Our gazes meet. When she wets her lips with the tip of her tongue, I have to force my eyes back to my plate.
“I don’t remember putting that picture into the slide show,” she says.
I glance at Darienne and Coach James, but they’re engaged in conversation.
“I probably just forgot about it,” Meg says, then gives me a quick smile. “How’s your steak?”
“Tasty,” I say to reassure her.
As dinner begins to wane, a guy with a buzz cut and barrel chest steps up to the podium. Though he’s dressed in a suit, I can picture him in a polo shirt and polyester shorts, a whistle around his neck.
“Speech, speech, speech!” hoots a group from the back.
The guy gestures for them to quiet, then adjusts the small microphone. While cake is served, he shares funny stories about Coach James’ early days with the Falcons that gets everyone laughing.
“Thanks to Darienne for organizing this classy send off,” the guy says as he wraps up his speech.
Next to me, Meg draws a sharp breath. It’s so subtle I don’t think anyone but me hears it.
“If you get sick of having him around,” the guy adds, nodding at Darienne, “feel free to send him back.”
Darienne laughs, and Coach James slides his arm over her shoulders and kisses her temple.
William Hayes delivers a short but powerful story of how Coach James’ belief in him changed his life and is the reason behind his successful college football career. It’s easy to interpret there’s more between them than just good mentoring. William was supremely talented, but he had plenty to overcome outside of athletics—hardships that could have easily derailed his career. There’s no mention of William’s reasons for walking away from what could have been a successful pro ball career; but that’s not exactly on topic for this night. That William knows this is just another reason why my respect for him grows by the day. By the time he wraps up, there are sniffles and grown men crying. When William and Coach James lock eyes for an intense moment, Coach clenches his fist in victory and gifts him a nod.
The next speech is from a former player who became a coach thanks to Coach James’ mentoring. He lists a few major accomplishments and several meaningful wins, which gets the peanut gallery going.
“Thanks so much to the family, especially Darienne for giving us this opportunity to celebrate Coach James’ contribution,” the young coach says, before shooting Darienne and Coach a solemn nod. “Falcons football wouldn’t be the success today without your leadership.”
Next to me, Meg has gone completely still.
I lean in. “I thoughtyouplanned this party?”
Meg presses her lips together. “I did.”
“Then why are they all crediting Darienne?” I say in her ear.
“I…I don’t know.”
A former player shares more stories of victory and the mentorship that changed his life for the better. When he concludes with a thank you to Darienne, Meg sucks in another sharp gasp.
I don’t understand what exactly is happening, only that I want to put an end to it. Meg’s put in so much planning and thoughtinto making this a special night for her dad, and for whatever reason, she’s not getting any credit for it.
Under the table, I slide Meg’s hand into mine and cradle it.
She release a shaky sigh and swallows hard, then folds her fingers over mine.
Two more speeches are punctuated with similar gratitude for Darienne’s efforts in planning and organizing the event. Meg’s got her head held high but her face is a mask. Like she’s determined not to react, not to draw attention to herself.
There’s a final round of applause before Coach James takes the podium. He gets right to the point in thanking his fellow coaches and the players he’s been blessed to work with, to the athletic staff for the support, and the loyal Falcons Football fans who never failed to rally, even in their darkest hour. Just when I think he’s finally going to shower Meg with appreciation, he thanks Darienne for her patience and support and “for working so hard behind the scenes to make this night such a success.”
Meg’s uttered, “No,” gets swallowed by the thunderous applause.
What the actual fuck? I look from Meg to Coach James, but his eyes are glued to Darienne, who has the audacity to stand up and glance around the room, beaming. Or it is gloating? She doesn’t even look at Meg.
Guests rise to a standing ovation, clapping and whistling, while Coach James offers his hand for Darienne. She walks to him and they embrace.
Meg shoves back her chair and stumbles to her feet. Before I can make sense of what’s happening, she’s a flash of pale blue being swallowed by the crowd.
