CHAPTER 53

NOAH SQUINTED AS HE looked up at the sky. Confetti mixed with rain pelted him as the Seahawks’ parade rolled through downtown Seattle on a nasty Wednesday morning. Fans cheered and chanted his name. It was as if the entire parade was for him. By now, they all knew the story. Not just that he had gambled the Super Bowl title on that one play, but that he spent an entire week worrying about his son.

Every media outlet already wanted the renegade quarterback on their shows that week—then Cal’s story hit the newsstands and Internet two days after the Super Bowl. Noah preferred to stay at home with his family. But at their urging, he decided to appear on a few shows that wanted to fly him out with the stipulation that his whole family’s flights must be covered as well. Those interviews were still a couple of days away.

But none of that fame mattered much to Noah. He hugged his son tightly and soaked in the final moment of adulation over his career. Noah didn’t feel like he thought he would a week ago if Seattle achieved a victory. He felt sorry for breaking the city’s budget because of the parade, though he knew no one would care. Noah didn’t want this moment to be vindictive in any way. He wanted it to be cherished. So cherish it he did with Jake.

As the motorcade reached 12th Street, the Seahawks’ 12th Man club chanted Noah’s name. One member of the club took a microphone and recited a special poem he wrote to honor Noah and his short touchdown run. Noah smiled at the gesture and waved to the 12th Man club.

With the parade winding down, Jake looked up at Noah and asked, “Dad, do you think we can go to a few Sounders games this year now that you’re retired?”

“I doubt it, Jake.”

He paused and watched the grin vanish off Jake’s face.

“I don’t think we can go to a few Sounders game,” Noah said. “I think we should go to all of their games.”

Jake hugged Noah and started jumping up and down.

“You want to get season tickets?” Noah asked.

“Yes! Oh, daddy, I love you so much!”

Noah smiled. He would miss the touchdowns, the roar of the crowd, the camaraderie with his teammates. But none of that compared to the moment he just experienced—a great big hug from his son and realizing that he was his hero. Noah no longer felt the need to convert Jake into a football fan. Jake was his No. 1 fan and that’s all that mattered.

* * *

CAL WATCHED THE PARADE on the newsroom television. Someone else could write that sappy feel-good parade story.

“Good work, Cal,” Fink said, joining Cal in watching a parade they both never thought they would see.

“Thanks.”

“You did good. I know you saw some crazy stuff down there, but you’re a bigger man than I am. And you won’t be here long if other editors think you’ll go to any extremes to get a good story.”

Cal smiled. “Well, it wasn’t supposed to be that extreme. I’ll tell you that much. I would’ve never gone if I thought any of that stuff was going to happen.”

“Yeah, you would’ve. Cal, you’re a real newsman. Your nose for a story is something special.”

Fink never praised his writers like this and Cal knew it. Another compliment from Fink? Now this one was almost as good as a five-figure Christmas bonus.

Fink patted Cal on the back and walked off without another word.

Cal turned his attention back to the television. He smiled as the camera zoomed in on Noah sharing a hug with his son. The past few days made him question his own judgment. Who thinks they can waltz into the home of one of the most dangerous cartel members in the world and it not be a big deal? Cal began to wonder if he was crazy. Had he lost his mind? Was his nose for news going to be the death of him? Life was about moments like the one he was witnessing on television—a father and a son connecting. It wasn’t about some adrenaline rush that accompanied bringing down the bad guys.

Cal needed to be careful. He wanted some of those father-son moments in his future, the kind he hardly had a chance to have with his own dad. As a seven-year-old kid, Cal endured some of the worst pain in his life when his dad died. His mom remarried a few years later, but it wasn’t the same. No stepdad could replace his dad. His dad had been a reporter too—and later Cal learned that his dad’s editor suspected that his death had something to do with a story he had been working on. According to the editor, it wasn’t a story Cal’s dad had been assigned either.

Cal knew the same fate awaited him if he didn’t change the reckless way he lived. So what if Fink just gave him the rarest of compliments. Cal had to stop charging to the rescue, even if it was to help somebody who needed his help. He had to realize he couldn’t save everyone. And now there was Kelly to think about. She might be a bigger part of his future than he ever imagined. Just stick to covering games and writing features on famous sports athletes and you can have a life like Noah’s. It was a nice thought.

The rain whipped against the newsroom office, a thousand raindrops fated to crash into an office window with no idea of what their future held.

THE END