“Yeah, man. Things are great. Look, I’m sorry I haven’t answered. Life has been a bit hectic lately.”
I exhale a sigh. “Nate, I’m so sor—”
“But I just wanted to call and say thank you.”
There’s a long pause on the line, my confusion evident once again. “For what?”
“For calling Seattle’s coaching staff and recommending me. They reached out to me a couple of hours after the Warriors let me go. Offered me a full-time video coach position.”
Words stick in my throat, but the first thought that runs through my mind is the realization that Seattle is Nate’s home team. Both he and his wife are originally from Washington.
Then there’s the reminder that I didn’t call anyone.
I should’ve. I was just too busy being pissed at Reese.
“So, between the cross-country move,” he says, “and becoming a dad. Oh yeah! Big news. I’m a dad now. Hailey gave birth last week to our daughter. I’ll send you a picture. She’s beautiful.”
I exhale a small laugh. “Congrats, man. Being a girl dad is the best. Everyone is healthy?”
“Yeah, everyone is great. And it really is such a blessing that we have both our parents here to help while I’m traveling for work. And none of that would’ve happened if I was still in Chicago. So, I just wanted to call and say thank you so much for whatever strings you had to pull to get me a job back home.”
It doesn’t take me long to figure out who exactly made that call.
It’s the same woman who seemed so nonchalant when she told me she let Nate go.
The same woman who I called heartless because of it.
The same woman who already had a job lined up for him with a different team.
“Nate, I’m so happy for you guys, but I’ve got to be honest. I wasn’t the one who made that call.”
There’s a lingering pause on the line.
“Then who did?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I believe that was Reese.”
“Wow,” he exhales. “I... I don’t know what to say. She barely knew me, but was apologizing profusely when she let me go, so I guess I’m not all that surprised. I need to give her a call this week and thank her.”
I nod, though he can’t see me. “I think that would mean a lot to her if you did.”
“Thanks for everything, Monty. I loved being a part of your staff, but I really am glad that we ended up back here and things worked out the way they did.”
“Happy to hear it, Nate. Tell the family I said hello and I’m looking forward to catching up when we play each other this year.”
We say our goodbyes and I hang up the phone, but before I rejoin everyone in the kitchen, I find my text thread with Reese.
There are a few blue bubbles of previous messages I’ve sent her that never got a response, thanks to our newprofessional boundaries. But I refuse to send her an email when this conversation—thisapology—requires a face-to-face.
I don’t have it in me to receive another “Best Regards” in response.
After how this last week has gone, I have zero expectations that she’ll respond, but still, I give it my best shot.
Me:Hey, are you at the field? I need to talk to you.
I give it a few minutes and when the message not-so-surprisingly goes unanswered, I leave Max’s room to grab my truck keys.
I’ve run into Reese a couple of times at the field so I’m starting to learn she likes to spend her time off there the same way I do. It may not be for the same reasons, but it’s a Saturday night and if I weren’t at my daughter’s house, I’d find something to keep me busy at work. I have a feeling that’s exactly where she is.
