***
Sam waved Casey over to him in the upstairs hallway as she carried a stack of clean towels from the laundry. He was peeking into Gwyneth’s room and had a huge grin on his face.
“You’ve got to see this,” he whispered. He put his arm around her pulling her in close.
Peering into the bright, sunny room, she could see GG sitting on the floor with a hot pink feather boa around her shoulders and a floppy hat on her head. A very large book was open on her tiny lap and she was pretend reading to Bleu who lay on the braided rug with his paws crossed in front of him. A cowboy hat was perched on the dog’s head and he sat stoic, as if listening to her every word. Casey stifled a giggle, holding her free hand over her mouth.
“That is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen,” Sam said softly into her ear. His heart was about to pulse out of his chest with love for these two girls who had moved into his home and his heart. He couldn’t remember a time when they weren’t a part of his life. Mulling over his next steps, he was determined to make their arrangement permanent sooner rather than later. He pulled on the door handle quietly as not to interrupt GG’s story-time hour.
“Looks like G has Bleu wrapped around her little finger,” Casey quipped as she headed for the linen closet to put the towels away.
“For sure,” Sam chuckled, looking at his watch. “I’ve got to head over to the stadium soon. You sure you know how to get there?”
“Yes, dear,” she joked, stacking the clean towels on a shelf.
Approaching her from behind as she stacked the towels on a shelf, he wrapped his arms around her, inhaling her sweet scent.
“Mmmm,” she sighed, leaning back on him.
Nuzzled into her neck, he kept his voice low. “Be sure to wear red and black to show your Bulldog spirit.”
“We will. And I’ve got the stadium seats loaded into the car and the tickets in my wallet.”
“Good girl.” Turning her around to face him, he combed her hair back with his fingers. “I can’t wait to show you off in front of all those horny teenagers.”
She giggled and blushed. “Oh, Sam.”
He drank in her features and the way her brown eyes looked back at him with intensity. Their love song was a full-fledged melody continually humming beneath the surface. He couldn’t wait to give it that key change during the half time show at the homecoming game. Her kiss on his cheek was tender and warm, her face radiating love.
“We’ll be there with bells on.”
He could hardly wait.
Chapter Twenty- Four
The evening air held a distinct chill and Casey was thankful she remembered her scarf at the last minute before driving to the high school football stadium. She tried to coax Gwyneth into taking a nap in the afternoon because she knew they’d be up way past her bedtime, but she wouldn’t have it, acting more energetic than usual during the long day. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she watched her niece yawn several times, her eyes transfixed on the traffic going by, the street lamps reflecting in her droopy eyes. It was already dark outside, the short days of winter approaching cold and fast.
The homecoming traffic was a nightmare and she had to circle around the parking lot several times before she found a decent space. By the time she got GG out of the car, the stadium seats out of the trunk and her cane in hand, she could hear the marching band playing the national anthem in the distance. She couldn’t quite manage the seats and her cane at the same time while trying to hold on to GG’s hand, so she quickly put the seats back into the trunk.
“Come on girlie, we’re late!”
She limped as fast as she could, GG’s little feet keeping up with her pace. At the chain link gate, she handed a volunteer her two tickets and walked through the metal detector, immediately setting off the alarm. “It’s my boot,” she laughed pointing down at her black trunk of a foot. GG suddenly took off running, startling her.
“GG! Come back here!” In a panic, she grabbed her cane and purse to go after her when she saw John Dukes swing the little girl up into his arms with Dylan by his side. She exhaled with relief. “Hey you two! So good to see you.” She hugged John and tussled Dylan’s blond hair.
“We got some great seats right by the band section where Sam is. We didn’t want y’all getting lost,” John grinned. He was wearing a red and black checkered flannel shirt showing off his own school spirit.
“Yeah, and it’s near the cheerleaders too,” Dylan chimed in looking cheeky.
“Cheerleaders? Cool!” she teased.
The small entourage made their way through throngs of teenagers dressed head to toe in black and red, a giggling sea of girls and boys in various stages of adolescence. Several shirtless pubescent boys with their chests painted in school colors to spell out “Bulldogs” rushed past them without any regard to the cold night air.
GG was wide-eyed as they came out of the ramp way to the concrete bleachers, the stadium lights bright and dazzling under the black ink sky. She clung tightly to John’s sturdy frame, taking it all in. Sam’s sister, Lisa and her husband, Craig caught Casey’s eye waving them over to an area they reserved with several plaid blankets spread out over the cinderblock seating. John set GG down next to Lisa who immediately handed her two miniature black and red pom-poms. Her face illuminated pure joy as she shook them exuberantly like the cheerleaders down on the field, and they all hugged and tried to say “hello” over the boisterous crowd and snare drums.
“You look great, Casey,” Lisa complimented pulling back from their embrace. “I see Sam coerced you into wearing the school colors too.” Casey bit her lip to keep from giggling because Lisa and her entire family were humorously dressed in matching red sweatshirts with the Bulldog mascot face plastered across their chests.
