me take you to your table.”An attendant rushed forward and led them back into the auditorium, Ella’s hand clammy and hot in his but she smiled at him as they weaved their way through the press of bodies, following the attendant to their table.
The golden light from the chandeliers reflected off her hair and finally they got to their table which was situated right in front of the stage.
“They have our mug shots,” Roger said.
“Damn, we were good looking bastards.The medal would have looked better on my neck,” Nico said.
Screens displayed scrolling pictures of the evening’s honourees, including the old photograph of Zee winning his gold medal.
Zee clapped Nico on the back.“You had your turn.”
“Should have been mine,” Nico said.
Zee frowned, Nico’s tone turned from lighthearted teasing to serious and the man was always jealous of anything Zee and Roger had.
“Boys!”A big booming voice behind him had that smile back on Zee’s face.
“Hey Coach,” Zee stood, grinning hard enough to split his face.Seeing Coach always made things right in his world.
“Damn Zee, you don’t look like you aged at all.Look Marnie, it’s our boy.”
“Hey Zee, you’re looking well.”
Marnie Howard offered her hand and Zee brought the older woman in for a hug, her floral perfume tickling his nostrils and smiled warmly at him.“I’m so sorry we’re only in town for tonight.
“We understand, Marnie; how is your father?”Ella asked as the older woman turned to hug her and Coach Howard exchanged handshakes and hugs with Roger and Nico.
“Can’t an old man get a drink around here?”Coach Howard said.
“I’ll take you to the bar, Coach,” Zee offered.
“You better be quick, the lights are dimming,” Nico said.
“They’ll wait for him,” Roger said, grinning.
“I don’t know, depends on how long Howard talks to the bartender,” Marnie said with a smile.“How are you guys doing?”
“I’ll get a glass of red for you, dear heart,” Zee said to Ella.
“Always taking care of her, Zee, good man,” Coach said.
Zee grinned, a tight ache in his chest.
If it wasn’t for Marnie and Coach Howard, he’d have no idea what a loving home looked like.
His brother Scott found it with his wife, Rosalind, and he found it with Ella, but the odds were against them.
“You holding up okay, buddy?”Coach asked him in line at the bar
“Absolutely.Thanks for coming, Coach.”
“Marnie made me come,” Coach said, smiling.
On the way back to their table, Zee opened the app, chose the lowest setting.
Ella swayed in her chair then stopped when he slung his arm around her.
The president of the university came on stage and the event started.
