Page 19 of Risky Move

“Mysterious? Hiding something? A wife or fiancée somewhere?”

“I hope not. Maybe just a private person? I can’t ask Cliff about him.”

Cassie thought a minute. “Maybe Caryn or Lauren works with him or his agent—you know, they do PR and social media stuff. Not sure they’d tell me anything. Probably confidential stuff. So, you’ve called dibs on him?”

“Hey, if you have the opportunity, go for it.” Amelie nudged her. “Now, if I hook up with him, then…”

“I get it. The ‘code’ like the guys say. They don’t know we have our own version.” Her eyes drifted toward the tree where the large bird had perched. “We may not get an up-close view of our bird tonight. It appears the eagle has flown.”

* * *

Cam waited at the Chadwick’s until Cassie and Amelie returned. “Thought you two had gotten lost,” he smirked. He sat at the kitchen counter, watching as Caryn and Andrew fed the twins.

“I can do that, Andrew,” Cassie protested. “Time got away from us. I’m sorry, Caryn.”

“For what? I told you to enjoy yourselves. Just try to get that spoon away from Drew.”

Andrew looked at Cassie with a smile. “Bonding time with my peanuts. Not giving that up.”

Cassie focused her gaze on Jenna, who eagerly awaited the next spoonful of peaches and then laughed as Jenna spit a mouthful of pureed peaches at her father.

“And you denied your children would ever do that,” Caryn teased as she handed him a towel.

“I’ll finish feeding Jenna,” Cassie offered. “Caryn and I both know how it feels to have baby food in our hair.”

Andrew wiped the towel over his face before he kissed his daughter and pushed back the chair. “Your children are incorrigible, Cary.” He handed the spoon to Cassie. “Thanks.”

As soon as she sat, Caryn whispered, “His children are perfect angels—mychildren are incorrigible.”

“We’re taking off,” Cam said. “Thanks for letting me hang out while I waited for my time-challenged sister to return.” He raised his hands in surrender as two sets of eyes nailed him. “No offense, ladies. Just saying.”

“Amelie, you’re welcome here any time,” Caryn said.

“Thanks. A bientôt, Cassie.”

11

Tom met with the Suns’ management, coaches, training staff, team captain, and assistant captains to discuss his role as the concussion specialist during home games. Everyone stated they stood behind the process one hundred percent. Tom glanced around the table. “And when I say one of your top players needs to sit during a crucial moment in a game, no complaints?”

“At that moment, you may hear some choice words from me,” Head Coach Harper predicted. “But no one will keep you from doing your job. I know the training staff will back you.”

“Damn straight we will.” Jim Pettit’s reply more than confirmed his support. “You know these guys—they fight you every step of the way. Even when they can’t see straight or walk without stumbling. Before his accident, Andrew was one of the hardest to take off the ice.”

Tom chuckled. “No surprise there. So, the others don’t take concussions more seriously after what Andrew went through?”

“Some do. Others think it can’t happen to them.” Pettit met Tom’s gaze. “Welcome to the team, doc.”

“I scheduled a team meeting tomorrow after morning skate.” Harper glanced at John Peterson. “Expect any resistance?”

John shrugged. “Some—especially the older players and the rookies. I’ll handle them. Those on the team two years ago shouldn’t protest at all.”

John walked with Tom to his car. “Thanks for taking this on. No one wants to hear they need to leave the game, but the more we’ve learned about concussions, the less easy it is to shrug it away. Now, the players on the other teams…I can’t make any promises, but with Pettit briefing their training staff on the protocol before each series and the front office speaking with the GMs, no one should be surprised.”

Tom shrugged. “When someone’s health’s at risk, there’s zero tolerance for debate. You know that Andrew would have been back on the ice long before they cleared him.” He laughed as he rested his arm against the top of his car. “If I could tolerate his frustration, I should be able to handle anyone else’s complaints.”

“You headed back to the hospital?”

“Off until after tomorrow night’s game. I’ll be transitioning to a more defined schedule. Fewer multi-day shifts.”

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