Love at the 20-Yard Line

by Shanna Hatfield

  Haven couldn’t stop crying.

  She somehow managed to keep herself together the first few hours at the office but then she bumped into Adam in the hall. The folder he carried fell to the floor, scattering pages around them. She started to help him pick up the papers only to see Brody’s photo in the plumber ads.

  Hastily mumbling an apology, she ran to her office and shut the door as tears streamed down her face.

  Convinced she’d be fine in a few minutes, she couldn’t get the tears to stop. Jordan tried to calm her down, making things worse. Finally, Mr. Young called Hale.

  He took her home and walked her to the bedroom where she curled up around a pillow and continued sobbing until she fell asleep.

  She awoke to find her mother sitting with her and started crying all over again.

  For two days, she couldn’t do anything but cry and miss Brody.

  He hadn’t called or texted and she knew he wouldn’t. It was their agreement that it would be easier if they just cut things off and went their separate ways.

  Only now, as she sat on her couch staring mindlessly out the window, she’d give anything to hear his gravelly voice on her phone.

  A knock on her door forced her to get up and answer it. Her mom stood on the step with a bouquet of bright flowers and a pint of her favorite ice cream.

  “Are you feeling better today, sweetie?” Rachel asked. The fact that Haven was up, showered, and dressed seemed like a marked improvement over the past few days.

  “I guess, Mom.” Haven set the flowers on her coffee table and the ice cream in the freezer. “Thanks for the flowers and ice cream.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Your dad and I are worried about you. Why don’t you come out and stay at the farm through the weekend?”

  “No, Mom. I just need some time alone to think.” Haven didn’t want to have to pretend she was fine. If she went to the farm, her family would hover around her even more than they were now, trying to cheer her up, and she’d be forced to act like they’d succeeded.

  “You’ve had plenty of time to think,” Rachel said, exasperated. “Honestly, Haven, what did you believe was going to happen? You and Brody both knew he’d be leaving and you both knew going into the relationship it was going to end sooner rather than later. Did you have some fantasy that he’d give up all his dreams, his career, to stay here with you?”

  “No.” Haven grabbed a tissue as she started to cry again. “I knew he’d leave. I just didn’t realize he’d take my heart with him. And the only fantasy I had was that he’d let me go along.”

  “Oh, honey,” Rachel said, folding Haven into a mother’s tender embrace. “Give it some time and it will quit hurting so badly. I promise.”

  “How are you holding up, bro?” Marcus asked.

  Brody had been in his new apartment for a week and couldn’t find enough things to do to occupy his time or mind. He’d started to call Haven multiple times, but stopped himself before he did.

  He missed her with every breath he took, and wondered, more than once, if a body could die from a broken heart. He was quite certain he didn’t even have a heart anymore. Convinced Haven still held it in her hands, he realized he’d never, ever love anyone the way he loved her.

  In a moment of desperation, he called Marcus, just to hear a friendly voice.

  “I’m fine, man. How are you?” Brody asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

  “I’m good. I start a new job tomorrow but it looks like I’ll be back playing arena football for our team next season. I’m pretty excited about it.”

  “That’s great, Marcus.” Brody was pleased for his friend. “How are your folks?”

  “They’re good. My baby sister just got engaged. She’s planning to have her wedding before the season begins.”

  “Tell her congrats for me,” Brody said. Thoughts of engagements and weddings brought visions of Haven to mind and made Brody’s chest ache with renewed force.

  “Are you sure you’re doing okay? You don’t sound like yourself.” Marcus could hear something in his friend’s tone that gave him reason to worry.

  “I’m fine, but thanks for caring.” Brody refused to get into a discussion of how much he missed Haven, how he should have listened to Marcus, and found a way to make things work with her.

  “What did the doc say about your knee? Didn’t you have an appointment yesterday to get it checked by the team physician?”

  “Yeah. He basically told me what I already know. That my knee could hold up for ten more years of playing or ten minutes, but at some point it’s going to give out and possibly leave me crippled.”

  “And why is it that you think doing this is a good idea?” Football had been Brody’s life for as long as he’d known him, but Marcus wished he’d consider all the available options for the future.

  “I have to try, Marcus. You know I have to try.”

  “Yeah, man, I guess I do. You take care and be sure to keep in touch, though,” Marcus said.

  “I will.” Brody searched for the right words to say what was on his mind. “Look, Marcus, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your friendship and support. You’ve always been there for me and it means a lot.”

  “You’re welcome. Now hang up before you make us as mushy as a couple of schoolgirls.”

  “Bye, man.”

  Brody went for a long run, lifted weights, and tried to keep his mind occupied, but his thoughts continued to circle back to Haven.

  Forcing himself to eat dinner and watch television, his gaze continued to go to the package Haven sent with him.

  Unable to stand it any longer, he removed the wrapping paper and stared at a plain white box for a while before lifting the lid. A digital photo frame inside rested inside a layer of tissue paper.

  A note from Haven, redolent of her soft fragrance, sat in the bottom of the box.

