My Blue Eyes (17 page)

     It was hard watching my teammates practice and play games.  I took more of a coaching role during the fall.  I was pretty good at it, especially with the younger players.  Coach even joked about me hanging up the cleats and getting serious about coaching.  This wasn't going to happen, but at least I had a fall back plan.
     I spoke with my college advisor about becoming a coach.  It was also time for me to pick a major.  She said if I wanted to be a coach, then I should consider a major in education, possibly physical education.  I thought about it, and it’s exactly what I did.  Most of the coaches in my high school were PE teachers, so I figured this to be the best route.
     The good thing about being an education major, was that Amy shared the same major.  She wanted to be a kindergarten teacher due to her love for kids.  She had been volunteering at a local daycare center since her freshman year and was great with them.  
     I remember going to the center to pick her up one day and they were outside with all the kids.  I sat in my car watching as she played with them.  She was so alive and looked like she was born to work with kids.  She was so beautiful.  Her long curly blonde hair bouncing around every time she chased after a kid.  The relationship was definitely more than just physical.  I had never thought about having kids of my own anytime soon.  That day I could picture us as parents.  The thought excited me a little bit.  All of my siblings had kids and I loved each and every one of them.  I was certain I would make a good parent too.  I guess I was just a little emotional over the prospect of not playing pro ball.  The thought of settling down with Amy someday made me comfortable.

     As the first semester of my junior year dragged on, I spent every available opportunity with Amy.  It was nice having your girlfriend go to a party with you and not have to worry about her freaking out.  We were fully committed.  I trusted her and she trusted me.  I mentioned earlier how much out of my league she was.  It was a common occurrence at any of these parties she would get hit on.  I should have been jealous, but I never was.  I knew who she was going home with.  The seriousness and trustworthiness we had in each other was comforting.  If we were back in my hometown, it might be a different story.  Since most of the people down here had that southern drawl, it wasn't foreign to most of the people.  I knew the guys back home would have been drooling over this southern bell.  Hell, Troy did every time he met her.  I was a lucky man.
     Last Christmas, I avoided going home with Amy.  This year was different.  We were much more serious now, and Matt and Carly would be there too.  Amy always talked about how magical Christmas was at her house.  Every year, her dad would have professionals come and light up the house like a winter wonderland.  She said sometimes, when the temperature was expected to be colder, her dad would hire someone to cover the yard with snow from a snow machine.  The extended forecast was predicting below average temperatures this year and her dad was all giddy to do it this year.  I thought it was a little of an overkill.  Who was I to judge though?  Amy held her dad in high regards and everything he did, he did for them.
     Troy and his family usually came down to visit over Christmas.  I told him my plans and he was a little disappointed.  He joked around about me and Amy’s relationship getting serious.  It was all in good fun.  He said he would plan on coming down the first of January so he could make sure I had my shit together.
     This would be my first time spending Christmas without any of my family around.  
Chapter 40

   
 
 
I agreed to go back with Amy over Christmas for an entire week.  We arrived at her house on the twentieth of December, and she was again a nervous wreck.  I would be the first guy to ever stay at her house over the holidays.  I tried to get her to relax.  She was so concerned about me feeling comfortable and wanting me to like her family.
     I drove her car because she was shaking like a leaf.  Matt and Carly were already at Carly’s parents’ house as he planned on staying the entire break there.  Amy’s nervousness was so uncanny.  It made me feel appreciated she was like this.  I tried to calm her down.
     “You need to chill out Amy.  Why are you so nervous?”
     She shook her head and stared off in the distance, “I don’t know Darrel.  I told you, I have never had anyone stay with me at my parents’ over the holidays.  I just want you to like them.”
     I placed my hand on her knee, “I've already met them, and I thought they were great.  Relax.  By the way, I find it hard to believe you never had a serious boyfriend.  What gives?”
     She grabbed my hand and held onto it tight, “I’m so much a little daddy’s girl.  He always kept me so busy during high school, I didn't have time to date.  Don’t laugh, but the first time I ever had a beer was at the party we met at.”
     I laughed out loud, “Are you serious!  Why didn't you tell me that?  God, now I feel guilty we slept together that first night.”
