“Yeah.” The smaller one beamed a smile at Derrick and then at Jay and Aaron. “You guys are the best.”
The three signed photos for her the girls, and as they walked off, Jay leaned in toward Derrick and Aaron. “This is amazing. I love it already.”
Derrick felt his heart soar. He kept scanning the line, looking for the freckle-faced boy, so Aaron wouldn’t be caught off guard. All the while, he couldn’t help but think that finally…finally he could feel God smiling down on him. Maybe the whole team really would get behind the idea of helping the foster kids in their city. No matter the deep pain of his past, Derrick had to believe God had a plan for his life.
And here, now, he could almost feel it taking shape.
Aaron was just getting the swing of interacting with the kids when he spotted her. Across the gym and a third of the way back, sitting by herself was a woman who took his breath. At first he looked away, focused his attention on the kids in front of him. After all, he was here because of his wandering eye for women. The last thing he needed was an infatuation over a foster kid volunteer.
But every few minutes, no matter how hard he tried, Aaron couldn’t help but look. The woman had pale skin and striking features. Her dark hair shone in the light that still streamed through the side doors. All of that was nothing to the look in her eyes. She was talking to a thin black woman seated beside her, and all the while, her expression was strong and independent. He would never find someone like that in a bar or hanging around the player exit after a game.
She wasn’t dressed flashy, and when she stood and went to the pizza line he got a better look. She wore jeans and a long-sleeved knit shirt, simple and subtle, but the strength and character she exuded stirred something inside him. Derrick had to elbow him to get his attention.
“Focus, will you?”
He stared at the woman once more. “Sorry.”
Derrick followed his gaze and squinted. “That’s her.”
“Who?”
Jay was busy signing an autograph and chatting with a teenage boy, a football player. Derrick pointed to the woman. “Remember the kid with the letter? That’s his mom.”
“Oh.” The feeling of disappointment was crazy. Of course she was married. A woman like that, someone would’ve fallen for her years ago. “So where’s her husband?”
For the fifth time that night, Derrick gave him a look like he’d asked where to find a dress for next week’s game. “Who said anything about a husband?”
Aaron ignored the comment and did his best to welcome the next child. A little boy, maybe four years old. “Hi, pal. How’s it going?”
“Are you really Aaron Hill?” The tyke looked suspicious. “’Cause I thought you were taller. My foster dad says you’re bigger than life.”
A flash of pride swelled in Aaron’s heart. He didn’t want to be here, but the adoration wasn’t a bad thing. “Tell him I said thanks, okay?”
He didn’t want to connect with any of the kids, even the cute ones. Do the time and fix his image. That’s all he wanted from tonight.
Aaron waited until the young boy had moved on to Jay. “You said she was the boy’s mom. That must mean there’s a dad, right?”
“Aaron, you’re the dumbest quarterback I ever met.” Derrick laughed under his breath. “She’s his foster mom. I have no idea if she’s married or not.” A warning sounded in his tone. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Get my drift?”
“I get it.” Aaron held out his hand and shook the much smaller one of a quiet girl. He didn’t like being reprimanded by Derrick Anderson. Guy was a do-gooder, worse than his reputation had it. He found a smile for the little girl. “Hi, I’m Aaron Hill…”
Even as he welcomed the child, he caught another glimpse of the woman. What was it about her? The combination of strength and beauty. He didn’t want to take her into the parking lot and kiss her. He wanted to meet her. Somehow he had an unexplainable sense that just talking to her, standing in her presence, would be an honor.
The line of kids was still halfway across the building, and finally an hour into it, after a pair of reporters and a photographer had come and gone, Derrick nudged him. “There he is. Five kids back.” He nodded toward a boy with a 49ers baseball cap and a face full of freckles. “He’s the one who gave me the letter.”
