In the distant, Ellie saw historic Churchill Downs, its twin spires jutting hundreds of feet into the Kentucky sky like a Cathedral, which it sort of was when you considered everyone prayed their butts off for their horse to win.
In just minutes, America’s most prestigious horse race, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl of thoroughbred racing, would be run. Experts called it, “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”
One hundred sixty thousand people crammed into the racetrack. Twenty million more sat glued to their televisions, thanks to cameras everywhere – including the Goodyear blimp hovering overhead in the robin-egg blue sky.
Quinn parked in a VIP section thanks to his father’s pass. They jumped out and hurried toward the grandstand. Ellie was very excited about seeing the Derby, but very nervous about meeting Quinn’s parents.
“The Derby’s next, we gotta hustle!” Holding her hand, he led interference for her like the tight end he once was. They wove through thick crowds watching huge flat-screen televisions replaying the last race. He hurried her through a side door of the grandstand and down a long hallway. The crowd noise rolled like thunder.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the biggest event in the Sport of Kings … the Big Race … the one you’ve been waiting for … the Run for the Roses … this year’s running of The Kentucky Derby!”
One hundred sixty thousand fans roared at the top of their lungs. The reverberation hurt her eardrums. Quinn led her down a hall, squeezing past men in classic blazers and women in spectacular designer dresses, glittering jewelry and big wide-brimmed Derby hats. She felt like she’d crashed a society event.
“Quinn, I’m nervous.”
“Why?”
“I just am.” But she knew why. Quinn had said his mother was concerned when Quinn broke up with Jennifer. How concerned? How disappointed? Was his mom devastated by it?
“Have you told your folks anything about my background? You know, my DNA or Leland Radford?”
“No. All I’ve said is that I spilled coffee on you, and that you plan to attend law school, and that we’re working on a probate case together. That’s all they know!”
“Do they know you’re bringing me?”
“They insisted I bring you.”
“Insisted?”
“Yep.”
Why insist? she wondered.
Then she understood. They wanted to compare her to Jennifer – they wanted to see why on earth their crazy son traded in a Mercedes for a tractor.
And if she was honest with herself, she sometimes wondered the same thing.
Quinn opened the door for Ellie as they entered a large, luxury suite with massive windows overlooking the track’s finish line. Ellie saw about forty well-dressed people mingling around a serving table where a bartender prepared drinks. Another table had silver plates stacked with lobster, shrimp, steak, a variety of cheeses and a chef preparing individual omelets. The food smelled rich. So did the people.
Most sipped from tall frosted glasses with mint sprigs perched on the rim. Mint juleps. The official Derby Drink – and Ellie’s official downfall. Literally. Two years ago, she drank three M-Js at a Derby party and passed out on a sofa, jabbering like a parakeet.
“Guess who was in this suite one day,” Quinn said.
“Who?”
“Queen Elizabeth.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Queen For A Day,” a man behind her said. “An old TV show back before you two guys were born!”
Ellie turned and saw a tall handsome man and woman in their early fifties smiling at her.
“Mom, Dad … meet Ellie Stuart.”
Quinn’s mother was an attractive woman with thick brown hair that framed soft brown eyes, a butter-smooth complexion and a warm, relaxed smile. Her beige dress showcased her trim figure. His father had a tall athletic build, like Quinn, and looked distinguished in a blue blazer, tan slacks and blue shirt.
“Nice to meet you, Ellie,” he said. “This is Hannah and I’m Jack Parker.”
Ellie shook hands, but her knees kept on shaking.
“It’s good to meet you, Ellie,” Jack Parker said.
“It’s real nice to meet youall.”
“I hear Quinn spilled coffee on you,” Mrs. Parker said.
“Yes, ma’am, he sure did.”
Jack Parker smiled. “He also said you earned a full scholarship to U of L, and plan to attend law school.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, good for you, Ellie!”
A little man with red suspenders tugged Mr. Parker’s sleeve, then pointed at the TV monitor.
