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He’d signed a contract with a Protected Against Injury clause, so it was null and void if he was hurt and couldn’t play. However, the team legally couldn’t just fire him. They’d have to reach some kind of settlement. While he was on the sidelines, he had been well paid and was trying to save every penny, just in case. And he’d gotten a substantial bonus for that touchdown.
Making the flight arrangements to go home felt proactive; he’d surprise his family. They went all out for the holidays, too. It would help take the focus off his failure. He hadn’t even lasted two full seasons in professional football.
Packing his bags, he’d take everything he could fit in two suitcases. Removing photos from the refrigerator and stuffing them into his backpack had a finality to it. If he ever chose to move back to California, he’d have to drive his car back. He’d talk to his father about it over Thanksgiving.
Then, as he was loading up the trunk of his car with the suitcases, he remembered Wendy Adams. A couple of days after the accident, he’d gotten a text from her, but Joanne was still in Michigan, so he couldn’t make plans to see Wendy. Getting out his phone, he sent her a text.
Heading back to California for Thanksgiving.
She answered right away.Get in touch when you return. Happy Thanksgiving!
He didn’t want to wait to talk to her though, so he texted back asking if he could call, and she said of course.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier.”
“I figured your family was still in town.”
“They were for a few days. Then I got busy with the team, but that’s not my excuse.”
“You don’t owe me any excuses,” she said. “I don’t think your girlfriend was too thrilled I was helping out in the hospital.”
He thought about what he was going to say to her, and wanted to be honest, as bad as it sounded. “Wendy, I’m going to break up with her when I get home. It sounds awful, but we talked, and I know she isn’t happy the way things are.”
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked.
“I want to be honest with you. I really like you, Wendy. I feel like we connected every time I got hit in the head.”
He chuckled, and she understood what he meant.
“I like you, too. So you’ll let me know when you’re back in town?”
“I will. Do you have family close by to have Thanksgiving dinner with?”
“I was raised in Wisconsin, but my family is in Nevada,” she said. “I didn’t get the time off to visit over Thanksgiving this year. So maybe I’ll go on Christmas.”
“That sucks,” Oliver said. “Thanksgiving is a family holiday. What will you do?”
“I’ll have dinner with friends. It won’t be as nice, but it will be drama-free.”
“I understand that, believe me. My mother is living with her boyfriend now, so I have no idea what they do for Thanksgiving anymore.”
“Are your parents divorced?”
“They might be by now. I haven’t asked, and she didn’t say. Her boyfriend came to see me when I was recovering.”
“He sounds like a good guy,” she replied.
There was an awkward silence. How could he explain Harry Steinberg? Harry loved Clare, but he’d betrayed Charlie for years. That would be a tough thing to forgive.
“I guess I’d better get on my way. My plane leaves in a couple of hours. Have a nice time with your friends.”
They chatted a bit more and then said goodbye. It felt unfinished. He really wanted to see her, to hear more about her drama-filled Las Vegas family. But first, he would have that conversation with Joanne. They had almost had it before she left Michigan when he had gotten hurt.
“I don’t want to stir the pot when you’re down like this,” she’d said.
“I appreciate it. I’m not sure I’m responsible for much that I say at this point,” he had responded. “It’s probably better that we wait unless you’re in a hurry.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I’m not in a hurry.”