“Perfect.” Aaron felt his heart skip a beat. Ridiculous, he thought. He was Aaron Hill, most well-known football player in the country. Why was he getting nervous over meeting a grade-school kid? Even as the question passed through his mind, he knew the answer. It wasn’t the boy who made him nervous, but the dark-haired beauty watching the child from a distance. She hadn’t looked his way once, not that he’d seen. So she probably had no use for football players. That only made her twice as attractive. And if he was ever going to meet her, it would be because of how he handled himself in the next few minutes.
With a boy whose personal letter he hadn’t even bothered to read.
Cory could barely stand still. The night was going better than he ever dreamed. And now…now he finally knew why Aaron Hill hadn’t called him. He’d decided to come to the center and meet Cory in person! Of course! It was a much better idea than a phone call.
He’d been helping Megan, setting up the last row of tables at the back of the gym when Derrick and Jay Ryder and Aaron walked in.
“Look!” He wasn’t the only kid to react to the sight of three 49ers quarterbacks entering the gym.
Megan looked up and something changed in her eyes. “Hmmm. Aaron Hill.”
“He came for me!” Cory felt his arms and legs start to shake. “Why else would he come?” He pounded out a little rhythm on the table. “Can you believe it?”
A tired expression came over Megan’s face. “Help me with the rest of the chairs, okay? Then you can get in line with everyone else.”
Cory helped with the chairs. He could hardly stand waiting, but he did it anyway. Because what was his rush? Cory’s heart slammed hard against his shirt, lots harder than last time. Finally, the tables and chairs were where they needed to be and Megan told him he could go. “But don’t say anything about the letter.” Her look said she meant serious business. “I mean it, Cory. If he says something, fine. But leave it to him.”
Her last words were barely out before Cory raced to the back of the line. That’s where he stayed, inching forward a little more every minute or so, until now. Now, when there were just four kids left in front of him before it was his turn. He tried to look casual and normal, like any other boy.
But his armpits were sweaty and his eyes were stuck on Aaron Hill and no one else. He hadn’t noticed it on TV before, but he and Aaron had the same nose. The exact same one. And the hair too. Cory’s was a little blonder, but still…they both had blond hair. And so, of course his mother was right all this time. Not that he was mad at Megan for not believing it. What foster kid wouldn’t want Aaron Hill to be his dad? It was just that in his case, it was true.
Otherwise, Aaron wouldn’t have read his letter and come tonight.
Three more kids and then it was his turn. The kids in front of him moved up a little, but before Cory could take a step, two sixth-grade boys slammed into the spot. They turned and made a face at him. The bigger of the two got close to Cory’s face. “Don’t say anything, punk. Not if you wanna make it to the front of the line alive.”
Cory pushed the kid. “No cuts, loser.” He wasn’t afraid of the boys. The director already said no cuts, and he’d waited long enough to meet Aaron Hill. But the big kid meant what he said, and when he got his balance back, he grabbed Cory by the shirt and threw him onto the ground.
Kids came running up yelling, “Fight…fight…fight.”
Even now Cory had no fear. The kid sat on him, pinning his stomach to the ground, but Cory kicked at his back. Just then a bunch of volunteers came rushing up and someone grabbed the kid off.
“That’s enough from you boys.” The director snarled her words at the big kid and at Cory too. “Y
ou boys will go sit at the back of the gym. No player meetings for you.”
As she finished talking, Megan hurried over and put her hand on the director’s arm. “I saw what happened. If you don’t mind.”
The director gave her a mean face. “I show no favoritism, Megan Gunn. Your boy was part of the scuffle. He has to follow the rules same as anyone else.”
“I saw it too.” The voice was familiar.
Cory looked up and his mouth hung open. It was Aaron Hill. His father had left his seat up front and come to his rescue!
“Those bigger guys cut in front.” Aaron looked at the older guys. He smiled, but his voice was serious. “You shouldn’t pick on kids smaller than you. Didn’t anyone teach you that?”
The boys looked stunned too. Cory wanted to laugh. They probably never figured they’d be getting a talking-to from Aaron Hill before the night was over. The director had no choice now. She took a step back and pointed the older kids to the back of the gym. When they were gone, she looked at Cory. “Next time someone upsets you, tell a volunteer.”
