When she got home she found another envelope in the mailbox and tossed it on the kitchen island to open later. Blaise had already emailed her a list of three lawyers. She looked at their websites, but didn’t find their rates reasonable.
She picked up the white envelope that lay on the kitchen island and studied it. The return address said ‘Australian Football League.’ She ripped it open. Inside was a typed letter with half a page of text and a signature at the bottom.
Holding her breath, she resisted the urge to skip to the end, and focused on reading one word at a time.
“Dear Ms. Madonna, Congratulations on being awarded MVP of the South Cairns Cutters last October. We would like to invite you to try out for the Brisbane Lions Women’s this October…”
No fucking way! A professional team!This must be one of Mattie’s elaborate pranks, payback for the vegemite in his sneakers last Christmas. He would do something like this. She put a wooden spoon handle under the line she was reading and moved her fingers from one word to the next, reading it out loud to herself.
“Training camp week will be held at the Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield. Candidates are responsible for flights and ground transportation to and from the facility. Room and board are provided.”
Holy shit!She covered her mouth and leaned on the kitchen island, staring down at the letter.
Ronnie slid her fingers into her hair and pulled it by the roots. “No fucking way…”
She called Mattie to ask if this was one of his pranks, but he denied it.
“Send me a picture. I need to see this.”
She did.
A minute later, Mattie cheered.
She hung up and texted the photo of the letter to her dad and Mikey. Reg called her immediately.
“Is this a joke?”
“I don’t think so?”
“Are you going?” Reg asked. “Might as well. You’re a legend on the Cutters. The Lions should have scouted you years ago. I don’t know why it took them so long. Maybe you wouldn’t have to move there. Tryouts would be good for you. Give you something healthy to focus on.”
Now that she realized she had a choice, she became frantic. “I have to, right? I can’t say no. This has been my dream since I was five…”
A text came through from Mikey.
(Mikey) OMG CONGRATS!!!!!
She heard Reg sigh and blow a raspberry over the phone. “Yeah, you gotta go. You deserve this.”
She could guess what he was thinking. If she won equal custody of Rainbow, she couldn’t move three days south to Brisbane.
“I’ve been looking at lawyers. They’re crazy expensive.”
“The ones Blaise sent you do a sliding scale.”
What if Maude said no? She probably would say no. If Rainbow was only with Ronnie every other weekend, she could swing travelling back and forth on an airplane. If Maude cut her off all together, she could definitely move to the big city.Rainbow was the only responsibility keeping her here on the Tablelands.
“I knew you’d get scouted eventually, Brum. You’re fast as, and you’re the best ruck the Cutters have had in a decade.” She appreciated that her dad didn’t rain on her parade.
“Thanks, dad. Love you.”
“Love you, Brum. Congratulations. You should be proud. It’s an honor to be invited, another notch for your belt, regardless of what happens.”
She tossed the letter on the pile of paid bills. “Yeah.” Her heart fell. She had never been on an airplane. Commuting across Queensland seemed wasteful and bad for the environment. She couldn’t ask Rainbow to fly alone twice a month. Rent in Brisbane would be astronomical compared to here, but her salary there might be higher. Something to research.
No. She couldn’t seriously consider it.
Could she?
