Page 15 of Secret Santa

I had a hard time putting it into a sentence that made sense. It was more a feeling. A strange rightness with sitting in genial silence, sitting next to her, feeling the warmth our bodies created, and relishing in the first seedlings of something that inherently feltright.

“It’s the time I watched it and believed in the magic of Christmas again.”

* * *

The following day I practically danced into work. Both the weekend and my incredible day with Priscilla made me feel as if my life was beginning to align. Finally, it felt like I too would get some reward for keeping my nose to the grindstone.

“Murray, we’ve got a problem.”

Not the words I wanted to hear the moment I came into work. And definitely not the kinds of words you want to hear from yourboss. He came into my office holding an official looking document.

“Check your email, you probably received the same one. Someone’s got it out for you.”

He placed a letter on my desk from USA Swimming inquiring into my coaching practices and requesting blood and hair follicle samples from my top swimmers.

“Doping? They’re accusing us of doping?”

Coach Kimball took a seat in the chair closest to the door. As if the stress of the revelation had weakened him to the point he had to collapse in the closest seat. I felt bile rise in the back of my throat. My vision narrowed and the ambient noise of our offices sounded tinny and far away.

“The accusation came from a member in good standing of USA Swimming. The person said he saw you administering something sub-dermally to members of both the men’s and women’s teams.”

“Come on! Subdermal doping? I’ve never heard of such a thing! Is Icy Hot now considered doping? Because that is what I rubbed on Amira’s shoulder.”

While logically I knew this whole accusation was bunk. They’d do the hair follicle pull and find that they were all a bunch of gullible assholes but fuck them for thinking we would race with such a lack of integrity. It stung.

“We’ll have the university’s lawyers send a response. But it’s best to comply and do so quietly so that it doesn’t get out into the press. I’ll leave it to you to chat with the team members listed in the complaint before practice.”

I had a sneaking suspicion which “member in good standing” had made the accusation. The second Kimball’s back was to me and retreating from my office I smashed my brother’s name in my contacts. This couldn’t be happening. Not again.

“Prez! What’s the word little brother. How’s that Secret Santa treating you? Did she sit on her Santa’s lap yet and tell him whether she wants to benaughtyornice?”

“Beckett.” His name stuck in my throat. Panic had turned my vocal cords into desert tumbleweeds. “USA Swimming is accusing me of doping my kids.”

I heard tires screech and a horn blare. I must have caught Beckett on his way to the gym. It was silent on his end for so long I worried he’d gotten in an accident.

“Who? How? Read me the letter.”

I did. I went through the entire story including using Icy Hot on Amira’s shoulder between heats. Despite calling him to confirm my suspicions I was afraid to give them voice. Given how quiet Beckett was I knew he thought the same thing.

“There’s a flight out of San Diego at one. I land at five thirty Texas time. This is the end of Charley Villa. I promise, he can beef with me all he wants. But now after not getting what he wanted coming for Lane and me, he moves to you? No. That shit doesn’t fly. He’s going down.”

I heard the engine on his car roar. I assume he’d merged back into traffic and headed home to pack. Ridiculous as it sounded even to my own ears, knowing my big brother was coming in, fists at the ready, reinforced me.

“Just keep your cool. When you talk to your team let them know you know the reports are unfounded. That it’s only an inquiry, and until the results come back USA Swimming isn’t allowed to publicize those accusations. It won’t hurt their chances for getting on or remaining on either team—the university’s or USA Swimming. I’ll make this right, Presley. I promise.”

His call disconnected just as Kelsey and Tiernan walked past my office. The last thing I wanted to do was create any stress for those kids. Good kids. The entire team worked their asses off.

“Kelsey, Tiernan—can you get the team together? Meeting in the team room in fifteen minutes.”

So much for the magic of Christmas.

ChapterTen

The day was more of the same. With two exceptions. First, I had two of Presley’s swimmers helping me serve so I could move to the kitchen and handle all the cooking and prep work. Second, the exhaustion didn’t matter when the entire evening with Presley played and replayed on a never-ending reel.

Jesse: So how was your date with the awkward Secret Santa with the gemstones for eyes? ????

Me: How on earth would you even come to that conclusion?

---