[2016] A Bride's Journey

by Christian Michael

  Becca held out the covered desert like a peace offering. “Can I put this in your freezer?”

  “Sure, go ahead, what is it?”

  “I know how much you like ice-cream and I love me some cheesecake so I made an ice-cream cheese cake with caramel drizzle. I hope you’ll like it.”

  “Well it sure sounds good. Listen, this prime rib is almost done. Why don’t you choose a movie? I have Netflix on. Please no chick-flicks, okay?”

  “No worries. How about some action?”

  He agreed and they chose to watch the new James Bond movie. As they settled in on the couch to watch over a huge plate of juicy prime rib, vegetable stir-fry, mashed potatoes and glasses of red wine, Greg commented that Becca was actually the first person to see his cabin aside from the real estate agent and decorator.

  “It’s beautiful, Greg. I love the way you chose to decorate it. The next time you want to decorate though, call me, okay? I’ll take it personally if you don’t. ” She smiled to let him know she was just joking.

  “You got it, Becks.”

  A comfortable silence settled between them as they ate and watched the movie. Both jumped when they heard a phone go off. Greg apologized and got up to grab his phone and cut the shrill ring.

  “Excuse me Becks, this is my agent. I’ll be back.”

  Greg crossed the room to the lean against the back porch rail but left the sliding door open.

  “Hey, Annie. What’s going on?”

  “Greg. Thank goodness. Are you ok?”

  “What? Yeah, I am. Why?”

  “You’re family has been calling me. They’re frantic. They said they don’t know where you are or if you’re okay.”

  Greg blew out a breath in frustration. “I’m fine Annie. Would you mind running interference with them? They have become like blood-sucking leeches and are literally bleeding me dry. They’re not really concerned about me. They are more worried about the fact that they can’t reach me to get their hands on my cash. I just need a break from them until training starts.”

  Annie clucked sympathetically. “Don’t worry about it, Greg. I’ve been through this mill several times with my other players. I’ll keep them away from you. You relax.”

  “Thanks Annie. You’re awesome!”

  They exchanged some more pleasantries before hanging up. When Greg went back to the living area, he didn’t see Becca. He called for her and she responded from the kitchen. When he entered, he saw her serving slices of the cake she had made on a couple of plates.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your family. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I came in here to give you some more privacy.”

  “Don’t worry about it Becks. I guess it’s a part of the life I chose. I mean I don’t mind giving them money when they need it but it’s gotten to the point that they won’t do anything on their own anymore. My relatives quit their jobs, and together with my parents, bought a posh place and expect me to foot the bill for everything from groceries to mortgage to their parking tickets. It’s ridiculous!” He paused and took a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to dump on you. I guess I’m more wound up than I thought.”

  “Hey that’s okay. I understand. Here, have some ice-cream cheese cake, it might help you relax.”

  They settled in to watch the rest of the movie but Greg’s mind was elsewhere. His family didn’t really care about him, only his money. They hadn’t attended any of his games until he had become a pro. He had done his best to support them and help them out, giving out more loans than he could remember – which were never paid back. He knew that once his pro career was done, they would desert him again. He didn’t mind that, the problem was that he was giving them so much money, he didn’t have enough to see him through post-football. He was already a five year player – that made him almost ancient in the NFL. He had a year, maybe two, max.

  He knew time was running out and his drug and alcohol habit were making everything worse. The girls, the booze, the drugs, heck the lifestyle, it was all draining him. More and more he was certain he needed to get out – he just didn’t know how. He knew he was addicted to the drugs. He had been in and out of rehab with no luck for three years now. They said the first step to recovery was acknowledging the problem. He had long since acknowledged it. How the heck was he to get rid of it?

  He was brought out of his reverie by a gentle touch on his knee. Startled he looked down at Becca’s hand and then up into her eyes.

  She said very simply, “What can I do for you, Greg?”

  He stared at her in stunned amazement. No one ever wanted to do anything for him. Everyone wanted something from him. Suddenly, here was Becca. The girl he had scorned in the past. He was ashamed to admit just how much he ridiculed her. He knew she had heard him call her a love sick puppy and he knew he had hurt her deeply by his callousness and selfishness; he had seen her in his peripheral standing behind them that day so many years ago. He had seen her shock when Henry admitted he wanted only one thing from her and he had witnessed the dismay, no, the anguish, when he dismissed her feelings for him like so much trash.

  But here she was, silently forgiving him for the hurt and offering comfort. He was shocked to feel moisture on his cheeks. He reached up to wipe his face and realized he was crying. I never cry. Why am I crying? Before he could make an excuse and bolt, he felt arms surrounding him. Becca kneeled on the couch and pulled him to her shoulder and rubbed his back. She didn’t say anything, she didn’t make any noise. Somehow, though, it was exactly what he needed.

  He crushed her in his arms, buried his face in her neck and wept. He didn’t know what he was weeping for. Maybe the genuine love of a family he ached to have. Maybe the misery he felt in the void that he desperately tried to fill with women and drugs and alcohol and more money. Maybe it was just a real relationship with someone who wanted nothing from him but himself. They stayed like that for a long time.

