Page 123 of A Whole New Play

“No, I just had a couple of glasses of champagne with the team.”

It sounds like he had more than a couple of glasses, but I’m not judging him. He has every reason to celebrate.

“You need to book your plane tickets to LA for the game,” he says without preamble. “Or will you drive? I have no idea how far it is from San Francisco to LA.”

My smile falters.

“I can’t go to the game, Dad. I don’t have tickets.” I reach my building and enter the access code into the keypad on the exterior door.

“Didn’t I tell you? The owner is buying a box for all the coaches’ families. I’ll have a ticket for you.”

“Oh, wow.” That’s… unexpected.

“So you’ll come?” He presses. I hear a chorus of cheers come through the phone. He must still be at the Rough Riders facility.

“You’re busy, Dad. Let’s talk about this later.” I step inside my building and wait for the door to close before starting to climb three flights of stairs to reach my floor.

“No.” His breath comes in huffs before I hear the telling sound of a door closing. I imagine he’s in his office. “You’re coming to the game.”

“I don’t know Dad…”

“Valerie,” his voice hardens. “I didn’t insist on you coming back for the holidays. I understood you wanted to stay in California to continue to help the startup. But this is the Super Bowl. There’s no guarantee my team will ever get back here again.”

“Don’t say that, you’re a great coach.”

“And you’re too smart to think flattery will distract me from this conversation.”

I clamp my lips together and then exhale. “Dad… I don’t know. The company just landed a huge investor and we’ll be busy figuring out what to do with the funds these next couple of weeks.”

“The game is taking place in California. And it’s a Sunday. You can take off one day for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

He’s right.

I can.

But the thought of finding myself in the same state, let alone stadium, as Carter Jones while knowing he and I have no reason to interact makes me want to cry myself to sleep. Again.

I stop outside my apartment, staring at the gold numbers nailed to the center of the door. “This situation is complicated, Dad.”

I won’t just be watching my father’s team play, but I’ll be watching my ex play in the most important game of his career. And I won’t be able to talk to him.

Just thinking about it is torture.

His voice softens, “I know it is, Valerie. I understand. When your mother left me, it was hard for me to go anywhere I thought she might be. I couldn’t stand the thought of what would happen if I ran into her.”

My heart aches in my chest when I register the pain in my father’s voice.

Even after all these years, the hurt my mom caused lingers. I guess I know where I get my gentle soul from.

Dad clears his throat. “But even though I understand how you feel, I can’t let you make this decision without at least trying to convince you it’s a mistake. Time is going to heal your pain. And when it does, you’re going to regret not going to this game. So, I’m asking you to try. Just… try to overcome this. For me. And for yourself.”

I exhale a heavy sigh.

Well, shit.

How am I supposed to say no to that?

“Okay.” I unlock my apartment door.

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