and went over to Seth.
“Dad, were you fighting because you were protecting mom?”
He promised he’d always tell them the truth. “Yes, I was.”
Jake grabbed at his kneecaps and gave his dad a hug and Connor and Colby did the same.
“I’m glad mom had you to look after her.” Jake looked up at him.
“I always will.” He smiled and looked over at Morgan who was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “Now let’s enjoy the afternoon.”
“I’m going to take a quick shower and get into something comfortable.” Morgan scooted off the coach.
“Are you sure you’re fine? Does anything hurt?” He caressed her arms.
“Physically I’m fine. I hate that your party didn’t turn out the way we expected. We were having a good time until all the hoopla started. I didn’t get to say my speech.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You had a speech prepared?”
“Yes, I was going to gush about what a wonderful husband, father, and football player you were and how the sport of football would be taking a huge loss when you retired.”
Seth laughed. “I remember a time when you would toss your cookies at thought of speaking in public.”
“Being married to you has changed me in so many ways.” She grinned.
“Hopefully for the better.”
“Always.” She hugged him tighter. “I just want you to know that you’re always my hero.”
“Is that right?”
“That’s right.” Morgan kissed him. “You want to join me in the shower?”
“I’d love to, but I want to make a few calls. I told Daniel I’d touch base with him when I got home. I should give Luke a call too so everyone’s in the loop. After that I will hunker down under that fort with you and the boys until dinner time.”
She sighed. “Seth, whatever happens, we’ll weather the storm together.”
“OK.”
Seth watched as Morgan did her cute waddle down the hallway. She was all right, he repeated to himself. He rolled up his shirtsleeves and went over to the bar and poured himself a scotch, knowing it was too early in the day to drink but needing something to calm the rage inside him. He glanced at his phone. There were a few text messages from teammates saying Lamont was running his mouth on social media about the events of last night. Patton, who had little interest in diplomacy, posted an eyewitness statement of his own condemning Lamont’s actions. Some of the other players in attendance had said some things as well, to rebut the irate tirade Lamont went on right after he’d gotten stitched up in an emergency room at another hospital.
He called Daniel, who informed him he was trending on several social media sites and media outlets were beginning to pick up on the story. Everyone, from fans to other sports stars, were weighing in with their opinions on what they thought transpired. The feud he’d been trying to play down in the press had just reached catastrophic proportions. Daniel promised he would do as much spin control as possible and some of Lamont’s bizarre statements had already been removed from his accounts. After a few more calls to family and a brief conversation with Jimmy, who wanted to see him after practice on Tuesday, Seth joined his family and tuned out the rest of the world. Later that night, it was no surprise the boys wanted to sleep with them in their bed. As they all cuddled together, he felt like his family was safe again.
* * *
Morgan walked into the administrative office of the boys’ school with a defiant look on her face. Sure, she was there to drop off the goodies for the bake sale, but she contemplated throwing a cupcake at the first person who had enough nerve to ask her what happened the night of the party. Things were getting back to normal after a few days and she was thankful for that. They’d received so many get-well baskets and flowers, there was hardly any room to move around in the house. She would have liked to continue to hide in that fort with Seth and the kids all week, but she knew
“Dad, were you fighting because you were protecting mom?”
He promised he’d always tell them the truth. “Yes, I was.”
Jake grabbed at his kneecaps and gave his dad a hug and Connor and Colby did the same.
“I’m glad mom had you to look after her.” Jake looked up at him.
“I always will.” He smiled and looked over at Morgan who was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “Now let’s enjoy the afternoon.”
“I’m going to take a quick shower and get into something comfortable.” Morgan scooted off the coach.
“Are you sure you’re fine? Does anything hurt?” He caressed her arms.
“Physically I’m fine. I hate that your party didn’t turn out the way we expected. We were having a good time until all the hoopla started. I didn’t get to say my speech.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You had a speech prepared?”
“Yes, I was going to gush about what a wonderful husband, father, and football player you were and how the sport of football would be taking a huge loss when you retired.”
Seth laughed. “I remember a time when you would toss your cookies at thought of speaking in public.”
“Being married to you has changed me in so many ways.” She grinned.
“Hopefully for the better.”
“Always.” She hugged him tighter. “I just want you to know that you’re always my hero.”
“Is that right?”
“That’s right.” Morgan kissed him. “You want to join me in the shower?”
“I’d love to, but I want to make a few calls. I told Daniel I’d touch base with him when I got home. I should give Luke a call too so everyone’s in the loop. After that I will hunker down under that fort with you and the boys until dinner time.”
She sighed. “Seth, whatever happens, we’ll weather the storm together.”
“OK.”
Seth watched as Morgan did her cute waddle down the hallway. She was all right, he repeated to himself. He rolled up his shirtsleeves and went over to the bar and poured himself a scotch, knowing it was too early in the day to drink but needing something to calm the rage inside him. He glanced at his phone. There were a few text messages from teammates saying Lamont was running his mouth on social media about the events of last night. Patton, who had little interest in diplomacy, posted an eyewitness statement of his own condemning Lamont’s actions. Some of the other players in attendance had said some things as well, to rebut the irate tirade Lamont went on right after he’d gotten stitched up in an emergency room at another hospital.
He called Daniel, who informed him he was trending on several social media sites and media outlets were beginning to pick up on the story. Everyone, from fans to other sports stars, were weighing in with their opinions on what they thought transpired. The feud he’d been trying to play down in the press had just reached catastrophic proportions. Daniel promised he would do as much spin control as possible and some of Lamont’s bizarre statements had already been removed from his accounts. After a few more calls to family and a brief conversation with Jimmy, who wanted to see him after practice on Tuesday, Seth joined his family and tuned out the rest of the world. Later that night, it was no surprise the boys wanted to sleep with them in their bed. As they all cuddled together, he felt like his family was safe again.
* * *
Morgan walked into the administrative office of the boys’ school with a defiant look on her face. Sure, she was there to drop off the goodies for the bake sale, but she contemplated throwing a cupcake at the first person who had enough nerve to ask her what happened the night of the party. Things were getting back to normal after a few days and she was thankful for that. They’d received so many get-well baskets and flowers, there was hardly any room to move around in the house. She would have liked to continue to hide in that fort with Seth and the kids all week, but she knew
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