  After a while, Greg pulled away from Becca. He knew he owed her an explanation. Truth to tell, he needed to talk to someone. Slowly he told her about his life in the NFL. He explained that through high school and college no one from his family had supported him but that when he was signed to the Broncos, they began to appear out of the woodworks. As the pressure from his family increased and as they drained him more and more, he turned to “the lifestyle” to find fulfillment. He joined his team mates at the after parties. At first he only drank and danced. But soon after he found himself trying drugs. First it was just pot. A joint here or there, nothing serious. Then he found his own dealer. Then he tried cocaine. Again it was just a line at one party or a hit at a friend’s place. But after a while he was carrying his own piece and using in the rest rooms.

  His agent found out and got him into private rehab so that it did not interfere with his playing. As long as “the brass” could justify that he was getting treatment, they wouldn’t put him out to pasture. He was their star QB, after all, so they turned a blind eye and no one was the wiser. Greg even told Becca about waking up with the girls two weeks ago and how he had felt so lost and alone and that was what drove him to Bend this time.

  Through it all, Becca offered him comfort without judgment. He expected to see disgust in her eyes, but there was nothing but quiet acceptance. Then she did something completely unexpected; she began sharing her faith with him. He wanted to recoil. Tell her she was off base and that he didn’t want to hear it. But there was something about the quiet assurance in her voice, the peace in her eyes that made him pause. And then made him listen. It was unlike anything he had ever heard. She told him that God didn’t condemn him. She made no bones about the fact that he was living sinfully and that was unacceptable to God but that while God would not accept the sin, God would accept him.

  Somehow that penetrated his heart and kept revolving in his mind. Long after they stopped talking, long after she had fallen asleep on his couch, he was lying in bed thinking about it.

  ***

  When Greg woke up the next morning, Becca w
as gone. She left a note saying that she was going to church. She also left her phone number just in case he wanted to talk. He saved her number and smiled. Sometime in the night he had made a decision and he was eager to see it through. He realized that he loved Becca. Always had, even in high school. He had tried to reject her and her love and had pushed her away because he didn’t want to deal with it.

  He realized now though that if he wanted to get Becca then he would need to turn his life around. The first step for that was to go to Texas and confront his family. Greg booked the ticket online and confirmed it for the same day. Then he sent a message to Becca that he was going to go to Texas to see his family but he would be back the next week and he would like to see her then.

  Greg landed in Dallas a few hours later and rented a car and made his way to his bank. He realized that his family would never accept what he was about to do so he needed to make a living will and set it in motion first so that they could not contest him in anyway.

  He talked to his attorney and had a will drawn up. In it he settled a half million dollars each on his parents, aunt and uncle and their son and daughter. They were free to use the money however they wished. However, once the money was finished, it was finished. There would be no more for them. He had letters made out to each person informing them of his decision. He made it clear that he would support them emotionally and he wanted to be a part of their lives if they would allow him to be, but he would no longer be their personal bank. Each person would be notified of the contents of the will and letters the same week.

  After Greg left his lawyer, he stopped at an upscale bistro for lunch. There he ran into his old school buddy Devin and was invited out for drinks and a party at a new club which Devin was opening that night. He agreed to go, thinking he would make an appearance and then would leave. He had no desire to mix in with the party scene anymore.

  The party was already in full swing once he arrived. Greg accepted a bottle of beer from one of the circulating trays and headed to the VIP lounge to meet Devin. There he ran into several others from high school and some he had known in college who had all become successful in their chosen fields.

  “Well if it isn’t my man Greg.” A familiar voice said as a hand thumped his back. “Where have you been bro? It’s been a while since we hung out and lived it up.”

  “Henry,” Greg said icily, “it has been a long time.”

  Greg fought to keep his sudden temper in check. Just seeing the man brought Becca and her tale to mind. What I wouldn’t give to pummel the jerk right here. But I won’t do anything to even hint at Becca. For the rest of the night he tried to avoid Henry but the man kept popping up out of nowhere.

  As the night wore on and Greg accepted one drink after another, he forgot about his resolve to not get involved in the party scene. When someone bought the cocaine out, he cheered with the others and took a hit or three right alongside them. The combination of drugs and alcohol weakened him and loosened up his tongue. Soon he was telling the guys about the Ugly Duckling in Bend, Oregon, who had become a swan and crowing about his luck in finding her and how he was falling for her as she had once fallen for him.

  Greg had quite forgotten all about Henry but the man was listening to Greg’s story with a thundering rage inside of him. She thinks she can humiliate me with the golden boy? Over. My. Dead. Body. Greg had carelessly tossed his phone onto the table in front of him and didn’t notice anything when Henry picked it up. Henry scrolled through it and found Becca’s information, including her address, and texted it to his phone. He was shaking in rage when he read the last text Becca sent to Greg: “I am here if you need me. I am glad we got to spend some time together last night.” She’s going to pay for this. Who does she think she is to two-time me? No one crosses Henry Miller.

  Henry tossed the phone back on the table and left. He was on the next flight out to Oregon the next morning and standing in front of Becca’s house within a matter of hours. This time he didn’t bother with subterfuge. He knocked on the door.

