The rest of the work week flies by with a flurry of activity to finalize the Portsmouth installation for lighting and flooring. The Boston and Mystic projects are well underway too. Friday night at the movies on my couch with my girls is the perfect way to end the week.
When I crest the stairs after my workout on Saturday morning, Ellie is waking slowly while Frankie can barely contain her excitement. Once I down a second water, Frankie moves into the office and carries a huge box into the kitchen.
“Ellie, this came for you yesterday,” Frankie informs her.
Stef, Marco’s assistant, went overboard I’m sure. Ellie tears into the package. Inside she finds an envelope containing the tickets and field passes for today as well as five jerseys.
Frankie waits patiently for Ellie to read the note and follow what is going on. By patiently, I mean only her foot is tapping incessantly.
“Wait, we’re going to the game today?”
“Yes,” Frankie replies.
“These are field passes for the game and this is a handwritten note from my favorite player of all time, Marco Cappelli.”
Frankie reaches out, and Ellie hands her the envelope. “Yup, looks like his handwriting.”
“Wait, you know what Marco Cappelli’s handwriting looks like?”
“Well, yeah, he’s my cousin.”
Ellie’s mouth drops open. She’s speechless. Frankie has the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on her face.
“No way! Are you joking?” Ellie’s tone indicates it would be an awful prank to pull on her.
“Not even a little bit. Ellie, did you finish reading the card?” Frankie asks her.
She shakes her head furiously and refocuses on the card. “I get to walk in with… OMG! Ohmigod! Thank you so much! When do we leave?”
I laugh along with Frankie. “I think you should finish looking in this package.”
Ellie sifts through the rest and pulls out five jerseys. “Why five?”
Frankie lifts them one by one. “This one is for you.” She hands a jersey to me. “Then there’s one for me and your dad and Kylie.”
A loud shriek comes out of Ellie’s mouth. “There’s one more, for who?”
Frankie lifts the jersey and turns it. Now the back is facing Ellie. “Read it, Ellie.”
“Ellie, Congrats on your soccer championship.” Ellie takes a deep breath. “Is that an autographed jersey? This is crazy! Thank you so much! Are we picking up Kylie on the way?”
I simply nod my head. “Yes, we need to leave in a little over an hour.”
Ellie rounds the island and hugs Frankie tight. “I’m so freakin’ excited! Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome. Go get dressed,” Frankie instructs.
I sidle next to Frankie and lean closer. “I love you, Sunshine, for being exactly who you said you were.”
“I love you for letting me.”
With Kylie and Ellie laughing in the back seat, we drive down the highway toward the stadium. When we arrive, we’re directed to a small lot right near the player entrance. All the laughing and talking from the back seat has ceased.
“Are you okay, Ellie?” I ask my daughter who is suddenly ghost white.
“Uh-huh.”
Frankie turns in her seat. “Ellie, to you, Marco is this huge superstar. To me, he’s family. He’s a normal guy who has abnormal skills on the pitch. No need for you to be nervous.”
“Will you stay with me?” Ellie’s voice cracks.
“As long as I can.”
I hear Ellie exhale sharply before we’re whisked into the tunnel and she meets her soccer hero. I have no idea how Frankie set all this up, but I’m floored, and so is my daughter.
Marco Cappelli jogs toward Frankie and lifts her into a hug. “It’s so great to see you! It’s been too long!”
“You too. Marco, please meet Tommy, his daughter, Ellie, and her bestie, Kylie.”
Marco reaches out and shakes my hand and Kylie’s. Then he extends his hand to Ellie. “Hi, Ellie, Frankie has told me so much about you. Congrats on your club championship. Like Frankie, I played for the same club as well.”
She takes it. “Hi. Thank you for the jersey and being here today. It’s amazing!”
“You’re welcome. Follow me and we’ll get you situated until it’s time to go onto the field.” Marco turns to lead the way.
Ellie can’t contain the grin on her face. Ellie and Kylie shriek in silence like tweens do and execute an insanely cute happy dance while his back is turned. Frankie simply shakes her head and follows her cousin.
I slide beside her and thread my fingers through hers. “I can’t thank you enough for today,” I whisper so only she can hear me.
“No thanks are necessary. Not only will I do anything for you, but her too.”
“I love you more, Sunshine.”
“I love both of you most.”
I kiss her cheek, and we wait near the field entrance to the stadium.
Once we are near the entrance, Marco turns back to us. “Stef will be here in time to assist Ellie in lining up. Then she will escort you to the spectator area behind the bench. She will also bring Ellie to you after the national anthem.”
“Great. Thanks, Marco.” Frankie hugs him again, and he runs off.
“This is insane!” Ellie mutters to Kylie. “I can’t believe this is really happening. I’m sure this is a dream.”
Kylie pinches Ellie’s arm.
“Owwww!” Ellie bellows.
“Not a dream! Go have a great time.” Kylie brings Ellie back to earth.
Ellie hugs her bestie and smiles. “Thanks, Ky. I’ll be back soon.”
Stef joins us and hugs Frankie. After introductions, she escorts Ellie to the front of the line to meet Marco. Once the final bars of the national anthem play, she escorts Ellie back to us.
“This is the best day ever!” Ellie exclaims and jumps up and down with Kylie.
The match is exciting, and Ellie is rapt watching the action on the field. At the half, the score is tied at zero. In the second half, Marco scores one goal and assists on another to secure a win for his team.
As we walk back through the tunnel, Stef hurries to join us. “Ellie, Marco asked me to get this to you. It was a pleasure meeting you.” Stef hands Ellie a ball autographed by Marco’s entire team.
“Wow! Thank you so much! Please thank him for me,” Ellie states.
“Of course,” Stef replies. After a brief hug with Frankie, she’s gone.
We walk toward the car. “Are they a couple?” I whisper.
“I don’t believe so. They’ve been besties since high school I think,” I reply and settle into the passenger seat. The drive home is much quieter than to the stadium. Within fifteen minutes, both Ellie and Kylie are sound asleep in the back seat of the car.
No one has ever taken care of Ellie like me, not even Tess. I’m not suggesting Tess is negligent, at least not until recently. However, no one has ever risen to the level of care I provide my daughter until Frankie.