've never hidden the fact. Laurie is sitting with Mom in the third row on the bride's side, shifting around a little bit as the adults go through their boring ceremony, and she has to wear the Easter dress that she hates, the one with the lace and frills on her socks. Mom's discovered that she's a natural as a grandmother, even if she is the same age as some of the other moms in town. I think she's enjoying the experience again, now that time and financial security are on her side.

  Dani is resplendent in her white, sleek bridal gown, all silk and satin. She'd decided against a veil, finding the idea a little silly, but the gown itself hugs her body well, and her hair is pinned back with pearl and diamond studded combs. She's been smiling and crying most of the ceremony, but they've been just a trickle, adding two little gleaming trails that glisten in the sunlight coming through the stained glass windows that light up her face.

  "And so do you, Peter Vasily Barkovich, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in good times and in bad, to love, honor, and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"

  I can hear almost everyone hold their breath as Pete swallows a lump in his throat, I guess the product of too many Lifetime movies or something, but Pete's just trying to lubricate his vocal cords, and he nods before speaking. "I do."

  The priest smiles and turns his attention to Dani, who's beaming now, barely able to wait to reply. "And do you, Danielle Carlotta Vaughn, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold—"

  "I do, I do!" Dani nearly yells, cutting the priest off. She blushes, and everyone in the crowd has a little relieved and warm laughter at her enthusiasm. "Sorry. Go on."

  "Oh, I don't think I need to," the priest ad-libs. "I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be the same. Okay then, the rings."

  The exchange of the rings goes without a hitch, and as the new couple retreats down the aisle, I can't help it. Looking at Dani in her dress, her hair golden in the sun and Pete looking so handsome and happy in his tuxedo, I want it to be me there. My mind wavers, and I see me, my own dark hair instead of Dani's blonde, and instead of Pete . . .

  "Hey, it's our turn," Rita, Dani's friend from State who is serving as bridesmaid, whispers, jogging my elbow. "Come on."

  I follow Rita while Pete's brother leads the groomsmen down the aisle, Troy to my left. "You were daydreaming," Troy whispers as we head into the foyer of the church. "What's up?"

  "Oh, you know . . . just a girl being a girl," I reply, not quite ready to say to him what I was really thinking. It's too fast, and I don’t want to frighten him. I mean, I already dropped a bomb on him with Laurie, even if he is head over heels about her.

  The way he and Laurie played in the park together yesterday, and the way he looked at me . . . maybe there is hope that things can turn out right this time. Getting changed out of my bridesmaid dress and into my burgundy cocktail dress that I'm wearing for the reception, I can't help it. I'm looking forward to the future.

  Laurie is glad to be out of her Easter dress, and Mom surprises me when she says she is skipping the reception to take Laurie home. "There's going to be drinking, and while I’m glad that Danielle is getting married, this is a party for you and her. Besides, I've got work tomorrow, and a certain little girl should go to bed early. Have fun."

  "Mom . . ." I say, trying to find the words. "But—"

  "I know," Mom says simply, smiling. "You think Laurie chewing my ear off for two hours about her time in the park yesterday didn't give me all the clues I needed? It's okay, we'll talk about it later. Just know that I . . . I'm okay with it."

  "I love you, Mom," I say, and give her a hug. "Oh, and one more thing. No Froot Loops before bed, no matter how much Laurie begs this time. She can't have all that sugar."

  "You did okay on Froot Loops," Mom grumbles good-naturedly
, then leaves, Laurie in hand, the two of them talking and getting along. I’d been worried, but five minutes together, and Laurie was ecstatic to be hanging out with her grandmother.

  I drive to the reception, which is being held at a house along the river. Apparently, the Barkovich family knows some people who can afford houses in the best parts of Silver Lake Falls. The house overlooks the actual Silver Lake itself, just a little way up the Silver River close to Slater's Point, and it’s big enough for the entire party.

  Troy's still wearing his suit, I notice, as he gets out of his car. When I first saw him in town, I figured him for a sports car or maybe a gaudy SUV, like so many other professional athletes, but Troy's the complete opposite, driving a two-year-old Nissan Altima that looks like any other four-door sedan. Still, as he makes his way across the grass of the parking area, he cuts a path just by his natural charisma and presence. Well, that and being six foot two, two hundred and thirty-two beautiful pounds of athletic manhood. I am soooo lucky.

