Page 83 of Scored

Vee

On my way home, my phone rang. Aunt Rachel’s name was on the dashboard screen. I touched the green icon. “Hi,” I spoke to the car.

“Vee, are you still at Maker’s Mark?”

A look at the clock and the dark sky told me it was past time to leave. “I’m driving home. Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

I said a small prayer this call wasn’t about the trust. I wanted to relish the sense of contentment that Dad went the extra mile to look out for my interests before the news became a family hot potato.

“I wanted to see you,” she said. “I’m sorry you had to cancel lunch today.”

Shaking my head, I watched the red taillights in front of me. “Very busy day. It started at seven with Don, and now I’m headed home almost twelve hours later.”

“Oh, I know. There are a few things I wanted to follow up about after the meeting this morning, but those can wait. The reason I called was because Darin told me about you contacting Stephens Security.” She paused. “Honey, are you all right? Are you safe?”

“I am all right,” I answered honestly. “I think I’m safe. After the second bouquet with the strange notes, Fin was rather insistent that I contact someone. We decided the security company was better than the police.”

“I agree. Darin told you we received a bouquet of amber-colored roses as well.”

“He did,” I replied. “He also said there wasn’t an attached card.”

“There wasn’t. I thought you should tell Ms. Athens about our bouquet as well. I don’t know what it means, but it could be a clue. We might simply have a flower-loving Coopers’ fan on our hands.”

I thought about the notes: the spotlight heating up, truth coming out, Daddy can’t stop it. “It feels off to me. I feel better that someone is looking into it.”

“Okay, Vee. I wanted you to know I’m concerned; Darin and I both are. Be careful.”

“I will. Thanks for calling.”

“See you tomorrow,” she said.

“Tomorrow.” I tapped the red icon and my speakers filled with ESPN Sports Monday Evening Wrap-Up.

The last time the Texans and Coopers met, the Texans were heavily favored. This time it was the opposite. I wasn’t certain why, but I preferred to be thought of as the underdog. Being the top contender came with an extra layer of pressure.

Don asked if I bet on the games. First, never. Doing so was strictly prohibited. Gambling on football wasn’t a state or federal offense unless it involved illegal bookmaking or manipulating the sport. The NFL Constitution and Bylaws strictly forbids owners, coaches, and players from wagering on a game. It had happened. When it did, the NFL Commissioner handed down massive fines and suspended coaches and players. He had the authority to force an owner to sell their franchise or forfeit their ownership stake.

One hundred percent.

That was my ownership stake.

I would never risk that.

If I could bet on the Coopers, I would always bet in their favor. Even when I started working with the franchise years ago and the team was working to stay over fifty percent, I would have bet on them to win.

“Because you’re the heart of the team.”

A cold chill sent goose bumps over my skin. I quickly turned my head to the passenger’s seat and back to the road before me. That was Dad’s voice as plain as if he were seated beside me.

I inhaled and exhaled. “Maybe Fin isn’t crazy,” I said to myself aloud. “Maybe I am.”

Hearing his voice was a memory, a good memory. Dad told me more than once that I was like Grandpa, the heart of the Coopers.

I continued to speak out loud. “Thank you, Dad, for making me more than the heart, for securing my ownership. Why didn’t you have Joe create the trust?” If I was going down this insane discussion with a memory, I might as well jump in with both feet. “And why did you have the trust created? Does it have to do with Daphne or Bre?” I answered part of my own question. “No, Trish said you created it six years ago. That was around the time I came to work with you after graduate school. Bre said the two of you have been together for a few years. Was there another woman before Bre?”

I hit the steering wheel with the butt of my hand. “I thought you walked on water. How could you cheat? What kind of deal did you make with Ed Clark? Why did Detective Oldson warn me about dealing with Coletti Companies?”

Blinking away salty tears, I entered the Vine parking garage. Once parked, I took a moment to breathe deeply, filling my lungs with the warm air from the car’s ventilation. As I did, I reminded myself that no matter what other things my father did, he loved and trusted me with the Coopers.