The Surprise Princess by Patricia McLinn

Spencer name was still the underdog. Not always tactful, our Brad. That was part of the trouble that led to his living here. Wasn’t until Brad’s sisters — half-sisters – started growing up and he saw what they put their father through that he connected with Phillip.”
    She leaned forward and said confidingly, “Sometimes the poor boy gets confused and thinks
I’m
an underdog he needs to champion.” She sat back, satisfaction strong in her face. “Why do you think he’s out shoveling a walk he knows I won’t use. Yes, sometimes I use his weakness for underdogs – but only for his own good. Like about Ashton.”
    “What did you do?” Katie asked, mesmerized by the image of Brad being manipulated by his tiny grandmother. She probably should stop her from sharing personal details of Brad’s life … but she was only human.
    “I told him Ashton and Coach Draper didn’t have a chance. They’d be chewed up and spit out by Division I basketball. Any players who signed with the Aces were destined for abject failure. There was a moment there when I thought I’d laid it on too thick. But, no. Two days later, Brad announced – with great defiance – he was signing with Ashton. As you heard, I’ve let him go on thinking he was right and I was wrong.” Andy cocked her head. “You don’t approve?”
    “Me? It’s not my place to approve or disapprove, Mrs. Spencer.”
    “Ah, gave yourself away there, dear, calling me Mrs. But I don’t regret it. Not for a minute. Coach Draper sat in that chair you occupy now and promised Brad would receive an education, in and out of the classroom, and he kept his promise. You know Brad was held out of four games his sophomore year because his grades were too low?” The woman sounded oddly proud. “That was the action of an honorable man, keeping his word, and that is when Brad truly began to become a man.”
    Katie happened to know Carolyn, then the team’s academic advisor, had a share in that suspension, but no sense pointing that out. No time, either, because Andrea Spencer was going on.
    “If my husband had lived longer, Brad would have learned that here at home. I did my best, but… Well, as I said, Brad got into some trouble. Caused tension at home, what with his mom and Phillip starting a second family. Brad was a champion of throwing gasoline on every fire. Sometimes he reminds me so much of his grandfather…”
    Andy tapped the edge of her teacup decisively. “First time I met Ted Spencer, I tingled. Felt that way more often than not through our married life and that’s saying something for fifty-six years together.” She looked out the window. “Not that they can’t make you crazy mad in a heartbeat. I suppose you know that about Brad.”
    “Oh, no. You misunderstood. We’re colleagues,
professional
colleagues.”
    “Pretty girl like you shouldn’t tell fibs.” The older woman clicked her tongue, then sighed. “Professional. That’s my one disappointment. Not that I don’t respect a man like Coach Draper… But I had hoped Brad might become a lawyer, like his friend Ellis. Or a teacher like Frank – such a sweet boy. Or, even, like Thomas Abbott, a businessman.”
    “He does all those things as a coach,” Katie said. “And he does them extremely well.”
    Andrea Spencer looked at her. “Does he?”
    “Absolutely. He has to know the laws and rules to protect his players and the school. Coaches are advocates for their players, too. And then they have to turn around and be good businessmen, keeping an eye on the budget. Not to mention knowing business to deal with supporters and alumni. And of course they’re teaching all the time. About the game, but also like you said about C.J., about being adults and living in the world.”
    “C.J. said you were a very sharp young lady.”
    “C.J.?”
    “That recruiting trip was not the last time he sat in that chair. He often stops by when he’s in Chicago. He speaks highly of you. Now I’ve met you,