Covering Kendall(76)

He was so proud of her. Even more, it was evident to him that Kendall would dedicate herself to home, family, and her career. Watching her lead a franchise in trouble made him understand she was born for the job, even if she wasn’t sure she wanted it. She’d have a husband and a family, but she wouldn’t be happy if the only things she had to worry about were what she’d serve for dinner, or getting the kids to their soccer practice beforehand. He knew she would love her family and do her best, but she would also have a career that absorbed and challenged her, whether it was with the Miners or another pro football franchise.

His dad was currently having heartburn over his mom’s serving him pasta sauce out of a jar because she was enjoying the opportunity to have a job. His mom wanted a challenge too, and she went out and got it. It wasn’t about Kendall’s serving him takeout for meals or forgetting to wash his shorts. How was he going to deal with the fact she lived in another state and could not move, let alone the knowledge that she had a lot bigger things on her plate than whether or not things in their house were running smoothly?

If he wanted Kendall, his definition of the perfect family needed to change. They would be handling the details of any future home together. They might have those holidays and birthdays and friends over to visit, but it might not be in a suburb twenty miles east of Seattle. Whether he realized it or not, Drew’s dad had taught him a very valuable lesson. Home wasn’t a place in which one person worked to meet the needs of her entire family. It was a place in which everyone worked together to take care of each other.

He glanced up to see his mom and dad in the corridor outside the room.

“Shhh,” he said, putting one finger over his lips.

“This must be Kendall,” his mom whispered.

His dad gave Drew a nod. “Let me go find out if I can get another chair or two,” he muttered.

Kendall stirred again and opened her eyes. “Oh. I must have fallen asleep,” she said. “I’m so sorry.” She smothered a yawn, stretched a bit, and got to her feet. She extended her hand to Drew’s mom. “You must be Mrs. McCoy. I’m Kendall.”

Drew’s mom hurried around his bed and threw her arms around Kendall.

“It’s so nice to meet you. You are as lovely as Drew told me.”

“He’s been bragging about you also. It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“Call me Bonnie,” his mom said, gesturing for Kendall to take the chair. “My husband went to get a couple more chairs so we could sit here and have a good visit.”

Bonnie kissed her son on the forehead and said, “Is there anything we can get for you, honey?”

“A new shoulder would be nice.”

“I’ll do my best,” Bonnie told him. “How about some brunch in the meantime? I’ll ask the nurse if you can have something to eat. I’ll be right back.”



DREW PATTED THE bed next to him when his parents wandered out of the room. Kendall perched on it.

“Maybe we could continue our conversation later on.”

“I’d like that.”

She was thinking the chances of that happening were small to none. Drew’s parents would most likely stay until visiting hours were over, and part of the deal she’d struck with her boss was the fact she’d be back in San Francisco by tomorrow morning. The Miners had a bye next week, so she could come back on Friday afternoon and stay until Monday morning.

She wasn’t sure how she and Drew could realistically make things work. She couldn’t telecommute. She had to be in the Miners’ offices at least five days a week to do her job, and most of those workdays stretched into the evening hours. Any relationship they managed to carve out would wither and die due to absence and inattention.

He was also facing the biggest challenge of his professional life. Would he be able to come back from such a catastrophic injury, or would he be forced into retirement? If he had to retire, he might want to move where she was, but she couldn’t count on that. He’d be facing the biggest fear of all NFL players forced into premature retirement: Who would he be after a life spent being Drew McCoy, football star? He’d have to start over. Even more, he’d have to redefine himself, and many former players struggled with that challenge.

Drew didn’t seem interested in coaching. He’d lose his mind being stuck in a broadcasting booth each Sunday for six months a year. He probably thought he had several years to decide what he wanted to do after football. Those years had evaporated on Dallas’s turf last Sunday morning.

He might resent her because she still earned a living from football, and he did not.