Running her hand down the lapels of her red, wool coat, she smiled. “Good thing I already had this in the closet.” Placing her cane underneath her feet, perpendicular to the seats, she looked around for Sam. Dylan tapped her on the shoulder and pointed toward the front of the band area. Among the tall, feathered hats and shiny instruments, she caught a glimpse of him talking animatedly with several teenagers. He was wearing a red Polo sweater with a black scarf tied around his neck. Her heart swelled just looking at him, her cheeks warming from a sudden flush of love.
Craig and Dylan started to walk back to the ramp way, passing in front of her. “You want anything? We haven’t had dinner yet so we’re going to the concession stand. They got great hot dogs, popcorn, and soda.”
She started to fish her wallet from her purse. “Umm, sure. How about one of each?” She smiled up at him trying to hand him a ten-dollar bill.
“You got it. It’s on us tonight.” He flashed a toothy grin and walked past her with Dylan trailing behind.
“We’ll be right back!” The young boy beamed.
Putting her wallet back in her purse, she couldn’t help but notice there was a certain electricity in the night air. She wasn’t sure if it was the excitement of the crowd at the last home game or the anticipation of the upcoming crowning of the homecoming king and queen. But an unmistakable buzz of energy coursed through her veins in an almost nervous frenzy.
Clasping her gloved hands in her lap, she tried to concentrate on the football game in front of her but was distracted catching glimpses of Sam in his element with the kids. John bounced GG on his lap, teaching her the school fight song, and several times the entire stadium of fans chanted the “bulldog bark” when an impressive play on the field was made, causing her to laugh out loud.
Craig and Dylan came back carrying several paper trays full of an assortment of concession stand goodies. A red and white striped bucket of popcorn was overflowing, several popped kernels falling onto her lap as the food crossed in front of her. She giggled as she picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth. GG was curious and climbed off John’s lap to see what the guys had to offer. Lisa helped her peel back the foil covering of a very large hotdog before she took a big bite. Her eyes s
uddenly lit up. “Sam!” she exclaimed with a mouthful of bun holding her arms out.
Sam picked her up and gave her a big hug. “Hey there! What are you eating?”
“A hud-dug,” she managed to say, trying to chew at the same time.
He set her back down and sat next to Casey pulling her in for a side hug. “Where are the stadium seats?” he asked, eyeing the plaid blanket.
“I couldn’t manage carrying them and my cane and holding GG’s hand.”
Disappointment crossed his face. “I’m sorry darlin’. I should’ve helped you out. Are you comfortable?”
“Mmmhmmm,” she replied, leaning into his neck and kissing his jawline.
“You wanna bite?” GG asked sweetly, holding her hot dog up for Sam to see.
“Sure!” He bit into it growling like a hungry animal making her giggle. “Yummy!”
They sat for several minutes, watching the game and eating popcorn as if this was part of their regular weekend routine. Sam kept eyeing her, his blue eyes bright and his smile wide. She thought to herself he must be really proud they all came out to support him.
“It’s getting close to halftime, so I have to get back to work.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Dylan! Come with me so you can get up close and personal with the drum line!”
“Yes!” Dylan yelled, jumping to his feet.
Casey smiled up at Sam. “Good luck, professor.”
“Thanks, darlin’. Tonight is dedicated to you.” He winked and walked away.
Tossing more popcorn into her mouth, she watched him and his nephew navigate the crowd. GG was fixated on a small pack of candy Dylan left behind, her lips turning various shades of color with each bite she took.
The scoreboard counted down the final seconds of the first half, the Bulldogs in the lead seven to nothing. Several teenaged couples in formal dresses and suits lined up on the track circling the field in anticipation of the homecoming announcements. The entire marching band also lined up to present their last halftime show of the season, their black pants with white stripes and spats on their shoes pristine against the red hats with black feather plumes. Casey sat up a little taller to take it all in. Sam directed the group onto the field like a traffic cop before standing to the side. The crowd erupted in applause as the drum major in his “Q-tip” hat marched onto the field as the drum line played a street beat.
“This is it, GG! Watch the musicians on the field. They’re Sam’s students!” She was so excited, she could hardly breathe.
The drum major blew a long whistle and the snare drums finished their cadence, transitioning into a single beat pattern while the brass, woodwinds and color guard got into a linear formation, marking time. A second, long whistle could be heard and the marching stopped as everyone froze in place. The student’s heads were slightly bowed, and their feet were shoulder length apart. Over the loudspeaker, a baritone voice cut through the air.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the field THE MARCHING BULLDOGS!”
The crowd erupted again as another whistle was heard and the single beat pattern resumed. The wind players brought their instruments up to their faces and were ready for the roll off. The lead snare player did one more round of the single beat pattern before giving four beats and the band began to march. It didn’t take long for Casey to recognize the familiar Beatles tune, “She Loves You”. Placing her gloved hand over her mouth to hide the enormous smile on her face, she stood to get a better view. John hoisted GG on his hip and pointed out the different instruments to her as she shook the pompoms in the air. The color guard flipped and twirled red and black flags as they made a series of formations with the players pointing the bells of their instruments in the direction they were moving. The song segued into another Beatle’s hit, “I Saw Her Standing There”. The marching band was thoroughly entertaining, the entire crowd singing along.
