Page 38

Jack

Gray skies spread over the bay all the way past Dauphin Island as we look southwest. Thomas stands in front of us holding a large blue packet. It’s made of heavy, biodegradable paper, and a white sea turtle sits on top.

It’s dad.

The thought hits me like a fist in the chest, but I swallow that sob. With a blink, I look down and hold it together. My four siblings stand in a line beside me. We’re all in suits and ties except for Dylan. She’s wearing a navy dress that hangs to her calves and blows in the wind.

Her dark hair is pulled away from her face in one of those skinny bows, and she rests her head on Miss Gina’s shoulder as she openly weeps.

Miss Gina slides her hand up and down my little sister’s arm, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen that old lady cry. Her blind eyes are typically glittering with joy when we’re around, but today they shine with empathetic tears as she holds my sister.

Zane is beside me, his dark hair moving in the nonstop breeze. He’s not smiling, but he’s not crying. His eyes follow Thomas as he walks slowly to the water’s edge. Zane doesn’t talk about how he feels, preferring to drift down to the stables south of town and care for the horses.

He doesn’t have to tell me. I know.

Garrett stands a head taller at Zane’s side. His expression is stoic, but his girlfriend Liv stands beside him touching her eyes with a tissue every few minutes. The wind pushes her long, strawberry-blond hair behind her shoulders, and her dark red dress clings to her legs.

She’ll take care of him.

My youngest brother Hendrix is doing his best to stand up straight and not cry. He almost breaks me when he drops his almost fourteen-year-old chin and shoves a fist across his cheek.

We didn’t talk as I helped him tie his necktie this morning, helped him straighten his collar in his blazer. We just lost Mom, and now this.

Everybody wants to say our dad died of a broken heart, that he couldn’t keep going after losing the love of his life, but I’m not so sure.

Dad would’ve stuck around for us. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave the five of us orphans. The truth is, after Mom’s sudden diagnosis and rapid decline, we all saw the extent of our dad’s illness as well.

She covered for him, but the effects of his long career as a legendary quarterback during a time in the industry when safety wasn’t a priority and players pushed through things like concussions and traumatic brain injuries had taken a toll.

Maybe losing Mom was simply the last hit he couldn’t take.

All I know for sure is here we are on this gray day, following his last wishes to put him to rest in his beloved ocean down the hill from our sprawling family home.

Thomas found the container with the turtles on top, and I couldn’t have picked a better vessel to send our dad on his journey.

Thomas knew Dad better than any of us. The two of them were teammates for the Texas Mustangs their entire careers. They were the dream team until dad retired. Then when Thomas decided to stop playing, Dad brought him here to our little south-Alabama community to be the head chef at Cooters & Shooters, our family restaurant on the coast.

He’s been with us since Dylan was a baby, and now, with me not quite twenty-one, he’s stepped up to get us over these last few months until I’m legal.

Miss Gina greased a few palms as well to keep the state from taking Hendrix and Dylan away—or sending them to live with relatives. Nobody wanted to be the jerk who broke up the family of Art Bradford, local legend and small-town hero.

Thing is, I just got my offer from the Texas Mustangs to be their new starting quarterback. I’m graduating a year early, and the offer is burning a hole in my pocket.

Dad would be so proud, but I’m not sure what happens now.

“We’ll never forget Art’s sense of humor,” Thomas’s deep voice draws our attention.

He’s also wearing a dark suit, and his large, brown hands hold the small package with so much care. Best running back in the game , Dad would say. I’d trust Tommy with my life.

It was only right for him to handle his death.

“He loved you kids more than anything.” Thomas slides his light brown eyes down the line of my siblings. “Jack, he knew you could step into his shoes, or he would’ve held on longer. You got this.”

My jaw tightens, and I swallow the thickness in my throat, giving him a brief nod. Stepping into his shoes is exactly what I’m doing, in more ways than one.

“Zane, you’re going to help your brother Jack take the lead, and Garrett, you keep protecting the little ones.”

The muscle in Garrett’s square jaw moves, and he’s got his game face on as he nods briefly.

“Your dad loved the game, and he’ll always be remembered for his accomplishments. But his proudest accomplishment was you five. He’ll be watching you from above, standing at your mama’s side. Don’t let him down.”

Hendrix inhales sharply, and Dylan and Liv simultaneously reach for his hands.

“His spirit lives on in you.” Thomas looks into my eyes, and nods. “We’ll always remember the good times, and we’ll think of him now, reunited with the ones who went before.”

He’s at the water’s edge, and he bends a knee to place the blue packet on the waves. “Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. We release you to the beautiful waters you loved.”

Standing on the edge of the bay, my eyes lock on that white sea turtle as it drifts farther out to the center of the water, where it will swirl in the tide and continue to eternity.

I realize every muscle in my body is tight when Dylan’s small arms go around my waist. Releasing the death-grip of my arms crossed over my chest, I wrap them around her small frame.

Another pair of arms wraps around my side, and I realize Hendrix has come to me as well. Garrett follows, putting a hand on my shoulder, and Zane turns his head to give me a sad smile.

He’s close, at least, attending a small private college not far from Newhope. Garrett has one more year of school before he’ll head to Tuscaloosa. Holding my family, I inhale a shaky, fortifying breath.

Thomas returns to where we’re standing, takes one look at our huddle, and gives me a satisfied smile.

I’m the oldest. I’m the leader. When we were kids, and we’d have chores or we’d play scrimmage in the park, Dad would say I was team captain.

I wonder if he knew then what he was preparing me to be. Either way, I know who I am. I know what’s expected of me, and I’ll get us through this.