     She hit me on the leg, “Stop it Darrel.  It’s not like I was drunk or anything.  There was just something about you.”
     “Oh do tell,” I teased.
     “No, you will just think I’m stupid.”
     “Come on Amy!  I've always wondered what you saw in me.  I mean, look at you.  You’re drop dead gorgeous and I’m just a dumb ball player who doesn't know my head from a hole in the wall.”
     She scrunched her nose, “I’m not telling.”
     I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, “Well, I’m glad you stuck with me even though I might have been emotionally distant at times.  I love you.”
     She returned a squeeze to my hand and placed her other one on top as she looked at me and smiled, “I love you too Darrel.”
     I didn't pry anymore.  She would tell me in time.  She was more relaxed now and it continued as we pulled into her drive.  She wasn't kidding when she said her dad did it up for Christmas.  My God was it spectacular!  It was close to dusk, so the lights and all the animation was in full display.  There was a row of trees that blanketed the drive leading up to the house.  Each tree was wrapped in bright white lights and the sound of Christmas tunes could be heard.  I was at a loss for words with how beautiful it was.  As we approached the house, there were a slew of cars wrapped a block long around the circle drive that covered the entirety of the front of the house.  The house was lit up with different colored lights.  There were animated Santa’s, reindeer, snowmen and elves galore.  Off in the distance, you could see the snow machine.  We were going to have a white Christmas for sure.
     Amy’s nerves started to pick up once we unloaded our bags from the trunk.  It didn't help that her parents decided to have some sort of party before we arrived.  Amy told me she had no idea what was going on.  We made our way to the door as she took a deep breath before opening it.  We walked into a sea of people dressed in holiday attire.
     Amy wasn't the only one nervous now as these strange people quickly approached us.  Her parents made their way to us first and greeted Amy with a big hug.  I was next.  They were definitely a huggy feely type family.  I had only met her parents once before.  Their affection definitely put my nerves at ease.  I could still tell she was nervous though.
     Amy proceeded to introduce me to everyone who was there.  There were aunts, uncles, grandparents and family friends.  Her two brothers were the last to greet me.  They were twins and were sophomores in high school.  Amy rarely talked about them.  I could tell why.  They seemed like a couple of smug pricks.  Far from the sweet southern girl Amy was.  They gave me a shake of the hand and nod of the head before running off to do whatever they did.  
     The rest of the night was spent conversing with the many guests.  Amy never left my side.  I was so thankful for this.  I was not one who liked being stuck with a bunch of people I didn’t know.  
     By the end of the night, I felt like one of the family.  Amy and I spent a good two hours sitting with her parents in front of the fireplace talking.  They wanted to know all about me.  I tried to give them what they needed.  When the conversation came to my parents, I started to break down a bit.  The previous two Christmases were the most difficult since my parents passed.  It was always made easier when Troy was with me.  I didn't have any family with me this year, so it made it that much more difficult to survive.  I had to excuse myself for a bit to go compose myself.  When I returned, I took a seat next to Amy again.  I knew my eyes were red from crying as I hid in the bathroom for a few minutes.  Her mom came over and sat down next to me.  
     “You look like you need a hug Darrel,” she said in her sweet southern voice.  “Can I give you a hug?”
     I nodded my head and she hugged me.  She hugged me tight, just like my mom used to.  I returned the embrace and tried to hold back the tears.  I couldn't.  It had been almost two and a half years since my mom passed and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about her.  Having another mother hug me this way brought on the flood of emotions.  She pulled away from me and wiped my tears with her fingers while looking me in the eye.
     “Darrel,” she smiled.  “I’m so sorry for your losses.  I want you to know, from this day forward, if you ever want to talk or just need a hug, you let me know.”
     “Thank you Mrs. Middleton,” I replied.  “I might end up taking you up on that offer.”
     She laughed, “Mrs. Middleton is my mother-in-law, Darrel.  By all means, call me Beth.”  She stood up and placed her hand on my cheek staring at me.  “Now Amy, you didn’t tell me he had these beautiful blue eyes.  My Lord, they’re as clear blue as the sky.”
     “Mom,” Amy responded with embarrassment.  
     Her dad got up and gave me a pat on the shoulder and kissed Amy goodnight, “Am I correct in assuming you two will be sharing the same bed?”