Dylan interrupted her trance with the show.
“Hey! Isn’t this great?” she shouted above the crowd noise, looking down at him.
“Yeah! Sam wants you to come down to the field.”
“What?” She furrowed her brow, not quite sure if she heard him correctly.
“Sam wants you on the field!” he shouted.
She looked down near the fifty-yard line and could see Sam waving at her and nodding his head excitedly.
“We got GG. You go on down,” John reassured. She noticed a mischievous look in his eye while he, Craig and Lisa smiled broadly at her. She blushed and bent over to pick up her cane as GG waved her pom-poms at her. “Bye Cee-Cee!”
Following Dylan closely, she was careful on the downward descent to the track. A uniformed police officer opened a small gate for her and held her elbow while she made it down the last three steps, navigating them with her unwieldy boot. He closed it before Dylan could come through.
“Wait,” she exclaimed, turning back to the gate. Dylan offered her a humongous grin before turning and bolting back up the steps. Sam was suddenly by her side.
“What…. What is going on?” She was confused as the crowd continued to sing the last chorus of the Beatles song.
“Hey, darlin’. I wanted you to see this up close.” Grabbing her by the hand, he carefully led her to the edge of the track just before the asphalt gave way to the grassy field. The music stopped, and the band formed into two sections with a wide aisle going down the middle. The homecoming participants quickly lined up to walk down the aisle and the color guard changed their flags to colorful streamers. They stood on the outskirts of the formation, the long, curling ribbons flowing like waves in the chilly night air. The announcer came back on over the loud speaker.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, your Forsythe County High School Homecoming Court.”
The crowd applauded and the band started to play John Lennon’s song, “Imagine” as each class representative was introduced and the girls were handed a single rose.
“Oh my God, Sam. This is our song!”
He nodded proudly, his blue eyes bright with love. She looped her arm through his and snuggled close watching the beautiful, youthful students line up for the final announcement of who would be king and queen. She couldn’t help but reflect on their time in Central Park when they came upon Strawberry Fields. It seemed like a lifetime ago….
The nervous couples stood before Sam and Casey as a photographer quickly got shots of each of them. The band stopped playing after the last couple walked down the aisle and a hush fell over the stadium. When the announcer said the names of the young man and young woman who were the new king and queen, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of screams and applause. Hats were thrown into the air and the cheerleaders did back handsprings down the track.
Casey couldn’t help but giggle at the circus-like atmosphere. There was so much happiness and joy in the air. The king and queen were crowned with diadems of gold, the young queen also presented with a bouquet of red roses that matched her long, formal dress in appropriate school colors. More photos were taken as the crowd noise dissipated and the marching band brought their instruments up into position to play again. The homecoming court was quickly escorted off the field as the band resumed another chorus of “Imagine”. The music was loud and Casey’s entire body reverberated with the low notes of the bass drums and the tubas.
Sam started to pull her free hand with both of his, leading her onto the grass.
“Sam? What are you doing?” She limped forward, unsure of what was happening. His face was flushed and he continued to pull her into the aisle where they were flanked on either side by marching band members.
The sound was almost deafening, and she blinked her eyes several times. The color guard ran beside them twirling their colorful streamers over their heads. Looking up at the swirling, dancing ribbons, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud, feeling like she was in a total dream.
Sam stopped when they were smack dab in the middle of the band formation. He took the cane from her hand and laid it on the grass. When he faced her, he hel
d both of her hands and caressed her gloves with his bare thumbs. She stared back at him, wide-eyed, unable to communicate vocally because the music was so loud. She glanced to her right and inhaled sharply at the sight of the entire stadium full of people watching them. The crowd waved as the band continued to play the haunting melody of the Lennon song, the music and percussion wrapping itself all around her. She felt like she was on display and turned away, embarrassed. Sam pulled her into his arms, hugging her in front of the large audience that erupted into hoots and howls. The music suddenly stopped and the crowd started to chant, “Wildner, Wildner, Wildner!”
Casey gripped his sweater not wanting to pull away from him. “Sam, please tell me what is going on,” she whispered, her knees trembling.
He pulled back, a huge grin displayed on his face, and slowly knelt before her. More hoots and applause erupted from the crowd and Casey glanced at several marching band members who were surrounding them, all with goofy grins on their pimply faces.
“Sam?” She searched his face.
Pulling a small box from his back pocket, he opened the lid, revealing a gorgeous diamond set in a platinum ring. It winked at her under the Friday night lights and she held her breath.
“I love you, Casey. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He paused. “And I want the rest of my life to start right now. I can’t live without you, darlin’.” He took the ring out of the box and grasped her hand. “There’s been a love song humming in my being since the day I met you. I want us to be a duet like you said. I want us to make beautiful music together.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. He chuckled too. “I know it’s sappy. I can’t believe what’s coming out of my mouth right now. All I know is that I want us to be a real family, Casey. You and me and Gwyneth….” His blue eyes misted with emotion. He inhaled deeply. “Will you marry me?”
Love Song: A friends-to-lovers rock & roll romantic suspense Page 18