Page 81 of Catching Our Moment
The entire time she talked, he shook his head his head and began to pace. “Just because you are both lonely and living next to each other, that isn’t a reason to do…this.” He waved his hand between us. “He’s heading back to Charlotte, for God’s sake, and you have a son who just got acclimated to town.”
“Dad, I know. That is why we are taking things slow, allowing some time to figure it out. We have things to work through. But you have to know that we’ve had feelings for each other for a long time.
It was like he didn’t even hear us. He just turned around and stared into the yard. “You live in different worlds. He’s a goddamn celebrity, and you—” He pointed at her. “You aren’t meant to be anyone’s arm candy. You’re a professional woman with a special needs kid. That is where your priorities should be.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t lecture me about my priorities, Dad. I’m in my thirties, and I think I’ve figured them out pretty well on my own.”
He gestured at me wildly. “He doesn’t have a 9-5 job. He won’t be home for dinner. He will be on the road. Trust will be an issue. That wears on a marriage—a relationship.”
“Kelcie and I aren’t you and her mom,” I added. “In fact, her relationship with James wasn’t like that, either…even if it was a disaster,” I couldn’t help saying.
“You think the reason I don’t approve of you two together is because of her mom?”
“Isn’t it?” I asked. “I mean, her mom married you and then took off when you discovered you couldn’t go pro. She went in pursuit of greener pastures. But you are still here coaching football, never having the chance to reach for your own dreams.”
“Shaw!” Kelcie’s surprise at my bluntness gave me a moment of pause.
“Sorry. But we are grown-ass adults, and whatever issues he has with me being good enough for you?—”
“I raised her to be her own person and not depend on riding anyone’s coattails or, worse yet, being left behind. I wanted my daughter to carve her own path, her own future. I didn’t want her chasing a man who was chasing his own dreams.”
Kelcie whispered, “You thought I was so shallow that…” The pain on her face was striking. She stared at her father as if it was the first time she’d ever really seen him.
Her father laid out his reasoning, “James was from a good family. He was consistent and dependable, and he had a successful career ahead of him.”
“Yet he made me miserable and ended up dumping me anyway.”
Her father ran his hand over his face and turned away. “You didn’t exactly come with a manual when you were born, Kelcie. I did what I thought was best.”
He stepped toward Kelcie but then froze in place. “If nothing else, he was your son’s father. It was his responsibility,” he said, tilting his chin up.
Then he turned to me. “Shaw, I wanted you to chase your dream without hesitation or commitment.”
He held out his arms to us both. “I just didn’t want to see you hinder each other or resent each other.” He looked at Kelcie. “I’m sorry if I pushed you into a loveless marriage. I’m sorry if I projected my own experiences onto you. I did what I thought—as your father—was the right thing for both of you.”
Kelcie and I exchanged a look, and she slowly gripped my hand. I cleared my throat and sat forward. “I can appreciate your intentions, Coach—er—Holden. Um. Mr. Hammer.”
“Coach is fine.”
“Coach.” I stared at the man who had been more than a teacher, but a coach, a mentor, a friend. He’d been the only adult who’d truly believed in me, but he’d also been the reason Kelcie and I could never see a future together.
“I’ve been in love with your daughter for most of my life. I’ve waited years to show her—and prove to you—that I am worthy of her.” I brought her hand to my lips, kissed her fingers, and opened my heart…my soul…to her. Right there in front of her father.
I should’ve done it when we were alone. I should’ve saved those words for her ears when we were by ourselves. But I had to show her how serious I was about us. Unleashing years of unrequited feelings for her in front of her father… It was the only way I could think of to show her—to show both of them—how much she had always meant to me.
Because while I respected the hell out of the man and could never repay the confidence he had in me, I was never again going to let him interfere with my relationship with my Kelce.
But it was her reaction I needed. Not his. So, I repeated my words—those oh-so-important words—directly to her. “I’m in love with you, Kelcie. I think I have been since the day you outran me in suicide sprints at my first football practice.” Tears filled her eyes as she bit her bottom lip. “I loved you when you helped me pass my high school literature class so I could graduate. And then there was chemistry…and well, trig too, come to think about it.” She let out a tearful laugh, and that was fuel for me to continue. “I loved you all the times I knew I shouldn’t. But how could I stop loving someone who is my best friend, my home, the person who inspires me most? You’re the most beautiful human being I know.”
She put her finger gently over my mouth as a tear escaped.
Still staring at me, she said, “Dad, I know your heart was in the right place...” She turned to me as I put my arm around her. “But I think we can take it from here.”
Her father stroked his mustache and studied his feet. “I’m not a man who believes in fate, and Lord knows I’m not a romantic sort.” He looked down at Kelcie and then up at me. “Fine. I’ll admit you’re different people than you were fourteen years ago…” He stepped back. “And I’m not saying I wouldn’t do things differently, if I could. But I probably would’ve told you the same things back then.”
Both Kelcie and I opened our mouths to protest. But her father stopped us with his upturned hands.
“However, if you love each other and think you can make this work, then who am I to criticize?” he asked. Kelcie leaned forward, breaking her hold with me to hug her father. “But be smart about this. You aren’t the same people you were, and life has become a lot more complicated. It’s okay to make sacrifices for each other, but don’t lose your own way.” He looked up at me. “That’s all I ask.”