  Becca opened the door with a smile to greet Esther. Sometimes the old dear would come over in the morning to talk when she didn’t have much to do and Becca always accommodated her. Her smile turned to fear when she realized that it was Henry standing on her threshold, not Esther.

  “Hello, Becca.”

  “Henry? What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

  “Your boyfriend sends his regards.”

  She didn’t have to ask who he was referring to. Only one person outside of Bend knew where she was. “Greg?” she whispered. “But he promised he wouldn’t”

  Henry laughed dryly as he stalked her into the house. “Oh he didn’t know. He was too high in the clouds to care about his tongue. He bragged he was falling for you. I took your information off his phone.”

  “Please,” Becca begged. “Please just leave. There’s nothing going on between me and Greg. I’ve never done anything to you.”

  But Henry was too fast for her. He advanced on her and struck her cheek. Becca fell against the side table in the living room with a cry of pain. Henry grabbed her hair.

  “Get up, Becca” he said, “I am not done with you yet.”

  “Yes, you are” a new voice interjected.

  Henry whipped around, pulling Becca by the hair with him, even as she whimpered with pain.

  “You!” Henry stared in shock at Greg. “What are you doing here?”

  “I followed you this morning. When I woke up and checked my phone, I saw that I had sent a message to you last night. Only, I know that I didn’t. You sent a message to yourself with Becca’s information. I knew you were coming after her so I followed you. Let her go, you’ve done enough damage.”

  But Henry wasn’t done yet. His face mottled in rage as Greg spoke. From his pocket he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Greg. “You are not going to get her. You’ll die first.”

  “I don’t think you want to do that, Son” someone said from behind Greg.

  “Who said that?” Henry demanded.

  “Police,” said the man who was now stepping over the threshold next to Greg with his weapon drawn. “Put the gun down, son, nice and slow.”

  But Henry just stared at the man with his mouth agape. Greg took advantage of his distraction to rush him. But Henry snapped back to attention when he saw the movement and fired his gun. Greg dodged to the side and felt the bullet whiz past him. At the same time he heard another shot go off and he watched Becca fall.

  “No!” he cried and dove to catch her.

  Greg checked Becca for wounds and discovered none but she was paralyzed with shock. He looked behind her and saw Henry lying in a pool of blood, the gun useless by his side. He realized that the policeman had shot Henry in the shoulder of his gun arm to disarm him and was now radioing for an ambulance.

  Greg gathered Becca in his arms and rocked her against his chest. Esther and Jeb came rushing in to see what the commotion was about. The police took them outside, leading a cuffed Henry, and explained what had happened as he placed Henry in the cruiser.

  Esther came back in and clucked over Becca like a mother hen. She quickly made some tea and pushed it into the girl’s hands. Greg looked around the room and his eyes fell on the pool of blood that was still staining the hardwood floors, He got up and made room for Esther to comfort Becca while he found the officer and was granted permission to clean up the blood spill.

  He explained to Esther that he was going to clean the floor and asked her to look after Becca. The elderly lady called her husband and together they walked Becca over to their house. Greg went to the Joe’s and bought some cleaning supplies; he didn’t want to use Becca’s because he didn’t want anything in her house to remind her of the trauma of the morning. He planned to throw away whatever supplies he used that day.

  When he got back to Becca’s house, he scrubbed the floors till they were clean and polished them. Then he set the furniture aright and washed the dishes. By the time he finished, Becca
had returned.

  He greeted her with a warm and concerned smile. “Are you alright?”

  She nodded but remained stiff when he tried to hug her.

  “What wrong, Becca?”

  “You told me that you would never tell anyone where I was but you got so high last night that Henry knew you had found me and was able to locate me himself through you. I am sorry Greg, but I can’t do this.”

  “Becca,” Greg whispered. “Becca don’t do this. I am falling in love with you and I think I have always been in love with you.”

  “Don’t Greg. I can’t fall in love with you, not when you willingly allow yourself to be ruled by drugs and alcohol. If you want me as someone more than a friend, then you have got to give it up somehow. Please leave now. I would like to be alone.”

  She didn’t give him an opportunity to respond, Becca just went to her room and shut the door.

  Greg stared at that door for a long time before he walked out of the house. Becca was right. He knew what he had to do.

  ***

  A Little over One Year Later

  The stadium roared to life as the football sailed into the air. Both sides cheered their team on in the rush to capture the ball. The Chief’s fans groaned when the Bronco’s wide receiver caught the pass. Becca Fields was on her feet jumping up and down, screaming her head off as she cheered Billy Gail, the rookie, towards the goal. The crowd went wild when he scored the touchdown and the final whistle was blown. The game had been tough. Neither side had scored against the other all through the match until Billy ran the pass. He would be the man of the hour tonight.

  Becca clambered down the bleachers as fast as her rounded stomach could take her and waddled over to the sidelines to await her husband. Greg came over to her and picked her up and swung her around before kissing her soundly in front of his team, the coaches and the fans watching on site and from their couches. She smiled contently when Greg set her back down on the ground and whispered her congratulations to him.