Cory wanted to say that telling a volunteer would never have worked. Because he woulda had to get out of line to tell someone, and then he wouldn’t get his place back. Even if he was right. But he had the sense this wasn’t the time to say that. Instead, he gulped and gave a quick nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Very well.” The director smiled at Aaron. “Thank you for stepping in.”
The kids who had been in front of Cory were talking with Derrick and Jay Ryder. Megan put her hand on Cory’s back and looked at Aaron. “Thank you.” She sounded very professional. Not fun like usual. “Cory’s waited…a long time to talk to you.”
“I know.” Aaron put his hand on Cory’s shoulder. “Last week he sent me a letter through my teammate Derrick.”
If Cory could’ve frozen time, if he could’ve blinked and made all of life stop right at this very point, he would’ve. Because all his life he wondered what it would be like to feel his dad’s touch. And now…with all the kids racing through the gym and grabbing slices of pizza, he finally knew. Suddenly he realized what Aaron had said and he gasped. “You mean, you read it? I knew it!” He grinned at Megan. “I knew that’s why he was here.”
Aaron laughed, but not the sort of laugh like when something was funny. He faced Cory and held out his hand. “I’m Aaron Hill, Cory. Nice to meet you. Officially.”
Officially. Cory liked that. He shook the man’s hand and again he felt the connection, the feeling only a father could give. He returned the shake. “Nice to meet you.” He wasn’t sure what to call him. Maybe it was a little soon for “Dad.” “Aaron” didn’t sound exactly right either. Because no one called a father by his first name, right? So he didn’t use any name at all, and that felt like a good decision.
Then, before he could ask Aaron what he thought of the letter or whether all the stuff inside was a total surprise or how long he had loved Cory’s mother, Aaron Hill did a funny thing. He turned to Megan and held out his hand again. “You must be Cory’s foster mom.”
She took his hand, but she took a step back at the same time. And she released his fingers right away. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Hill.”
“Aaron.” He smiled. “You can call me Aaron.”
“Very well.” She angled her head. “Kicker, right?”
Cory couldn’t believe his ears. Megan knew every player at every position on the 49ers. She’d been a fan even before Cory was born, that’s what she said. So how come she was acting like she didn’t know? Just then she gave him a look that was fast and clear. Whatever she was doing, he wasn’t allowed to ask her about it. Not here and now.
“Uh…” Aaron did another soft laugh. “Actually, I’m the quarterback.”
“Oh, right.” Megan nodded. “You back up Derrick Anderson, right?”
Cory watched the conversation through wide eyes.
Aaron opened his mouth, probably to explain that it was the other way around. Because he was the starter, not Derrick. Then he smiled and nodded, real slow like. “Okay…yeah.”
Neither of them was making sense. Cory tapped on Aaron’s arm, real polite like. “You coulda called me. I gave you the number at the bottom of the letter.”
For a few seconds, Aaron looked confused. Then he crouched down so he was more at Cory’s level. “I figured I’d see you here.” He held up his hands. “And now it all worked out.”
It all worked out? The room started to spin and Cory’s whole mind raced like the hundred-yard dash. So he read the letter and he believed every word? It all worked out, meaning he was here to claim his role as Cory’s father? Was that what he was saying?
The line was just about finished, and the remaining kids were all around Derrick and Jay. Cory had Aaron all to himself, but just then, the director asked for quiet because she had to do the drawings.
Aaron held up his finger. “Just a minute. This is my part.” He jogged over to the director, and one at a time he picked five names. Five lucky kids. But Cory’s name wasn’t one of them. When Aaron was done, he came back and looked right at Cory. “You didn’t win, huh?”
“No.” Cory didn’t want to sound sad. No one liked a spoilsport. That’s what Megan always said. “I’ll win one of these days.” He said that because it was the right thing to say. But inside, he was hoping Aaron would have a different idea. Because he was Cory’s dad, after all.
Aaron smiled at Megan. “How ’bout you two come to the next game as my guests? We’re home against the Raiders a week from tomorrow.”
