I turn back around and step out on the balcony. I’m doing this for Colin. I’m doing this for Colin. Janis pulls me into a sideways hug. “I have to say, Caroline, that this is one bet that I’m sure you don’t mind losing.”
She’s right. Colin told me once that he’d walk through fire for me. Apparently, I love him enough to wear Dallas Cowboy boots and his jersey made into a dress on one of the most important days of his life.
The streets of Downtown are packed with people. I mean, packed like sardines in a can. It’s been about thirty-six hours since Colin and the boys brought the Vince Lombardi Trophy home to Dallas, and the metroplex is buzzing with excitement. I’m sure that some of these people are still drunk from Sunday.
Chelsea chimes in, “Can you believe the mayor declared today a holiday?”
Jenny adds, “I’ve heard they’re expecting over a million people to either watch the parade on TV or line the streets. It’s not like any work has gotten done in the last couple of days anyway.”
The parade will pass under our balcony and end at a ginormous stage that’s been set up near our hotel. Some famous local bands will play music. Then the team owner, head coach, Colin, and a few of the other players will address the crowd.
Because Big Bertha has become the unofficial mascot for the team, Colin will be riding in the bed of the truck, showing off his MVP trophy. Some poor police officer has been tasked to drive her. Colin worried last night that she might break down, which is a very legitimate concern. He seems to be the only one that the old girl will start for these days. We laughed about her stalling in the middle of the parade, and him having to jump out of the bed of the truck to lay his magic hands on her. He reassured me that the two of them would have a nice chat on the way into town this morning. As a precaution, his mechanic will be riding shotgun.
Colin winning the Super Bowl was the culmination of his Hall of Fame career. I was thrilled that I could be there and share the moment with him. Realizing my own goals has been such a sense of personal accomplishment. Having the opportunity to watch the man that I’m madly in love with make his dream come true had been one of the greatest moments of my life.
Liza leans over and pretend-whispers, “The dress wouldn’t look nearly as bad if you didn’t have that gigantic belly in the way.”
I look down at my stomach. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my feet without leaning over. I tease her back. “I don’t think that it has anything to do with my stomach, and everything to do with the dress designer.”
She gently pushes me and laughs. “You look good. I stand by my statement. You’re simply a snake that swallowed a basketball.”
Janis chimes in and agrees. “I gained almost seventy-five pounds with Marley. Beached whales were cuter than me. And trust me, I let Clay know every single day just how miserable I was.” She laughs at the memory. “You look awesome, Caroline.”
“Auntie Charlie, I think you should name the baby Marley. It’s the perfect name for a boy or a girl.” She’s beaming.
“Well, sweet pea, we’re going to have to discuss that with Uncle Colin. He still wants Bertha for a girl and Bert for a boy,” I tease. Colin and I are not finding out the sex of our baby, which has led to many spirited arguments over names. As of right now, we aren’t even in the same baby-naming book, let alone agreed on anything.
“She’s naming the baby Brad if it’s a boy, and Brandy if it’s a girl. Everyone knows this.” Brad offers his two cents with his know-it-all wink and a raised champagne glass.
Then out of nowhere, Jenny says, “Fuck off, Brad. If it’s a boy, it can be Brad. If it’s a girl, it’s Jennifer.” Jenny cares about the baby’s name? That’s a new one. Colin’s assistant is full of surprises.
“Geez, Jenny,” I reprimand. “Not in front of Marley.” Fortunately, Clay has a mouth that makes sailors blush, so it’s nothing that she hasn’t heard before. But still, I don’t want Jenny teaching my child dirty words. That’s, at the very least, her daddy’s job.
“Argue later, kids. We’ve still got at least two weeks before he or she is here.” I laugh at my crew. If you’d have told me a couple of years ago that Liza, who was angry I wasn’t Sasha the first time I met her, Janis, who only knew that I broke Colin’s heart, Chelsea, the most selfish self-centered person in the universe, Brad my overly gay assistant, and Jenny, who’s a hornet’s nest would be my support system and the ones that I chose to share in this moment with Colin and I, I would’ve said you were mental. Yet, here we are. One big dysfunctional family.