Page 689 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Do you? Does anybody really know how I feel?”

“Are you sure this is just about football?”

Kendall stood. “Well of course it’s about football. What else is there?”

The phone rang again and Kendall’s eyes met his mother’s. She went to answer it.

“Hello?”

She handed him the phone. “It’s Walter. He said the association reached their decision.”

Gail held her breath as she watched Kendall’s expression. Then she saw the smile break out over his face. A few minutes later he hung up the phone and grabbed her and began dancing around the room.

“Well Mama, Walter did it again. I don’t know how he managed it, but somehow he did. It looks like Stoney Creek’ll be playing in the division playoffs.”

37

“AND DAVID SAID TO SAUL, LET NO MAN’S HEART FAIL BECAUSE OF HIM; THY SERVANT WILL GO AND FIGHT WITH THIS PHILISTINE.” —1 SAMUEL 17:32

Without a doubt, Reggie’s injury had been a debilitating blow to Stoney Creek. Still, Kendall and his team managed to win the first round of the division playoffs by a hair. The question was: Could they win the second round without Reggie?

Any other time,the tantalizing smells of hotdogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate would have tempted Sydney as she walked past the concession stand, but not tonight. Her stomach was tied in knots. She knew how much this game meant to Kendall and the Stoney Creek players, especially Reggie. His football injury was rotten luck. He deserved better. She pulled her fleece-lined jacket closer around her and watched the frosty vapors of her breath dissipate in the cold November wind.

The bleachers were filled with devoted fans. In the eyes of Stoney Creek, few things compared to this. Sydney searched the bleachers for Jarilyn. She and Jarilyn had ridden to the gametogether. She’d gone to the restroom while Jarilyn saved their seats.

“Hey Sydney! We’re up here.” Sydney looked up to see Jarilyn sitting with Emma, Chuck, and Jessica. Oh great, Jessica again. It always came down to Jessica. Sydney nodded at them and mounted the bleachers.

Just when Jessica opened her mouth to speak, the band entered the stadium and drowned out her voice. Their shining metal instruments gleamed under the lights. Sydney couldn’t help but notice how young they looked. Then the crowd jumped to its feet and yelled as the Stoney Creek football players and coaches ran onto the field. She watched Kendall’s short, jerky movements.

Jarilyn’s voice caught Sydney’s attention. “Coach Fletcher’s letting Reggie dress out tonight.”

“I’m glad,” Sydney said, knowing that Jarilyn was hoping against all odds that he would be allowed to play, even though they both knew better. Kendall would never risk injuring Reggie permanently.

Without thinking, Sydney scanned the crowd, looking for Sean. She wondered if he would come tonight.

Sydney’s emotions soared and dropped like a roller coaster as Stoney Creek and Bloomingdale went back and forth, scoring touchdowns and extra points. The score was tied 14 to 14, and then Bloomingdale kicked a field goal. After the kickoff, Sydney looked at the scoreboard. Bloomingdale 17 and Stoney Creek 14. Stoney Creek returned the kickoff to Bloomingdale’s 35-yard line. It was fourth down and three to go with only 15 seconds left on the clock. She watched the Stoney Creek players line up. Then Stoney Creek called for a timeout, and the players ran back to the huddle.

Sydney watchedReggie walk over to Kendall. Reggie pointed to the scoreboard and then to the field. Kendall shook his head and Reggie threw up his hands. Kendall put his hand on Reggie’s shoulder and they spoke a few more words to each other. It was doubtful the team could win without Reggie.“For goodness sake, please don’t let him go in if he’s not ready,”she said under her breath.

“What did you say?” Jarilyn asked.

Sydney motioned to the field. “I think Reggie’s begging Kendall to put him in.”

Jarilyn put her gloved hand to her mouth and waited. Sydney touched her on the arm. “You can’t let Kendall put him in. What if he gets hurt worse?”

Jarilyn’s eyes met Sydney’s, and then she looked away. “I have complete confidence in Coach Fletcher.”

The announcer yelledover the speaker. “Folks, Reggie Kelly, Stoney Creek’s star quarterback, is coming into the game.” Sydney watched Reggie line up behind Number 56, Jonathan Mark, Stoney Creek’s bulky center. Looking at him now, it was hard to believe that he was injured. He looked focused and confident, as if he could command the universe. The center snapped the ball to him. He faked it off to Robert Edwards, number 41. Then he passed it off to his wide receiver. The crowd was on its feet. The wide receiver made a lateral to the tailback, Chad Hopkins, who ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Stoney Creek had won the second round of the divisionalplayoffs. The crowd went wild and the players hoisted Reggie on their shoulders and carried him around the field.

The buzzer rang. The roar of the crowd was deafening.

Jarilyn was screaming and hugging Sydney. “We won! We won! I can’t believe we won.”

“I know,” Sydney exclaimed. They walked down the bleachers with the crowd.

By the timethey reached the field, Kendall was surrounded by people.

“I’m going to find Reggie,” Jarilyn said. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

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