  Slowly lifting it out, Brody breathed deeply, closing his eyes to savor her scent.

  He opened the envelope and removed a card.

  Always remember there’s someone who loves you…

  After switching on the frame, Brody watched images of the two of them together scroll across the screen. There was the photo her mom took at Easter, the studio photos from Adam, pictures Allie and Hale had snapped with their phones. There was even a photo of them riding horses out at the farm.

  The last photo, though, was one Brody hadn’t seen before.

  One that made every square inch of his body ache with longing for Haven.

  Allie had obviously done her hair and makeup, because she looked like a model ready for the runway. She wore the dress that had almost driven him beyond the point of no return, along with a pair of sexy heels. She leaned against a marble counter, looking nothing like his sweet, innocent Haven. This woman had a fiery look in her eye and a smile on her face that was pure invitation.

  Brody wondered when or where she’d had the photo taken, then thought he recognized the backdrop from one of the plumber shots Adam took of him. It made sense that Adam would do the photo for her.

  Although seeing her in that dress definitely made his temperature rise, Brody scrolled back to the photo of her in jeans and boots, laughing as he carried her piggyback across her parents’ front yard. That was the one that made a lump he couldn’t swallow form in his throat and filled him with regret so strong it made him want to get in his truck and drive straight back to the woman he loved.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “How can autumn be here already?” Allie asked as she and Haven looked through a rack of sweaters at the mall. Although it was still warm, the October air carried a crisp tartness that signaled fall had arrived.

  “I don’t know, but here it is. Have you noticed how the trees are already turning color?”

  “I did. We should totally plan a bonfire at the farm. It’s so fun this time of year.”

  “Sure.” Haven turned away, not wanting her cousin to see the look on her face at the mention of a bonfire. Al
l she could think of was the bonfire at the farm when Angelina and Brody were there.

  Haven hadn’t heard a word from Brody since he left. She wondered if he liked the digital frame she’d sent with him or if he ever looked at the photos and missed her.

  It took every ounce of courage she had to let Allie do her hair and makeup and ask Adam to take photos in the dress that Brody had liked so well. She did it because she hoped it would make him smile and remember her.

  A month ago, a package arrived in the mail from Brody’s mother. Inside, she found photos of him as a little boy, wearing his first football uniform, and more photos and newspaper clippings from his teen and college years.

  She sat on her living room floor and cried for three hours after seeing the photos.

  Now that Brody played with an NFL team, she watched every televised game of his team, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. She kept track of his stats and combed through Hale’s sports magazines searching for the mention of his name.

  Her mother continued to assure her the pain in her heart would eventually lessen and then stop. So far, it hurt every bit as much as it did the day Brody left. She’d just learned to hide it better.

  Haven was no longer an innocent girl with stars in her eyes. She’d experienced real heartbreak, true love, and devastating loss.

  If someone were to offer her the option of taking away the pain by turning back time and erasing the months spent with Brody, Haven knew she’d go through it all again.

  Some of the most wonderful moments she’d ever known were spent with him and she wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.

  What she needed to do, however, was get on with her life.

  After taking a deep breath, she turned back to Allie and looped their arms together. “Hey, want to go see that new comedy movie that’s out? I heard it’s really funny.”

  Hours later, after she and Allie had dinner with Rick and they’d gone to a corn maze, Haven returned to her apartment and got ready for bed.

  She propped herself against a pile of pillows and scrolled through photos of Brody on her phone. Haven kissed the tip of her finger, touched the screen, and wished him good night before turning out her light and sliding down in the covers. As she had every night since he left, she cried herself to sleep.

  Hours later, Haven dreamed Brody was with her again, holding her close. She breathed deeply, inhaling his unique scent.

  When she rolled onto her side, she felt his arms around her and snuggled back against him.

  The dream was as vivid as life when his lips, warm and moist, pressed a kiss to her cheek then trailed down her neck.

  “Haven?” His gravelly, deep voice whispered in her ear. “Haven, I love you, doll. Please wake up.”

  Slowly opening her eyes, Haven prepared for the feel of Brody to linger for a moment before disappearing, as it always did.

  Tonight, though, she still felt his warmth. His scent was strong and she heard him say her name again in the husky voice she loved.

  Tears spilled down her cheeks and she started to roll over, bumping into something solid.

  Rapidly blinking her eyes, she reached up and turned on the light beside her bed. As a pair of dark eyes stared at her, she held back a scream.

  Brody was there beside her, not just in her dreams. She threw her arms around his neck and held him close.

  “Brody! What are you doing here?” she asked, between the kisses she lavished over his face. “How long can you stay? How did you get in?”

  “Slow down.” Brody wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She rested her head against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. “I still have the key you gave me, so I hope you don’t mind me using it.”

  “Not at all,” she said, giving him a little squeeze. “Why are you here?”

  “If you’ll have me, Haven, I’m back to stay.” Brody gazed into her sweet face - the face that haunted his every waking moment and invaded all his dreams.

  He thought once he left town, cut off all ties to Haven, he’d be able to get her out of his system and focus on his football career.

