see.”
James laughed. “You’re right. I guess it’s just jitters. Nerves, you know, and it’s not like I’ve got a dad or big brother around. But…thanks for steppin’ in.”
Dench rose, set his empty glass in the sink and looked out into the cold darkness beyond his cozy kitchen. “A man’s got to know where his heart is,” he said as much to himself as to the young man on the other end of the line. “A man, a husband, and a father have to know where that is, and then you’ve got to do everything you can to protect that. Good luck on the proposal, and let us know where to send the wedding and baby gifts.”
“Will do. And just so you know I was listening, James Clarence does not need luck. I’m going to be marrying the right woman.”
“Way to go, dude.” Dench grinned and disconnected the call. He couldn’t help feeling a little heroic when he turned off the light and went back to his bedroom. At his bedside, he paused to watch his wife. Rissa was still sound asleep, trusting him to be with her no matter what. Sliding into bed beside her, he touched her cheek and smiled, knowing one thing for certain: I’m going to be here, no matter what .
Chapter 4
Dench pulled the door closed and jerked at the seatbelt. On the other side of the truck, AJ clicked his seatbelt into place and settled back for the ride home. Flowery Branch was less than an hour’s ride away, but he knew Dench was glad for the company. The Falcons’ training camp was not exactly the kind of place a man wanted to take his wife while he was handling business, but as a former player, AJ enjoyed watching him on the job. He’d also enjoyed getting a look at the team that would hit the field for the last five games of their NFL season.
Dench pulled out of the parking lot and turned left toward Atlanta Highway. Eyes on the road, a corner of his mouth hitched into a grin. “So, what did you think?”
“I think that you’ve come a long way in six weeks. Has to be hard, trying to pull strong play at the end of January, from a team that you’re just getting to know, but you’re workin’ it out, dude, you’re workin’ it out.” AJ fiddled with the CD player, found something by Pieces of a Dream, punched buttons and nodded to the beat when sound filled the truck cab. “Rissa did good by you, the boys, and the team.”
“I knew you were going to say that.” Dench’s grin widened. “Did you check out Sawyer and Gregg?” he laughed. “Kadeem Gregg, especially. Dude, I’m amazed he could run that fast and watch you at the same time.”
“Hey, he’s a good kid. He’s got speed and good hands, and with some seasoning, he’s gonna make a really fine player. They both will.”
Dench merged into traffic, still laughing. “You’d say that even if they sucked. Those boys were treating you like the walking god of all football—and you were lovin’ it. Go on and admit it, you loved it.”
“Aww…” AJ pulled his cap lower and tried not to laugh out loud.
“And you didn’t seem to mind when my whole back line came running off the field, begging for autographs like a bunch of star-struck kids. No shame, dude, you have no shame. I guess that’s what Hall of Fame status will do for a brother.”
“Hey, man, you knew what I was when you brought me out here. No shame in my game.” Smoothing a hand over his cap, AJ sat straighter. “Besides, now I’m just a humble physical therapist.”
“By day.”
“Yeah, well, you’d have to ask Marlea about my nights. I’m too humble to speak on it myself,” he sniffed.
Dench blew out and rolled his eyes. On the road in front of him, traffic slowed as it merged onto I-985. “And yet you were out there signing autographs like a pro—an old, retired pro.”
“I am what I am. But, brother, you were out there taking charge like a real coach—gettin’ results and everything. You looked good. I’m thinking Sunday will be a win for you.”
“You think?” Dench hit the
James laughed. “You’re right. I guess it’s just jitters. Nerves, you know, and it’s not like I’ve got a dad or big brother around. But…thanks for steppin’ in.”
Dench rose, set his empty glass in the sink and looked out into the cold darkness beyond his cozy kitchen. “A man’s got to know where his heart is,” he said as much to himself as to the young man on the other end of the line. “A man, a husband, and a father have to know where that is, and then you’ve got to do everything you can to protect that. Good luck on the proposal, and let us know where to send the wedding and baby gifts.”
“Will do. And just so you know I was listening, James Clarence does not need luck. I’m going to be marrying the right woman.”
“Way to go, dude.” Dench grinned and disconnected the call. He couldn’t help feeling a little heroic when he turned off the light and went back to his bedroom. At his bedside, he paused to watch his wife. Rissa was still sound asleep, trusting him to be with her no matter what. Sliding into bed beside her, he touched her cheek and smiled, knowing one thing for certain: I’m going to be here, no matter what .
Chapter 4
Dench pulled the door closed and jerked at the seatbelt. On the other side of the truck, AJ clicked his seatbelt into place and settled back for the ride home. Flowery Branch was less than an hour’s ride away, but he knew Dench was glad for the company. The Falcons’ training camp was not exactly the kind of place a man wanted to take his wife while he was handling business, but as a former player, AJ enjoyed watching him on the job. He’d also enjoyed getting a look at the team that would hit the field for the last five games of their NFL season.
Dench pulled out of the parking lot and turned left toward Atlanta Highway. Eyes on the road, a corner of his mouth hitched into a grin. “So, what did you think?”
“I think that you’ve come a long way in six weeks. Has to be hard, trying to pull strong play at the end of January, from a team that you’re just getting to know, but you’re workin’ it out, dude, you’re workin’ it out.” AJ fiddled with the CD player, found something by Pieces of a Dream, punched buttons and nodded to the beat when sound filled the truck cab. “Rissa did good by you, the boys, and the team.”
“I knew you were going to say that.” Dench’s grin widened. “Did you check out Sawyer and Gregg?” he laughed. “Kadeem Gregg, especially. Dude, I’m amazed he could run that fast and watch you at the same time.”
“Hey, he’s a good kid. He’s got speed and good hands, and with some seasoning, he’s gonna make a really fine player. They both will.”
Dench merged into traffic, still laughing. “You’d say that even if they sucked. Those boys were treating you like the walking god of all football—and you were lovin’ it. Go on and admit it, you loved it.”
“Aww…” AJ pulled his cap lower and tried not to laugh out loud.
“And you didn’t seem to mind when my whole back line came running off the field, begging for autographs like a bunch of star-struck kids. No shame, dude, you have no shame. I guess that’s what Hall of Fame status will do for a brother.”
“Hey, man, you knew what I was when you brought me out here. No shame in my game.” Smoothing a hand over his cap, AJ sat straighter. “Besides, now I’m just a humble physical therapist.”
“By day.”
“Yeah, well, you’d have to ask Marlea about my nights. I’m too humble to speak on it myself,” he sniffed.
Dench blew out and rolled his eyes. On the road in front of him, traffic slowed as it merged onto I-985. “And yet you were out there signing autographs like a pro—an old, retired pro.”
“I am what I am. But, brother, you were out there taking charge like a real coach—gettin’ results and everything. You looked good. I’m thinking Sunday will be a win for you.”
“You think?” Dench hit the
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