Page 29 of Scored

Rupert, the man in the large silver Suburban, opened his driver’s door. We met him fifteen minutes earlier when he stood near the exit from the terminals to the airport with a tablet that read Hubbard. He was friendly and spoke with a noticeable northern accent.

“This must be Miss Ashley.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, “if I made you wait.”

“Well, geez,” he replied with a smile and a shake of his head, “it was my pleasure, dontcha know?” He opened the rear door before gathering our luggage and taking it to the back of the vehicle.

Once we were all inside, Ashley in the back and Vee and I in the second-row seats, Rupert sat behind the steering wheel. “I’ve got a cooler up here with soda pop, if anyone is thirsty.”

“I think hot chocolate would be more appropriate,” Vee said with a giggle. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Oh, you betcha, I need to carry a thermos.” Rupert eyed each of us in the rearview mirror. “Okay, off to Lodge Kohler? Let me know if you need to go anywhere else before the game.”

I looked down at my watch. It was a little after three. Turning to Vee, I asked, “What’s the name of the restaurant?”

She spoke louder, speaking to Rupert. “We have five o’clock reservations at Republic Chophouse, then to Lambeau. We’d like to get to the stadium close to seven o’clock. Kickoff is at eight.”

“It’s absolutely fine by me. It won’t take long to get from the lodge to the chophouse. I’ll be there to pick you up at quarter to five and be back to the restaurant by half past six to pick you back up. I’ll take you back to the lodge… not getting much closer to the stadium.”

Leaning back against the seat, I sighed. “Thank you, Rupert. That sounds like a plan.”

“No worries at all.”

“Don’t worry about after the game,” Vee said, “we’ll walk back to the hotel.” She smiled my direction. “A little like our escape to Chicago.” Vee turned to Ashley. “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Early, 6:22 a.m.”

Vee snickered. “Ours isn’t until one.”

“No worries,” Ashley said. “I’ll Uber.”

“Miss Ashley,” Rupert said. “I can pick you up at four and go back for Ms. Hubbard and Mr. Graham at ten thirty.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“That’s very nice of you, Rupert,” Vee said.

Their conversation was lost on me as I looked out on the familiar scenes. I hadn’t expected being back in Green Bay to hit me like it was—emotions like a pendulum swinging between fondness and years lost.

Memories came roaring back, things I hadn’t thought about in years.

CHAPTER 12

Fin

Beyond the windows of the car, the landscape was more snow covered than the dusting we’d left in Lexington. I said I didn’t envy Zane playing in the cold, but truth be told, I had fond memories of the snow. I played six seasons here, the starting quarterback for the first five. Those years were real learning experiences, both professionally and personally.

I was both married and divorced here.

The unique fan ownership model of Green Bay created a passionate fanbase.

Before my sixth season, I sustained a hamstring strain in my right thigh. Putting my weight on that leg was painful. The result was my long pass was gone. I started the first few games. The decision was made to let my backup play.

He was good.

So good, he’s still here.

While I went through recovery and rehab, Isaac Hughes took the team to victory. My hamstring was fine later in the season, and I saw playing time. I just wasn’t starting.