Page 12 of 40-Yard Line

“Please, just have a seat at the end of the sofa,” said the woman. “Dad, let’s take your medicine, okay. Here you go.” She handed him the three pills, and he willingly swallowed them. Gently, she pushed his hair from his eyes, then kissed his forehead.

“Can I ask what’s wrong with your father, Ms. Hardesty?” asked Mac.

“Kelly. I’m just Kelly,” she smiled. “If you ask the league, it’s dementia due to multiple strokes. If you ask his doctors here, it’s CTE-related traumatic brain injuries.”

“I’m asking you,” said Mac. She stared at him and nodded.

“All of the above. Let me ask you two something. How old do you think my father is?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe fifty-five?” said Mac, looking at Gabe.

“I’d say fifty-five to sixty,” said Gabe.

“My father just turned forty-four. I’m twenty,” she said. “Twenty, and I look almost as old as he does because I’ve spent the last five years taking care of him. When they told him he couldn’t play any longer, my mother emptied our accounts and left. Before I could get everything else frozen, we lost our house and ended up here.”

“I’m damn sorry,” said Mac.

“It’s okay. Sorry, that’s not why you’re here.”

“Actually, it might be why we’re here,” said Gabe. “Did your father have multiple injuries and concussions?”

“Seven,” she said with tears in her eyes. Her father’s big paw reached out, gripping her tiny hand, and he smiled at her.

“Don’t cry, Kelly. I’ll be better tomorrow.”

“I know, Dad. You’re better today,” she grinned. “Are you tired? Would you like to take a nap?” He nodded, and she helped him up, walking toward the back room. A few minutes later, she came back out and sat down, her head in her hands.

“You’re exhausted. You need help,” said Mac.

“I couldn’t agree more. The problem is I don’t have the money for help. Lara and Carigan come down every now and then and help when they can. Lara sent a guy to fix a few things around the house, but there’s so much,” she said, shaking her head.

“Why isn’t the league helping your father?” asked Mac.

“Dad was in a car accident right before he left the league. They claim his injuries were related to the accident, not his time playing. The doctors have disagreed, but the league doctors are saying that he never reported his injuries to them.”

“Did your father play with Butch?”

“He did,” she nodded. “They played together in college and then on different teams for a while. Eventually, Dad’s last few years were with New Orleans. He was a defensive end. He was hit a lot. Two months before the accident, he twisted his knee. They said it wasn’t anything serious, but they were injecting his knee non-stop, and he was taking all these anti-inflammatory medicines and pain medicines. Our family doctor said the combination is what led to the last stroke.”

“And I bet the league argued with that,” said Mac.

“The team did, for sure. The league says it’s a team matter.” She turned to look down the hallway and then back at the men. “He has good days and bad ones. Today is in between. He’s still strong as an ox. Before you ask, he’s never hurt me. I don’t think he would.”

“He might,” said Gabe softly. “He doesn’t know his own strength right now, Kelly. He doesn’t understand the things in his head.”

“He has no one else. Nowhere else to go. I will not put him away,” she said defiantly.

Mac nodded, holding up a finger. He dialed home and asked to speak with Ashley and Bree first. Then, they brought in Riley and Suzette. The young woman listened to all the strangers, answering their questions.

“We’re going to send some help for you, Kelly,” said Riley.

“What? I don’t understand.”

“We have some connections in the area. We’re going to ask a nursing team to come out and help you with your father. We’ve also sent a message to a contractor we know in the area who will come out and get everything straight with the house. You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

“Wh-why would you do this?” she croaked.

“Because you need the help, and we can give it. That’s all. It looks as though your house is paid for, but it’s not exactly well-maintained. We’re going to give it a good spruce up and make sure it will last you and your dad for a long time. The medical staff will provide a break for you so that you can leave and not worry about your dad. Whatever you need, they’ll help with.”

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