Page 8 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

She was pushing things around and triumphantly held up the package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. “You remembered. This is why you’re the best.”

She came over and hugged him. He pulled her close and held her tight.

He missed his family more than anything in the past decade, but they stayed in Upstate New York where he was from.

He wasn’t sure why they wanted to when he could move them anywhere else, but he understood he wasn’t exactly settled either and they wouldn’t want to keep picking up to move and follow him.

His mother had still been working as an LPN at the hospital where she started after graduating from high school. He’d managed to talk her into going to a private office with easier clients and hours, so that was something. She now lived for free in a ranch home he’d bought for her and his sisters the day after his first sum of money was deposited in his account.

Securing better housing for them was more important than him finding a place.

“Because it’s the truth,” Stephanie said. “Stacy wishes she could have come this year, but she’s studying.”

“As she should be,” he said. “We can call her later and put her on video.”

Stacy was in her last month of law school. She had the world ahead of her and he felt as if he could relax some now with all the women in his life set up for their futures.

Stephanie was a CPA and had a great job too. As much as he would have loved them to move, Stephanie stayed close to his mother. Who knew where Stacy would end up? The fact she was in law school an hour away at UMass helped ease his and his mother’s mind about the baby of the family.

Maybe that was why this offer with the Patriots held so much appeal—it got him close to everyone.

Not that Stacy liked it when he showed up on campus and caused a ruckus. His baby sister didn’t always want it known she was the War Show’s sister.

Warren honored that. He detested being known as Slick Shower’s son in their hometown.

Sure, they were different things, but attention was attention if you didn’t want it. Whether it was good or bad.

But Stacy was aware she could come to his house in Brookline anytime she wanted. He was still waiting for her to decide what she was going to do after graduation.

Knowing his sister, she’d be studying for a few months before she could take the bar in July, then she’d find a job.

“I’m sure she’ll answer,” Stephanie said. “I wish she could come, but I get it.”

“You did the same thing,” he said. “We’ve all got this drive to be the best we can be.”

“No one is like you,” Stephanie said, shaking her head.

“Thank you,” he said, smiling.

She closed one eye at him as she opened her peanut butter cups up. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

He frowned. “Why is that?”

“You’ve sacrificed enough for us. When are you going to slow down?”

“I’ll slow down when I’m retired. Maybe around forty.”

“Forty!” Stephanie shouted and started to cough on the bite of chocolate she’d eaten. “You told Mom you were done after this contract. You know how worried she is. Warren...”

He moved over and pulled her under his arm.

At six foot six, he was a solid foot taller than his sister. “It’s my plan,” he said. “I’m just yanking your chain.”

But the closer it came to telling himself he only had two years left, the harder it was for him to figure out what to do with his time.

He’d spent his whole life working hard to provide for everyone else.

He had more than enough money to do what he wanted for the rest of his life, but it wouldn’t give him the same thrill as sports. Or the satisfaction of a good day’s work.