Rachel's Redemption (16 page)

Epilogue

Rachel sat in the high school stands, sweat shirts and blankets spread out along the bench on either side of her.

“Ms. Rachel, thanks for saving! This place is a zoo.”

Alexander passed by her, handing her a soda as he did. “The line at the concession was a nightmare.”

She accepted the drink and asked, “Where’s Michael?”

Alexander turned and fisted a hand at his hip. “Well, heck, he was right behind me. Oh wait, there he is.” Alexander raised a hand and shouted, “Over here, Michael.”

Michael’s head popped up, and he smiled. He wove between throngs of fans, down the stadium steps to their row. “Are you kidding? Is there anyone who is
not
here?” He excused himself past the people that stood so he could get into the row with Rachel and Alexander. “Hello, gorgeous,” he said, leaning in and kissing her cheek. Then he softly patted her small stomach. “How’s baby Delaney-Tolbert-Hastings?”

Rachel laughed. “She’s fine.” Michael and Alexander, Molly, too, all loved to use all three names. But legally, and to her patients, she was Dr. Rachel Hastings. She’d dropped a few names when she’d married Logan. Now she was Rachel Delaney Hastings. She decided to take Nana’s maiden name as her middle name. Delaney-Tolbert got enough billing as it was, gracing Redemption buildings and more than one wall of distinguished donators.

Rachel sat back down, having stood to let Michael in. She searched the sidelines. The first game of the season was just a whistle blow away from kick-off. Her husband was surrounded by his players. She loved to watch him. He was so suited to this role. The players rallied behind him, looked up to him, listened to him.

The Delaney-Tolbert foundation had made a sizable donation to the athletic program earlier this year. Now there were many players playing who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, due to cost and family situations.

“Holy-cow! Did you see the parking lot? It’s busier than I’ve ever seen it.”

“Hey, Molly.” Rachel said, giving her a hug. “Sit. I saved you a seat.”

“Thank God! Hey, Mike, hey, Alex.”

Rachel chuckled. Molly was the only one that those two let call them by shortened names. They did the cheek-cheek, kiss-kiss thing and then they all sat.

“How’s the best-dressed fetus in Redemption doing?”

Rachel grinned and rubbed her bump. “She’s moving all the time.” Rachel smoothed the maternity top over her stomach. “Thanks to you, I’m a very stylish expectant mother.”

“Well of course!” Molly exclaimed. She helped herself to a handful of Michael’s popcorn. “Don’t worry, I have you covered clear to your due date and after. I found a fabulous supplier in New York.”

Rachel waved at Lila who’d snagged several seats below them. Her son was on the short list for several college teams.

Rachel, thanks to living in Redemption and Logan’s help, was getting very good at spotting the scouts. Thanks to a winning season last year and a respectable try at the state championship, there were always a few scouts in the stands. Talent was rampant in Redemption and had been for many years. Logan was show casing that talent, giving his players every opportunity to snag the eye of the college scouts that traveled here to see them play. And, Nana was doing her part, too.

Rachel checked the pager she wore on her waistband.

She was on call this weekend. Plus, she was the medical staff for all the games. There was an athletic trainer who walked the sidelines, while she watched from the stands. If he needed medical help, he had only to signal her and she’d come down to the field. Luckily, those times were rare.

Rachel turned her attention to the man she loved and felt her heart swell. He turned, too, his eyes searching her out in the stands. When he found her, she stood and blew him a kiss. He grinned up at her. Then he returned his attention his players and the game. The whistle blew, the kicking team moved toward the ball and the kicker sent the ball hurtling into the air.

She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled, the sound drowned by the band. She was home. She was home.