Page 650 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Good. It starts at 10:00 AM. I’ll see you there.”

Sydney pulledher windbreaker tighter around her. The October wind that whipped hair in her eyes was as crisp as a Granny Smith apple. There was a fresh rawness to the air that only an Alabama football Friday night could bring. It was as if the whole world had built up to that moment and could now begin anew. She’d attended some TCU football games in Texas, but all of them paled in comparison to this. A sea of fans swarmed the bleachers, hollering and hooting. The rest of the world may consider baseball the great American pastime, but here in Alabama, football was a religion.

The mouth-watering smell of hotdogs and popcorn floated from the concession stand, causing her stomach to rumble. She would have grabbed something before the game, but she and Kendall were planning on going out to eat afterwards. A flash of metal caught her attention, and she looked to see the band members, swinging their instruments to the rhythm of the tune they played. It looked like the JD section still sat beside the band. TheJDstood forJack Daniels, and members of this group brought plenty of it with them. Even if they weren’t the rowdiest and most obnoxious fans in the stadium, the stench of booze drifting from their direction would have been enough to give them away.

More often than not, a brawl would break out in the JD section. A slow smile crept across Sydney’s face. She remembered the time that two men got into a fistfight that ended when one man went sailing headfirst into the trumpet section. Band members, sheets of music, and instruments wentflying. Sydney was standing on the field watching the scene unfold when the band director caught her eye. “Go get the police.”

She had run to the concession stand and grabbed the first officer she saw. When she looked back, she saw that Avery had one of the men by the neck, holding him in the crook of his arm. He was carrying him down the bleachers so effortlessly that he might’ve been toting a sack of potatoes. Sydney’s first thought was:I’ve called the police on my own dad.She soon learned that Avery wasn’t involved in the fight but had, in fact, saved the day. The disoriented drunk kept falling over the instruments. Avery had retrieved him to prevent any further damage. So many memories.

Sydney paused to watch a cheerleader’s blonde ponytail bob up and down with each jump. She then started up the bleachers, searching the faces in the crowd for Jarilyn. They saw each other the same instant, and Jarilyn half stood and waved to make sure Sydney could tell where she was sitting. It felt good to know that Jarilyn had been waiting for her, helping her to not feel so alone in this multitude of brimming people. The two women gave each other a warm hug and then settled in to watch the game.

“Wow, can you believe we’re halfway through the season and haven’t lost a game?” Jarilyn asked. “Coach Fletcher said there’ll be some scouts coming out to look at Reggie in some of the later games.” Her voice was a mixture of longing and motherly pride. The cold wind picked up and Jarilyn gathered her collar around her throat.

Sydney knew what a football scholarship would mean to Jarilyn and Reggie. She guessed it wasn’t easy for Jarilyn to provide for the two of them on her bank teller income. Guilt rushed over her when she thought of all she had in comparison. “From what Kendall tells me, Reggie will have a long line of scouts wanting to come and watch him.”

Jarilyn smiled appreciatively and then turned her attention to the field. She stood. “Oh, here they come.”

Sydney watched the first player break through the story-high paper banner and then a long train of them followed. The band blared out the school’s song,Victory. The cheerleaders followed the players, clapping and jumping. Kendall and his assistant coaches rounded out the back, walking with their chests thrust out like proud peacocks, their expressions stony and controlled. Sydney imagined that the coaches on the other side of the field were walking the same way. It was a spitting contest to see who was the meanest, who was the toughest. Kendall strutted back and forth in his jeans and tight-fitting polo, giving his players last minute instructions. Something about him reminded Sydney of the roosters just before the cockfight. No, not a rooster—he was a general in command on the brink of battle, lining up his troops to face the foe. There was a childish innocence about him that flowed clean and pure. An image of Avery flashed in her mind. She saw him standing straight and tall, ready to take on the world. Kendall looked back at the bleachers, and she wondered if he was looking for her. Jarilyn noticed it too.

“Looks like Coach Fletcher’s checking to make sure you’re here,” Jarilyn said with a sly smile.

Sydney was here.That was good. Her cool manner toward him at Depot Days was perplexing. One minute she seemed fine and then the next, she was cool and distant. Then again, he never claimed to be an expert at figuring out the whims of the opposite sex. Sydney’s moods were as changeable as the weather—typical of a woman. Things had been shaky between them lately, and Kendall hoped he could rectify the situation. He turned his backon the bleachers and erased all thoughts of Sydney. It was time to focus on the game. Now that was something Kendall knew.

Few people understood his passion for football. The notoriety he received was rewarding. He was a celebrity in Stoney Creek, but it was more than that. It was as much a part of him as breathing. Ever since he was a kid, he had either watched or played ball. He loved it all. The smell of freshly mowed grass on the field, the butterflies in his stomach just before the opening kick off, the sweat running down his face when he made a big hit. Nothing was as important as football. The ball was the beating, pulsing heart of the town and had come to symbolize everything that was good and right. He would do whatever was necessary to preserve it.

He spit in his hands and rubbed them together. This was his season. With Reggie and the other seniors, all the pistons were firing. He could feel the state championship in his grasp. The players lined up on the field. It was time to begin.

Midway through the third quarter,Sydney saw Sean running up the bleachers, his feet only touching every other step. Their eyes locked for a moment, and her heart skipped a beat. She scolded herself for not being able to control her emotions and wondered if she’d ever be able to make a commitment to one man. After all, she’d come to the game to watch Kendall. Her heart started racing full speed when she realized he was coming to sit with her.

She feigned indifference and pointed to the clock on the scoreboard, hoping that he’d get the hint that she couldn’t care less where he’d been. “Running a little behind, aren’t you? The game’s almost over.”

“I had to stay and take care of some problems at the mill.”

“Is everything all right?” she asked, remembering the kiln door fiasco.

“Yeah, everything’s okay. I just had to finish some paperwork. What’s the score?”

“Zero to zero, and Glenwood has the ball.” She turned. “Sean, this is Jarilyn Kelly. Her son, Reggie, is one of Kendall’s players.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sean said.

Jarilyn nodded curtly to Sean and Sydney bit back a smile. Jarilyn was protecting Kendall’s interest by showing her disapproval of Sean.

“Reggie’s our quarterback,” Sydney said.

“I know all about Reggie. He’s a fine athlete.”

“Thank you,” Jarilyn said, turning toward Sean. “I’m very proud of him.” She gave him a warm smile before turning her attention back to the game.

Sydney rolled her eyes.Great. It had taken all of two seconds for Sean O’Connor to win Jarilyn over. She couldn’t help but compare Sean to Kendall. In some ways she understood him more than Kendall. After all, Sean was like her—handsome on the outside and flawed within. She studied Kendall’s profile. Surely such an angelic face must be instilled with strong convictions and character. She made a promise to herself that she would forget all about this senseless attraction to Sean and transfer all her loyalty, her affection, to Kendall. Maybe he had enough goodness in him to save them both.

“How about getting something to eat with me after the game?”

It took a moment for her to answer, and Sean spoke for her. “Sorry, I forgot. I’m sure you already have plans with Kendall.”

“What’s wrong, Sean? Couldn’t you get a date with Jessica tonight?”

“My, my. Aren’t we touchy? Actually, Jessica’s out of town.”

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