Friday July 24
I WAS SURPRISED WHEN Alan was waiting for me when I came down with Duke to run.
“I need to talk to you,” he said.
“You want to talk while we run?” I asked.
“Jerk!”
“Wimp!”
“How about you take me to breakfast? Since you were mean to me, I get to pick where and you have to pay,” Alan said.
I mumbled he was worse than a girl and sent Duke in the back door to cause havoc. He would make a beeline for my parents’ bedroom so he could get some morning loving. I figured it was a good idea if Alan and I left before my mom had words with me. It was a little early for Duke to be jumping on my parents’ bed. Of course, Alan was a bright boy and picked Granny’s. Granny fussed over us and fed us cinnamon rolls before we ordered.
“I’ve been debating whether I want to continue to coach your summer practices. I’m afraid it’ll remind me too much of Jeff,” Alan said.
“Where’s Tami when I need her?” I asked the heavens.
“What?”
“I need her here to smack your forehead. Stop worrying about yourself for just one minute and think about what a difference you’ve made this summer. If you can’t do it for yourself, then what would Jeff want you to do?” I asked.
I think Alan thought I was going to coddle him. Alan was my best friend, but sometimes he drove me crazy. If you would’ve asked me before this summer if Alan could step in and coach us, I would have said there was no way. He got sucked into it because he was teaching us the new playbook software.
Everyone knew he loved bossing around a bunch of football players. These were the same guys who used to tease him. At first, he had been a little abrasive. That all stopped when I explained I was going to camps this summer and wouldn’t be around to protect him. What he didn’t know was I had Tami tell the guys if I heard he ended up in a garbage can for no good reason, I would track them down. Everyone who knew Tami knew she could get me to do it. It was much more effective than me telling them. They might think they could talk their way out of me taking them to task, but if Tami told me to do it, look out.
“Let me put it to you this way,” I said. “I expect to see you at practice today. If I don’t, I’ll send Tami to come get you. Now eat your breakfast.”
I could tell that that pissed him off. As his best friend, I knew how to push his buttons, just like he knew how to push mine. He also knew I was stubborn when I dug in my heels. I could tell he wanted to make some smart comments. I just raised both my eyebrows and pointed at his food. He gave me a sideways look and began to eat. I knew he was okay.
I honestly think he just needed to have some one-on-one time with me. I knew it made me happy to spend time with him. By the end of breakfast, he was talking a mile a minute. He was worse than a girl.
TAMI:
I went with David to work out with the team and then help Alan with practice. David was funny. He had the trainers set me up on a workout program at the beginning of the summer. I soon discovered I was in the worst shape of my life. I had sat on my behind the whole time I was in the UK. I didn’t have David dragging me outside to play baseball, go swimming, or ride our bikes.
No one wanted to go swimming after practice; it was still too soon after the accident. David put Jim and Tim in charge of figuring out other activities everyone could do. He wanted the team to bond before the season started. We went back to his house.
Jeff was taken off the ventilator and was breathing on his own. He still hadn’t come out of his coma. I was afraid that when he woke up, we were in for a long recovery period.
A group of guys, a couple of the cheerleaders, and Cassidy were making daily trips to go visit Jeff. David’s mom knew how depressing it could be for family and friends to visit someone in Jeff’s condition. You felt powerless as you watched your friend lay there. She got them to help her with cancer patients. I’m not sure who was getting more out of the visits, Jeff’s friends or the cancer patients.
Greg had a rare afternoon off, so he and David decided to grill our lunch. They took the kids with them to play in the backyard with Duke. I went into the kitchen to talk to Angie and help her get everything else ready. I looked out the kitchen window and saw Greg showing Kyle and Mac how to pick out a ripe tomato. It appeared they had picked a few green ones.
“It looks like we’re going to have fried green tomatoes,” I said.
Angie came over to the window to see what I was talking about. Something came over her face. It looked like love. I could see the deep satisfaction in her face as she watched her husband and kids together outside. Greg had really changed. David was talking to Nate as he grilled the burgers. Someday...
“Would you do it all over again?” I asked.
She got a pensive look.
“It hasn’t been easy. We have the same issues many young couples have: money, time, and the responsibility of raising children. On the other hand, there are moments like this when I see my husband loving our children, when I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Greg and I were too young to start a family. If it hadn’t been for his parents and David, I don’t think we would’ve survived it. We needed the support they gave us,” Angie said.
I looked hard at David. Why did I have any doubts?
“Tami, you do know how our family is? We talk about everything. He’s told us what you two are contemplating. Do you mind if I weigh in?” Angie asked as she touched my forearm.
“I could actually use some advice,” I said.
“I know in my heart that if David ever committed to you, he would never look back. Everyone knows he loves you. I see it in the way he looks at you when he doesn’t think anyone’s looking. It’s the same way Greg looks at me. His love isn’t in doubt.
“David’s a lot like Greg. I would never have gotten Greg to settle down without Kyle coming along. It hasn’t been easy; you know how he was. He had a hard time adjusting to being with just one woman. We’ve done some things with other people that married couples probably shouldn’t. I did it because Greg needed it. I do admit I needed it, too. I really didn’t want to settle down any more than Greg did at first. It’s become easier the longer we’ve been together. I think having three children has worn us out, too,” she said with a smile.
“Do you think David will have the same issues?” I asked.
“No, not at all. This is where David is different from Greg. He has become someone who is—I hate to say this, and you can’t tell him or I’ll kill you—a man. He takes his commitments seriously. Believe me when I say he knows what he’s offering you. Think about it. He’s the Big Man on Campus. He’s a model who’s in great demand. He has a movie coming out this winter. Do you think he’ll ever be lacking for female companionship? He’s willing to give up all that fun, for you.
“Don’t let him do it. You’re both too young, and you’d be holding him back from fully enjoying the experience. You know him, he would put you first. It would be a shame if you did. I know once he’s experienced everything, he’ll come back home. You’re ‘home’ to him.”
“What about me? I love him,” I said.
Angie gave me a sad look.
“If I’d never gotten pregnant, I wouldn’t have married Greg so young. I would’ve waited until we were graduating from college. Set David free. You two are too young for what you’re contemplating. Date a few guys. Fall in love. I’m betting the two of you will come together in the end. You might have to wrestle Beth for him, but I think you can take her.”
We hugged each other and had tears in our eyes when Greg came in with the tomatoes. We did end up having fried green tomatoes for lunch.