“Jack, look at these new odds on #6, Auntie Billy!”
Jack Parker looked and seemed surprised.
“Come on, Ellie,” Mrs. Parker said, “how’s about we girl-talk a little before the Derby.”
“I’d love that, ma’am.” I think ….
Hannah Parker led Ellie over to the corner where they sat in beige leather chairs facing each other. Ellie was nervous, and prepared herself for a serious inquisition from Mrs. Parker.
But suddenly, an Angel of the Lord appeared with a tray of mint juleps. Mrs. Parker took one and sipped. Ellie took one and sucked like an Oreck until the bourbon calmed her a bit.
“Ellie, you a Kentucky girl?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Where from?”
Ellie paused. “I’m from ah … go ahead and say it … I’m from way down in itty bitty Harlan.” There – she exposed the big bad secret. Got it out of the way. She watched for some hint of disapproval or condescension in Mrs. Parker’s eyes, but saw only a warm smile.
“Well, I’ll swan, Ellie … .”
“What?”
“We’re neighbors.”
“Ma’am?”
“I’m from ittier-bittier Flat Lick.”
My God, Ellie thought, she’s from an even smaller town than I am!
“Your folks still live down there, Ellie?”
“Well, no, ma’am.” She paused. “Actually, I was adopted as an infant by the Stuarts. They were wonderful parents.”
“Were …?”
Ellie felt the old pain, took a breath. “They died in a boating accident when I was sixteen.”
“Oh my …” Hannah Parker’s eyes dimmed and she placed her hand on Ellie’s. “My momma died when I was seventeen. Cancer. So hard to lose a parent when you’re young.”
Ellie nodded.
“Did you ever try to find your birth parents?”
Ellie paused. “Well actually, Quinn’s been helping me with that. We discovered who my mother was, but learned she died in a car accident when I was three months old. The Stuarts adopted me then.”
“Good Lord, how awful.” Mrs. Parker shook her head. “Any luck finding your daddy?”
“Not yet, ma’am. But Quinn’s helping with that, too.”
“Well, good luck, hon.”
Her concern was genuine. Clearly, she knew nothing about the extremely remote possibility of her relationship to Leland Radford. And she seemed to accept her as she was, and not comparing her to Jennifer. Ellie felt an unexpected, sense of calm wash over her, and it wasn’t just the mint julep.
Suddenly – the bugle blared over the loudspeakers.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN … THE HORSES ARE
ENTERING THE TRACK ….”
“Come on, Ellie, it’s show time!” Mrs. Parker took Ellie’s hand and led her through the guests to the big window with a bird’s-eye view of the finish line below, clearly one of the best views in Churchill Downs. Ellie read that one Derby seat in a private suite like this cost four thousand dollars or more.
Quinn walked over to her.
She whispered in his ear. “It’s good to know a Saudi prince.”
“True. Nice chat with mom?”
“The best!”
“Everyone thinks you’re beautiful!”
“Everyone’s drunk.”
They watched the sixteen magnificent thoroughbreds prance along the manicured dirt track. Even the horses seemed to sense this race was special.
Then she heard it, Stephen Foster’s hypnotic melody.
OH … THE … SUN SHINES BRIGHT … ON
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME …
And one hundred sixty thousand people began to sing along … and within seconds, thousands of eyes, including hers, began to moisten.
As she sang, her throat tightened and she dabbed a tear. She was caught up in everything: the enchanting melody, her love of the Derby, the beautiful horses glistening in the sun, the joy of learning about her birth mother, and, of course, the happiness of being with Quinn. She was slowly and cautiously, but most certainly, falling in love with him … something that filled her with joy, but in some perverse way, terrified her. And she knew why. Everyone she’d ever loved, was no longer alive … and by drawing closer to him each day, she feared she might somehow be increasing the likelihood of something bad happening to him.
An absurd fear, of course.
Or was it?
The starter’s gun popped and echoed across the track.