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Sam

Y es, I’d realized Kelsey was overwhelmed on the call, but I was too.

Anne’s warning to Kelsey that she couldn’t rely on me enough to sign away child support from a stranger?

Gut-wrenching. Were there biological dads who failed their kids?

That shit happened every single day. Short of adoption, I wasn’t sure how I could provide the legal assurance to Kelsey to always be there for her and Crew.

I had no doubts about her and Crew being my future, but everything that had happened pushed us to move way too fast. Life was happening, and like a runaway train, there was no slowing down to enjoy the view.

Josie: Did you make it to the house okay?

Me: Yeah. Sports Ten will be here in about an hour. Thanks for having the family room set up.

Josie: Any update from the attorney?

Me: Uh huh.

Josie: Uh Oh. What happened?

Me: She pointed out that I could promise the world and poof! Just leave them high and dry. It made the bio dad almost seem like the better person to bet on.

Josie: Is that what she said?

Me: Not verbatim. But think about if you were in Kelsey’s place? Who would you trust?

Josie: Not a fair question. But since she met you, she moved out of her home, lost her job, and put a LOT of faith in you. She’s either a convincing gold digger (I really don’t think so!!!!!), or she’s here for good.

Me: What did Mom say about her?

Josie: She’s hoping for a wedding.

Me: I want that too, eventually. But damn, shouldn’t we be able to have time to enjoy life?

Josie: Settle down. You don't need to rush out and buy a ring. Just be there for her and Crew every day and help her through the negotiations with Bio Dad.

Me: I can’t imagine if someone showed up with a baby rookie year. I had enough on my plate trying to navigate playing in the pros.

Josie: From someone who has always wanted a better relationship with their own father, the best thing you can do is clear the way for Crew to have a good relationship with his dad. You teach him baseball, Bio Dad teaches hockey, and Uncle Jake can teach him football.

Me: He’s not playing football. Too many head injuries.

Josie: He’s going to do whatever he wants, and you’re going to clear the way for him.

Me: Hey, gotta go. A van just pulled up.

“Kelsey?” I called out, not sure where she’d gone. She had planned to bring Crew swimming, and I didn’t want her to be interrupted walking around in a bikini.

She left the guest bedroom without Crew, “What’s up? I was putting Crew down for a quick nap.”

“It looks like my interview is here. I didn’t want them to surprise you.”

“Do you want me to make myself scarce?” She asked.

“No, if you want to stay in the kitchen and listen, that would be great.”

The doorbell rang, and Kelsey busied herself at the kitchen island with her laptop while I greeted the camera crew.

Jed Roy was Sports Ten’s lead sports commentator, and while my perfect game was likely to dominate most of the interview, word about my father’s accident had leaked, so I expected to dodge some of those questions.

I made small talk with the crew while they set up the lighting and cameras, and Kelsey pretended to be absorbed in working on her laptop.

In the last few days, I realized that she writes, not because she told me, but because I’d looked over her shoulders while writing.

She tried to hide her work, so I didn’t push the topic.

I wanted her to share with me when she was ready.

Jed arrived shortly after the camera crew had finished, and we both were provided with a make-up artist before we settled in for the interview.

Jed introduced me to the audience, and we spent the first twenty minutes talking about the highlights of my career to date, my current contract with the Minutemen, and my recent perfect game. Everything was textbook until it wasn’t.

“We’ve heard from sources that after an accident, your father, Sam Drummond Sr., the four-time World Serious Champion, has finally signed himself into rehab. I’m sure it’s a relief to you now, but how do you feel knowing that addiction cut his career short?”

“With all due respect, Jed, that’s not my story. If you want to talk to my dad about his business, you should contact his people for comment,” I responded. I was well-practiced skirting questions about my father, but when Jed didn’t push again, I couldn’t figure out why.

“We’ve all seen you with a new woman outside the games, running in the park, and even out to dinner. When asked about the baby announcement, you mentioned there wasn’t one. Was that because you were keeping things private? Or because the baby isn’t yours?”

“Aw, Jed, that’s just not any of your business.” I searched for Kelsey in the kitchen and found her expression to be one of panic.

“Does the name Tom Campbell mean anything to either of you?”

“What the fuck?” I asked as Kelsey dropped the glass she’d been drinking out of, and it shattered on the floor.

“This interview is over. You all can leave now,” I said, pulling the microphone off as I left the room.

Just then, Jake arrived, and I dragged Kelsey down the hall, sheltering her from the Jed and the Crew.

“Jake, see them out the door. And remind them that thanks to the bullshit they pulled, they won’t be interviewing me or the rest of our family anytime soon.”

Once we were safely behind closed doors, I pulled Kelsey into my arms. I could feel her heart beating hard in her chest as she gasped for breath, trying to control the panic attack that was quickly trying to take over.

“How the fuck did this get out?” I asked out loud.

“I only told my sisters! Could it have been Anne? The PI? Who? And what are we going to do? That interview will air tomorrow. We can’t let it get out before someone contacts him.”

“I know, Kelsey. We should have been able to handle this quietly. If anyone signed an NDA and leaked it, we’ll own their ass.”

“Money can’t make this right, Sam.”

“No, you’re right.”