  "You look beautiful," Troy says to me as we come closer. "Then again, even in that horrible dress, you looked beautiful."

  "Flattery is much appreciated," I say, patting his shoulder and barely holding back the urge to do more. "And you should charge whoever made this suit. A picture of you in it should double their sales with the way you look."

  Troy actually blushes slightly and smirks. "Okay, well, let's hold off on the rest until the big reveal. Deal?"

  "Deal. Come on."

  For the first half of the reception, Troy and I consciously stay on nearly opposite sides of the party, and in some ways, I feel like I'm back not in high school, but junior high school as the girls tend to stick to one side, the boys to the other. Eventually, Cory, who came in town from his new job down in San Francisco, comes over to greet us. He's looking pretty debonair, although there's still that air of being a party boy to him, like he hasn't quite figured out if he wants to settle down yet or if he's still looking for the next club to hit up. "Whitney Nelson. I just had to come over and say it's so good to see you again."

  "How're you doing, Cory?" I ask, giving him a quick hug. "My, my, you've gained weight.”

  "Hey, hey, it's just five pounds!" Cory laughs, and we both know I'm kidding. He's nowhere near the athlete that Troy is, but Cory's got a slim build now, kind of executive-ish. "You, on the other hand, look absolutely amazing. And can I ask, that little girl with your Mom at the ceremony?"

  "Yes, she's my daughter," I confirm. "Laurie."

  "I see," Cory says. "You know, she looks a lot like you. She's got the same cute smile."

  "Thanks. What about you? Have you found someone yet?"

  Cory laughs and sips at his mixed drink, shaking his head. “There's no way I'm ready to settle down yet."

  I laugh and shake my head. "So how are you enjoying the party?"

  "This is awesome," Cory says, becoming a little more serious. "I just got done talking to Troy. We've kept up a little since high school, email and phone calls and such, and I saw him play once last season when the Hawks played the Dons, but this is the first time since after our freshmen year in college that I got to sit down and talk with him in person—he’s gotten huge."

  "You're telling me," I reply, and Cory gives me a knowing look. "Don't go there, Cory."

  He nods, then smirks. "Well, no matter what, Troy just made my quarter. He asked me about how work's going, and when I told him that so far I'm doing well, beating the market, at least, he nods and asks for a business card. That crazy SOB tells me he wants to take half . . . half of his salary and have me invest it for him. Now, I know that still leaves him stupid levels of money, but Jesus, Whitney. I just got handed what, a million dollars a year to invest?"

  "And how do you feel about it?" I ask. "Because if I remember you right, Cory, when you start talking like this, that's the time you're getting worried."

  "Oh, I am," Cory says, smiling. "But a good kind of worried. Trust me, Whitney, even if Troy just plays out his rookie contract and doesn't give me a dime after that, I'm going to make him rich for life by the time he's twenty-seven. One funny thing, though."

  "What's that?"

  "He told me to give him options about setting up a blind trust fund. Apparently, he has someone he wants to save for. Wonder who that might be?"

  "All right, Cory, you never were an idiot. Keep it under your hat for a while at least? Please? It's important to me."

  Cory nods, and I give him another hug.

  He leaves, and we start the food portion of the reception. The tables are smaller than I thought they'd be, small circles meant for only four or five, so I'm sitting with my old cheer teammate, Colette, and her boyfriend, some guy originally from Portland who honestly is not all that interesting.

  What is interesting is when they bring out the big wedding cake, a four-tier monstrosity that towers nearly three feet in the air with all of the decorations, and Dani and Pete get up to speak.

  They’re finishing up their little speech, and Dani laughs as her eyes meet mine over the crowd. "Thank you. To my friends, to my family . . . thank you. And I hope that every one of you . . ." her eyes blink and she looks me in the eyes directly. "I hope you find love like ours."

