On Any Sunday

Mardi Gras in Galveston is a hoot.  Will write more when I have some time.  Family and friends are still here.  Next weekend a very good friend of mine from Florida will be coming to visit.  It's been busy.  Hope everything is good in your world.

This is the second part of the trilogy.

Paxton had played his last game of professional football.  He just hadn’t told anyone yet.  He wanted all his ducks in a row before he made the announcement and he didn’t want all the commotion.  The team wanted him to sign on for another year until they felt his replacement was ready to play fulltime.  It’s not that he didn’t want to help the team; they had been good to him.  His team had one of the better owners in the league but a little voice kept telling him to think of the future.  So that’s what he had done; thought of the future and he didn’t want to go through another grueling NFL season.  It wasn’t just the games, it was the conditioning all year long.  The older he got, the harder it became.  He had been lucky; he never received a serious injury and wanted to keep it that way.  He knew many of the guys that had played just that one more season and received a serious injury that would interfere with their daily life for the rest of their lives.  No, he was done.

Once he made his decision, he started to work on his future career.  He wanted to coach high school football;  he knew he had a lot to teach kids.  His own high school football coach had taught him many lessons, not only about football but also about life and wanted to pass on that knowledge.  He knew he would also have to teach as well as coach so he had taken the necessary accelerated courses over the last two years to earn his teaching certificate.  When he finished this last course, he would have the credential and then just had to take the necessary tests.  He contacted his former coach and a couple of his former teammates to put out feelers.  They had come through in spades; receiving several good leads and after sorting through them, he  came up with a list of five possibilities.  He followed through on three of them and one of those possibilities was in an area close to his twin brother’s home in central California.

This offer intrigued him for several reasons.  One, he would love to live close to his brother.  Despite their differences, they were very close.  Second, this particular school was new and it would mean building a program from the ground up; not stepping into someone else’s program and taking over.  The pay wasn’t as great as some of the other jobs but he had been smart with money and could afford to make this opportunity work for him.  He met with several of the involved people through Skype interviews but the next interview was face to face.  He had a feeling he would be offered the job.  If that was the case, he was ready to accept.

Another thing he realized during the last year or so was that he was lonely and sick and tired of a new “babe” each month.  He wanted a meaningful relationship with someone; someone who wanted what he wanted out of life.  A life lived out of the public eye, a couple of kids and someone with whom he could have an intelligent conversation about the important things in life.  He had been on the lookout and when he attended Gray’s wedding he met someone he thought would fit the bill.  She was a beauty but didn’t think of herself that way.  She was witty and intelligent, but shy.  And best of all, she hated the spotlight and liked him.

They had been dating since the wedding but hadn’t told anyone.  Not even their families.  Both of them were tired of being pressured about when they were going to settle down; so until they were sure they were going to make it as a couple they thought it best keep it quiet.  Tomorrow was the first time they were going public.

He was surprised his brother hadn’t caught on when he slipped up and said “we” would be there around 3:30 or 4:00 instead of I.  He wanted this to be a surprise to Gray and Taylor. 

                                                                  

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He met with the representatives of the Challenger School Board in the morning.  He met with them about three hours and when he left, he had a firm offer.  They asked him to lunch but he told them he had other plans and would take a rain check. There were a couple of items in the contract to work out but nothing major.  In truth, it was fine the way it was, he just didn’t want to be too easy.  Sometimes, too easy, gave people the wrong impression.

Picking up his phone, he called Maddy.

“Can you be ready in about an hour?” he asked

“Sure, but first tell me how it went?”

“I want to meet with a realtor.  Does that give you a clue?”

“Honey, I am so happy for you.”           

“Not us.”

“Definitely us.”

Maddy was Madison Jane Mitchell.  She was the sister of Taylor Mitchell Barrett.  She was as different from Taylor as he was from Grayson.  It was ironic they should meet sisters who were their exact opposites and find happiness.  After today, their relationship would be out in the open.  He intended to ask Maddy to be his wife.  He actually purchased a ring six weeks ago and was just waiting for the right opportunity.  Tonight might be it he thought.  They would be with family and he knew Maddy would want to share the news with her sister.  Of course, both Gray and Taylor might be annoyed that neither he nor Maddy had shared they had been dating since the wedding.  Oh hell, they would get over it.

After his call to Maddy, he checked for local realtors, chose one and phoned to make an appointment.  He was interested in purchasing land and building a house; but in the meantime, they would need a rental.  Whether it was a house or an apartment depended largely on whether there was a piece of land they both liked. He hoped Maddy could stay over another couple of days so they would have time together to see what was available for now and later.  He had to report to his new job by June 1^st so their time was limited.

He picked up Maddy and went to lunch.  They spent the next couple of hours plotting out their life together.  He was surprised when he looked at his watch and saw the time.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked

“Yes, a little nervous.  Taylor is going to be annoyed with me.  How do you think Grayson will feel?”

“I think they will both be happy for us and thrilled we will eventually be closer.”

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They rang the bell and Gray answered the door.  Since he dwarfed her, Maddy was behind Pax and out of sight.  Gray reached out to bear hug Pax when he saw Maddy. 

