Page 23 of Chasing Football Dreams

He patted my shoulder and smiled at me. “He’s watching over you every day and I believe he is proud to see his girl kicking ass,”

Chapter Eleven

“We would like to set up a donation,”

The woman behind the desk blinked at my wife’s request. I couldn’t get the thought of Zoey being an orphan to myself. I told Angela about it and she’s been working non-stop on locating the orphanage and to her luck, found the last standing orphanage house.

A shudder punched my gut when we pulled up in front of an old building. It was falling apart and what hurt the most was the see the number of kids of different ages living here.

Angela and I never tried for a second child after our daughter was murdered. My wife pushed herself into charity events and helping foster care houses with funds. She has opened at least five foster care houses in the last ten years and hasn’t stopped looking for solutions to help orphans.

Many nights I would return home with a house full of children she invited to stay the night. We fostered a few children over the years and I imagined it was Angela’s way of coping. She has not skipped one of Zoey’s birthdays, she would buy her a present and leave it at her grave. She didn’t mind thatsomeone would take it. She just wanted that feeling of buying her daughter something.

“I’m sorry if I seem baffled. It’s just are not used to your generous offer,”

Angela waved her hand to make the woman feel assured. “I’ve helped many foster care homes and I would like to help your orphanage with a foster care program,”

The woman frowned at Angela’s request. “Sorry, I never let you introduce yourself,”

Angela held out her hand. “I am Angela Martin and this is my husband Shane Martin,”

The woman nodded, her eyes darting over my shoulder. “I’m Kelly,”

Angela softly tucked my clenched hand resting on my lap—shooting me a grin and then turned her attention back to Kelly. “Ever since we lost our daughter, we have focused on helping unprivileged children,”

“Our orphanage is the last to exist and as much as we considered moving to a foster care program—there aren’t enough donations to fund the program,”

Angela graciously nodded her head. “And that’s why we want to help,”

Kelly looked at me and there was a scared look swivelling around in her gaze. “You are that football player that one of our kids was so obsessed with,”

I smiled. “I think I’ve met her,”

Kelly blinked. “How so?”

“I believe she’s one of my players. Zoey Reynolds,”

She nodded. “It’s a shame about her parents,” She pushed her chair slightly back and started to fidget with a pen. “I had to fetch her from a hospital and bring her here, thinking it was just for the night but no one came for her,”

“It surprises me that no one would have adopted her. She’s a good-mannered and beautiful girl,” Angela replied. Zoey has made such an impact on both me and Angela. Not only because she carries our daughter’s name and skill, but her gracious mind leaves a soft spot in your heart.

Kelly nodded. “She has done a lot for this place. She still comes here often to take care of the children and give them gifts and leftover food from where she works. It has always been a dream of hers to make so much money to be able to give everyone a shot at a dream,”

“Could you give us a tour?” Angela asked.

“Of the house?” Kelly sounded a bit taken aback.

Angela nodded. “I would just like to get an idea to set out a budget that will cover everything,”

“Sure thing. It’s playtime for the kids so many of them will be outside,” Kelly got to her feet motioning for us to follow her.

I let Angela walk in front of me to talk to Kelly while I took in the saddening look of this place. Each room was so small and could barely fit two beds. I stopped in front of a room when a colourful wall caught my attention. I entered the room seeing a little girl sitting in front of the wall drawing a butterfly. She smiled at me and invited me to sit with her.

She held out a pencil to me and motioned for me to draw something but my mind was stuck to the wall where Zoey’s name was painted with her wishes. I tried to push the tears back as I imagined what life she must have had but yet, she is so damn selfless and cares more about others than herself.

“Coach Shane?” I raised my head at Zoey's voice and saw her standing in the doorway with a little girl holding her hand.

I pushed to my feet.

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