* * *
"You excited?" I said to Cathy in the passenger seat next to me.
"Yeah, and a little nervous."
"Because of that whole, 'team to beat' thing?"
"Yeah, what if they intentionally try to hurt our guys?"
"The coaches can't tell 'em to do that."
"Sure, I know, but the boy's could decide—Alex isn't that big—I mean some of the players are huge—especially the linemen."
"I see your point, but I'm sure Coach has them prepared, they'll protect each other."
"Alex said the guys on Catoctin's team are really big."
"Is he worried?"
"No, he's in denial—that male testosterone thing." She laughed.
"Well, here we are." I said as I turned into the Catoctin school parking lot. "You okay with me going down to the sidelines at the beginning of the game, right?"
"Sure, Alex said the team really thinks it's cool that you're doing that for them. I'll get us seats at the top of the bleachers."
Since we were the visiting team, all the fanfare was on the home side of the field. Even so, as our boy's ran past me and brushed their helmets against my hand, a lot of the home fans started booing. I think it kind of had the opposite affect you'd expect, because our guys seemed even more energized by it. As soon as we finished, I raced up to join Cathy. She said she was fine, but despite her knew found normal, she was obviously nervous. Knowing what she did, I think she kind of felt protected when she was with me.
"See how big they are." Cathy said as the other team took the field.
It was my turn to laugh. "I think they're more like cows than cougars though."
As it turned out, slow came along with big and they just couldn't keep up with our tempo. At halftime, we led 21-0.
Coach put some of the second and even third string players in the game in the second half. I think he knew he needed to build depth for the more difficult games ahead and the experience would be good for the younger guys, especially next year. The home team bleachers were emptying quickly by the middle of the fourth quarter. The final score was 45-7.
Obviously being the visiting team, there was no big fanfare at the end of the game, but Coach gathered the boys at the far end zone for a quick word. Cathy and I walked down to the track that surrounded the field while he talked. I saw Jason's mom, but she made no effort to speak, so neither did I.
Cathy and I were rounding the turn on the track when the boys jogged across the field to the waiting busses. They stayed in full uniform, including their helmets until they boarded the bus. It must have been what Coach was telling them in their post game meeting.
It was a quiet ride home, and I began to wonder if Cathy was having visions, but whatever was going on with her, she didn't say anything. I let it go as just one of those 'Cathy' moments. We got to the school before the team bus.
"Your visions?" I asked out of curiosity.
"It's not always about you!" Cathy shot back.
"Okay."
Just then, the bus turned into the parking lot. I opened my door and started to get out.
"It's just Alex didn't get to play much in the second half." Cathy mumbled.
"He had two touchdown catches, over 100 combined yards, so he had a great game."
"How do you—ah, never mind—I suppose you're right."
"And, you didn't have to worry about him getting hurt." I added. "Come on, lets go meet the bus."
Besides the parents, there were a surprising number of kids waiting for the team. Everyone cheered as the guys exited the bus. Alex was one of the first guys out, and he ran over to give Cathy a big hug. She was all smiles—as she should be. Jason didn't come out until toward the end.
"Hey," he said, as he got to me—no hug.
"You look tired."
"Yeah, I don't get it."
"You were awfully wound up before the game, maybe you just got to hyped up."
"Maybe you're right." He put his arm around me, but it kind of just hung there.
"You're only human, you've got to manage your energy level."
His incredulous look obviously indicated he didn't think my remark was funny.
"Short night tonight?" I said.
"You mind?"
"Yes, but I understand."
"Thanks." He leaned over and gave me a little kiss. "Mind waiting for me?"
"Of course not." I looked out across the parking lot. "I'll wait for you over by your Rover."
He looked over at it and smiled for the first time since getting off the bus. "Okay." His arm dropped from my waist and he started toward the gym. He was the last one though the doorway.
"Jason okay?" Cathy said as she walked up next to me.
"I think he just got too hyped up before the game—kind of an adrenalin crash."
"Alex says that kind of thing happens. I'm sure he'll be okay. We're going to get pizza, want to join us?"
"Jason said he wanted to make it an early night, but thanks."
"We talking about the same Jason?" Cathy said.
"Weird, huh?"
"You know he's crazy in love with you. You're not worried are you?"
"No, not about that, but you know his mom had a heart problem—it almost killed her, I'm just wondering if maybe Jason—"
"Jason what?" he said, walking up beside me.
"See ya." Cathy spotted Alex coming out of the building and ran off to meet him.
I put my arm around Jason's waist and turned him toward his Rover. "Come on, let's get you home." We walked silently across the parking lot.
Jason, hit the auto unlock on the key fob and the Rover's marker lights blinked as the doors unlocked. "So what were you saying to Cathy about me?"
"I'm just worried about you, that's all."
"And?"
"You had a physical before the season, right?"
He opened his door and tossed his gym bag in the back seat. "Just spill it, what are you talking about?"
"I was just wondering if they checked your heart, you know your mom—"
"They checked it while I was in the hospital. I'm fine, well, not exactly."
"What's wrong, is it the same thing as your mom?"
"No, they said my heart didn't belong to me."
"What?"
His beautiful, but tired face, lit up with a smile. "I told them I knew that, that it belonged to you." He groaned when I punched him in the arm. "I guess we should talk. Mind sitting for a few?"
I was around the back of the Rover and in the passenger's seat before he sat down behind the wheel.
"I didn't want to say anything, but well, I guess I just can't keep anything from you."
"No, you can't, but you don't ever have to, we're 'all in', remember?" I said.