“Taylor, get out here,” he yelled.  “What the hell is going on?” as he pulled both of them into the house, giving Maddy a kiss on the way.

Taylor came out from the family room yelling, “What do you wa… when she spied Maddy.  “Oh my God” and ran over and kissed her.  Then she went to Pax and punched him in the arm.  “Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing Maddy?  What is the meaning of this?”

“If you’ll let us out of the foyer, and ply us with a drink, maybe we will tell you.”

“You have a deal.” 

Taylor led Pax and Maddy out onto the deck and told Gray to get the drinks.

“Bossy little thing isn’t she.” Pax said to Gray.

“She seems to have your number bro, and I see that satisfied smile on your face, so something is going right.”

Gray smirked as he told Pax, “Unfortunately, yes she does.  However, I think I may have a new weapon in my arsenal.”

When Gray came out with a tray of drinks and some noshes, Taylor told Pax and Maddy to spill the beans.  Maddy looked at Pax and said you go ahead.

“Obviously, we met at your wedding and hit it off so we decided to date and see where it went.  We didn’t want to tell anyone until we were sure.  You people are the first to know.  We have some other news too but it will wait until dinner.”

“Now you have us sitting on the edge of our seats and sitting isn’t easy.” Taylor said and giggled and squirmed around on her chair.

“Taylor, keep quiet.  Not everybody needs to know everything.”  Gray told her and his neck was starting to color.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake.  It’s your brother and my sister, not like the whole wide world.”

“Taylor!!!!,” he yelled.

“Are you embarrassed, my hunky man?” she asked Gray blowing him a kiss.

“We can leave if you two want to duke it out.”  Pax said to Gray.  Maddy just sat there being quiet as a mouse and taking it all in.

Gray laughed.  “It’s not an argument.  Why don’t we go to dinner?  I have a feeling Taylor is going to tell family secrets and I need food before we go into explanations.”

They all piled into Gray’s car and as he assisted Taylor getting into the front seat, he whacked her bottom.  She squealed as Pax and Maddy exchanged knowing glances. Maddy whispered in Pax’s ear.  Gray took them to the restaurant he and Taylor had been to the night before.  The food was good and the ambience perfect for a relaxed evening, great for catching up on each other’s lives.

Taylor, of course, being the effervescent one started by asking Pax what intentions he had toward her sister.  Gray kicked her under the table.  She looked at him and gave him one of her charming smiles but didn’t retract the question.

“Wow, Taylor, you really get right to it don’t you?”  Maddy spoke up and told Taylor she was her sister not her father.

“You’re my baby sister and I know Pax’s reputation. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

“I may be your baby sister, but I am not a baby.  I know exactly what I am doing.” Maddy replied sweetly but with a slight edge indicating she could hold her own against her older sister.

Pax laid his hand on Maddy’s thigh letting her know it was okay and he would handle it.  Maddy backed off. Pax took over the conversation. 

“To answer your question Taylor, I have only good intentions toward Maddy.  My life is about to drastically change.  First, I have played my last game of professional football.  I haven’t made the announcement yet because I wanted to be settled and not talked out of the decision I know is right for me.  For a change, I am listening to that little voice in my head, the right head.” He added as everyone laughed.

‘The next change is that I have been offered and am about to accept a position as Football Coach and History Teacher at the new Challenger High School in Pine Creek.  I have an appointment with a realtor tomorrow to start looking for a place to live because I start June 1^st and have lots to do between now and then.’

‘The next and most important change is that” and with that he reached into his pocket and produced a small box which he placed in front of Maddy “I am asking your beautiful sister to marry me.”

“So, will you marry me Madison Mitchell?” 

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Maddy was tongue-tied but tears started forming at the corner of her eyes.  She managed to shake her head yes.  Her effervescent sister was up and out of her chair hugging both Maddy and Pax.  Gray was stunned into silence.  It never occurred to him that his fly by the seat of his pants brother would ever settle down.  Pax took Maddy’s hand in his and placed the ring on her finger.

Maddy finally found her voice.  “It’s beautiful Pax and it fits perfectly.  You amaze me.  I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect setting.  I love it and you.”

“I’m so happy you like it.  I confess to taking one of the rings from your jewelry box to the jewelers to have it sized.  Obviously, I succeeded without you ever realizing it was gone.  Judging by the other jewelry in your box and the help of a friend, I chose this setting.  It suits you, I think.” She shook her head yes and continued to stare at the ring on her finger.

“I think this calls for champagne, don’t you?” said Gray as he called the waiter over to place the order.

“So,” said Pax to Taylor, “does that answer your question?”

“Yes, and I couldn’t be happier.  Wait until our folks hear about this.  Wait until your folks hear about this.  When did you plan on telling them?”

“Taylor, please put a zip on that lip.” Gray told her.  “He just asked her so I’m quite sure he hasn’t had time to think about telling everyone.”

“I’m sorry Pax and Maddy.  You know my wife.  She is as curious as a cat.  It’s one of the many things I love about her, but sometimes she can be exasperating.”

“Hey, I grew up with her; you are not telling me anything I don’t already know.” Maddy responded and they all chuckled.

The champagne arrived and Gray proposed a toast to his brother and current and soon to be sister-in-law. 


See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.