     I gave Amy a questioning look as she responded, “If that’s alright.”
     He nodded his head, “Just be respectful Amy.”
     Did I hear this right?  They were going to let us share the same bed the first night we were here.  This just made this trip a whole lot better in my mind.  Her parents were awesome!  This would turn out to be a Christmas to remember. 
Chapter 41

     
Amy failed to mention everyone has to be out of bed by 6:00 AM every morning.  Apparently, even if your parents are filthy rich you are still required to do chores.  My parents weren't rich and I never had chores growing up.  I would be damned if I was doing them now, but I did.
     Amy said I could have stayed in bed.  I’m sure that would have went over real well with her dad.  One would also think the only girl in the house would get off having the easy chores.  Wrong again.  Amy was responsible for feeding the horses when she was home.  I knew she had horses, just not a whole stable full of horses.  It was crazy.  She said their house sat on fifty acres of land and most of it was fenced in.  The horses had the run of the place during the day.
     Having never dealt with horses before in my life, Amy had quite an amusing time watching me.  She failed to remind me horses have teeth and they were not afraid to use them.  I don’t know exactly why I put myself in such a vulnerable situation.  She said she told me to avoid the horse name Jaws.  Unfortunately, I did not hear her say that.  I walked by his stall and noticed my boot was untied.  I stopped in front of his opening and bent down to tie it.  Jaws took this as an opportunity to remind me horses bite and clamped down on my back with a mouthful of teeth.  I yelled bloody murder as he held on for only a few seconds before releasing me as I fell to the ground trying to comfort my aching back.  Amy rushed over laughing hysterically before bending down to check my wound.  Jaws didn't draw blood, but it hurt like a mother fucker.  The only way to describe the feeling was, it felt like getting bit by a fucking thousand pound horse.  There is no pain to compare it to. 
     Once we were done, we headed back to the house to clean up and get ready for a church function.  When I agreed to go home with her for a week, I was expecting a relaxing lazy vacation, not doing something every minute of the day.  I met more people this week then I met in my two and a half years of college so far.  
 
     We finally made it to Christmas Eve, and this was when they usually exchanged presents.  I had a special little gift picked out for Amy.  She was difficult to buy for.  It’s hard to get someone something when they already have everything.  The gift I got her was a little expensive, but it came from the heart.  I wanted to give her something that was truly special.  Something that told her how much I loved her and appreciated everything she has done for me.  Without her in my life, I didn't know where I would have been.  Two years of intensive rehab and setbacks can drain a person.  No matter how nasty I was, or however long it took me to fall in love with her, she stood by me.  I gave her a ring.  Not an engagement ring, but a promise ring.  A ring that promised her no matter where life was going to take us, I wanted it to take us together.  She loved it.  She cried a lot of tears after opening it, and I think she spent the rest of the night staring at it.  She got me the usual things girls get their boyfriends.  Clothes, CD's, cologne and other useful items.  
     When we got done opening presents, Amy’s dad wanted us all to go outside.  I figured this was when he was planning on having the snow machine fired up.  As we got outside, there was a brand spanking new jet black F-150 dual cab pickup truck with a big red bow tied around it.  Seeing it made me miss my own truck that sat in my parent’s garage back home.  There were plenty of times I had thought about going back home and driving it down.  I looked at Amy in disbelief.
     “Oh my God Amy, your parents got you a brand new truck,” I whispered to her not wanting them to hear me.  I never took her as being a truck person.
     “It’s not mine,” she responded under her breath.  “You wouldn't catch me driving something that big.”
     “Your brothers can’t even drive yet, right?” I whispered again to Amy as her dad started to say something.
     Amy proceeded to give me a quiet shh and nodded for me to pay attention.
     “It’s just so freaking nice looking Amy,” I whispered again.  “Your brothers are lucky little pricks.”
     She gave me another shh, “Darrel, will you just be quiet and listen to what my dad has to say.”
     Amy grabbed my arm as her mom came and did the same with my other.  I wondered what she was doing.  I wasn't going to say anything because it was nice to have a mother’s touch again.  Her dad began:
     “This truck just arrived today.  I had it specially delivered so I could show it to you all.  I also want to thank Darrel for coming down and spending the holiday with us.  I know the past few years have been rough on you.  I couldn't imagine in a million years how you were able to manage it.”