  Instead, he missed her more and more with each passing day. He missed her laughter and her smile, her innocent way of looking at life, her innate goodness, and sense of humor.

  He sniffed the note she sent with the digital frame so many times, the paper was nearly worn out and he’d sat every night watching her face scroll across the screen of the frame, remembering every moment he enjoyed in her company.

  The months spent with Haven were the happiest he’d ever known. She not only filled his heart with joy, she gave him a place to belong. In every sense of the word, she was his safe haven against the world.

  A few weeks ago, he reached the point when he realized his love for her was greater than his love for football.

  His knee could end his football career at any moment. He finally accepted the inevitable and arrived at the conclusion there were other things he could do to make a living, but there was only one girl who could make his life complete.

  Officially retiring from football, Brody packed his belongings and drove to his mom’s place, telling her of his plans before driving back to Haven.

  Now, he was where he belonged, right by her side.

  “What are you saying, Brody? What do you mean you’re back to stay?” Haven tried to process Brody’s words.

  “I mean I’m done with football. I’m so sorry, Haven. I should never have left. It took me all this time to finally admit the only thing I can’t live without is you.” Brody framed her face with his hands and looked into her eyes. “My place is right here, beside you, holding you in my arms.”

  “But that’s your dream, Brody. You can’t just give it up. Not for me.” Haven worried that Brody would resent her if he quit football now.

  “I didn’t give it up for you. I gave it up for me. You see, I discovered something more important than football. Something I want far more than to play in the Super Bowl. Something that I love more than anything in this world… you.” Brody claimed her lips in a possessive, passionate kiss that cleared Haven’s mind of any thoughts except Brody.

  “I can’t let you do it,” Haven whispered, clinging to him. “You have to go back. You have to try.”

  “I’m done trying, Haven. My knee isn’t going to last and I might as well face that fact now before I end up permanently crippled.” Brody gently rubbed his hands up and down her back. “I've been in touch with a couple of the schools in the area. One of the coaches is retiring at the beginning of the year and they offered me a job. If you think you could spend your life with a high school teacher and football coach, I’m asking you to marry me. Will you?”

  Haven sat up and stared at him, at the face of her beloved. A smile tipped the corners of her mouth upward. “Of course I’ll marry you!”

  Brody kissed her dimples then her mouth again as he held her close. “I love you so much, Haven. More than you could possibly know.”

  “I love you, too, Brody. Since the day you looked up at me from the twenty-yard line.”

  Epilogue

  Six Years Later

  “Coach? Coach, there’s someone here to see you.”

  Brody looked up from the papers he graded at his desk as one of his senior football players hustled inside his office.

  “What’s up, Brandon?” Brody smiled at the boy as he stood in the doorway, dressed for practice.

  Brandon grinned. “There’s a very important person here to see you.”

  Brody stood and walked around the desk. “And who is this very important person?”

  A giggle erupted behind Brandon and an angelic face peeped around his legs.

  “It’s me, Daddy!”

  Brody knelt and held out his arms to his daughter.

  “Hi, Jamie. How’s my girl?” Brody kissed her rosy cheek. “What are you doing here? I thought you were spending the afternoon with Uncle Hale.” He stood with Jamie in his arms.

  She squeeze
d him around the neck and pressed a sloppy kiss on his chin before squirming to get down. He set her on top of his desk and rubbed a hand over her head. Although she had his dark hair color, her bouncy curls came from Haven. He smiled into her big blue eyes, so like her mother’s.

  “Where is your mama?” Brody glanced toward the door.

  “She’s coming, coach.” Brandon stepped over to the desk and picked up Jamie, tossing her in the air.

  “Do it again, Brandon. Please, do it again!” Jamie giggled, when he tossed her up another time. At the tender age of four, she had every one of the players on the high school football team her father coached wrapped around her finger.

  Brody walked to the door and watched Haven slowly waddle down the hall. Nine months pregnant, she didn’t move anywhere in a hurry.

  “Hey, doll. What’s up?” Brody gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. Despite her advanced pregnancy, he thought she looked radiant and beautiful.

  “Hale got called in to work, so I thought Jamie might enjoy watching the boys practice today. I hope it’s okay.” Haven leaned against Brody as she caught her breath from the long walk across the parking lot and through the school to his office near the back of the athletic wing.

  “Why didn’t you call? I would have run over to pick you up. You didn’t drive over here, did you?” Brody escorted her inside his office and hurried to wheel the chair from behind his desk. He helped her ease down to the seat.

  Haven sighed, exasperated and exhausted. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. Besides, it’s far too nice a day to be stuck inside the house. Jamie and I want to see how these boys are doing. They’ve got their first big game this weekend.” Haven smiled at Brandon as he held Jamie. “Are you ready to win?”

  “You bet Mrs. Jackson. Come out to the field and we’ll show you.”

  Haven nodded. “Why don’t you take Jamie with you? I’ll be there in a minute - or ten.”

  Brandon smiled and set Jamie on her feet, taking her hand in his. “Come on, little Miss Coach. Let’s see if you think we’re good enough to win.”