  The applause starts again, growing to thunderous levels as Dani and Pete slice open the cake, serving out slices to the front table, where Pete and Dani's parents are sitting. The DJ starts the music, and it's time to dance. Pete takes Dani out to the center of the huge patio that the tables ring and brings her into his arms, dancing beautifully as they sway to the music. The first song is about halfway finished when they split to dance with their parents, and the crowd applauds when the song is finished.

  I'm clapping along with everyone else when Troy stands up from his chair, which is on the other side of the patio from where I'm sitting, crossing the dance floor. There is a noticeable hum in the assembled group, about a hundred or so people in total, and even the DJ falters as Troy first stops at Dani and Pete, giving both of them a hug before he whispers in Dani's ear. She nods and goes over to the DJ to say something to him. My eyes are fixed on Troy, though, as he crosses the rest of the patio to stop in front of me, his sapphire blue eyes full of emotion. "Whitney, may I have this dance?"

  "I'd love to," I say, taking his hand. The majority of the crowd knows our history, and they are nearly silent as Troy and I walk hand in hand to the center of the patio, his left hand lifting my arm while his right hand rests on my waist. The music starts, and as John Legend sings about love, we move together, closer and closer until I put my arms around his neck and both of his hands rest on my waist. The music fades away, and I'm not caring about the crowd anymore as I pull Troy's head down. Only one thing is important in the world. When our lips meet, I'm temporarily startled when I realize that not only has nobody else joined us for this dance, but now we're getting nearly as much applause as what greeted Dani and Pete.

  We're suddenly being swarmed, Dani hugging me closely. "I'm glad," she whispers, smiling. "This was the best gift you could have ever given me. I love you, Whitney."

  "I love you too, Sis. So does that mean I get to keep the German food processor I bought you guys?"

  "Oh no, I'm still keeping that," Dani says, and the music interrupts us as another song comes on, a faster tune that brings even the parents out of their seats as we shift into full party mode. The music spans generations, as you'd expect a wedding party to do, but Troy and I are inseparable the whole time, dancing and going off to get drinks and some cake before dancing again. When the sun goes all the way down, the DJ slows it down one last time, and as Elvis sings about how he can't help falling in love, Troy and I move slowly on the dance floor together, our foreheads touching and our arms around each other.

  "Did you have fun?" he asks, his eyes so bright and happy. I don't ever want those blue eyes to look sad again. Passionate, intense, happy, yes. Never sad.

  "This has been one of the best nights of my life," I say honestly. "Tomorrow, though, I
have a favor to ask of you. Can you stay in town a while?"

  "The team's letting me miss this game. I talked with the GM about it. I have until Monday afternoon off," Troy says, pulling me closer. "I know it's only two days, but I want to spend them with you."

  "Actually, I was thinking tomorrow we can take Laurie to the zoo," I say. "I want her to meet her father—for real this time."

  Troy nods, and we kiss again, only to be interrupted by a polite cough. "Excuse me, isn't this supposed to be our night?"

  I turn to see Pete and Dani, their arms around each other, and we stop dancing, both Troy and me laughing in embarrassment. "Sorry. I know we kind of stole your thunder," Troy says. "I'll make it up to you."

  "Damn right, you will. When it's your turn, you two had better make Dani here the maid of honor," Pete says with a smile. "And don't say I don't know what I'm talking about."

  "Still, we're not in a rush," Troy says. "We missed five years, and we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  "Sounds good. Besides, you need to at least wait until after we get back from our honeymoon," Pete jokes before growing serious. "Troy, Whitney . . . whatever you guys need, we'll be there for you."

  "What we need is for you two to go get changed and go on your honeymoon!" I say with a laugh, smacking Dani on the butt. "Now go!"

  "So what did you think of the lions?"

  Troy is smiling and holding a box of popcorn as we walk through the Seattle Zoo, handing her a kernel. Laurie is still big-eyed, especially when she realized that Troy really is somewhat famous when someone came up to us in the zoo and asked him for an autograph. Troy happily signed the t-shirt the guy had, and from that moment on, Laurie's been nearly strutting, realizing that she's with the—at least locally—famous Troy Wood. She doesn't quite realize that Troy's famous as much for his good looks as he is for his football abilities, the two working hand in hand to ensure that if his playing ability grows, he could become a poster boy for the team, and a lot of endorsements too.