     I gave Amy a strange look.  I wasn't expecting her dad’s speech to be about me.  It caught me a little off guard.  Amy and her mom noticed as they squeezed my arms a little tighter.
     He continued, “I remember the first time we heard Amy had met someone.  I’m probably going to embarrass her, but oh well.”
     I looked at Amy and she was beet red.
     “Well, she called her mom the next day Darrel.  She talked to her for a good three hours.  All about you.  Beth hung up the phone and she looked at me and said, ‘Dave, our daughter done went and fell in love.’  Every time we spoke after that, she only talked about you.  Thankfully, we finally got to meet you last school semester and I must say, Beth and I were both impressed.  I've heard nothing but good things about you, how good you are to my baby girl.  If my baby thinks the world of you, then you’re alright with me.  Now, Amy told me you talk about your truck back home and how you wished it was here.  So Darrel, Beth and I want you to have this truck.  This is our families’ Christmas gift to you.”
     I looked at Amy and she had the biggest smile on her face, “I can’t take this Amy.”
     Overhearing me her dad chimed in, “Like hell you’re not taking it Darrel.”
     I shook my head in disbelief, “It’s, it’s too much Mr. Middleton.”
     “Hogwash Darrel,” he said grabbing my arm and holding the keys in front of me.  “This is yours.  Take it, and enjoy it.  We want you to have it.”
     I started to get a little choked up as I continued to shake my head, “It’s really nice of you guys, but I can’t.”
     He placed the keys in my hand and led me and Amy to the truck, “It’s yours Darrel.  There are no give backs here son.  Now go take it for a spin.”
     I glanced over at Amy as she gleefully went to the passenger side and got in, “Come on Darrel.”
     I hopped in the driver side and her dad proceeded to show me where everything was and all of its latest technology.  The truck was fully loaded.  It was magnificent.
     We drove all over town.  It was so nice.  It barley felt like you were driving at all.  It was so much smoother than my truck back home.  Amy had me take this road which led to the outskirts of town and we parked in an old rundown church’s gravel parking lot.  I turned music on low as she snuggled in next to me.
     “My daddy used to take us here when we were little kids,” Amy stated in her cute southern drawl.  "We would sit here and wait for Santa.  Anytime we saw a plane we would ask if it was him.  Dad would tell us if we didn't see the red nose of Rudolph then it wasn't him.  Every now and then, you would see a plane with a red light and we would get all excited.  Dad would look up into the sky and say it was only a plane.  Needless to say, we never saw the red nose.  We would stay here until we fell asleep then Daddy would take us back home and carry us in and tuck us into bed.  The next morning, Santa had come.  Daddy always said he saw the sleigh once we fell asleep.  Do you like your truck Darrel?”
     “I love it, but you know I can’t take it.  If my parents were alive, they would be so ashamed of me if I accepted it.”
     “Why would they be ashamed?”
     “I don’t know.  My dad just never liked to accept handouts.”
     “This is not a handout Darrel.  They wanted you to have it.  Heck, I don’t know how you survived down here for so long without one.”
     “A lot of my friends have cars.  I guess I never thought about needing one.  It would be nice, if I was going to accept it.”
     “Darrel, if you honestly think my dad is going to let you give this back, then you better think again.  My daddy didn't become the number one dealership in this area from not being persuasive.  My parents really like you.  Just accept it.”
     “I don’t know, Amy.”  I needed to come up with a good reason why and this was the only thing I could think of.  “What if you get tired of me and start dating the quarterback of the football team?”
     She laughed as she grabbed my chin, holding it as she looked in my eyes, “I’m not going anywhere Darrel.  With you is right is where I want to be.  I love you.”  She started shaking her head, “You’re stuck with me until you get sick of me.  Well, then I might start stalking you or something if you leave me.”
     We laughed as I pulled her in for a kiss.  “I’m not going anywhere either Amy.”
     “I do have one question for you Darrel,” she said as she leaned back in the seat.  “Why did it take you so long to fall in love with me?”
     I did not want to answer this question.