"I know, it's just I don't have an answer for this one—no idea."
"You're scaring me. What is it?"
"I need a place to stay, I can't go home, not after this afternoon."
"Your mom?"
"Yeah, we had it out. I told her I'd had enough and I was moving out."
"You can't," I said, "you can't do that to her."
"I know, I felt really bad about the way I stormed out before the game, but I'm tired of it, I just can't deal with her attitude anymore." He hung his head. "For all I know, she's lying dead on the kitchen floor."
"She's fine, I saw her at the game."
"Really, I'm surprised she came the way I talked to her—no yelled at her."
I cupped my hand against his cheek. "I'm sure she knows you didn't mean what you said."
He took my hand, pulled it to his lips and kissed my palm. "But I did, I meant every word."
I knew the answer, but I asked the question anyway. "It was about me again, wasn't it?"
Jason shifted uneasily in his seat.
"Maybe it's best if I—"
"Don't start." Jason said. "You're not going anywhere. We're not taking a break. We're not changing anything—we're forever." He looked over with tears in his be
autiful, chocolate eyes—it broke my heart to see him hurting like this.
The headlights on a car across the parking lot came on. The engine started and then whoever it was drove off. We were the only ones left.
"If you really think it will help, I'll try to talk to her." I couldn't believe I just said that.
His sad expression didn't change. "Nah, I don't think it will help, especially after tonight's game. She didn't even know about the helmet thing with you when we argued. I bet she just loved seeing us do that."
"She hates me that much?"
"We're only two games in and she's already saying the season is becoming more about you than me. I told her it wasn't about either one of us, it was about the team, but then—well then I lit into her about the way she treats you." He paused for a moment before continuing. "But I meant every word of it, every one."
"Start the engine." I said.
"What?"
"That's a police car."
"I don't—"
Just then a car crested the hill and turned into the parking lot. The headlights washed over the front of the Rover. Jason started the engine, but as he put it in gear, the red and blue lights on the roof of the approaching police car started flashing.
"Great," Jason said, "just our luck." The police car pulled up next to us and Jason rolled down the window. The harsh white light from the officer's flashlight flooded the car.
"Jason, Jason Whitaker, right?" the police officer said, turning off the flashlight.
"Yes, sir," Jason said.
"I'm Officer Burns, we met at the hospital last year."
"Oh, right, I remember."
"That your girlfriend?"
"Yep."
"I'm Izzy."
"Well, nice to meet you after all this time." He turned to his partner and said quietly, "She's the one they thought tossed him across the room."
The partner leaned forward to get a better look at me. He chuckled. "What, all 100 pounds of her." he said under his breath.
Officer Burns turned back to Jason. "How's your mother?"
"Better." Jason said.
"Well, glad to hear it. You should probably be getting Izzy home, don't you think?"
"We were just getting ready to head out—kind of got caught up talking about tonight's game."
"Who'd you play?"
"The Catoctin Cougars."
"Well I imagine you dismantled them pretty easily."
"Yes, sir, we did."
"Glad to hear it—I got ten bucks on you winning the championship this year."
"Well, I'll try not to let you down."
"You two have a nice evenin'." Officer Burns winked at Jason and then pulled away.
"Do all guys just assume—"
"Star athlete, smokin' girlfriend?" Jason shrugged.
"Ahh." I huffed. "Just drive."
Jason slipped the Rover into gear and we headed for the exit.
"So you think your parents will mind if I stay with you?"
"I mind."
"But I let you stay—"
"That was completely different and you know it. Besides, look how that turned out. No, you're going home."
"Izzy, you don't understand—the things I said, it's just not that easy."
"Oh yes it is. You're going to march right in there and apologize. We'll never get this worked out if you run away—besides, after all she's done for you—for me—I can't believe you'd just turn your back on her. That's not the loving, caring Jason I know and love."
He didn't say another word the rest of the drive. He also slowed, the closer we got to his house. Finally, he pulled in the driveway and turned off the engine. We sat in silence for a minute.
"Come on, Jason, you know this is the right thing to do." I opened the door and then got out.
Jason also climbed out. "So, you're coming to help, right?"
"Nope, this is all yours." I zipped around the front of the Rover until I was by his side. Our eyes, locked on one another's and we just stood like that, until I took his hands. "I love you, you know that. Your mom loves you, you know that too, and she knows you love her. Just go apologize."
His eyes begged for my help, but I let go of his hands and stepped back. "You sure?" he said.
"Yes. Hey, I know this isn't the best time to drop this on you, but I'm not going to be able to see you this weekend, but maybe it's for the best, it'll give you time to patch things up with your mom."
"Why not?"
"The dear population has gotten extremely depleted the last few months so, before hunting season starts and it gets even worse, we're going to go see if we can herd some this way."
"You're not thinking about leaving are you?"
"No, Benjamin and Tink think this will work."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Stop stalling, Jason, we're going to be just fine. Now, go and apologize." I looked toward the house. "She's coming downstairs. I'll see you on Monday." I was by his mailbox when the back door opened.
"Jason?"
"Yeah, Mom, it's me."
She stumbled down the back stairs. "I'm so sorry." She ran across the pavement to him and wrapped him in her arms.
"No Mom, it was my fault." Jason kissed her on the cheek. "I'm really sorry."
"Come on, it's cold out, let me make you some hot chocolate and we can talk."
"Sure, Mom, hot chocolate sounds great." Jason put his arm around her and they headed back toward the house.
Time for me to pick up my car and head home.