“Absolutely. You’ve already made a great start.” The woman walked to her computer. “I seem to have an opening on Wednesday evenings,” she said with a smile. “How does that sound?”
“Totally frightening, but absolutely fine. I’ll be here.”
“Just think of it as a practice session,” Dan said. “You’re the quarterback and the doc’s the coach. It’s a snap.”
The other two groaned in unison, wry smiles following. “A little humor is always good medicine,” said Dr. Tanner. “But Dan, try to up the game, will you?”
Groaning and chuckling again, Ally left the office with Dan, walking arm in arm. A thoughtful silence surrounded them, lasting until they entered the car. As Dan was about to press the ignition, Ally stopped him.
“Before we go home…” She turned toward him, her gaze darting everywhere except at Dan. She twisted strands of hair through her fingers. More than anything else, she wanted to hide her face. The shame of it. What Cal did was beyond horrible. It was criminal, in all ways. She had to clear the air. She tried to find the words.
Dan beat her to it.
“It wasn’t your fault, Ally. None of it. In fact, I’d like to pay your old man a visit he’d never forget.” He leaned down and kissed her until her doubts fled.
“About my appointments with Dr. Tanner…”
“You’re going. I’ll drive you there myself and wait in the car.”
“I’m—I’m not used to discussing these things.”
“An understatement,” he interrupted with a gentle smile. “But as the doc said, you made a great start tonight.”
“I’m scared. I hate him. I hate the man. And now I’ll have to talk about him.” Her tears ran then, silent tears from a hurt so deep, it had never had a voice until now.
“I was scared, too, Ally, but I didn’t want to lose you. My love for you was stronger than my fear, so I made the appointment. I will admit that talking was hard in the beginning. But I learned a lot.
“I want you to remember this—you and I are in this life together. All the way. We don’t run just because we get sacked a few times.”
She stretched closer to him until she could cover his mouth with hers. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met,” she said, punctuating her words with kisses. “The smartest. The most loving man, too.”
“Say that when I’m not behind the wheel of a car,” he teased, “and I can do something about it.”
She glanced at her watch. “Hmm…maybe in an hour or so.”
“It’s a date,” he replied. “And by the way, you forgot something back at the house. It’s in my pocket.”
She reached inside his jacket and felt the small box. Without another word, she put her ring back where it belonged.
EPILOGUE
THE BOSTON GLOBE—SOCIETY
Sunday, July 22
MS. ALEXIS BROWN WEDS QUARTERBACK DANIEL NICHOLAS DELITO
Ms. Alexis Brown and Mr. Daniel Nicholas Delito were united in marriage on July 21st at 11 o’clock in the morning at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the north end. A reception immediately followed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
The bride, wearing a silk shawl over a strapless, classically styled Vera Wang white silk gown with delicate white and silver embroidery, was escorted to the altar by Mr. Joseph Delito, who was also best man to his brother.
The four flower girls, led by one-year-old Michelle Delito, daughter of the groom, included Misses Elizabeth, Emily and Grace Newman, nieces of the groom. Miss Michelle toddled down the aisle carrying a bottle of milk in one hand and rose petals in the other.
Hometown hero Dan Delito’s career spans eight years with the New England Patriots, seven of those as starting QB with three Lombardi Trophies to his credit. Ms. Brown worked as a prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office before gaining custody of her niece, Michelle Delito.
The young family will take up residence in suburban Brookline before the new football season begins.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4856-8
QUARTERBACK DADDY
Copyright © 2010 by Linda Barrett.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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