“Maybe.” Mason swiped at his phone. “Okay if I record this? I’m here to do an article about the Nashville Foundation’s banquet this Friday night.” He placed the phone on the table. Mason asked questions, Sam answered. He was honored to be honored. He was proud of the Sam Hardy SportsWorld Foundation’s work.
“What happens if you become a free agent? Will your foundation stay here or go with you?”
“My foundation will stay here. And I’ll start a chapter wherever I go, but, Mason, write this down in blood. I’m not leaving the Titans. We will win this season’s Super Bowl.”
“Write it down in blood, eh?” Mason took notes while his phone continued to record.
“Now about Haven’s,” Sam said. “We’re David fighting Goliath. We want to preserve the charm of Hearts Bend and keep Donut Heaven from bringing in mass-produced goods with no heart or soul. That’s a story dying to be told.”
Mason smirked and pocketed his phone. “I’ll think about it.”
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Haven’s will be closed this week.
– @HavensBakeryHBTN on Twitter
11
Sam stared out the window of his downtown loft, listening to Bruno try to sell him the high points of a possible move to the Raiders. Friday morning, spring sunshine glinted off the Cumberland River and draped a golden ribbon over the south end zone of the Titans’ stadium. An end zone he’d be throwing to this fall if God cared at all for him.
Emotions warred inside him as Bruno kept talking, extolling the pluses of Las Vegas and the Raiders. Yeah, he got how great it was to be wanted. But Bruno didn’t seem to be listening to him. Sam wanted to stay in Nashville. Although Bruno had one good point. Why would Sam campaign to stay where he wasn’t wanted? If the Titans were serious about the Ohio State kid, fine. But he’d have to earn his spot. And Sam was a great competitor.
If he went to Las Vegas, would Chloe go with him? Even as he had the thought, he knew the chance of that was slim. She’d come to Hearts Bend because her mom was sick. She wouldn’t leave, at least not until Mrs. B had a clean bill of health. While he’d expressed his growing love, Chloe was still coming around. She was still falling in love. Sam was pretty sure he’d hit rock bottom.
He paused his call with Bruno to take the incoming call from the oven repair company. He’d taken over the job from Chloe since she had enough on her plate managing the roof and ceiling repair. She’d made a deal with Valentino’s to use their ovens until their chefs came in at ten a.m. She and Laura Kate started baking down the street when Valentino’s closed at midnight and then worked a full day at Haven’s as well. On Sundays, thank goodness, they sold day-old bread, donuts, cakes, and cookies. But even those were delicious.
“Look, I need a repairman today. Yes, this is really Sam Hardy, the quarterback. Now do I have my technician or not?” One more day and he’d pull the plug and buy a new oven. He’d pay for it himself if Rick couldn’t find funds in the budget. Right now, he’d do anything for Chloe. He sighed and ran a hand over his head. Man, he was in deep, wasn’t he? The company promised to have someone there by lunchtime, and Sam clicked back over.
“Bruno, sorry, I’m back. Bakery business.”
“What about football business? Sam, don’t let your injury cause you to lose focus. We have a real chance here to resurrect your career.”
“But Vegas, Bruno?” No, he wanted Tennessee. Hearts Bend. Chloe. “What’s going on with your new guy?” He’d just change the subject, get Bruno on to something else. “Ellis out of Georgia Tech? Fastest forty at the Combine.” He gave a low whistle. “That’ll get him some attention.”
“I know what you’re doing, Hardy. I’m focused on you too. But, yeah, Ellis is a hot prospect. We’re expecting he’ll be first round in the draft. Now, back to you. Ryder’s concerned you’re going to push your recovery and not heal, then blow the knee again mid-season. Besides, they want Fields. They’ve been drooling over him since his first game at Ohio State.”
“Okay, then what’s the plan?” He hated this, the uncertainty, the feeling of betrayal. But it was the NFL. That’s how the game was really played.
“The Raiders.”
Sam closed his eyes, fighting to keep his tone calm. “I told you. I don’t want to move to Vegas.”
“They’re keen on you. I also talked to Phoenix and Seattle.”
“I’d rather be on the East Coast.”
“I’ll make some more calls. But the Falcons just named their new franchise quarterback and Jacksonville is happy with…” Bruno’s voice faded into yada, yada. The man was trying. He was on Sam’s team, but just like that, Sam was looking at a career he was no longer sure he even wanted. He’d gone most of his football life without a serious injury. When the odds had finally caught up with him, they’d dealt a death blow.
Vegas. Was God testing him? Was He trying to see how Sam would handle temptation now?
“You’re the next Peyton Manning. Released after an injury, you’ll take a season to recover, then come back better than ever, with a winning season and a Super Bowl ring.” Bruno knew the right song to sing, Sam had to give him that.
“Yeah, okay, I’ll think about it. I have to go. The Nashville Foundation event is tonight. You can keep me posted.”
“I need your word if I make this deal with the Raiders, you’ll give it your best.”
“I never do anything less.” How ironic. Nashville honoring him just as he might be leaving. The city he’d poured his heart and soul into, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars. Apparently, football, business, and charity work were all different animals and about as compatible as kittens, hyenas, and badgers. He reached for the phone again. He needed to let Chloe know the repairman would be there soon and to confirm the limo bringing her to his loft for the banquet tonight.
Later that afternoon, Chloe texted him from the limo that the repairman still hadn’t arrived by the time the driver picked her up. Ruby had sent her away with a promise to wait until the tech showed.
