“Almost, baby. You’re doing great.”
As they came to a private hallway that led to the premium VIP seating that included in-suite catering, Jessica stopped in her tracks.
“Katie? Katie Parker?”
A pretty girl with long brown hair was walking opposite them amid an entourage of guys in cowboy boots.
“Jessica?”
“Oh my god, it is you!”
Tim watched as Jessica approached the woman and hugged her. She reached for him and clutched his hand, pulling him closer to introduce him to the mystery woman.
“This is Tim, my fiancé. They’re retiring his jersey tonight.”
Tim was about to offer his hand to shake hers and was taken aback when the woman hugged him instead.
“I heard about this. Gosh, Tim, it’s an honor to meet you. I can’t believe what you did for Jessica and her daughter Julia.”
As if sensing Tim’s confusion, Jessica chimed in. “Tim, this is Katie Parker. We went to high school together, can you believe it?” The girls giggled.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Katie. What brings you all the way out here to California? Are you a diehard 49ers fan? Or god forbid, a Chicago fan?”
Katie laughed. “I like football, but I’m here supporting my fiancé, Clay Watkins. You know, Georgia Clay? The country music singer? I’ve been tagging along on his tour, and he’s singing the National Anthem tonight.”
“Wow! That’s incredible!” Jessica replied excitedly.
“Very cool. I’m a huge fan of his music,” Tim chimed in.
“Well, we’re fans of yours too, Tim. Maybe we could stop by your suite during the second half? I know Clay would love to meet you and see Jessica again.”
“Absolutely.” Tim grasped Jessica’s hand and felt her lean into him.
“Awesome. We’ll see you later then.” The two women hugged once more.
As Jessica and Tim entered the expansive red carpet suite with premier seating and their own bartender, he watched her timidly approach the railing and gasp at the massive crowd spread out before them. The natural grass field was pristine, the familiar 49ers logo displayed in the end zone. The red seats and matching fans in all their red and gold paraphernalia were an overwhelming sight. It had been a very long time since Tim had been on his home turf; the enormity of what he was once a part of catching him off guard.
“Do you need anything, Tim? Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
Jessica was looking at him with big blue eyes. He loved it that she had not left his side for even a moment during his reunion with Stu and the team. It had been an emotional scene in the locker room an hour before with grown ass men hugging and crying.
“I’m good baby. How about you? You want a cocktail or some chicken wings? You didn’t eat much at dinner.”
He watched as her face paled.
“Can we sit? I need to talk to you.”
Curious, Tim sat in the leather seat she patted, closest to the railing, out of earshot from the bartender and bodyguard.
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant, Tim.”
He couldn’t have heard her correctly. “What?”
“I’m pregnant. A little over three months. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn’t want to upset you while you were recovering. It must have happened that day in the laundry room, or maybe it was on our hike. I started feeling tired and nauseous, and I was never hungry. I started to lose weight. It hasn’t been like any of my other pregnancies, so I didn’t know. I chalked it up to the stress of the storm and your surgery, and….”
Tim covered her mouth with his hand, stopping her jabbering mid-sentence. He was elated and floored, excited and overcome with joy. “You’re pregnant? Is this for real?”
Her smile reminded him of the dazzling sun breaking through the clouds. “Yes, this is as real as it gets,” she whispered, reminding him of his proposal. “And it’s a boy.”
***
Tim was escorted to the sidelines on the field at the two-minute warning, the anticipation of the half-time ceremony in the back of his mind. He was still reeling with the news that he was going to be a father; the father of a son.
Jessica had told him at the beginning of their relationship that she was as fertile as they came. Boy, she wasn’t kidding. She had been pregnant the whole time he was recovering, and neither of them knew it. He remembered thinking she looked pale or tired at times, but he thought it was because of the stress of everything that had happened. Her focus had been on him. No wonder she hadn’t seen or felt the signs. Jessica was already in her second trimester, the baby boy due in late March or early April. This would change their wedding plans for sure. And how would the girls react knowing they had a baby brother on the way? His mind was spinning with the news, and he didn’t realize it was time for the ceremony until the director tapped his arm several times.
Walking out to the middle of the fifty-yard line was surreal among the roar of the crowd. Flashes of lights went off in quick succession as his name appeared on the jumbo screens along with his infamous jersey number, nine. He was going through the motions, laughing and answering a few nonsensical questions from the famous commentators set up on the field. When they passed the microphone to him, he froze.
Looking out into the faceless sea of people, all he could hear was his own heart beating. He was alive, and he was going to be a daddy. Owner, Stuart Harding put his arm around Tim’s shoulders and squeezed, bringing him out of the awkward moment.
“You want me to speak on your behalf?” he said empathetically in his ear so he could hear, the look on his face full of concern.
Tim smiled and confidently shook his head. “No, Stu. I got this.”
Stuart nodded and aggressively patted him on the back.
Tim cleared his throat and slowly brought the microphone up to his mouth. “Hey, San Fran. How you doin’?”
