Jessica was glad Tabitha could speak and ask questions. She was mute with overwhelming anxiety.
“Tim is in amazing physical condition. I’d place a bet today that he’ll be back on his feet in four to eight weeks.” The doctor smiled. Jessica hoped to god he was right.
Dr. Olson looked at his watch. “I was told there’s a live conference happening this evening. I’ll be letting the media know how things went and that Tim Ryan has a lot more years ahead of him. This should make his fans very happy.”
The two women looked at each other, the words “happy” and “fans” an odd pairing in his sentence considering Tim’s past. Nurse Trudy approached their threesome, her chocolate brown eyes full of empathy.
“Trudy will be checking on Tim for the next twenty-four hours and giving you updates. She’ll also let you know when he moves to the care unit. I’ve got my rounds to do, so I’ll see you all at the news conference.”
“Thank you, Dr. Olson,” Tabitha said, reaching out and touching his arm.
“Yes, thank you,” Jessica croaked.
“You’re welcome.”
As they watched the doctor turn to leave, Trudy’s Southern twang surprised them. “You pretty girls need to rest up. And your mama is fit to be tied needing an update.” Her smile was contagious.
“Yes. I know. She can get a bit…”
“Impatient?” Trudy laughed, raising her eyebrows comically.
“Yes. Impatient is Mama’s middle name.”
“Well, we need to give Tim some time, so I’ll walk y’all back.”
***
The news conference went off brilliantly. San Francisco 49ers owner, Stuart Harding and Dr. Olson filling in the blanks to the news media as to Tim’s condition. They called him a hero.
Jessica, her mother and Tabitha stood in the back of the room as the press asked numerous questions, the live interview interrupting regularly scheduled programming during the early evening.
Jessica had formally met Stuart in the waiting room an hour before. It surprised her that he became emotional talking about Tim as if he were a part of his own family. Here was a man who had paid millions of dollars to have Tim on his roster for years. Stuart told her Tim was more than a quarterback on his payroll. Tim Ryan was his friend, someone who he had dearly missed when he left the team and moved away.
Tim had kept in touch with Stu over the past two years, never really going into much detail about what he had been up to or what he was planning for the future. Stuart confessed that the Super Bowl loss was painful, but not as painful as losing one of his closest friends. He understood the need for Tim to get away from the chaos—to have a fresh start. And he could also relate to the grief Tim felt after such a loss, saying it was something that would take a long time to get over. They had an understanding going through the agony of defeat together. He was a successful team owner whose dream of taking his team all the way to the game of all games had come true. Tim was his famous, highly acclaimed quarterback that helped make that dream happen. It had been easier for Stuart to bounce back with the distraction of new players and new seasons to contend with. In the back of his mind, he often worried about his friend and the toll the loss took on him. When he found out about Jessica and her daughters, Stuart admitted he was relieved hearing Tim’s voice over the phone sounding joyful for a change. It was a far cry from what it used to sound like. Stuart was grateful and promised he’d do anything to help with Tim’s recovery and getting them back in her home.
Stuart Harding was a seasoned professional in front of the cameras and had nothing but kind words to say about the famous athlete, Tim Ryan. Jessica became emotional when Stu scolded the media and 49ers fans who had mocked Tim after the infamous Super Bowl, reminding them that Tim was a human being who didn’t deserve the unrelenting storm of negative press afterward.
“Saving that little girl yesterday was an act of bravery I’m not so sure many of us could have handled as Tim Ryan did. He’s a hero in my eyes as he should be in yours. The San Francisco 49ers franchise wasluckyto have Tim as our quarterback for over a decade. I’m lucky to call Tim my friend. He is a kind and reputable human being—a role model of courage and respect. It’s time to let bygones be bygones and show our support and send our prayers for a full and healthy recovery. We need our boy back so we can show him a real hero’s welcome home.” Stuart nodded toward the cameras as if to emphasize his last remark.
Jessica was floored by the media spectacle, never experiencing anything like it. Watching YouTube videos and reading articles about him, she knew Tim was famous, but wasn’t prepared for how famous he truly was. A reporter approached her and shoved a microphone in her face.
“Are you a friend or family member of Tim Ryan’s? Care to comment?”
Blinking from the bright light of the camera, Jessica took a step back. “Um, no…”
Tabitha pulled her by the hand and exited the conference room through a private door. Mrs. Southers was right behind them.
“My word. The whole world is praying for him now, Jessica. I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“You okay?” Tabitha asked, a look of concern etched across her face. “I’ve seen Tim do these kinds of press conferences all my life. If you’ve never been to one, it can seem like a circus.”
“I’ll say,” Mrs. Southers added.
“I think I need to lie down and sleep for the next year,” Jessica admitted, overwhelmed by the spectacle and the images of seeing Tim earlier. “I’m exhausted after everything that’s happened today.”
Tabitha nodded. “Me too.”
“Why don’t you come home with me and rest tonight? I’ll keep the girls out of your hair so you can get a few hours…”