“The Raiders?” Now Cory was sure he must’ve died and gone to heaven. Three weeks ago if someone would’ve told him he’d be standing in the youth center getting invited to the 49ers game against the Raiders by none other than Aaron Hill, he wouldn’t have believed it. Not for a minute. His throat was dry, and he tried to swallow. “We’d love to.” He turned a quick look to Megan. “Right?”
Megan looked only mildly interested. “I’m off that day.” She shifted her attention to Aaron. “Thank you, Mr. Hill. How should we get the tickets?”
Cory couldn’t understand why Megan wasn’t being nice to Aaron. Maybe it was because of the adoption thing. She couldn’t adopt him unless Aaron said it was okay. But all that was too much to think about right now. All that mattered was Aaron, here, right here where he was always supposed to be! He’d read the letter and now he wanted Cory and Megan to go to a game as his guests!
Aaron found one of the raffle tickets and turned it over. “Give me your address. I’ll send the package overnight. You’ll have it by Monday.”
Megan didn’t look happy, but she gave him their address. “We’ll do our best to make it, Mr. Hill. Your offer’s very kind.”
Cory waited for Aaron to correct her. He already asked Megan to call him Aaron. But he only smiled at her. “After the game maybe we can go out for burgers.”
Her look got a little stronger. “All this because you read Cory’s letter?”
He looked a little embarrassed. “I guess it really touched me.”
“Yeah.” She thought about that for a few seconds. “That’s what I figured.” She nodded at him the way she looked at the cat when he missed the litter box. Then she took a step back. As she did, she took hold of Cory’s arm and gently led him away from Aaron. “Cory has to help with cleanup.”
For an instant, Cory thought Aaron was going to offer to help too, but just then Derrick and Jay Ryder came up. Aaron seemed to realize he wasn’t here by himself, and that Cory and Megan weren’t the only people in the room.
“Time to go.” Derrick patted Aaron on the back. Then he waved at Cory. “Good to see you again.”
“Thanks.” Cory smiled at him and then at Jay. “I’m Cory.” He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Jay shook his hand. “Fun night, huh?”
Cory’s heart was still doing somersaults. “The best ever!”
Aaron was looking at Megan and there was something funny in h
is eyes. “I’ll be seeing you.” He held one hand up toward Cory. “High five?”
Even though Megan still had hold of his arm, Cory stretched and high-fived Aaron. “See you next Saturday.”
“See you then.” Aaron smiled at him, but once more he looked at Megan. “I’m looking forward to it.”
She nodded, more at Derrick and Jay than at Aaron. Then she turned Cory around and walked him to the kitchen. Cory waited until they were behind the swinging door before he tugged on her sleeve. “Megan?”
She groaned and he heard the tiredness in her voice. “What?”
“Why’d you ask if he was the kicker?” Cory was worried about her. If she was having trouble remembering that detail, maybe something was wrong with her brain.
She looked a little angry at first, but then that look went away and her face was soft again. “I was just playing around.” She leaned in and kissed Cory’s cheek. “It’s good for big shots to be humbled once in a while.” Megan kept on toward the double sinks. There weren’t many dishes; pizza wasn’t that messy. A few cutters and the salad forks and bowls from the serving table. That was all.
Cory tagged along behind, but he was confused. Making Aaron feel humble didn’t seem like a very nice thing for Megan to do. “So, are you, like, you know, mad at Aaron for some reason?”
“No.” She rolled up her sleeves and turned on the water. Then she looked at him. “I have my doubts about him, okay? That’s all.”
“Why would you have doubts?” Cory took his place next to her at the sink. He scooped up a handful of forks and put them in a bowl of sudsy hot water. “Aaron read my letter, he came here to meet me. And now he wants us to go to the Raiders game as his guests.”
“I know.” She sounded tired again. “I’m sorry, Cory. You’re happy, I know that. I don’t want to spoil your night.”
“Good.” He swished the forks around in the water. His voice got a little quieter. “My mom prayed about this night all my life. Ever since I was born.” He stopped swishing. “That’s what she told me.”