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, some of them chanting, “We love Tim” over and over. Tim looked around in awe, the contrast of the last time he was on this field, striking.
“I just want to say, thank you, for all the prayers and letters over the past few months. It’s been a hard road since the Super Bowl. I appreciate you welcoming me back and remembering me for the totality of my career as we retire my jersey, number nine…”
More crowd noise erupted as the jumbo screen flashed his number and stats for all the world to see. Tim scanned the sidelines of his former teammates who were clapping and cheering for him, grateful for their incredible support.
“They say if you prove you’re a champion, people will love you forever. But if you fall short on the field, you will never be forgiven, no matter how you conduct yourself away from the game. That’s not true with the 49ers fans. In the past couple of months, I’ve felt real love and forgiveness from you, and it’s been incredible.”
The crowd quieted down as he spoke. Tim peered up into the stands, looking for the luxury suite where he knew Jessica was waiting.
“On a hot stormy night in July in the city of Atlanta, Georgia I did what I had to do to save someone I loved. I would do it again and again in a heartbeat. Some of you are now calling me a hero.” Tim swallowed as he tried to maintain his composure. “I’m just a man; a man who is deeply grateful to the powers that be for sparing my life and giving me the strength to do what I had to.”
“The NFL prepared me for that moment in time. I was strong, and I was focused. If it hadn’t been for this team of players and my decade-long career with the San Francisco 49ers franchise, I wouldn’t have been able to pull off what I did on that night.”
The stands of people erupted again as Tim choked back his emotions.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for being here and supporting me and Jessica and our children.” He could see Stu on the sidelines nodding his head, the look on his face full of pride. A flash of yellow caught his eye, and Jessica suddenly appeared next to Stu and looked on, her gaze intense, fu
ll of pure love; the kind he had always pined for.
Clearing his throat, Tim finished his speech. “To fail is human, but it’s not fatal. It’s courage that counts. I’ve learned over the past two years that I’m capable of more than I thought I was. I’m capable of love, and I’m capable of forgiveness. Being a part of this American team was an incredible part of my life journey that has brought me to this day, and I want to end by saying, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the best team in the NFL—the San Francisco 49ers!”
He thrust his fist into the air and then waved. Confetti cannons went off, and he could see Jessica running toward him across the field. When she ended up in his arms, he twirled her around, the brightly colored bits of red and gold confetti falling all around them like snow.
“I’m so proud of you,” she yelled into his ear among the deafening roar of the jam-packed stands.
“I love you, Jessica. God, I love you so much!”
“What?” she pulled back, smiling and cupping her ear to hear him. The freckles across her nose were adorable, and her azure eyes drew him in with intensity.
Shaking his head, he grabbed her by the cheeks and kissed her long and hard, his yearning for her pure and powerful. The camera crew captured the moment and displayed their affection on the big screen for all the world to see.
The closure with his career was complete, the baby in Jessica’s belly as real as it could get. Clasping her hand in his, Tim Ryan walked off the football field for the last time, straight into the next chapter of his incredible life.
THE END
Tim & Jessica’s Playlist
Here are a few favorite songs that inspired my writing –
Daughters – John Mayer
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
The Long Way – Brett Eldredge
Downtown’s Dead – Sam Hunt
Waiting In Vain – Annie Lennox
Moondance – Van Morrison
Kiss Somebody – Morgan Evans
Rewrite the Stars – Zac Efron , Zendaya
Something To Talk About – Bonnie Rait
Enjoy these tunes on the exclusive Georgia Pine SPOTIFY playlist! https://goo.gl/GZEjLd
FREE SONG DOWNLOAD!
Original Song featured in:
Georgia Clay
Southern Promises – Book One,
“What Would Happen If…”
CLICK THE LINK ON MY WEBSITE:
www.kgfletcherauthor.com
AckNOWLEDGEMENTS
So, here we are at the end of the Southern Promises journey. I can’t believe we made it! When I wrote Book One (Georgia Clay), I had an inkling that prom queen, Jessica Southers-Kaufman would be my heroine in Book Three, (Georgia Pine.) Jessica, her ex-husband Stephen and their daughters appeared in Book Two (Georgia On My Mind) which influenced their story in Book Three. What I didn’t anticipate was falling in love with Tim Ryan along the way! Believe it or not, his story hits very close to home.
Living in a frat house of my own with three sons and an energetic cabana-boy husband, I have witnessed the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat like Tim did – literally. My boys are diehard Atlanta Falcons fans. Do you feel my pain now? Having witnessed what they went through during Super Bowl LI with the 34-28 overtime defeat by the New England Patriots was heartbreaking. It was, as Tim put it, “death by a thousand cuts.” My boys were instrumental in helping me develop Tim’s “agony” when he lost his own Super Bowl in Georgia Pine. These feelings were real, y’all! Thank you Hutch, Henry, Hudson and Ladd for reliving your own pain to help me get this story right! I know it wasn’t easy.
Special thanks to my friend and critique partner, author C.B. Deem for her unique perspective when reading my first draft. Tim was a little too “beastly” at first, and my Beauty and the Beast touches were a bit over the top. Once again, you always reel me in with your honesty, and for that I am grateful!
Thank you, Eva Talia, my cover artist at Eva Talia Designs. Book Three is my favorite cover. My jaw was on the floor when I saw it for the first time. Touchdown!
To my editor and friend, Vicky Burkholder – seriously, you make me a better writer! When I received the first round of edits back from you, I cried (in a good way!) I couldn’t do this without you!
For my author friends, ARC & beta readers – your enthusiasm for my work never goes unnoticed. There really are no words.
For my readers – you rock my world! The consistent reviews you have posted on Goodreads and Amazon have left an indelible mark on my heart. This three-book series has surpassed all of my expectations. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for going on this Southern Promises journey with me. I can’t believe it’s over! But is it? For some odd reason, I can’t seem to let go of Clay, Katie, Hartford, Gia, Jessica and Tim…
Stay tuned – and remember, love always wins!
KG
xoxo
aBOUT THE AUTHOR
KG Fletcher is the author of the standalone contemporary romance, The Nearness of You and romantic suspense novels, Love Song and Unexpected. Southern Promises is her first series and features three standalone romance novels: Georgia Clay, Georgia On My Mind and Georgia Pine. She lives in Atlanta, GA and is an active member of RWA and the Georgia Romance Writers Association. She was a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN and a recipient of the “Airplay International Award” for “Best New Artist” showcasing original songs at The Bluebird Café. She earned her BFA in theater at Valdosta State College and has traveled the world professionally as a singer/actress. She currently gets to play rock star as a backup singer in the National Tour, “Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute.” www.almosteltonjohn.com
KG and her husband Ladd are officially empty-nesters after recently sending the youngest of their three gorgeous sons off to college. She is a hopeless romantic continuing her work on her original cabaret act called, “The Novel Romantic – an unexpected evening of sweet & spicy love” to help promote her romance novels. She is also a conference speaker and shares how music can enhance a writer’s experience.
Find KG online:
Website: www.kgfletcherauthor.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@kgfletcher3
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellyf9393/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kgfletcherauthor/
Amazon: www.Amazon.com/author/kgfletcher
Songs/Cabaret: www.kgfletcherauthor.com/songs--cabaret.html
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kfletcher3
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40774458-georgia-pine
Spotify Playlist: https://goo.gl/GZEjLd
Southern Promises ~ Book Two
First rule in business – never let them see you with your pants down.
Hartford Parker is a disgraced real estate broker hiding out in his sister’s condo in suburban Atlanta. Swearing off women after an embarrassing indiscretion at a black-tie event, Hart now indulges in drinking and working out as he tries to come to terms with his unexpected firing at a prestigious DC firm.
Across town in a run-down and forgotten part of the city, Gia Bates is struggling to make ends meet at her failing dance studio. Secretly working part-time as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator for a seedy entertainment company has Gia feeling trapped in her debt while slowly chipping away at her passion and solace in dance.
The handsome playboy and the dancer with legs-for-days find themselves at the same party and end up on an uncertain path full of sex, secrets, and shame. As they move forward in a spicy tango, can the two of them ever dance in sync? Will they fight for their own happily ever after or will Hart be left with nothing more than Georgia on his mind?
https://goo.gl/bK4ttn
Southern Promises ~ Book One
Everyone in Nashville knows Georgia Clay.
He’s the handsome, award-winning songwriter rubbing elbows with the elite stars of country music. An incredible talent in his own right,
Clay has always hesitated to step into the spotlight on his own for fear his debilitating childhood secret will rear its ugly head.
Katie Parker is a workaholic Southern beauty who’s first love is her career. It’s not just her knowledge of the cut-throat insurance business she has skillfully navigated over the years, but her tenacity and gumption in climbing the corporate ladder.
The musician and career woman run into each other in the heat of the Atlanta summer at their ten-year high school reunion and unexpectedly end up in the bed of his pickup truck talking till dawn. As they forge ahead in a passionate long-distance relationship, can Clay admit to Katie she had his heart a long, long time ago? Will her drive and encouragement finally be the reason Georgia Clay takes a chance on his career…and love?
https://goo.gl/WM3MmH
More KG Fletcher books!
Lounge singer, Lauren Rose lived her comfortable life in Atlanta always dreaming of making it in show biz. When she unexpectedly meets British male super-model, David Randle at a gig at the posh St. Regis Hotel, she is swept away by his striking good looks and lilting cadence.
In town for his sister Catherine’s nuptials to NASCAR driver, Brian Brady, David invites Lauren to the wedding on a whim. The two instantly bond over music, fashion and family. They continue their new relationship in New York City when David invites Lauren to see him in action at a high-profile fashion shoot for his debut fragrance, “Drive.”
Georgia Pine (Southern Promises Book 3) Page 21